Ralph was pouring out question after question, to which nobody paid any attention, and Captain Horn, his hands thrust into his pockets, walked backward and forward, his face flushed and his breath coming heavily, and, with his eyes upon the ground, he seemed to think himself entirely alone among those desolate crags.
"Can any of you tell me what it means ?" cried Mrs.Cliff.

"Edna, do you understand it?
Tell me quickly, some of you!" "I believe I know what it means," said Edna, her voice trembling as she spoke.

"I thought I knew as soon as I heard of the mound covered up by the lake, but I did not dare to say anything, because if my opinion should be correct it would be so wonderful, so astounding, my mind could hardly take hold of it." "But what is it ?" cried Mrs.Cliff and Ralph, almost in one breath.
"I scarcely know what to say," said Edna, "my mind is in such a whirl about it, but I will tell you something of what I have read of the ancient history of Peru, and then you will understand my fancies about this stone mound.

When the Spaniards, under Pizarro, came to this country, their main object, as we all know, was booty.

They especially wished to get hold of the wonderful treasures of the Incas, the ancient rulers of Peru.