Chico lived in Ecuador, high up in the Andes. He lived with Old Man and a pet called Chan who was a spectacled bear. One night when Don Ernesto had come to call, Chico overheard a startling conversation. Old Man and Don Ernesto were talking, and what they said revealed that Chico had been found in ancient ruins when he was a baby. Then, he had no people; he did not belong to anyone; no land was his land. When he heard this, Chico was very upset, but his resolution was strong and he determined to find out who he was. He would go to the big town and search untiringly until the mystery was solved. How a Panama hat and a kindly priest played their part in the soluction of the mystery makes exciting reading.

The background of the story is the life of Ecuador—mountain, farm and city. The mists of the mountains and the tales of the once powerful Incas are woven into the tale. This is a book especially written for young people of from eight to twelve, but many older readers will find pleasure in its true-to-life background and drama.

From the dust jacket