The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-07-15
MIR. PENCE pIscoyERs GoI,D.

MIR. PENCE DISCOVERS GOLD.
With much difficulty Mr.. Simon
Pence scaled the heights overlook
ing the bay, and, aided by Vincent,
finally reached the top. He cast one
lingering look behind, and followed
his young and sturdy companion into
the half-jungle which lay before
them. They found it possible, by
following the cliffs along the ocean,
to make fairly rapid progress. Their
march was hindered by frequent
gorges, but they proceeded laborious-
ly but steadily in southern direc-
ton
Shortly after noon they ate their
luncheon. They rested on ledge
fronting the sea. Two miles to the
south huge crag reached out into
the blue water, and beyond no land
was visible. They decided to make an
attempt to climb the promontory,
believing that it would afford view
of the south shore, and perhaps a
general survey of the island.
The brush thickened. They slowly
forced their way through a thicket;
Mr.. Pence in advance. Suddenly he
gave cry of terror, and fell over
Vincent in his wild retreat.
Before them stood a monster-the
grotesque figure of human being,
with outstretched arms. hideous face
and protruding teeth. At glance
Vincent recognized it as stone i'm
age, and shouted reassuringly to the
fleeing explorer.
In the open space before them
were the massive ruins of temples
and palaces; the tomb of a city
which had iourished and decayed
long before the dawn of recorded
history. On mound and terrace
were crumbling relics of former
grandeur.
The ruins covered many acres, and
lay back from the cliffs distance
not exceeding 100 yards. There
We're traces of ancient fountains,
with figures half-buried in the mud
and slime of what once were pleas
ing pools.
In the center of the ruined city
was a pyramidal mound, surmount-
(
have been an imposing structure.
Vincent climbed up this mound and
gazed with awe on the grewsome
figures which were scattered in odd
postures around the stone floor of
the temple. In one corner the floor
had caved in and revealed subter-
ranean vault or chamber of I'M
known extent. Vincent lowered him
self to the floor below. At first it was
80 dark he could not survey his sur
roundings, but his eyes became ac-
customed to the gloom. He stumbled
over the uneven surface and entered
passageway leading to the left.
Mr.. Pence called to him from over
head, and Vincent answered.; his
voice sounding sepulchral as it
echoed through the corridors. A
opening into smaller room. Vim
cent lit a match and entered. The
walls were covered with a growth
of fungus, but his eyes We're riveted
to collection of carved figures of
various size which lined three sides
of the wall.
They evidently were images or
idols, and were ugly enough to have
scared the worshippers into any con-
fession or belief. They rested on
stone shelf formed by the top Of
IA mosaic wainscoting which project
8led from the walls. Vincent picked
.up one of the smaller images and
Sstarted back to examine it more
kcarefully in the daylight. 1t seemed
Remarkably heavy, but he imagined
Il to be bronze or copper, furnished
the rust of ages. Vincent found
\. Pence looking down into the
p Ne, but making no move to quit
"a firma.
See what I have found" said