The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-26

been closed up in the reign of Geutemoc
and the scroll was written by the ca
Clique who had charge of the mine in
those days, in order that a record
might remain that would enable his de-
Scendants TO reopen it should a time
come when the Spaniards were driven
from the land. That the mine was
very rich in free gold, was shown by
the weights of pure metal stated in this
scroll to have been sent year after
year to the court of Montezuma by this
cacique, and also by the fact that it
was thought worth hiding from the
Spaniards.
Early on the morrow I went to the
room of the Senior Strickland and spoke
to him with a heavy heart.
"Senor," 1 said, you will remember
that when 1 entered your service
told you that l might have to leave
it at any moment. Now l have come
a messenger has arrived TO summon me
to the other end of Mexico upon bust
ness of which I may not speak. and to-
morrow must start upon the journey"
81 am sorry to hear it, Ignatio,' -
he answered, "for you have been a
good friend to me. Still, you do well
| to separate your fortunes from those of
an unlucky man."
"And you, Senior do ill to speak thus
| to me-" answered with indignation;
"still, I forgive you, because 1 know
! that at times when the heart is sore,
| the mouth speaks words that are not
meant. Listen, senior, when you have
| eaten your breakfast, will you take a
ride with me?"
| Certainly, if you like. But where
! do you want to ride to-"
ITO another mine that is, or should
! be, about two hours on horseback from
| here in a valley at the foot of yonder
| peak. I only heard of it last night,
! though 1 came to .Cumarvo to seek it,
and it would seem that it was very
rich in Montezuma's day"
I'm Montezuma's day." he said.
Eyes, it was last worked then, and I
propose, if we can find it and it looks
we'll, that you should denounce 1T for
! yourself, giving reward of few dol
lars to the Indian-who is poor man
from whom I had the information
but if it is so good, why don't you
denounce it, Ignatio; and how did you
come to hear about it after all these
years?"
"For two reasons, senior: first, be-
cause / wish to do you a service if it
is in my humble power, and, secondly,
because 1 must leave you and cannot
look after it, though that would be a
true grief to me, for, if you will permit
me to say SO, never have / met a man
for whom I have conceived a greater
respect and affection. Perhaps, if L
return again, you will give me a share
in the profits, so that we may grow
rich together. And now / will show
you how 1 came to hear of it." And I
fetched the scroll with the translation
that had made, and read it to him.
He listened eagerly, for like yourself
Senior Jones, your countryman, James
Strickland, loved adventure and all
things that have to do with the past of
this ancient land.
LET us go at once" he said when
had finished 81 will order the horses
and mule with the prospecting kit to
be got ready. Shall we take men with
us?"
81 think not, senior; the mine is not
yet found, and the less. talk there is
about it the better, for If the matter
is noised abroad somebody may be be-
fore you in denouncing it. The mes
senger who came to see me last night
is trusty man, but he is weary with
journeying, and rests, SO we will go
alone"
An hour later we were riding among
the mountains, I having left a mes
sage for Molas to say that I should
return before dark. The trail that we
were following was a difficult one, and
ran for some miles along the edge of a
precipice till it reached the crest of the
range. Indeed, so bad was it in parts
that we were forced to dismount and
drive the horses and mule before us,
while we followed. clinging to the ferns
and creeperS on the rocks to keep our
selves from falling.
At length we came to the summit of
the range, and turned downward