before there would be men or money enough to undertake such work near their homes and that the best they could do would be to send one of their number over as soon as they could to spend a few weeks with them and to see where such a farm might be feasible, Mr. Blaine spoke up. ” 1 am planning to go to Lake Titicaca as soon as I leave here, and I want you, Mr. Harmon, to go with me on that trip. I will of course bear all the expenses.” After prayerfully and thoughtfully going over the situa tion with the others, the party set out with the returning Indians. Accompanying Mr. Blaine and William was Don Alfonso, a valued helper who had come from Cuzco with William. As William led the party forth upon the Journey, his heart was filled with longing to open up other farms that many more might have the opportunities that were pre sented on the Urco farm of knowing God and His Word. The distance to Lake Titicaca was covered by train, and an interesting trip it was because of the superb scenery along the way. Halfway between Cuzco and the lake lay the town of La Raya. The Vilcamaya River rises here, and some hundred miles from its source it swells the waters of the Amazon. Only a few yards away was the source of another stream which began its long Journey to the Pacific. Each of these was destined to flow many hundreds of miles, reaching oceans thousands of miles apart, yet here at their beginnings there measured only a few yards between. At last Lake Titicaca was reached. It is known to be the highest lake in the world open to navigation. It is thought to be a veritable storehouse of riches, for in its depths are said to be great quantities of buried treasure. Perhaps some of those famous Inca emeralds might be found there, as well as other rich gems and gold, committed to the water of the lake by Indians filled with fear and superstition. Well has the lake guarded the wealth committed to it. After arriving at Puno, the port on the Lake, Mr. Blaine - and William planned to visit the “ Island of the Sun,” on which is Copacabana, the most ancient shrine in Peru. There were many other passengers hound for the same place, including Indian women with bright colored blankets of home manufacture. Not only were there Quecliuas, but there were representatives of all classes in Peru, all on a pilgrimage to this sacred shrine. The little steamer was crowded. j- In the dazzling afternoon sunlight, the lake looked like a gorgeous gem of sapphire hue. Surrounded as it is by towering hills, whose summits are crowned with billowy clouxts, and by snow covered peaks, it is indeed a rare sight and one that comparatively few travelers have made the long hard journey to see. As the steamer neared the landing stage it seemed to be covered with brilliant col ored ponchos, or blankets, on the backs of the passengers who crowded the decks. A blasa, or reed canoe, came slowly to the steamer, a rowboat was lowered, and impa tiently the crowd was demanding permission to land. It all took time, but finally the passengers were taken to the now crowded and gay landing place, thronged with pil grims. It was already late, so that Mr. Blaine and William were unable to obtain lodgings until long past bedtime, and then only in already overcrowded houses. As foreigners they, of course, caused comment, and to William these com ments were very amusing. Mr. Blaine could not so well catch the passing remarks, but when William translated them to him the two had many a hearty laugh. Morning found the pilgrims early astir and on their way to the cathedral, with its green and yellow tiled domes. On all sides were Indian women, with their wares for sale, (Continued on page 245)
mens and assured themselves that they were almost Iden tical, although Mr. Blaine’s specimen was composed of Spanish words and William’s of English. “ He was a man of perhaps sixty years of age and had possibly been a companion of your father and had learned to write like him,” suggested Mr. Blaine. Mr. Blaine’s stay was limited, and not until he was almost ready to depart did William ask him a question he had thought of several times before during the visit. “ How did you come to find us, Mr. Blaine? We are away from the beaten track of travel and you are our first white visitor other than missionaries.” "A friend of yours asked me to look you up, a Miss Louise Birdsey. I met her In Philadelphia where she was attending a Bible School, and If I may judge by the looks of things she may be my niece some day for my Nephew Stanley Blaine thinks she is a mighty fine woman, and I think he Is right.” Something in William’s face held Mr. Blaine’s attention. “ Oh! I may be mistaken about that, but If I were interested In a young lady of that kind I shouldn’t leave her free any longer than I had to,” he laughingly said. He was off, and the missionaries turned back to, their work, but a great wonder was In William’s heart. Louise wasn’t married after all. Had she loved him enough to marry no one else? He thought he was foolish to think so but the thought still stayed with him. That evening in a letter to his uncle he wrote!
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker