Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-06-10

iio W hibO JdChCb dhi OlOuoCloS bhu
mense sombrero OF the ground at his
side. Ramirez was half sitting and
half reclining on the ground, lazily
watching the donkeys and mustang,
lariatted short distance away. l
don't know that the old rascal ever en-
joyed himself better, while l was IN
constant dread lest some wild mountain
brigands, who infest the Sierra Madre
might suddenly appear from some con-
venient chaparral and deprive me of
the few reals and pesetas of silver l
possessed, or take away our animals
and arms, leaving us helpless in the
mountain wilds. Ramirez seemed to
have no concern about the wild
marauders, and took matters as coolly
as If he had been in the heart of civiliza-
ton. TO my urgent requests to 60 on,
he answered:
"Don't be in too great haste, senior;
we can not reach them before night
fall. 1t is never safe to travel when
the sun is so hot. We will be able to
pass the night on the top of Quaguento,
from which you can get a good view of
the Vermillion Sea-"
~ have almost given up the idea of
exploring the canyons, Ramirez" l
said, for having heard so many stories
of the wild robbers, was afraid to
venture too near those dangerous
looking places.
"Why, senorp" asked Ramirez, fix
ing his great dark eyes on me.
~ am afraid of these mountain rob-
bers who Turk in the canyons"
"Well, sometimes the pronunciados
do get among these canyons, but we
are more likely to find prospectors,
hunting for the Reals Perdidos v Encan-
tados. They are harmless and would
help u.s." After a moments pause,
with sigh he continued: ~ may not
be the one, but whoever he is. he will
be rich"
"What do you meanP" asked.
"Whoever finds the enchanted towns
will be rich"
"Are you so foolish as to believe any
thing of the kind existsp" / asked in
no little amazement.
He opened his eyes, and for few
moments never saw such complete
picture of astonishment and indigna-
ton. At last removing his pipe the
Aztec said:
~ am very sorry senior said that. II
shows that much as may be known OF
other countries, nothing is known OF
Mexico, or the history of the Aztecs.
The Reals Perdidos are true"
mining towns may be lost"
answered, ''and doubtless are. They
may be buried beneath land-slides,
earthquakes, and sometime in the
future be dug out; but l greatly feal
that they will never pay for the dlscov.
cry If found. AS to there being en-
chanted towns and cities, inhabited OF
uninhabited, believe that to be wholly
a myth"
Though using the best Mexican al
my command, | am yet in doubt
whether the old Aztec fully understood
me. He seemed, however, to catcf
the drift of my idea, and as if to con
vince the most skeptical mind, pro
posed 10 narrate one of those strange
legends. As l had heard many before
and knew that while they abounded il
the extravagant, they were rich in in
cident, l consented to listen to another
1t would be fully three hours befor,
the lazy guide could be induced to sti
from beneath the tepiguage, so tn,
time might as well be passed IN story
telling as in any other way. His stor,
was of one of these enchanted cities, ant
hidden orange groves. l here give /
as near as l can remember it. Tn,
translation may not be literal, but il
substance it is the same.
"Many years ago when the children
of the sun ruled this part of the world
while the grandfather of Montezum,
was on the throne there was youn,
man of noble birth in his court. HI
was brave, and one of the Kings hes
Generals. His name was Heraclio
and wherever he led the armies o
J M6htezuma, they were successful. Thi
J Heraclio possessed very violent tenn
per, and when in rage was terrible.
! witch of the mountains cautioned hin
when he was child to restrain hi
temper, or it would not only prove hi
ruin, but the destruction of Mexico
: He was so proud and naughty that h
held even the King in defiance. Sure
ly the Monarch would not dare punis
; one so powerful and influential as he
7 The King had been at war with som
northern tribes and had succeeded i
humiliating them, and compelling
them to pay tribute. Heraclio returne
laden with spoils and honors, and
, great banquet was given in homo
/ of him, in the piazza in front of tn
: Kings palace. He was honored a
/ no General had ever been, and mad
one of the Kings chief advisers. Their
} was poor slave whom Heraclio bitterl
< hated. He purchased the slave, VIII
} had been captured in war. and mad
: his life miserable. Before his captur
. the young man had been Prince, an
5 it was his bravery which had won tn
) lasting hate of Heraclio. He final
had the captive Prince dragged to tn
9 mountain and there chained to tree
l He beat him with stick until he wa
! bruises from head to foot. Then b
l had the vultures come day BY day, an
devour his flesh as fast as it grew
t heraclio rejoieed in his misery an