Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-05-08
THE GOLDEN HAND.


I'm determined to make trial for it. -
"You're counting too much on the
word of an Indian. Old Zapetl is noted
liar-like all these Spanish speaking
aborigines.
"Ah, Jack. You do him injustice.
He's deeper liar than you gave him
credit for. Don't you remember that be
told us of the legend in his tribe that
there was a treasure hidden by the an
Gent keeper of the mint on the first
news of the coming of the Spaniards to
Central American Oh, yes. You re-
member that of course. But don't you
remember that he afterward trotted ont
that ridiculous yarn about the mysterl-
GUS golden hand that guarded the hid
ing place and struck down the venture
some seeker for the wealth? It's rldlcu-
lous to believe that the anclents had
enough mechanical knowledge to con-
trive a machine that could prevent one
from getting at the gold. Ten to one its
out Of order anyway. Old Zapetl simply
invented the wives tale of the golden
hand because he didn't want to go on
the trip that might mean death or prl-
walton. I'm resolved to go it have to
start without you"
This was a long speech for my old
comrade, Tom French. We were III the
interior of Central America when the
foregoing conversation took place. 1t
was the end Of many long debate we
had had on the subject Of search for a
treasure. From love of adventure l had
left a comfortable home in the states.
Tom French and I had met as rustlers
on the cattle ranch in Montana and we
became firm friends. When the dearth
struck the cattle ranch business, we
took herd across the country south OF
Texas, where they could feed on the
deep alfalfa. Then we drifted into Mex
leo and into the employ of railroad
company in the capacity of surveyors.
For want of capital the company sus-
pended operations, and Tom and found
ourselves stranded in the City OF Mex
ico We had saved some money, and
when there came proposition to join
some pioneers who thought they saw
fortune in building up coffee planta-
ton in the unexplored lands far to the
south in the state of Chiapas we accept
ed the offer.
Life was pleasant in Mexico, though,
and would have willingly remained,
but Tom was eager, as always, to grasp
the first opportunity that seemed to pre-
sent itself for new adventures. Tom had
'ut one object in life-to make for
tune quickly. Poor fellow, he had
heavy heart most Of the time. He was
IN love, in love with heartless coquette,
SO far as I could learn, and had been re-
jec d. She could never have been worthy
Of him, yet be blindly believed that the
girl would marry him if he could lay
fortune ut her feet. As remember his
buoyancy and courage in the face Of OBJ
gtaeles that would have discouraged 9TH
e1s my sympathy brings tears to my
ewes 1ut this is anticipating my story.
10 reach the highlands from the east
ern coast it had required two weeks
hard toiling up the hills, cut by clefts
and eullies and traversed by mountain
streams We had cleared away tract
and set ut coffee plants, with the aid
of the GOOD natured, lazy Indians, and
Tom we'd again the legend of the
TREASURE arther up in the mountain fast
9,esr Is he had heard it from one and an.
other Vi me Indians in their soft accents
in broken Spanish and Indian. The leg
end was briefly that deep in the center
OF crater of a worn out volcano the
ancient Indians of that country had ex-
cavated a vault where they had piled up
countless bars Of virgin gold. There was
above this planted q bowlder, the only
indication of the hiding place. The pc.
culiarity Of the crater was that it was
four square, half mile each way, and
from the summit to the floor distance
of 500 feet. To reach the floor there was
a hidden path, and this was guarded by
a mysterious golden hand. Tradition,
4i,e Indians said, made it possible to To-
cate the mountain in only one way.
THAT was by climbing the peaks in the
barren region far above us to the south.
eastward until one should be found from
whose lofty crest there were three other
peaks forming a straight line. In the
central mountain was the treasure.
Few burdens could be carried with us
in that high, rare atmosphere, and we
were soon Oh our way with old Zapetl
shaking his head, as if in prediction of
disaster. Hardened as we were by our
out Of door life, the strain was terrible,
We lost our way repeatedly and found
ourselves confronted by vast crevices in
our pathway up the mountain side.
wide. detours, costing us half day and
sometimes day Of valuable time, were
perforea made: only to find ourselves at
the top Of a yreoipice that barred our
progress, We had with infinite trouble
climbed two lofty mountains only to
find ourselves at the summit out OF
range of the mountain tops, as demand
ed by the legend, when finally refused
to go farther, 1t was suicidal. Half ous
provisions and water were gone. But
Tom pleaded for one more chance. EDO
you see that long rangef" he cried.
"It's in one Of those. Let's make one
more attempt" In mistaken pity for
him yielded.
AS we 9eached the summit, behold
There were three mountain peaks in q
row. Tom sprang forward and after an
other struggle we were at the top of the
central mountain. AS we approached
the top it could be seen that there had
been volcanic action in ages past. Ia.
petl's eyes were rolling in every direc-
ton, on the look out for some superna
tural phenomenon. Suddenly bursting
through dense fringe Of bushes we fonnd
ourselves on the very edge of vas!
crater, AS with common impulse we
looked to the center and there was al
immense bowa5er Sat last,' crie6
Tom, sat last!" Then he ran his eye
along the verge, scanning It foot BY
foot. "Ths path, he almost screamed
and he stumbled along at pace that
exhausted as we were, we could scarce
~ maintain. "Take care, Tom. I man
aged to ejaculate, though was nesrls
as wild as he. But Tom apparentl,
heard nothing. He had eyes and ear
only for the one goal.
The path along the side Of the preci
pice, we eonld see, led upward from tn