Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1903-04-01
cnArrnn 30 1contInued.l

CHAPTER XII (ContInuedJ
Jacks hand trembled as he touched |
the half-bowed and supplicating SEN
tinel that In all these decades, while
the world was moving on, making
wonderful history. had remained here
in the dense jungle, guarding well the
secret Of those strange people Of Aztec
times.
Jack estimated the value OF the
statue at some thousands Of pounds in
London, even at the present depreciat-
ed price Of silver.
But they were after higher game,
and could well afford to scornfully cast
this base bullion aside.
1t was not long before the descend
ing pick struck metal, and presently
Jack, shovel in hand, had cleared q
slab that had a dull lustre not unlike
bronze.
Barrajo danced what, in another
quarter of the world, might have been
termed an Irish jig or Scottish horn
pipe.
''Por Dios! 1t is just as the docu-
ment relates. The old Indian did not
deceive me. Come. lift the trap with
me, Senior Jack. See, stone steps lead
down to the ruins of the old Aztec
temple Oh! tell you. my president,
we are the luckiest men on the face Of
the earth, this night, since we have
but to stretch out our hands to clutch
fortune"
The invitation to descend, given by
Barrato, as the two fortune hunters
surveyed the ancient stone steps lead
ing to some mysterious subterranean
depository of the Montezumas was q
most welcome sound to Overton.
They had come upon the expedition
fully prepared for all emergencies, and
the gloomy depths of the yawning pit
below had no terrers for such brave
hearts, So taking pick and spade, they
began to descend
At the bottom of the stairway they
came TO long slab, forming a Intel
over the top Of a door. Upon digging
the doorway was uncovered and was
found to be blocked by o huge metate
or native milestone. Carved across It's
entire surface were inscriptions In the
hieroglyphics Of civilized race.
As snon SIS the doorway had been cut
through the two adventurous treasure
hunters entered the chamber Of the
tempIe-tomb Mural paintings. repre-
senting female figures draped in
shrouds and in attitudes Of prayer,
were on the walls. inches in the
crypt contained number Of skulls,
and other bones comprising parts Of
skeletons were scattered about. These
were all painted bright red Red,
1t may be remarked, was the mourning
color OF the Aztecs.
There were numbers Of idols in the
cave, doubtless looked upon as ex-
ceedingly chaste In these olden times,
but their supreme uglinesss gave Jack
rude shock when his artistic eye
first Tell upon them.
However their faults, while many
from this point of view, could be read
lily condoned when the fact was taken
into consideration that each and every
one OF the little monsters seemed to
have been fashioned from crude metal,
ami even Overtons inexperienced eye
was able to tell that 1t was gold un-
alleged.
This was giorious-s still. 1t was only
beginning.
With trembling fingers they picked
up many of the less weighty images
and vases.
By degrees the two men managed to
recover their wits and calm down
when they set about rough estimate
of the value OF their find
Overton was fain to agree with the
general when the latter exultantly ex-
claimed that in all probability never
before In the history Of the world
from the days Of King Solomon down
to the present time. had such vast
treasure been heaped up In one pile
It was like a dream--overton In his
widest moods, when fancy ran away
with reason, had never Imagined &c
marvellous thing.
Finally Barrajo said: Remember
our sacred compact, Senior Jack--ar
equal division II we both live; shoult
misfortune overtake us while we arr
10 the act OF removing the treasure
the enc who survives is entitled to all
after he has settled few bequest
we have taken the palms to writ
jointly. Is this so understood7"
1T is in the bond general; and ma,
heaven deal with me as deal will
you.
They solemnly shook hands as
to again ratify the bargain.
Barraio and Jack had as yet no sus
piclon that they were followed fror
San Juan, and, eager to begin opera
lions, the two comrades had oac
seized upon several images that wer
most handy and began to lug the IN