Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-11-07


| hunting or fishing although it wa,
| done occasionally. Their settlement
| was developed to an unusual degree
and signs of civilization were apparent
at many places.
II was not long before members OF
| this family began appearing periodical
| ly at the mouth of the OrinocO with
gold nuggets to exchange with foreign
traders for what they wanted at home
Even in its mdeveioped form this gold
was almost pure. II was sent TO civlliZ.
ed countries and assayed, and all who
examined ii pronounced it to be the
pureSt gold ever mined.
The ancient Vcnezuclans heard OF
this rich treasure, and some Of them
sought to find out its secret source and
share in the riches it was sure TO bring.
But the old family would brook no in
truder. Lines were carefully drawn
and guarded. The gold would go to
market and all who saw il would be
aStoniShcd, but no outsider was per
mitted to see the wonderful mine.
Often while on their way to the from
tier or the mouth of the river in spite
of all the secrecy and efforts to hide
that might be observed, members OF
the family would be attacked and rob
bed. sometimes killed. But the treas
ure continued to flow out of that re
gion, seemingly ineXhaustible. The
fame of the mine spread abroad, and
the tradition grew that here was the
richest gold mine in the world.
Lcng years afterward when the
story Of the mine became better
known, it was revealed that only few
members Of the old tribe really knew
where the mine was located. The
secret was hidden from all except the
few whose assistance was necessary in
mining the treasure. But the whole
tribe knew that the vein that had been
found was continuous one, very near
the surface of the earth. and very easi-
ly mined.
1t was not possible that great treas
ure of this kind should be heralded
abroad and the cupidity Of neighbors
not be excited. 1t took years for this
to be done to such an extent that the
security of the growing tribe would be
disturbed But the time came, and all
the resources of the settlement were
necessary to repel the invaders.
But, like the Goths and Vandals, the
invaders continued to come with ever
increasing frequency and strength.
The little tribe was diminishing, and
there were walls in the cabins of the
Gold tribe, as it had come to be called.
The struggle became so fierce that the
boats no longer wended their sinuous
way down the Chanaro and the Ori-
nocO. Lest outsiders should finally
force their way through, the mouth of
the mine was covered up, and every
effort made to destroy trace of it to
all except the initiated.
At last the final struggle came. In
dans broke through the fortitications
that had been erected, and the settle
ment was Overrun. Most Of the old
tribe were ruthlessly killed, and only
one of the miners survived. He lurked
about the neighborhood for several
place, saw the homes burned, and saw
the invaders take away gold in great
quantities, for the tribe had used gold
to make the simple necessities Of the
hearth and the table.
But the lurking miner saw that the
source of his treasure was not found.
He saw, too. that the secret marks had
not been discovered, and his heart re
joiced. Then he started on a journey
toward civilization. He now and then
met strange Indians, but successfully
passed by them, in many cases win
ming their friendship. At last he reach
ed the mouth of the Orinoco and told
the story of his travels to the settlers
there But he would never tell the
story of the mine, nor where it was to
be found.
Every inducement was made to this
old miner to secure the secret of the
mine But he said it was the secret Of
his tribe, and with that secret he would
die Years went by, and the settlers
petted the aged frontiersman, cajoled
him, took every means to prolong his
life in the hope that some day he would
tell the story-that he would reveal the
sesame that would open the door to the
lost treasure.
But, no. He would tell all but the
Whereabouts of that gold His years
were drawing to an end. One day
death came. Just before the end ar
rived the old miner arose from his
couch, and, grasping a support to hold
him up, exclaimed:
Find the fish, the fish, Read it, read
it,
"The fish," asked Glenn when the
aged woman had reached this point in
the story, his enthusiasm having been
aroused as the narrative progressed.
Did you say the fish,
Yes" she answered, that was the
dying gasp OF the old settler. He said
no more"
Il have found it, exclaimed Glenn.
II have found it, but | cannot read the
writing. Who can read il? Where can
| find some one that can read itF
"Ah, sir. that do not know. l have
told you the story of the secret mine
1t is rich beyond all value, and if il
could be found Venezuela would be q
Klondike, a South Africa and Cali
fOrnia all In one"
Glenn showed his pictures to the old
woman and asked her if she recognized
the inscription.
mo, signor," she replied; that is
something like Toltec, but can't read
it, Perhaps the man who knows that
Language is dead too. 1t was written
years and years ago, you know"
The narrator continued on her story
She said that after the miners death
adventurcrs had gone inland TO search
for the fish, but had found nothing
Many OF them had caught the fever
and died. In the surrounding country
remains Of settlers were found here