The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1909-07-16
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+ FERRUBY. +
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-

Harry opened his eyes and looked
around him like one awaklng from
muddled dream. He was lying on
soft bed of long, serrated leaves that
had been stripped from great tree
ferns that grew near at hand
An old, withered, brlght-eyed Indian
woman, who sat beside him, placed a
leather bottle to his lips, from which
he drank eagerly Of pineapple chica.
The wine stimulated him and cleared
his head, and he sat up and looked
around him inquiringly. A short dis
tance from him his burro was brows-
ing among the shrubbery and under a
feather palm lay his pack saddle and
outfit
As he looked westward he saw that
the sun was halfway down the slope
of the sky, and, lowering his eyes, he
saw the burning, shimmerlng desert,
and shuddered as he remembered all
that remained In his consciousness of
the terrible journey he had made
across 1t. Addressing the old woman
In Spanish, he asked "Wlll the sonora
kindly tell me where l ann"
"She WILL" was the reply. "The
senior Is at the foot of the western
slope of lei Tres Diablos'"
Then she proceeded to tell him that
in a dream she had been apprised Of
his coming and was there at the edge
Of the desert to receive him, and that
he, and also the burro, had fallen help.
less at her feet when they arrived.
"You are seeking the lost mine near
the little lake In the heart Of I'll Tres
Dlablos," she said "but | do not think
you will find 1t. But this I will tell
you; If you can draw the water from
the small, deep basin that contains the
lake, you will find on its rocky floor
more wealth than was ever possessed
by the Montezumas.
'sTons Of blocks Of gold belonging to
the people who owned the mine were
cast into the lake by them before they
were slaughtered by the Spaniards
and there 1t has remained undisturbed
until this day. I will conduct you to
the lake when you are stronger. Nay
do not ask me how know this, for
may not tell you, but here declare to
you that I speak the truth"
Thirty days after crossing that val
ley of death Harry had surveyed and
mapped the little lake and so much
Of Its environs as he cared to possess,
and then took his departure for Mex.
leo City.
When Harry arrived at El Tres
Diablos on his return from the capital,
he had with him number of poems
and a dozen mules well laden with
equipment and supplies, and soon those
mountains were echoing sounds not be.
fore heard there since the Spanish
conquest.
In due time his friend Frank arriy-
ed, and after hearty greeting Har-
ry's first question was what news
have you of Ferrubyf"
"Havs you not heardf asked Frank,
excitedly. 'srell me-tell me quickly.
What has happened to Ferrubyg
Frank struggled vamly to control his
emotion. replied: shortly after your
departure from Eufaula the general,
with Ferruby, left for an extended
tour of Europe, Six months later, In.
formation was received that-that--
"What--what information was re-
ceived?" cried Harry. rs Ferruby
marriedT
"No-she is--dead. Killed In an
automobile accident near Florence,
Italy" said Frank.
White us marble. Harry stood for
moment like one turned to stone. Then
he recled and would have fallen, but
Frank put his strong arms about him
and laid him down tenderly upon
puma's skin, The old woman lowered
over him, weeping and utterlns weird