The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-10-01

"Yes, a bright, hard metal that looks
even finer than the real gold?' suggested
Perez.
"But goes off chiefly in fumes and
turns out to be only sulphuret of iron.
I don't mind admitting that my search
was partly for treasure"
"And again, the BLUSH galena, con-
tanning silver, but in too small supply to
be worked, and then the yellow grains
scattered through some of the limestone,
but still in too slight quantities to pay
for eXtractionY'
"How do you know all that?
"Bless YOU, I've been through it my
self. / could have posted you if you had
come to me. You may not recollect my
telling you had been here once, long be-
fore you were born. But, now, how
about this bed close by? It seems to con-
tain some very good nuggets. Are they
of the same sort rs those noticed on the
shelves in your Cabin?'
Walter, in fierce agitation and resolve,
here drew forth his revolver without fur
ther hesitation. The secret was 6utj lie
was betrayed.
"WEat I have found have a special
use for; cannot give it up, nor even
share it. If you have come here with
design upon it, let us settle it once for
all. Do you take your pistol. as will
mine, and stand off at twelve paces
Gassol will make as good a second as
another. Whatever of value Is here
shall belong to the survivor"
"Have you then nd moro confidence in
me than this, my old friend?' inquired
the captain, showing no trace Of resent
ment you who knew my devotion to
yCu should have treated me better
''No, not in such an affair. feared
the temptation might be too great; not
for you alone, but for any man. had
an object. If it had been an ordinary
matter
But it is precisely in extraordinary
matters that 1 am most to be trusted.
You should have known me better than
my enemies Whatever else | have
done, my integrity has never been inn
peached. In all my campaigning, l
have never once engaged in plumber.
mans virtues are much according to
his temperament, | suppose; and my
weakness does not lie in that direction"
Don Walter began to breathe more
freely, and even to be Il little ashamed.
"See here, now. what claim have you
on me? What service did you do for
me when you were the merest kid?''
went on Perez, with cordial bluffness.
II don't remember" answered the
young man, evasively.
"Well, will remind YOU was a
captive in the hands of my bitterest
foes, who were taking me along to a
certain execution. They camped over
night alongside the ranch where you
lived then with your father. You were
a lad and allowed to run freely about the
camp. | asked you if you had a knife
and could cut leather. You said you
had, and used it upon the thongs with
which was bound-I feel their Internal,
cramping knots now--so that at a favor
able moment | was able to escape"
''It was no trouble to me-"
'But it was a way of sparing me such
a very considerable trouble that l have
wanted to do you good turn ever since.
Putting you in the line Of little hunt
ing does not fill the bill. Estimate the
thing as do. Now. here you are in a
difficult and dangerous box, perhaps
even more dangerous than you know; let
me help you out of it."
His nearer struggled with lurking
dOubt whether this were not after all