The sun., 1894-09-16
CHAPTER IX.
THE sI'PpHR AND AFTER.

ruins and the Indians, you must have heard tales
OF races living far away In the interior. there
wonderful cities that are said to he full of gold.
Many say that these tales are lies. that
an and they SAY say that, because nobody. has
found them; but for my part, believed that
o1bcrse Tas n wnsId no. have lasted 80 ene
Well q few months back, heard that q
strange old Indian doctor was dwelling some
was said to have travelled from the far interior,
but wherc he d,welt exactly ! could not learn,
nor, indeed, did | trouble myself to do so.
About eight weeks ago. however. 1t happened
that an Indian, being asked for the toll, which
charge all passcrs by. 70 reSoup me for my ex-
1ittle lump of pure gold having q heart stamped
on either side OF the metal.
Now. you may not know, though / do. that
the heart is q sacred symbol among these In
dians. and has been for many generations. for 1t
BE nSn thG snsn or 'her
with the token on IL, asked the Indian whence
Il came from this old doctor. who gave 1t to
him in payment OF some food. He told me also
but, his heart being full Of deceit he lied as 10
the place, so that searched In vain. We'll. TO
shorten long story aldthongh to a, ,his hour 40
trap and caught him, ny. and his daughter, too.
1T was a simple one man In my pay
forest to get medicine from him. but who would
not reveal his hiding place sun, my servant
sages through his friend, begging, the doctor to
come and save the life Of his child. which lay in
a house near here. and could not he moved. =,
THE end Of II was that the doctor came and
his daughter with him. es, they walked at
night straight TO the snare; into this very house,
sehor, and only discovered their mistake when
they found the doors locked upon them, and
that the diving child was none other than your
een ss teii You o senior, that % laughed till
nearly cried at the sight OF their faces when
they found out the trick, though there vas vas
like an old king and the girl like queen quite
different from the Indians in these parts; more
seen, made OF green feathers, fastened to a
foundation OF linen.
asked what it meant and where he was. speak;
could understand him quite well; 7 told him
ceeded. with the help OF two men who were
with me 10 secure him and his daughter In a
safe place, whereat he flew into a, fearful rage
and cursed all OF us most dreadfully, and more
especially that man who had betrayed him.
that he conjured upon us from heaven. that
my hair stood up upon my head. and as for the
man who brought him here under pretence OF
visiting his child, IL came about that within two
days he died OF a sudden sickness bred OF his
own fears. When the second man heard Of his
place, fearing lest a like fate should oyertake
him. and has been no more heard OF;
Thus II comes about. sehor. that ! alone
hope to introduce my SON tonight, for dare not
trust the Others, and wish to keep them in the
family. nor will let any Indians near them
Well when they had Gained down "A little
spoke TO them through grating, telling them
ed those Jumps OF gold stamped with heart.
To which the old man answered that he had no
knowledge of any such gold. Now, was sure
that he lied and took refuge In another trick.
The cell where they were shut up Is that in
which the old monks imprisoned such as were
suspected of heresy and Others, and close to IL Is
secret place, there are many such In this
house, senior. where a spy may lie hid, and both
In this place eTnsconced T myself. and lay
there for hours, with the rats running over me,
SO anxious was 10 get 10 the truth. In the end
A great deal OF their conversation could make
nothing OF, but at length the girl said after ex-
Look, father, here also they have gold
ut is gilt, not gold. he answered. Il know
except TO- Keep from Corruption the t spears and
arrow heads that fowlers use upon the lake.
"'i wonder what that leaden-e eyed. greedy
faced white thief would say II he knew that in u
single temple we could show him enough OF the
metal he coyets 20 MI this place hye times over
HushH she said, ears may be listening
even even IN these walls; Let = US risk nothing; seeing
hope to escape"
- Well" asked the senior eagerly and what
the old mans name was Zibalbay," he added,
trying 20 recover the slip.
name" Don Pedro replied susplclously, and
with a sudden change OF manner. . lie answered
nothing az t all Next & morning Sd when came to
for otherwise might have asked the old man II
his psme IS ZibTlbay,, l suppose the Indians
WHY, Don Pedro, you said Just now that they
tRs vine IS as aa
have got 10 my head; sometimes i does, weak
ness and bad one. Il Is an odd tele, but there
take cup OF coffee, II Is good"
Thank you. no." answered the sefor, "
never drink coffee at night, II keeps me awake"
still, ! beg you 70 try ours, friend; We grow
1t ourselves and are proud Of Its flavor"
pray do the gentlemen whom i have the honor
to see at table cultivate your plantatiOnsf"
:" Yes, yes, they cultivate the coffee and the
mind. Idaresay you think them roIgh;lq look
ing lot, but they are kind hearted all! SO kind
father. Bah sehor. what is the good OF hiding
the truth from one OF your discernmentf We
90 business OF al sorts here; but the staple OF 1t
!" The trade Is not what il was, those sharks
OF customs Officers down on the coast there
when they did Rot ask questions, II was oIher-
wise, for then men Of pluck were ready for any
thing, from revolution down to the stringing UP
or coach load or lat merchants, but now Is the
day OF small profits, and VIC must be thankful
such as the two Americans who got drunk
and killed each other" suggested the senior,
Instantly Don Pedro's face changed. the sham
geniality born OF drink went out OF II, and WAS
replaced By hard and cunning look.
am tired, sehOr" he said, las You must be
also and, II YOU will excuse me- l will light an
other cigar and take nap In my hammock.
Perhaps you will amuse yourself with the
others, sehor till you wish 20 go 10 rest" And,
rising he bowed and walked somewhat un-
steadily 10 the hammock that was suspended az
the far end OF the room.
When Don Pedro had retired to his hammock,
whittier the Indian girl, LuisR. was summoned
20 swing hun To sleep, saw his son jose and
the American Outcast Smith. both OF whom.
Ike the rest Of the company, were more or less
drunk, come 70 the senior and ask him 70 Join In
4 game Of cards. Guessing that their object
WAS 10 make him show what cash lie had about
him. he also affected 10 be In liquor and replied
that he had lost all his money In the shipWreck
and was. moreover, too full OF wine 10 play.
Then you must have lost IL on the road.
friend. said Don JOse. for you forget that yOu
made those satlors = present from 4 belt OI gold
shieh YO1 s0Es about year Eliddls. H0EevsE