"
To the surprise of both visitors, Random admitted using these
serious threats without a moment's hesitation.
"Don Pedro told me that many Indians, both in Lima and Cuzco, who
look upon him as the lawful descendant of the last Inca, are
anxiously expecting the return of the royal mummy. He also
stated that when the Indians knew who held the mummy they would
send one of themselves to get it back, if he--Don Pedro, that is
--did not fetch it. To get back the mummy Don Pedro declared
that these Indians would not stop short of murder. Hence my
warning to Bolton."
"Oh!" Archie jumped up with widely opened eyes. "Then perhaps
this solves the problem. Bolton was murdered by some Peruvian
Indian."
Random shook his head gravely.
"Again you offer me a loophole of escape, my dear fellow," he
said sententiously, "but that theory will not hold water. At
present the Indians in Lima and Cuzco do not know that the mummy
has been found. Don Pedro only chanced upon the paper which
announced the sale by accident and had no time to communicate
with his barbaric friends in South America. Failing to get the
mummy from you, Professor, he would have returned to Peru and
then would have told who possessed the corpse of Inca Caxas,
leaving the Indians to deal with the matter.
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