Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-09-12
Ience. ana 1 Soy bis leart was hearY.

On Tie morrow or this Calk coulu leave
my bed, and within q week was almost
we'll. Now it was that Guatemoc came to
mo again, saying that he had been hidden
by Cuitlahua, the emperor, to command
me to accompany him, Guatemoc, on q
service of trust and secrecy. And indeed
the nature of the service showed how great
u confidence the leaders Of tho Aztecs now
placed in me, for it was none other than
tho hiding away of tho treasure that had
been recaptured from the Spaniards on the
night of fear, and with it much more
from tho secret stores of the empire.
At the fall of darkness we started, some
Of the great lords, Guatemoc and I, and
coming to tho waters edge we found 10
largo canoes, each laden with something
that was hidden by cotton cloths. Into the
canoes wo entered secretly, thinking that
none saw us, three to O canoe, for thero
were 80 Of us in all, and led by Guatemoc
we padded for two hours or more across
tho Lake Tezcuco till we reached the far
ther shore at o spot where this prince had
fair estate. Here we landed, and the
cloths were withdrawn from the cargoes of
the canoes, which were great jars and
other precious objects, among them like
ness of the head of Montezuma, fashioned
in solid gold, which was so heavy that 1t
was as much as Guatemoo and could do
to lift between us. AS for tho jars, OF
which, If my memory serves me, there
were II, six men must carry each Of them
by tho help Of paddles lashed on either
side, and then the task was not light. All
this priceless stuff we bore in several jour
neys to the crest of o rise some hundred
PAGES distant from the water, setting 1t
down by the mouth Of shaft behind tho
shelter of mound of earth. When every
thing was brought up from the boats,
Guatemoc touched me and another man,
q great Aztec noble, born of Tlascalan
mother, on tho shoulder, asking US If we
were willing to descend with him into the
hole and thereto dispose of the treasure.
GLADLY" I answered, for was curious
to SEQ tho place, but the noble hesitated
awhile, though in the end he came with
u.s. to his III fortune.
Then Guatemoc took torches in his hand
and was lowered into the shaft by rope.
Next came my turn, and down / went,
hanging to the cord like spider to its
thread, and the whole was very deep. At
length I found myself standing by the
sido Of Guatemoc at tho foot Of the shaft,
round which, as saw by the light of the
torch he carried, an edging of dried bricks
was built up to the height of man above
our heads. Resting on this edging and
against the wall of the shaft was massive
block of stone sculptured with tho picture
writing of the Aztecs. glanced at tho
writing, which could now read well, and
saw that 1t recorded the burying of the
treasure In the first year Of Cuitlahua,
emperor Of Mexico, and also q most fear.
full curse on him who should dare to steal
it. Beyond us and at right angles to tho
shaft ran another passage, 10 PAGES in
length and high enough for man to
walk in, which led to chamber followed
in the earth, as large as that wherein
write today at buckingham. BY the
mouth of this chamber were placed piles
of adobe bricks and mortar, much as tho
blocks of hewn stones had been placed In
that underground vault at Seville where
Isabella dc Siguenza was brlckcd up liv-
ing.
''Who dug this placer" I asked.
"Those who knew not what they dug"
answered Guatemoc. "But sec, here Is
our companion. Now, my brother,
charge you be surprised at nothing which
comes to pass, and be assured have good
reason for anything that may do"
Before could speak again tho Aztec
noble was at our side. Then those above
began to lower the jars and sacks Of treas
ure, and rs they reached us one by one
Guatemoc looscd the ropes and checked
them, while the Aztec and rolled them
down the passage into the chamber, is
here in England men roll q cask of ale.
For two hours and more We worked till
at length all were down, and the tale was
complete. The last parcel to be lowered
Yves q sack of jewels that burst open as 1t
came and descended upon us in glitter
ing rain of gems. AS 1t chanced, great
necklace of emeralds of surprising size
and beauty fell over my head and hung
upon my shoulders.
"Keep 1t, brother, {" laughed Guatemoo,
Gin memory of this night" and, nothing
,loath, hid the bau5le in my breast. That
necklace have yet, and stone Of 1.-THE
smallest save one-I gave to our gracious
Queen Elizabeth. Otomie wore 1t for many
years, and for this reason 1t shall be buried
with me, though its value Is priceless, so
say those who are skilled in gems. But,
priceless or no, it is doomed to lio in the
mold of Buckingham churchyard, and
may that same curse which Is graved upon
the stone that hides the treasure Of the
Aztecs fall upon him who steals 1t from
my bones.
Now, leaving the chamber, we three en-
tered tho tunnel and began the work of
building the adobe wall. When it wss Of
O height Of between two and three feet,
Guatemoc paused from bis labor and bade
mo hold a torch aloft. I obeyed, wonder
ing what no wished to see. Then he drew
back some three PAGES into the tunnel and
spoke to the Aztec noble, our companion,
by name.
''What is the fate Of discovered traitors,
friend?" he said in voice that, quiet
though ii was, sounded very terrible, and
as he spoke he loosed from his side the war
club set with spikes of glass that hung
there by thong
Now the Aztec turned gray beneath his
Qu5hy bhln hlio Uleilulcu Ill lCohs
'What mean you, lordf" he gasped.
"You know we'll what Imean," answer
ed Guatemoc in the same terrible voice,
and lifted tho club.
Then the doomed man fell upon his
knees crying for mercy, and his wailing
sounded SO awful in that deep and lonely
place that in my horror Invent near to let
ting the torch fall.
ITO foe can give meroy-to traitor
nonc," answered Guatemoc, and whirling
tho club aloft he. rushed upon the noble
and killed him with blow. Then setzing
tho body in his strong embrace he cast 1t
into the chamber with the treasure, and
there it lay still and dreadful among the
gems and gold, tho arms, as 1t chanced,
being wound about two of the great jars
as though the dead man would clasp them
to his heart
Now I looked at Guatemoc, who had
slain him, wondering If my hour vas at
hand also, for I knew well that when
princes bury their wealth they hold that
few should share the secret
'Fcar not, my brother" said Guate
p