The Washington times., 1903-01-25
Continued from Page ), This Section.

peCJ, Te1Olneu tOrGp lauGnln8- ne
disappointment if we shouldn't bring
back the treasure, viii be all the
greater If you do"
Don't you worry, sir" said the
trader with emphasis IF there's
gold in them lis yonder like that
Senior Rodriguez showed US, Him go
in to ave my share, an don't you
forget it,
In a short time they got the Hamas
started up the trail, and with Fitch in
the lead and the Spaniard, leaning on
Keeth's arm. hobbIng along in the
rear, moved on HUalpa. The little
mountain settlement was reached just
at dusk. Their entrance was scarcely
noticed, and they struggled Rodriguez
into a back room Of the hotel without
attracting the least attention. They
were anxious that their wounded ac-
uuaintance should not be recognized
by any of the party Of Indians who
had attacked him. if they were Turk
ing about the town
Fitch made a bargain with a return
ing trader. who happened to be at the
posada, to take his whole stock, and
got rid of his Iamas as we'll Through
the same agent Jose Rodriguez sold
one of his bars of gold, with the pro-
ceeds of which he purchased an out
fit for the proposed journey into the
interior of the Sierras. The other
bars he deposited with q fellow coun-
tryman living at Hualpa.
Rodriguez's wound having nearly
healed at the end of a week, and he
having. recovered from the fatigues
Of his experience in the mountains,
preparations were made for an i'm
mediate start upon what they were
careful TO make public was a search
for nitrate beds. Keeth. whose firm
was well known in the town, took
command, and his presence gave color
to the avowed intentions Of the party.
But it was left to Fitch to engage
guide, for he had had the longer eX-
perience in dealing with the Indians.
And he found a man who more than
satisfied Keith and Ford Kinsale-
Neither Of them had ever seen such a
big man among the Indians Of the
coast. Fitch declared him to be
member of an interior tribe-one
which he had occasionally traded with
far superior in point of intelligence
as well as in form and feature to the
natives who make up the bulk Of
HuaIpa's population. Rodriguez ex-
pressed no opinion Of the guide at all.
In fact. he did not see him until the
party were ready to leave the posada
on the morning Of departure.
The Indian was known by the name
Of Manuel, he having probably been
baptized into the Catholic Church by
some wandering priest when child
NominaHy all the native Peruvians
are under priestly control although
their ignorance Of religious, as vel as
other matters, is appalling. He was
a man fully six feet in height-as tall
as Ronald Keith hinself-with
mighty chest and arms like a gladI-
ator. He wore a loose tunic Of cured
skin, sandals. and very little else. His
right shoulder was untrammeled by
even the sack-like tunic, but the gar
ment was beIted in at the waist and
fell nearly to his knees. He carried
a long knife in his belt and a spear
for q staff. His long black hair made
other covering for his head unneces-
sary, and the thongs of his sandals.
wound round and round his ankles,
protected those parts from the rocks.
He professed himself entirely IA
miliar with the SieTras for a hundred
leagues to the north Of Hualpa and
agreed to guide the party directly 10
the spot where the three pines over
hung the gorge. For a small sum in
addition he offered to carry one of
them the entire distance in a chair,
or cradle, such as these mountaineers
often bear upon their shoulders. But
none Of the four cared TO travel in
that precarious way
Hive rid on one Of these fellows
backs" said Fitch; but one trip was
enough. HI was sicker than Wen
come acrost from Lunnon ten year
ago. A man don't feel safe swingin'
over precipices a thousand feet deep
with nothin' but a strap around
Hinjun's cad a-holdin' Of i'm on"
They left Hualpa early one morning
and set out over a trail TO the north,
z path which showed for the first few
miles that it was much Travelled. Each
one in the party carried q pack strap
ped to his shoulders. and Keith bore
a coil of small. though very stout,
hemp rope The four Europeans were
heavily armed. and Ford, because Of
his inexperience. and Fitch, because
Of his blind contempt for the inhabi-
tants Of the mountains, felt confident
that they would be more than match
for any party Of wild Indians which
might attack them. Jose Rodriguez
assured them that the tribe who had
held him captive so Ions knew moth .
ing about the use of firearms, fighting
eutire< with bows and arrows. spears !
and great war clubs.
Wy" cried Fitch in talking il over, /
we can go right in, harmed as we are, I