Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-09

well. what do you adviser" asked
Brightsmith anxiously.
Clearly, the first thing is to verify the
existence of the mine. That settled, you
must remove the government stop and
get possession. The whole affair is COM
prfsed in those two points. You can't work
the mine without squaring the government
and you don't want to square the govern
ment II there is 70 mine. Some one must
start for MarbellA at once"
Aye, but who? It's forty-mile rider
paused before answering him. l was
not in robust health, but a few days OF
horseback among the Vermilion hills would
act as fine tonic. To ride to Marbella
and back would be nothing to a man who
had almost lived in the saddle for wears
What l should find mere child's play would
be serious eXertion for my soft and fieshy
friend Br.ghtsmith. 1t would be time
enough for him to face the effort when he
went armed with proper authority to take
possession Of the mine
OF course We might send an emissary
put mat would have meant taking some
outsider into our confidence, and. after
all these years. l knew no guide or mn
iateer at Gibraltar whom could thorough
ly trust.
81 III go myself Harry" I said at length.
Il know my way about. I've been to Mar
bella before l can easily find my way there
alone. ard on to the mine-if there is one
this side of the Sierra Morena Three or
four days from now ought to settle that
part of the question.
MY preparations were soon made A visit
10 Montegrifos stables secured me a SER
Viceaoie mount. The hunting season was
now over, and l had plenty of choice. I
hired a big-boned, fea-bitten gray. with
a huge head-an ugly horse but of the
class and color much esteemed in southern
Spain for spirit and endurance. 1 had
breeches and 'putties" in my portmanteau
showed few necessaries in NV saddle
wallets and I was ready for the road.
by mat night 1 reached Estepona
and put up AT the Fonda del Mar Here
ban ho1
A1ter sound sleep, and seeing that nv
horse ate all his barley, l continued nv
Journey soon after daybreak The road
lieu aiong the coast. mere mule track.
the waters edge, and when the sun rose
upon the CLASSY sea- glinting brightly upon
the white houses Of the distant town I
thought it the fairest scene I had viewed
for many day
when still some miles from Marbella. 7
came upon a busy scene down upon the
peach below me. The coast line made a
deep lndentation here. running back into a
small cove or creek, and | saw that a
1alucha, or lateen-sailed craft of this coun
try, lying close in. was being laden win
produce OF some sort packed IN small kegs.
Hard Dy stood. 4 group of patient beas ~
burden, mules and donkeys bv which NO
doubt, the cargo had been brought thither
WIN careless interest ! paused to watch
tne work, and while 1 watched it came to
an end; the animals were got ready for
the road; with many an "aree" (eee nm,
ana ferce whack of the stick the train was
started In the direction that l myself was
gong But saw no more of it until an
-FOUR or SO later, when, having nassed
through Marbella without haltine 7 came
Upon 1t well inside the Llanura valley. II
must nave taken some shorter cut hut
TINS concerned me less than the obvious
TACT that 1t was heading for the mine
L saw that the beasts now bore no loads
They lad the weary. footsore gait of ami
mails mat had Travelled far. and 1 was
satlsned-the conclusion was inevitable
that they had been down to the coast wit h
cargo of-ore. What else but minerals
could be raised In this inhospitabie valley
whose iron-bound sides now rose straight
into the pass? 'o-
hauled the party
lmmed iately man. no doubt its leader.
detached himself from the party and came
toward me. He was of dark. forbiddinp
aspect, and he addressed me with scont
courtesy. Disdaining to reply to my '.Vaya
usted con dos, the usual compliment of
the road, he peremptorily asked me who
was and whittier 1 was going.
Il am an English officer from La Penon
l said shortly
This read leads nowhere"
torted
Ihat is our affair; we have no account
TO render to you. 1t Is our ground thjs
we want no strangers here Turn back!'
w hat treasures do you keep concealed
IN the rocks up there? A hidden gold mine
rerchance?" '
AT my use of the word "Escondida' the
man started as If 1 had shot him. then
shouted few sharp words to his COM
pahiors. In an instant they had hailed
laced round, and came at me with such an
ugly. threatening look that in common
prudence | retired before them
MY good gray soon left them far behind
| rein. w. Wing
There, at the inn, I refreshed man and
| oeast. and sought some Confederation ri
| my suspicious. The landlords reluctance
IN answering NY questions his repeatad
Dios sabe God only knows) Confirmed me
| In my belief that there was really a mine
ana tnat IL was being worked more or l.ss
| secretly and not for the benefit of McKiI
| lop's heirs ASANi'
| gained further and more convincing cvi.
uence on my homeward ride, and on visit
| ing the place where the falucha had been
| taxing In cargo. the boat was gone 7
| could see its sails on the far horizon. Rut
mere upon the beach was an unmfst n ka hIa
| teIl-tale of what her business had been
| one OF the bags must have burst as II
was going on board. and some of fta CON-
tents We're scattered about in the sand.
picked up half a dozen pieces of dark-col-
ored stone, which Brightsmith, when I nro-
duced them, pronounced to be, without
coubt. galena or ore of lead
/ II was on the third morning at Gibraltar
not long after guEfire, that / reused him
out to .eli him my news. He was profuse
in his thanks. but cut him short
I'VE had better push through to Madrid
| without loss of time" said.
The game must be played out there"
| All that tedious and fatiguing Journey INV
friend rallied against all rogucs, Spaniards