, 1896-04-13
THE GOLDEN HAND.
LEGEND OF HIDDEN TREASURE IN
CENTRAL AMERICA.

~, ysesursssDs Mon Hear the Story
Ysse an OLD J.Ase.. s.d with Him -
-avsAs rhsy Seek Ost tAs Plsos-OnIs
rvs Il ~ r.<sy Rseurs.
You're counting too much on the
word Of an Indian. Old Zapetl il a not
Cd har-like all these Spanish speaking
aborigines."
.sAh, Jack. you do him injustice.
Hes q deeper liar than you give him
credit for. It's ridiculous to believe
that the apcients had enough mechanical
knowledge to contrive a machine that
couli prevent one from getting at the
gold"
This Inst speech was from my old
comrade, Tom French. We were in the
interior Of Central America when the
foregoing conversation took place. 1t
was the end Of mary a long debate we
had had on the subject Of a search for e
treasure.
The legend was briefly that deep in
the center Of a crater Ct q wornout vol
cano the ancient Indians of that coun.
try had excavated q vault where tley
had piled mp countless bars Of virgin
gold. There was above this planted u
bowlder, the only indication Of the hid
ing place. The peculiarity of the crater
was that it was four square, half a mile
each way. ard from the summit to the
floor, a distance of 500 feet. To reach
the floor there was a hidden path aud
this was guarded by a mysterious gold
en- hand. Tradition, the Indians said.
made it possible q locate the mountain
in only one way. That was hy climbing
the peaks in the barren region far above
MS to the eoutheastward until enc should
be found from whose lofty crests there
were three 9 peaks forming n 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 Ia
petl shaking his head, - if in predic-
tion Of disaster. Hardened as we were
by our out Of door life. the strain was
terrible. We lost o way repeatedly
and found ourselves confronted by yast
crevices In our pathway up the mountain
side. Wide detours. costing us half q
day and sometimes q day Of valuable
time, we're perforce made. only to find
ourselves at the top Of a precipice that
barred our progress. We had with in
finite trouble climbed two lofty noun
tains, only to find ourselves at the sum-
init out Of range of other mountain
towns, as demanded by the legend, when
] finally refused 10 go farther. 1t WIS
suicidal. HALF our provisions and
were gone. But Tom pleaded for one
more chance. "Do you see that long
ranger" he cried. "It'si in ono Of those.
Let's make u more attempt" In mis-.
taken pity for him ! yielded.
Az we reached the summit, behold
there were three mountain peaks in a
row. Tom sprang forward mud after
another struggle We were at the top Of
the central mountain. As we approach
Cd the top it could be seen that there
had been volcanic action in ages past.
Zapetl's eyes were rolling In every di-
rection. on the lookout for eone super.
natural phenomenon. Suddenly bursting
through, dense fringe Of bushes we
found ourselver on the very edge of a
vast crater. Al with common impulse
We looked to the center, and there was
an immense bowlder. "At last, cried
Tom, ''at lastr' Then he ran his eye
along the verge. scanning it foot by
foot "The PATH" he almost screamed.
and he stumbled along at a pace that,
exhausted as We were. we could scarce
y maintain. Take care. Tom." ! man.
aged to calculate. though / was nearly
- wild as he. But Tom apparently
beard nothing. He had eyes and ears
only for the one goal.
Tina path along the side Of the preci-
pics. We could see, led upward from the
wide door Of the arena far below Ms.
ont the top VAS concealed from our in
tent gam BY \ dense mass Of ehrubbery,
Around the aides Of the crater we half
seumbled, half ran. When we reached
the spot where We thought It possible
TO strike upon the opening, we made
daahes hsrs and there into the greenery.
Altar many disappointments a cry from
Tom told me tho path had been found.
zapst3 BY this time was In 4 state Of
oollapss through fear and fatigue. Again
warned Tom to exercise caution, but
b plunged ahead. and I followed as
slowly - ! could. The path downward
was ~ more than 4 foot in width, and
1t rsquired all my strength and dexteri-
y to keep my footing. Suddenly ON
rounding . sharp angle In the face Of
the peeutpioe ! waa confronted by q fat
rock dvo minutes climb further down.
II seeAse 10 b ct in the face Of the
Czo1ef and to Int ont. outtinQ on further