diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/gldfl10.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/gldfl10.txt | 5247 |
1 files changed, 5247 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/gldfl10.txt b/old/gldfl10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8010551 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/gldfl10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5247 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext of The Golden Fleece, by Julian Hawthorne + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + + +The Golden Fleece + +by Julian Hawthorne + +January, 1999 [Etext #1614] + + +Project Gutenberg Etext of The Golden Fleece, by Julian Hawthorne +******This file should be named gldfl10.txt or gldfl10.zip******* + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, gldfl11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, gldfl10a.txt + + +Scanned by Charles Keller with OmniPage Professional OCR software +donated by Caere Corporation. + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions, +all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a +copyright notice is included. Therefore, we do NOT keep these books +in compliance with any particular paper edition, usually otherwise. + + +We are now trying to release all our books one month in advance +of the official release dates, for time for better editing. + +Please note: neither this list nor its contents are final till +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. To be sure you have an +up to date first edition [xxxxx10x.xxx] please check file sizes +in the first week of the next month. Since our ftp program has +a bug in it that scrambles the date [tried to fix and failed] a +look at the file size will have to do, but we will try to see a +new copy has at least one byte more or less. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +fifty hours is one conservative estimate for how long it we take +to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour this year as we release thirty-two text +files per month, or 384 more Etexts in 1998 for a total of 1500+ +If these reach just 10% of the computerized population, then the +total should reach over 150 billion Etexts given away. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext +Files by the December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000=Trillion] +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only 10% of the present number of computer users. 2001 +should have at least twice as many computer users as that, so it +will require us reaching less than 5% of the users in 2001. + + +We need your donations more than ever! + + +All donations should be made to "Project Gutenberg/CMU": and are +tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. (CMU = Carnegie- +Mellon University). + +For these and other matters, please mail to: + +Project Gutenberg +P. O. Box 2782 +Champaign, IL 61825 + +When all other email fails try our Executive Director: +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +We would prefer to send you this information by email +(Internet, Bitnet, Compuserve, ATTMAIL or MCImail). + +****** +If you have an FTP program (or emulator), please +FTP directly to the Project Gutenberg archives: +[Mac users, do NOT point and click. . .type] + +ftp uiarchive.cso.uiuc.edu +login: anonymous +password: your@login +cd etext/etext90 through /etext96 +or cd etext/articles [get suggest gut for more information] +dir [to see files] +get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files] +GET INDEX?00.GUT +for a list of books +and +GET NEW GUT for general information +and +MGET GUT* for newsletters. + +**Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor** +(Three Pages) + + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you can distribute copies of this etext if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG- +tm etexts, is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor +Michael S. Hart through the Project Gutenberg Association at +Carnegie-Mellon University (the "Project"). Among other +things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext +under the Project's "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] the Project (and any other party you may receive this +etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold the Project, its directors, +officers, members and agents harmless from all liability, cost +and expense, including legal fees, that arise directly or +indirectly from any of the following that you do or cause: +[1] distribution of this etext, [2] alteration, modification, +or addition to the etext, or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word pro- + cessing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the etext (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Project of 20% of the + net profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Scanned by Charles Keller with OmniPage Professional OCR software +donated by Caere Corporation. + + + + + +THE GOLDEN FLEECE + +A Romance + +by JULIAN HAWTHORNE + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +The professor crossed one long, lean leg +over the other, and punched down the +ashes in his pipe-bowl with the square tip +of his middle finger. The thermometer on +the shady veranda marked eighty-seven +degrees of heat, and nature wooed the soul to +languor and revery; but nothing could abate +the energy of this bony sage. + +"They talk about their Atlantises,--their +submerged continents!" he exclaimed, with +a sniff through his wide, hairy nostrils. +"Why, Trednoke, do you realize that we +are living literally at the bottom of a +Mesozoic--at any rate, Cenozoic--sea?" + +The gentleman thus indignantly addressed +contemplated his questioner with the serenity +of one conscious of freedom from geologic +responsibility. He was a man of about the +professor's age,--say, sixty years,--but not +like him in appearance. His figure was +stately and massive,--that of one who in +his youth must have possessed vast physical +strength, rigidly developed and disciplined. +Well set upon his broad shoulders was a +noble head, crowned with gray, wavy hair; +the eyes and eyebrows were black and powerful, +but the expression was kindly and +humorous. His moustache and the Roman +convexity of his chin would have confirmed +your conviction that he was a retired +warrior; in which you would have been correct, +for General Trednoke always appeared what +he was, both outwardly and inwardly. His +great frame, clad in white linen, was +comfortably disposed in a Japanese straw arm- +chair; yet there was a soldierly poise in his +attitude. He was smoking a large and +excellent cigar; and a cup of coffee, with a +tiny glass of cognac beside it, stood on a +mahogany stand at his elbow. + +"Do you remember, Meschines, the time +I licked you at school?" he inquired, in a +tone of pleasant reminiscence. + +"I can't say I do. What's more, I +venture to challenge your statement. And +though you are a hundred pounds the better +of me in weight, and a West Point graduate, +I will wager my pipe (which is worth its +weight in diamonds) against that old woollen +shirt of Montezuma's that you showed me +yesterday, that I can lick you to-day, and +forget all about it before bedtime!" + +"Well, I guess you could," returned the +general, with a little chuckle, "even if I +hadn't that Mexican bullet in my leg. But +you couldn't, forty-five years ago, though +you tried, and though I was a year younger +than you, and weighed five pounds less. +Come, now: you don't mean to say you've +forgotten Susan Brown!" + +"Oh--ah--hah! Susan Brown! Well, +I declare! And what brought her into your +head, I should like to know?" + +"Why, after breaking your heart first, and +then mine, I lost sight of her, and I don't +think I have seen her since. But it appears +she was married to a fellow named Parsloe." + +"Don't fancy that name!" observed the +professor, wagging his head and frowning. +"Has a mean sound to it. But what of it?" + +"Well, she died,--rest her soul!--and +Parsloe too. But they had a daughter, and +she survives them." + +"And resembles her mother, eh?--No, +Trednoke, the time for that sort of thing +has gone by with me. Susan might have +had me, five-and-forty years ago; but I +can't undertake to revive my passion for +the benefit of Mrs. Parsloe's daughter. +Besides, I'm too busy to think of marriage, +and not--not old enough!" + +At this tour de force, the general laughed +softly, and finished his coffee. An old +Indian, somewhat remarkable in appearance, +with shaggy white hair hanging down on +his shoulders, stepped forward from the +room where he had been waiting, and +removed the cup. + +"No letters yet, Kamaiakan?" asked the +general, in Spanish. + +"In a few minutes, general," the other +replied. "Pablo has just come in sight +over the hill. There were several errands." + +"Muy buen!--I was going to say, +Meschines, her father and mother left the girl +poor, and she, being, apparently, clever and +energetic, took to----" + +"I know!" the professor interrupted. +"They all do it, when they are clever and +energetic, and that's the end of them!-- +School-teaching!" + +"Not at all," returned General Trednoke. +"She entered a dry-goods store." + +"Entered a dry-goods store! Well, +there's nothing so extraordinary in that. +I've seen quantities of women do it, of all +ages, colors, and degrees. What did she +buy there?" + +"Oh, a fiddlestick!" exclaimed the +general. "Why don't you keep quiet and +listen to my story? I say, she went into a +great dry-goods store in New York, as sales- +woman." + +"Bless my soul! You don't mean a +shop-girl?" + +"That's what I said, isn't it? And why +not?" + +"Oh, well!--but, shade of Susan Brown! +Ichabod!--what is the feminine of Ichabod, +by the way, Trednoke? But, seriously, it's +too bad. Susan may have been fickle, but +she was always aristocratic. And now her +daughter is a shop-girl. You and I are +avenged!" + +"You are just as ridiculous, Meschines, +as you were thirty or fifty years ago," said +the general, tranquilly. "You declaim for +the sake of hearing your own voice. Besides, +what you say is un-American. Grace +Parsloe, as I was saying, got a place as shop- +girl in one of the great New York stores. +I don't say she mightn't have done worse: +what I say is, I doubt whether she could +have done better. That house--I know one +of its founders, and I know what I'm talking +about--is like an enormous family, where +children are born, year after year, grow up, +and take their places in life according to +their quality and merit. What I mean is, +that the boy who drives a wagon for them +to-day, at three dollars a week, may control +one of their chief departments, or even +become a partner, before they're done with +him; and, mutatis mutandis, the same with +the girls. When these girls marry, it's apt +to be into a higher rank of life than they +were born in; and that fact, I take it, is a +good indication that their shop-girl +experience has been an education and an +improvement. They are given work to do, +suited to their capacity, be it small or great; +they are in the way of learning something +of the great economic laws; they learn self- +restraint, courtesy, and----" + +"And human nature! Yes, poor things: +they see the American buying-woman, and +that is a discipline more trying than any you +West Pointers know about! Oh, yes, I see +your point. If the fathers of the big family +ARE fathers, and the children ARE children to +them . . . All the same, I fancy the young +ladies, when they marry into the higher +social circles, as you say they do, don't, as +a rule, make their shop girl days a topic of +conversation at five-o'clock teas, or put +'Ex-shop-girl to So-and-so' at the bottom of +their visiting-cards." + +"I believe, after all, you're a snob, +Meschines," said the general, pensively. "But, +as I was about to say, when you interrupted +me ten minutes ago, Grace Parsloe is coming +on here to make us a visit. She fell ill, and +her employers, after doing what could be +done for her in the way of medical attendance, +made up their minds to give her a +change of climate. Now, you know, as she +had originally gone to them with a letter +from me, and as I live out here, on the +borders of the Southern desert, in a climate +that has no equal, they naturally thought of +writing to me about it. And of course I +said I'd be delighted to have her here, for a +month, or a year, or whatever time it may +be. She will be a pleasure to me, and a +friend for Miriam, and she may find a husband +somewhere up or down the coast, who +will give her a fortune, and think all the +better of her because she, like him, had the +ability and the pluck to make her own way +in the world." + +"Humph! When do you expect her?" + +"She may turn up any day. She is +coming round by way of the Isthmus. +From what I hear, she is really a very fine, +clever girl. She held a responsible position +in the shop, and----" + +"Well, let us sink the shop, and get back +to the rational and instructive conversation +that we--or, to be more accurate, that I was +engaged in when this digression began. I +presume you are aware that all the indications +are lacustrine?" + +Hereupon, a hammock, suspended near the +talkers, and filled with what appeared to be +a bundle of lace and silken shawls, became +agitated, and developed at one end a slender +arched foot in an open-work silk stocking and +sandal-slipper, and at the other end a dark, +youthful, oval face, with glorious eyes and +dull black hair. A voice of music asked,-- + +"What is lacustrine, papa?" + +"Oh, so you are awake again, Senorita +Miriam?" + +"I haven't been asleep. What is lacustrine?" + +"Ask the professor." + +"Lacus, you know, my dear," said the +latter, "means fresh-water indications as +against salt." + +"Then how does Great Salt Lake----" + +"Oh, for that matter, the whole ocean +was fresh originally. Moisture, evaporation, +precipitation. Water is a great solvent: +earthquakes break the crust, and +there you are!" + +"Then, before the earthquakes, the Salt +Lakes were fresh?" rejoined the hammock. + +"There was fresh water west of the +Rockies and south of---- Why," cried +the professor, interrupting himself, "when +I was in Wyoming and around there, this +spring, in what they call the Bad Lands,-- +cliffs and buttes of indurated yellow clay and +sandstone, worn and carved out by floods +long before the Aztecs started to move out +of Canada,--I saw fossil bones sticking out +of the cliffs, the least of which would make +the fortune of a museum. That was between +the Rockies and the Wahsatch." + +"People's bones?" asked the hammock, +agitating itself again, and showing a glimpse +of a smooth throat and a slender ankle. + +"Bless my soul! If there were people +in those days they must have had an anxious +time of it!" returned the sage. "No, no, +my dear. There was brontosaurus, and +atlantosaurus, and hydrosaurus, and iguanodon, +--lizards, you know, not like these little +black fellows that run about in the pulverized +feldspar here, but chaps eighty or a hundred +feet long, and twenty or thirty high; and +turtles, as big as a house." + +"How did they get there?" + +"Got mired while they were feeding, +perhaps; or the water drained off and left +them high and dry." + +"But where did the water go to?" + +The general chuckled at this juncture, +and lit another cigar. "She knows more +questions than you do the answers to them," +quoth he. "But I wouldn't mind hearing +where the water went to, myself. I should +like to see some of it back again." + +"Ask the earthquakes, and the sun. +There's a hundred and thirty degrees of +heat in some of these valleys,--abysses, +rather, three or four hundred feet below sea- +level. The earth is very thin-skinned in +this region, too, and whatever water wasn't +evaporated from above would be likely to +come to grief underneath." + +"But, professor," said the musical voice, +"I thought there was a law that water +always seeks its own level. So how can +there be empty places below sea-level?" + +"It's the fault of the aneroid barometer, +my dear. We were very comfortable and +commonplace until that came along and +revealed anomalies. The secret lies, I +suppose, in the trend of the strata, which is +generally north and south. You see the +ridges cropping out all through the desert; +and there's a good deal of lava oozing over +them, too. They probably act as walls, to +prevent the sea getting in from the west, or +the Colorado leaking in from the east." + +"In that case," remarked the general, "a +little more seismic disturbance might produce +a change." + +"It would have to be more than a little, I +suspect," returned Meschines. + +"Kamaiakan told me that the Indians +have a prophecy that a great lake will come +back and make the desert fruitful, and that +there are some who know the very place +where the water will begin to flow." And +here the hammock, with a final convulsion, +gave birth to a beautiful young woman, in a +diaphanous silk dress and a white lace +mantilla. She crossed the veranda, and seated +herself on the broad arm of her father's +chair. + +"Why, that's important!" said the +general, arching his brows. "I wonder if +Kamaiakan is one of those who know the +place? If so, it might be worth his while +to let me into the secret." + +"Oh, you couldn't go there! It's +enchanted, and people who go near it die. +There are bones all about there, now." + +"This Kamaiakan appears to be a remarkable +personage: where did you pick him +up?" inquired the professor. + +"It was rather the other way," Trednoke +replied, taking one of his daughter's hands +in his, and caressing it. "We are appendages +to Kamaiakan. You look so natural, +sitting there, Meschines, that I forget it's +thirty years since we met, and that all the +significant events of my life have happened +in that time,--the Mexican war, my marriage, +and the rest of it! I have been a +widower ten years." + +"And I've been a bachelor for over +sixty!" said Meschines, with a queer expression. +"Your wife was Spanish, was she not?" + +"Her father was a Mexican of Andalusian +descent. But her mother was descended +from the race of Azatlan: there are records +and relics indicating that her ancestors were +princes in Tenochtitlan before Cortez made +trouble there." + +"And I've been losing my heart to a +princess, and never realized my audacity!" +exclaimed the professor, laying his hand on +his waistcoat and making an obeisance to +Miriam. + +She tossed her free foot, and played with +the fringe of her reboso. + +"I will tell my maid to look for it," she +said; "but I think you must have left it in +papa's curiosity-room." + +"No: I'm an Aztec sacrifice!" cried the +professor; and they all laughed. "One +would hardly have anticipated," he resumed +after a pause, addressing Trednoke, "that +you would have made a double conquest,-- +first of the men, and then of the woman!" + +"The woman conquered me, without +trying or wishing to, and then, because she +was a woman, took compassion on me. +Whether my country has benefited much by +the Mexican annexation, I can't say; but I +know Inez--made a heaven on earth for +me," concluded the general, in a low voice. +His countenance, at this moment, wore a +solemn and humble expression, beautiful to +see; and Miriam bent and laid her cheek +against his. Meschines knocked the ashes +out of his pipe, and sighed. + +"No woman ever took compassion on +me," he remarked, "and you see the result, +--ashes!" + +"Ashes,--with their wonted fires living in +them," said Trednoke. + +"We were talking about this Indian of +yours," said Meschines. + +"Ay, to be sure. Well, he was attached +to Inez's family when I first knew them. It +was a peculiar relation; not like that of a +servant. One finds such things in Mexico. +The conquered race were of as good strain +as their conquerors; the blood of Montezuma +was as blue as the best of the Castilian. +There were many intermarriages; and there +are many instances of the survival of +traditions and records; though the records are +often symbolic, and would have no meaning +to persons not initiated. But they have +been sufficient to perpetuate ties of a personal +nature through generation after generation; +and the alliance between Kamaiakan +and Inez was of this kind. His forefathers, +I imagine, were priests, and priests were a +mighty power in Tenochtitlan. For aught +I know, indeed Kamaiakan may be an original +priest of Montezuma's; no one knows +his age, but he does not look an hour older, +to-day, than when I first saw him, over +twenty years ago." + +"He must be!" said Miriam, with some +positiveness. "He has told me of seeing +and doing things hundreds of years ago. +And he says----" She paused. + +"What does he say, Nina adorada?" +asked her father. + +"It was about the treasure, you know." + +"Let us hear. The professor is one of +us." + +"It's one of our traditions that my +mother's ancestors, at the time of Cortez, +were very rich people," continued Miriam, +glancing at Meschines, and then letting her +eyes wander across the garden, blooming +with roses and fragrant with orange-trees, +and so across the trellised vines towards the +soft outline of the mountains eastward. "A +great part of their wealth was in the form +of jewels and precious stones. When Cortez +took the city, one of the priests, who +was a relative of our family, put the jewels +in a box, and hid them in a certain place in +the desert." + +"And does Kamaiakan know where the +place is?" asked the general. + +"He can know, when the time comes." + +"Which will be, perhaps, when you are +ready for your dowry," observed the +professor, genially. + +"A spell was put upon the spot," Miriam +went on, with a certain imaginative seriousness; +for she loved romance and mystery so +well, and was of a temperament so poetical, +that the wildest fairy-tales had a sort of +reality for her. "No one can find the +treasure while the spell remains. But +Kamaiakan understands the spell, and the +conjuration which dissolves it; and when he +dissolves it, the treasure will be found." + +"And, between ourselves," added the +general, "Kamaiakan is himself the priestly +relative by whom the spell was wrought. +He bears an enchanted life, which cannot +cease until he has restored the jewels to +Miriam's hands." + +"There might be something in it, you +know," said Meschines, after a pause. +"The treasures of Montezuma have never +been found. Is there no old chart or +writing, in your collection of curiosities +and relics, that might throw light on it?" + +"The scriptures of Anahuac were of the +hieroglyphic type,--picture-writing," +replied the other. "No, I fear there is +nothing to the purpose; and if there were, +I shouldn't know how to decipher it." + +"But, papa, the tunic!" exclaimed +Miriam. + +"Oh! has the tunic anything to do with +it?" + +"Is that the queer woollen garment with +the gold embroidery?" inquired the professor, +becoming more interested. "I took a +fancy to that, you remember. Has it a +story?" + +"Well, it is a kind of an anomaly, I +believe," the general answered, looking up +at his daughter with a smile. "The Aztecs, +you are aware, dressed chiefly in cotton. +Even their defensive armor was of cotton, +thickly quilted. Their ornaments were +feathers, and embroidery of gold and precious +stones. But wool, for some reason, they +didn't wear; and yet this garment, as you +can see for yourself, is pure wool; and that +it is also pure Aztecan is beyond question." + +"Admitting that, what clue does it give +to the treasure?" + +"You must ask Kamaiakan," said Miriam: +"only, he wouldn't tell you." + +"Possibly," the professor suggested, "the +place where the treasure is hidden is the +place whence the water is to flow out; and +the water is the treasure." + +"Seriously, do you suppose that such a +phenomenon as the return of an inland sea +is physically practicable?" asked Trednoke. + +"No phenomenon, in this part of the +world, would surprise me," returned +Meschines. "The Colorado might break its +barriers; or it is conceivable that some +huge stream, taking its rise in the heights +hundreds of miles north and east of us, may +be flowing through subterranean passages +into the sea, emerging from the sea-bottom +hundreds of miles to the westward. Now, +if a rattling good earthquake were to happen +along, you might awake in the morning +to find yourself on an island, or even under +water." + +"A moderate Mediterranean would satisfy +me," the general said. "I wouldn't +exchange the certainty of it for the treasures +of Montezuma." + +"The thirst for gold and for water are +synonymous in your case?" + +"Give this section a moist climate, and I +needn't tell you that the Great American +Desert would literally blossom as the rose. +Even as it is, I expect a great deal of it will +be redeemed by scientific irrigation. The +soil only needs water to become inexhaustibly +productive. Our desert, as you know, +is not sand, like parts of the Sahara; it has +all the ingredients that go to nourish plants, +only their present powdery condition makes +them unavailable. Now, I can, to-day, buy +a hundred square miles of desert for a few +dollars. You see the point, don't you?" + +"And all you want is expert opinion as +to the likelihood of finding water?" + +"The man who solves that question for +me in the affirmative is welcome to half my +share of the results that would ensue from it." + +"Why don't you engage some expert to +investigate?" + +"One can't always trust an expert. I +don't mean as to his expertness only, but as +to his good faith. He might prefer to sell +the idea to somebody who could pay cash, +--which I cannot." + +"Why, you seem to have given this thing +a good deal of thought, Trednoke." + +"Well, yes: it has been my hobby for a +year past; and I have made some investigations +myself. But this is the first time I +have spoken of it to any one." + +"I understand. And what of the investigations?" + +"I can say that I found enough to interest +me. I'll tell you about it some time. I +should be glad to leave Miriam something +to make her independent." + +"I should say that her Creator had already +done that!" said Meschines. "By +the way, I know a young fellow--if he were +only here--who is just the man you want, +and can be trusted. He's a civil engineer, +--Harvey Freeman: the Lord only knows +in what part of the world he is at this +speaking. He has made a special study of these +subterranean matters." + +"Don't you remember, papa, Coleridge's +poem of Kubla Khan?-- + + "Where Alph, the sacred river, ran + Through caverns measureless to man + Down to a sunless sea!" + + +"Our sacred river, when we find it, shall +be named Miriam." + +"It ought to be Kamaiakan," she +rejoined; "for, if anybody finds it, it will +be he." + +"I think I hear the wings of the angel of +whom we have been speaking," said the +general. "Yes, here he is; and he has got +the letters. Let us see! One for you +Meschines. And this, I see, is from our friend +Miss Parsloe, postmarked Santa Barbara. +Why, she'll be here to-morrow, at that +rate." + +"Here's a queer coincidence!" exclaimed +the professor, who had meanwhile opened +his envelope and glanced through the contents. +"The very man I was speaking of, +--Harvey Freeman! Says he is in this +neighborhood, has heard I'm here, and is +coming down to pay me a visit. Methinks +I hear the rolling of the sacred river!" + +"But you won't mention it to him, +until----" + +"Bless me! Of course not. I'll bring +him over here, in the course of human +events, and you can take a look at him, and +act on your own intuitions. I won't say on +Princess Miriam's, for Harvey is a very fine- +looking fellow, and her intuitions might get +confused." + +"A civil engineer!" said Miriam, with +an intonation worthy of the daughter of a +West-Pointer and the descendant of an +Aztec prince. + +Kamaiakan (who spoke only Spanish) had +been gathering up some cushions that had +fallen out of the hammock. Having replaced +them, and cast a quick glance at +Meschines, he withdrew. + + + +CHAPTER II. + +The Southern Pacific Railway passes, today, +not far from the site of General +Trednoke's ranch. But the events now to +be narrated occurred some years before the +era of transcontinental railroads: they were +in the air, but not yet bolted down to the +earth. The general, therefore, was a +pioneer, and was by no means overrun with +friends from the East in search of an +agreeable winter climate. The easiest way to +reach him--if you were not pressed for time +--was round the cape which forms the +southernmost point of South America and +sticks its sharp snout inquiringly into the +Antarctic solitudes, as if it scented something +questionable there. The speediest +route, though open to strange discomforts, +was by way of the Isthmus; and then there +were always the saddle, the wagon, and the +stage, with the accompaniments of road- +agents, tornadoes, deserts, and starvation. + +Miss Grace Parsloe came via the Isthmus; +and the latter part of her journey had been +alleviated by the society of a young +gentleman from New York, Freeman by name. +There were other passengers on the vessel; +but these two discovered sympathies of +origin and education which made companionship +natural. They sat together at table, +leaned side by side over the taffrail, +discussed their fellow-travellers, and +investigated each other. As he lolled on the +bench with folded arms and straw hat tilted +back from his forehead she, glancing side- +long, as her manner was, saw a sunburnt +aquiline nose, a moustache of a lighter +brown than the visage which it decorated, +a lean, strong jaw, and a muscular neck. +His forehead, square and impending, was as +white as ivory in comparison with the face +below; his hair, in accordance with the +fashion introduced by the late war, was +cropped close. But what especially moved +Miss Grace were those long, lazy blue eyes, +which seemed to tolerate everything, but to +be interested in nothing,--hardly even in +her. Now, Grace could not help knowing +she was a pretty girl, and it was somewhat +of a novelty to her that Freeman should +appear so indifferent. It would have been +difficult to devise a better opportunity than +this to monopolize masculine admiration, +and she fell to speculating as to what sort of +an experience Mr. Freeman must have had, +so to panoply him against her magic. On +the other hand, she was the recipient of +whatever attentions he could bring himself +to detach from the horizon-line, or from his +own thoughts (which appeared to amount, +practically, to about the same thing). She +had no other rivals; and a woman will submit +amiably to a good deal of indifference, +provided she be assured that no other woman +is enjoying what she lacks. + +Freeman, for his part, had nothing to +complain of. Grace Parsloe was a singularly +pretty girl. Singular properly qualifies +her. She was not like the others,--by +which phrase he epitomized the numerous +comely young women whom he had, at +various times and in several countries, +attended, teased, and kissed. Both physically +and mentally, she was very fine-wrought. +Her bones were small; her body and limbs +were slender, but beautifully fashioned. She +was supple and vigorous. Grace is a product +of brain as well as an effect of bodily +symmetry: Grace had the quality on both +counts. She answered to one's conception +of Mahomet's houris, assuming that the +conception is not of a fat person. Her head +was small, but well proportioned,--compact +as to the forehead, rather broad across the +cheek-bones, thence tapering to the chin. +Her eyes were blue, but of an Eastern +strangeness of shape and setting; they were +subject to great and sudden changes of +expression, depending, apparently, on the +varying state of her emotions, and betraying +an intensity more akin to the Oriental +temperament than to ours. There was in her +something subtle and fierce; yet overlaying +it, like a smooth and silken skin, were the +conventional polish and bearing of an +American school graduate. She was, in +deed, noticeably artificial and self-conscious +in manner and in the intonations of her +speech; though it was an aesthetic delight +to see her move or pose, and the quality of +her voice was music's self. But Freeman, +after due meditation, came to the conclusion +that this was the outcome of her recognition +of her own singularity: in trying to be like +other people, she fell into caricature. Freeman, +somehow, liked her the better for it. +Like most men of brain and pith, who +have seen and thought much, he was thankful +for a new thing, because, so far as it +went, it renewed him. It pleased him to +imagine that he could, with a word or a +look, cause this veil of artifice to be thrown +aside, and the primitive passion and fierceness +behind it to start forth. He allowed +himself to imagine, with a certain satisfaction, +that were he to make this young woman +jealous she would think nothing of thrusting +a dagger between his ribs. Reality,--what +a delight it is! The actual touch and feeling +of the spontaneous natural creature have +been so buried beneath centuries of hypocrisy +and humbug that we have ceased to +believe in them save as a metaphysical +abstraction. But even as water, long depressed +under-ground in perverse channels, surges +up to the surface, and above it, at last, in a +fountain of relief, so Nature, after enduring +ages of outrage and banishment, leaps back +to her rightful domain in some individual +whom we call extraordinary because he or +she is natural. Grace Parsloe did not seem +(regarded as to her temperament and quality) +to belong where she was: therefore she was +a delightful incident there. Had she been +met with in the days of the Old Testament, +or in the depths of Persia or India at the +present time, even, she might have appeared +commonplace. But here she was in conventional +costume, with conventional manners. +And, just as the nautch-girls, and other +Oriental dancers and posturers, wear a costume +which suggests nature more effectively +than does nature itself, so did Grace's +conventionality suggest to Freeman the essential +absence of conventionality more forcibly +than if he had seen her clad in a turban and +translucent caftan, dancing off John the +Baptist's head, or driving a nail into that of +Sisera. Grace certainly owed much of her +importance to her situation, which rendered +her foreign and piquante. But, then, +everything, in this world, is relative. + +Racial types seem to be a failure: when they +become very marked, the race deteriorates +or vanishes. In the counties of England, +after only a thousand years, the women you +meet in the rural districts and country towns +all look like sisters. The Asiatics, of course, +are much more sunk in type than the Anglo- +Saxons; and they show us the way we would +be going. Only, there is hope in rapid +transit and the cosmopolitan spirit, and +especially in these United States, which bring +together the ends of the earth, and place +side by side a descendant of the Puritans +like Freeman, and a daughter of Irak-Ajemi. + +"What are you coming to California for, +Mr. Freeman?" + +Freeman had already told her what he had +been in the Isthmus for,--to paddle in miasmatic +swamps with a view to the possibility +of a canal in the remote, speculative future. +He had given her a graphic and entertaining +picture of the hideous and inconceivable life +he had led there for six months, from which +he had emerged the only member of a party +of nineteen (whites, blacks, and yellows) +who was not either dead by disease, by +violence, or by misadventure, or had barely +escaped with life and a shattered constitution. +Freeman, after emerging from the +miasmatic hell and lake of Gehenna, had +taken a succession of baths, with soap and +friction, had been attended by a barber and +a tailor, and had himself attended the best +table to be found for love or money in the +charming town of Panama. He had also +spent more than half of the week of his +sojourn there in sleep; and he was now in the +best possible condition, physical and mental, +--though not, he admitted, pecuniary. As +to morals, they had not reached that discussion +yet. But, in all that he did say, Freeman +exhibited perfect unreserve and frankness, +answering without hesitation or embarrassment +any question she chose to ask (and +she asked some curious ones). + +But when she asked him such an innocent +thing as what he was after in California--an +inquiry, by the way, put more in idleness +than out of curiosity--Freeman stroked his +yellow moustache with the thumb of the +hand that held his Cuban cigarette, gazed +with narrowed eyelids at the horizon, and +for some time made no reply at all. Finally +he said that California was a place he had +never visited, and that it would be a pity to +have been so near it and yet not have improved +the opportunity of taking a look at it. + +Grace instantly scented a mystery, and +was not less promptly resolved to fathom it. +And what must be the nature of a mystery +attaching to a handsome man, unmarried, +and evidently no stranger to the gentler sex? +Of course there must be a woman in it! +Her eyes glowed with azure fire. + +"You have some acquaintances in California, +I suppose?" she said, with an air of +laborious indifference. + +"Well,--yes; I believe I have," Freeman +admitted. + +"Have they lived there long?" + +"No; not over a few months. I accidentally +heard from a person in Panama. I +dropped a line to say I might turn up." + +"She----you haven't had time to get an +answer, then?" + +Freeman inhaled a deep breath through +his cigarette, tilted his head back, and +allowed the smoke to escape slowly through +his nostrils. In this manner, familiar to his +deep-designing sex, he concealed a smile. +Grace was, in some respects, as transparent +as she was subtle. So long as the matter in +hand did not touch her emotions, she had no +difficulty in maintaining a deceptive surface; +but emotion she could not disguise, though +she was probably not aware of the fact; for +emotion has a tendency to shut one's own +eyes and open what they can no longer see +in one's self to the gaze of outsiders. + +"No," he said, when he had recovered +his composure. "But that won't make any +difference. We are on rather intimate terms, +you see." + +"Oh! Is it long since you have met?" + +"Pretty long; at least it seems so to me." + +Grace turned, and looked full at her +companion. He did not meet her glance, but +kept his profile steadily opposed, and went +on smoking with a dreamy air, as if lost in +memories and anticipations, sad, yet sweet. + +"Really, Mr. Freeman, I hardly thought +--you have always seemed to care so little +about anything--I didn't suspect you of so +much sentiment." + +"I am like other men," he returned, with +a sigh. "My affections are not given +indiscriminately; but when they are given,--you +understand,--I----" + +"Oh, I understand: pray don't think it +necessary to explain. I'm sure I'm very far +from wishing to listen to confidences about +another,--to----" + +"Yes, but I like to talk about it," +interposed Freeman, earnestly. "I haven't had +a chance to open my heart, you know, for at +least six months. And though you and I +haven't known each other long, I believe +you to be capable of appreciating what a +man feels when he is on his way to meet +some one who----" + +"Thank you! You are most considerate! +But I shall be additionally obliged if you +would tell me in what respect I can have so +far forgotten myself as to lead you to think +me likely to appreciate anything of the +kind. I assure you, Mr. Freeman, I have +never cared for any one; and nothing I +have seen since I left home makes it probable +that I shall begin now." + +"I am sorry to hear that," said Freeman, +slowly drawing another cigarette out of his +bundle, and beginning to re-roll it with a +dejected air. + +"Indeed!" + +"Yes: the fact is, I had hoped that you +had begun to have a little friendly feeling +for me. I am more than ready to reciprocate." + +"I hope you will spare me any insults, +sir. I have no one to protect me, but----" + +"I assure you, I mean no insult. You +cannot help knowing that I think you as +beautiful and fascinating a woman as I have +ever met; but of course you can't help being +beautiful and fascinating. Do I insult +you by having eyes? If so, I am sorry, but +you will have to make the best of it." + +With this, he turned in his seat, and +calmly confronted her. Beautiful she +certainly was, at that moment; but it was the +beauty of an angry serpent. She had a +pencil in her hand, with which, a little +while before, she had been sketching heads +of some of the passengers in her little notebook. +She was now handling this inoffensive +object in such a way as to justify the +fancy that, had it been charged with a deadly +poison in its point, instead of with a bit of +plumbago of the HH quality, she would +have driven it into Freeman's heart then +and there. + +"Is it no insult," said she, in a sibilant +voice, "to talk to me as you are doing, when +you have just told me that you love another +woman, and are going to meet her?" + +Freeman's brows gradually knitted themselves +in a frown of apparent perplexity. +"I must say I don't understand you," he +observed, at length. "I am quite sure I +have said nothing of the sort. How could +I?" + +"If you wish to quibble about words, +perhaps not. But was not that your meaning?" + +"No, it wasn't. You are the only woman +who has been in my thoughts to-day." + +"Mr. Freeman!" + +"Well?" + +"You have intimated very clearly that +you are engaged--married, for aught I know +--to a woman whom you are now on your +way to meet----" + +At this point she stopped. Freeman had +interrupted her with a shout of laughter. + +She had been very pale. She now flushed +all over her face, and jumped to her feet. + +"Sit down," he said, laying a hand on +her dress and (aided by a lurch of the +vessel) pulling her into her seat again, "and +listen to me. And then I shall insist upon +an apology. This is too much!" + +"I shall ask the captain----" + +"You will not, I promise you. Look +here! When I was in Panama, I met there +a fellow I used to know in New York. He +told me that he had recently crossed the +continent with Professor Meschines, who +used to teach geology and botany at Yale +College, when he and I were students there. +The professor had come over partly for the +fun of the thing, and partly to look for +specimens in the line of his profession. +My friend parted from him at San Francisco: +the professor was going farther south." + +"What has all this to do with the woman +who----" + +"It has this to do with it,--that the +professor is the woman! He is over sixty +years old, and has always been a good friend +of mine; but I am not going to marry him. +I am not engaged to him, he is not beautiful, +nor even fascinating, except in the way +of an elderly man of science. And he is +the only human being, besides yourself, that +I know or have ever heard of on the Pacific +coast. Now for your apology!" + +Grace emitted a long breath, and sank +back in her seat, with her hands clasped in +her lap. She raised her hands and covered +her face with them. She removed them, +sat erect, and bent an open-eyed, intent +gaze upon her companion. + +After this pantomime, she exclaimed, in +the lowest and most musical of tones, "Oh! +how hateful you are!" Then she cried out +with animation, "I believe you did it on +purpose!" Finally, she sank back again, +with a soft laugh and sparkling eyes, at the +same time stretching out her right arm +towards him and placing her hand on his, +with a whispered, "There, then!" + +Freeman, accepting the hand for the +apology, kissed it, and continued to hold it +afterwards. + +"Am I not a little goose?" she murmured. + +"You certainly are," replied Freeman. + +"You mustn't hold my hand any more." + +"Do you mean to withdraw your apology?" + +"N--no; but it doesn't follow that----" + +"Oh, yes, it does. Besides, when a man +receives such a delicate, refined, graceful, +exquisite apology as this,"--here he lifted +the hand, looked at it critically, and +bestowed another kiss upon it,--"he would +be a fool not to make the most of it." + +"Ah, I'm afraid you're dangerous. You +are well named--Freeman!" + +"My name is Harvey: won't you call +me by it?" + +"Oh, I can't!" + +"Try! Would it make it easier if I +were to call you by yours?" + +"Mine is Miss Parsloe." + +"Pooh! How can that be your name +which you are going to change so soon? +When I look at you, I see your name; when +I think of you, I say it to myself,--Grace!" + +"How do you know I am going to change +my name soon--or ever?" + +"Whom are you talking to?" + +"To you,--Harvey! Oh!" She snatched +her hand away and pressed it over her lips. + +"How do I know you are beautiful, +Grace, and--irresistible?" + +"But I'm not! You're making fun of +me! Besides, I'm twenty." + +"How many times have you been engaged?" + +"Never. Nobody wants to be engaged +to a poor girl. Oh me!" + +"Do you know what you are made of, +Grace? Fire and flowers! Few men in +the world are men enough to be a match for +you. But what have you been doing with +yourself all this time? Why do you come +to a place like this?" + +"Maybe I had a presentiment that . . . +What nonsense we are talking! But what +you said reminds me. It's the strangest +coincidence!" + +"What is it?" + +"Your Professor Meschines----" + +"On the contrary, he is a most matter- +of-fact old gentleman." + +"Do be quiet, and listen to me! When +my mamma was a girl in school, there were +two boys there,--it was a boy-and-girls' +school,--and they were great friends. But +they both fell in love with my mamma----" + +"I can understand that," put in Freeman. + +"How do you know I am like my mamma? +Well, as I was saying, they both fell in love +with her, and quarrelled with each other, +and had a fight. The boy that won the +fight is the man to whose house I am going." + +"Then he didn't marry your mamma?" + +"Oh, no; that was only a childish affair, +and she married another man." + +"The one who got thrashed?" + +"Of course not. But the one who got +thrashed is your Professor Meschines." + +"I see! The poor old professor! And +he has remained a bachelor all his life." + +"Mamma has often told me the story, and +that the Trednoke boy went to West Point, +and distinguished himself in the Mexican +war, and married a Mexican woman, and the +Meschines boy became a professor in Yale +College. And now I am going to see one +of them, and you to see the other. Isn't +that a coincidence?" + +"The first of a long series, I trust. Is +this West-Pointer a permanent settler here?" + +"Yes, for ever so long,--twenty years. +He's a widower, but he has a daughter---- +Oh, I know you'll fall in love with her!" + +"Is she like you?" + +"I don't know. I've never seen her, or +General Trednoke either." + +"Come to think of it, though, nobody is +like you, Grace. Now, will you be so good +as to apologize again?" + +"Don't you think you're rather exacting, +Harvey?" + +However, the apology was finally repeated, +and continued, more or less, during the rest +of the voyage; and Grace quite forgot that +she had never made Harvey tell what was +really the cause of his coming to California. +But she, on her side, had a secret. +She never allowed him to suspect that the +past eighteen months of her life had been +passed as employee in a New York dry- +goods store. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +General Trednoke's house was +built by Spanish missionaries in the +sixteenth century; and in its main features +it was little altered in three hundred years. +In a climate where there is no frost, walls of +adobe last as long as granite. The house +consisted, practically, of but one story; for +although there were rooms under the roof, +they were used only for storage; no one +slept in them. The plan of the building was +not unlike that of a train of railway-cars,-- +or, it might be more appropriate to say, of +emigrant-wagons. There was a series of +rooms, ranged in a line, access to them being +had from a narrow corridor, which opened +on the rear veranda. Several of the rooms +also communicated directly with each other, +and, through low windows, gave on the +veranda in front; for the house was merely +a comparatively narrow array of apartments +between two broad verandas, where most of +the living, including much of the sleeping, +was done. + +Logically, there can be nothing uglier +than a Spanish-American dwelling of this +type. But, as a matter of fact, they appear +seductively beautiful. The thick white walls +acquire a certain softness of tone; the surface +scales off here and there, and cracks and +crevices appear. In a damp country, like +England, they would soon become covered +with moss; but moss is not to be had in this +region, though one were to offer for it the +price of the silk velvet, triple ply, which so +much resembles it. Nevertheless, there are +compensations. The soil is inexhaustibly +fertile, and its fertility expresses itself in the +most inveterate beauty. Such colors and +varieties of flowers exist nowhere else, and +they continue all the year round. Climbing +vines storm the walls, and toss their green +ladders all over it, for beauty to walk up and +down. Huge jars, standing on the verandas, +emit volcanoes of lovely blossoms; and +vases swung from the roof drip and overflow +with others, as if water had turned to flowers. +In the garden, which extends over several +acres at the front of the house, and, as it +were, makes it an island in a gorgeous sea of +petals, there are roses, almonds, oranges, +vines, pomegranates, and a hundred rivals +whose names are unknown to the present +historian, marching joyfully and triumphantly +through the seasons, as the symphony +moves through changes along its central +theme. + +Everything that is not an animal or a +mineral seems to be a flower. There are too +many flowers,--or, rather, there is not +enough of anything else. The faculty of +appreciation wearies, and at last ceases to +take note. It is like conversing with a +person whose every word is an epigram. The +senses have their limitations, and +imagination and expectation are half of beauty and +delight, and the better half; otherwise we +should have no souls. A single violet, +discovered by chance in the by-ways of an +April forest in New England, gives a pleasure +as poignant as, and more spiritual than, +the miles upon miles of Californian splendors. + +Monotony is the ruling characteristic,-- +monotony of beauty, monotony of desolation, +monotony even of variety. The glorious +blue overhead is monotonous: as for the +thermometer, it paces up and down within +the narrowest limits, like a prisoner in his +cell, or a meadow-lark hopping to and fro +in a seven-inch cage. The plan and aspect +of the buildings are monotonous, and so is +the way of life of those who inhabit them. +Fortunately, the sun does rise and set in +Southern California: otherwise life there +would be at an absolute stand-still, with no +past and no future. But, as it is, one can +look forward to morning, and remember the +evening. + +Then, there are the not infrequent but +seldom very destructive earthquakes; the +occasional cloud-bursts and tornadoes, +sudden and violent as a gunpowder-explosion; +and, finally, the astounding contrast between +the fertile regions and the desert. There +are places where you can stand with one +foot planted in everlasting sterility and the +other in immortal verdure. In the midst of +an arid and hopeless waste, you come suddenly +upon the brink of a narrow ravine, +sharply defined as if cut out with an axe, +and packed to the brim with enchanting and +voluptuous fertility. Or you will come upon +mountains which sweep upward out of burning +death into sumptuous life. When the +monotony of life meets the monotony of +death, Southern California becomes a land +of contrasts; and the contrasts themselves +become monotonous. + +General Trednoke's ranch was very near +the borders of these two mighty forces. An +hour's easy ride would carry him to a region +as barren and apparently as irreclaimable as +that through which Childe Roland journeyed +in quest of the Dark Tower; lying, +too, in a temperature so fiery that it +coagulated the blood in the veins, and stopped +the beating of the heart. Underfoot were +fine dust, and whitened bones; the air was +prismatic and magical, ever conjuring up +phantom pictures, whose characteristic was +that they were at the farthest remove from +any possible reality. The azure sky +descended and became a lake; the pulsations +of the atmosphere translated themselves into +the rhythmic lapse of waves; spikes of sage- +brush and blades of cactus became sylvan +glades, and hamlets cheerful with inhabitants. +Only, all was silent; and as you +drew near, the scene trembled, altered, and +was gone! + +Hideous black lizards and horned toads +crawl and hop amid this desolation; and +the deadly little sidewinder rattlesnake lies +basking in the blaze of sunshine, which it +distils into venom. Sometimes the level +plain is broken up into savage ridges and +awful canons, along whose arid bottoms no +water streams. As you stagger through their +chaotic bottoms, you see vast boulders poised +overhead, tottering to a fall; a shiver of +earthquake, a breath of hurricane, and they +come crashing and splintering in destruction +down. Along the sides of these acclivities +extend long, level lines and furrows, marks +of where the ocean flowed ages ago. But sometimes +the hills are but accumulations of desert +dust, which shift slowly from place to place +under the action of the wind, melting away +here to be re-erected yonder; mounding +themselves, perhaps, above a living and +struggling human being, to move forward, +anon, leaving where he was a little heap +of withered bones. A fearful place is this +broad abyss, where once murmured the +waters of a prehistoric sea. Let us return +to the cool and fragrant security of the +general's ranch. + +At right angles to the main body of the +house extend two wings, thus forming three +sides of a square, the interior of which is +the court-yard. Here the business of the +establishment is conducted. It is the liveliest +spot on the premises; though it is liveliness +of a very indolent sort. The veranda +built around these sides is twenty feet in +breadth, paved with tiles that have been +worn into hollows by innumerable lazy footsteps, +mostly shoeless, for this side of the +house is frequented chiefly by the servants +of the place, who are Mexican Indians. +Ancient wooden settles are bolted to the +walls; from hooks hang Indian baskets of +bright colors; in one corner are stretched +raw hides, which serve as beds. Small +brown children, half naked, trot, clamber, +and crawl about. Black-haired, swarthy +women squat on the tiled floor, pursuing +their vocations, or, often, doing nothing at +all beyond continuing a placid organic +existence. Boys and men saunter in and out +of the court-yard, chatting or calling in +their musical patois; once in a while there +is a thud and clatter of hoofs, a rider arriving +or departing. It is an entertaining scene, +charming in its monotony of small changes +and evolutions; you can sit watching it in a +half-doze for twenty years at a stretch, and +it may seem only as many minutes, or vice +versa. + +Most of the rooms in the wings are used +for the kitchens and other servants' quarters; +but one large chamber is devoted to a +special purpose of the general's own: it is a +museum; the Curiosity-Room, he calls it. It +is lighted by two windows opening on opposite +sides, one on the court-yard, the other +on an orange grove at the south end of the +house. Besides being, in itself, a cool and +pleasant spot, it is full of interest to any +one who cares about the relics and antiquities +of an ancient and vanishing race, +concerning whom little is or ever will be +known. There are two students in it at +this moment; though whether they are +studying antiquities is another matter. Let +us give ear to their discourse and be instructed. + +"But this was made for you to wear, Miss +Trednoke. Try it. It fits you perfectly, +you see. There can be no doubt about your +being a princess, now!" + +"I sometimes feel it,--here!" she said, +putting her hand on her bosom. She was looking +at him as she said it, but her eyes, instead of +any longer meeting his, seemed to turn their +regard inward, and to traverse strange regions, +not of this world. "I see some one +who is myself, though I can never have been +she: she is surrounded with brightness, and +people not like ours; she thinks of things +that I have never known. It is the memory +of a dream, I suppose," she added, in another +tone. + +"Heredity is a queer thing. You may be +Aztecan over again, in mind and temperament; +and every one knows how impressions +are transmitted. If features and traits +of character, why not particular thoughts +and feelings?" + +"I think it is better not to try to explain +these things," said she, with the unconscious +haughtiness which maidens acquire who have +not seen the world and are adored by their +family. "They are great mysteries,--or +else nothing." She now removed from her +head the curious cap or helmet, ornamented +with gold and with the green feathers of +the humming-bird, which her companion +had crowned her with, and hung it on its +nail in the cabinet. "Perhaps the thoughts +came with the cap," she remarked, smiling +slightly. "I don't feel that way any more. +I ought not to have spoken of it." + +"I hope the time will come when you +will feel that you may trust me." + +"You seem easy to know, Mr. Freeman," +she replied, looking at him contemplatively +as she spoke, "and yet you are not. There +is one of you that thinks, and another that +speaks. And you are not the same to my +father, or to Professor Meschines, that you +are to me." + +"What is the use of human beings except +to take one out of one's self?" + +"But it is not your real self that comes +out," said Miriam, after a little pause. +She never spoke hurriedly, or until after +the coming speech had passed into her +face. + +Freeman laughed. "Well," he said, "if +I'm a hypocrite, I'm one of those who are +made and not born. As a boy, I was frank +enough. But a good part of my life has +been spent with people who couldn't be +trusted; and perhaps the habit of protecting +myself against them has grown upon me. If +I could only live here for a while it would +be different.--Here's an odd-looking thing. +What do you call that?" + +"We call it the Golden Fleece." + +"The Golden Fleece! I can imagine a +Medea; but where is the Dragon?" + +"If Jason came, the Dragon might appear." + +"I remember reading somewhere that the +Dragon was less to be feared than Medea's +eyes. But this fleece seems to have lost +most of its gold. There is only a little gold +embroidery." + +"It shows where the gold is hidden." + +"It's you that are concealing something +now, Miss Trednoke. How can a woollen +garment be a talisman?" + +"The secret might be woven into it, +perhaps," replied Miriam, passing her fingers +caressingly over the soft tunic. "Then, when +the right person puts it on, it would----But +you don't believe in these things." + +"I don't know: you don't give me a +chance. But who is the right person? The +thing seems rather small. I'm sure I +couldn't get it on." + +"It can fit only the one it was made for," +said Miriam, gravely. "And if you wanted +to find the gold, you would trust to your +science, rather than to this." + +"Well, gold-hunting is not in my line, +at present. Every nugget has been paid for +more than once, before it is found. Besides, +there is something better than gold in +Southern California,--something worth any +labor to get." + +"What is it?" asked Miriam, turning her +tranquil regard upon him. + +Harvey Freeman had never been deficient +in audacity. But, standing in the dark +radiance of this maiden's eyes, his self- +assurance dwindled, and he could not bring +himself to say to her what he would have +said to any other pretty woman he had ever +met. For he felt that great pride and +passion were concealed beneath that tranquil +surface: it was a nature that might give +everything to love, and would never pardon +any frivolous parody thereof. Freeman had +been acquainted with Miriam scarcely two +days, but he had already begun to perceive +the main indications of a character which a +lifetime might not be long enough wholly +to explore. Marriage had never been among +the enterprises he had, in the course of his +career, proposed to himself: he did not +propose it now: yet he dared not risk the +utterance of a word that would lead Miriam +to look at him with an offended or contemptuous +glance. It was not that she was, from +the merely physical point of view, transcendently +beautiful. His first impression +of her, indeed, had been that she was +merely an unusually good example of a type +by no means rare in that region. But ere +long he became sensible of a spiritual +quality in her which lifted her to a level far +above that which can be attained by mere +harmony of features and proportions. +Beneath the outward aspect lay a profound +depth of being, glimpses of which were +occasionally discernible through her eyes, +in the tones of her voice, in her smile, in +unconscious movements of her hands and +limbs. Demonstrative she could never be; +but she could, at will, feel with tropical +intensity, and act with the swiftness and +energy of a fanatic. + +In Miriam's company, Freeman forgot +every one save her,--even himself,--though +she certainly made no effort to attract him +or (beyond the commonplaces of courtesy) +to interest him. Consequently he had become +entirely oblivious of the existence of +such a person as Grace Parsloe, when, much +to his irritation, he heard the voice of that +young lady, mingled with others, approaching +along the veranda. At the same moment +he experienced acute regret at the +whim of fortune which had made himself +and that sprightly young lady fellow- +passengers from Panama, and at the idle impulse +which had prompted him to flirt with her. + +But the past was beyond remedy: it was +his concern to deal with the present. In a +few seconds, Grace entered the curiosity- +room, followed by Professor Meschines, and +by a dashing young Mexican senor, whom +Freeman had met the previous evening, and +who was called Don Miguel de Mendoza. +The senor, to judge from his manner, had +already fallen violently in love with Grace, +and was almost dislocating his organs of +speech in the effort to pay her romantic +compliments in English. Freeman observed +this with unalloyed satisfaction. But the +look which Grace bent upon him and +Miriam, on entering, and the ominous +change which passed over her mobile +countenance, went far to counteract this +agreeable impression. + +One story is good until another is told. +Freeman had really thought Grace a +fascinating girl, until he saw Miriam. There +was no harm in that: the trouble was, he +had allowed Grace to perceive his admiration. +He had already remarked that she +was a creature of violent extremes, +tempered, but not improved, by a thin polish +of subtlety. She was now about to give an +illustration of the passion of jealousy. But +it was not her jealousy that Freeman minded: +it was the prospect of Miriam's scorn when +she should surmise that he had given Grace +cause to be jealous. Miriam was not the +sort of character to enter into a competition +with any other woman about a lover. He +would lose her before he had a chance to +try to win her. + +But fortune proved rather more favorable +than Freeman expected, or, perhaps, than +he deserved. Grace's attack was too +impetuous. She stopped just inside the threshold, +and said, in an imperious tone, "Come +here, Mr. Freeman: I wish to speak to you." + +"Thank you," he replied, resolving at +once to widen the breach to the utmost +extent possible, "I am otherwise engaged." + +"Upon my word," observed the professor, +with a chuckle, "you're no diplomatist, +Harvey! What are you two about here? +Investigating antiquities?" + +"The remains of ancient Mexico are +more interesting than some of her recent +products," returned Freeman, who wished +to quarrel with somebody, and had promptly +decided that Senor Don Miguel de Mendoza +was the most available person. He bowed +to the latter as he spoke. + +"You--a--spoken to me?" said the senor, +stepping forward with a polite grimace. "I +no to quite comprehend----" + +"Pray don't exert yourself to converse +with me out of your own language, senor," +interrupted Freeman, in Spanish. "I was +just remarking that the Spaniards seem to +have degenerated greatly since they colonized +Mexico." + +"Senor!" exclaimed Don Miguel, +stiffening and staring. + +"Of course," added Freeman, smiling +benevolently upon him, "I judge only from +such specimens of the modern Mexican as I +happen to meet with." + +Don Miguel's sallow countenance turned +greenish white. But, before he could make +a reply, Meschines, who scented mischief +in the air, and divined that the gentler sex +must somehow be at the bottom of it, struck +in. + +"You may consider yourself lucky, Harvey, +in making the acquaintance of a gentleman +like Senor de Mendoza, who exemplifies +the undimmed virtues of Cortez and +Torquemada. For my part, I brought him +here in the hope that he might be able to +throw some light on the mystery of this +embroidered garment, which I see you've +been examining. What do you say, Don +Miguel? Have these designs any significance +beyond mere ornament? Anything +in the nature of hieroglyphics?" + +The senor was obliged to examine, and to +enter into a discussion, though, of course, +his ignorance of the subject in dispute was +as the depths of that abyss which has no +bottom. Miriam, who was not fond of Don +Miguel, but who felt constrained to +exceptional courtesy in view of Freeman's +unwarrantable attack upon him, stood beside +him and the Professor; and Freeman and +Grace were thus left to fight it out with each +other. + +But Grace had drawn her own conclusions +from what had passed. Freeman had +insulted Don Miguel. Wherefore? Obviously, +it could only be because he thought +that she was flirting with him. In other +words, Freeman was jealous; and to be +jealous is to love. Now, Grace was so +constituted that, though she did not like to +play second fiddle herself, yet she had no +objection to monopolizing all the members +of the male species who might happen, at a +given moment, to be in sight. + +She had, consequently, already forgiven +Freeman for his apparent unfaithfulness to +her, by reason of his manifest jealousy of +Don Miguel. As a matter of fact, he was +not jealous, and he was unfaithful; but fate +had decreed that there should be, for the +moment, a game of cross-purposes; and the +decrees of fate are incorrigible. + +"I had no idea you were so savage," she +said, softly. + +"I'm not savage," replied Freeman. "I +am bored." + +"Well, I don't know as I can blame you," +said Grace, still more softly: she fancied he +was referring to Miriam. "I don't much +like Spanish mixtures myself." + +"One has to take what one can get," +said Freeman, referring to Don Miguel. + +"But it's all right now," rejoined she, +meaning that Freeman and herself were +reconciled after their quarrel. + +"If you are satisfied, I am," observed +Freeman, too indifferent to care what she +meant. + +"Only, you mustn't take that poor young +man too seriously," she went on: "these +Mexicans are absurdly demonstrative, but +they don't mean anything." + +"He won't, if he values his skin," said +Freeman, meaning that if Don Miguel +attempted to interfere between himself and +Miriam he would wring his neck. + +"He won't, I promise you," said Grace, +sparkling with pleasure. + +"I don't quite see how you can help it," +returned Freeman. + +"I should hope I could manage a creature +like that!" murmured she, smiling. + +"Well," said Freeman, after a pause,-- +for Grace's seeming change of attitude puzzled +him a little,--"I'm glad you look at it +that way. I don't wish to be meddled +with; that's all." + +"You shan't be," she whispered; and +then, just when they were approaching the +point where their eyes might have been +opened, in came General Trednoke. The +group round the Golden Fleece broke +up. + +The general wore his riding-dress, and +his bearing was animated, though he was +covered with dust. + +"I was wondering what had become of +you all," he said, as the others gathered +about him. "I have been taking a canter +to the eastward. Kamaiakan said this morning +that one of the boys had brought news +of a cloud-burst in that direction. I rode +far enough to ascertain that there has really +been something of the kind, and I think it +has affected the arroyo on the farther side +of the little sierra. Now, I don't know +how you gentlemen feel, but it occurred to +me that it might be interesting to make up +a little party of exploration to-morrow. +Would you like to try it, Meschines?" + +"To be sure I should!" the professor +replied. "I imagine I can stand as much +of the desert as you can! And I want to +catch a sidewinder." + +"Good! And you, Mr. Freeman?" + +"It would suit me exactly," said the +latter. "In fact, I had been intending to +gratify my curiosity by making some such +expedition on my own account." + +"Ah!" said the general, eying him with +some intentness. "Well, we may be able +to show you something more curious than +you anticipate.--And now, Senor de Mendoza, +there is only you left. May we count +on your company into the desert?" + +But the Mexican, with a bow and a +grimace, excused himself. Scientific +curiosity was an unknown emotion to him; but +he foresaw an opportunity to have Grace all +to himself, and he meant to improve it. He +also wished leisure to think over some plan +for getting rid of Senor Freeman, in whom +he scented a rival, and who, whether a rival +or not, had behaved to him with a lack of +consideration in the presence of ladies. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +General Trednoke's household +went early to bed. As there was +more accommodation in the old house than +sufficed for its present inhabitants, it +followed that each of them had a regal +allowance of rooms. And when Grace Parsloe +became one of the occupants, she was allotted +two commodious apartments at the extremity +of the left wing. They communicated, +through long windows, with the veranda in +front, and by means of doors with the passage, +or hall, traversing the house from end +to end. If, therefore, she happened to be +sleepless, she might issue forth into the +garden, and wander about there without let +or hinderance until she was ready to accept +the wooing of the god of dreams; or, if +supernatural terrors daunted her, she could +in a few seconds transfer herself and her +fears to Miriam's chamber, which occupied +the same position in the right wing that hers +did in the left. + +The night, as is customary in that climate, +where the atmosphere is pure and evaporation +rapid, was cool and still. By ten +o'clock there was no sound to indicate that +any person was awake; though, to an acute +ear, the rise and fall of regular breathing, +or even an occasional snore, might have +given evidence of slumber. At the back of +the house, the Indian retainers were lapped +in silence. They were a harmless people,-- +somewhat disposed, perhaps, to small pilferings, +in an amiable and loyal way, but +incapable of anything seriously criminal. +There were no locks on the doors, and most +of them stood ajar. Tramps and burglars +were unknown. + +Miriam, having put on her night-dress, +stood a few minutes at her window, gazing +out on the soft darkness of the garden. All +there was peacefulness and fragrance. The +leaves of the plants hung motionless; the +blossoms seemed to hush themselves to the +enjoyment of their own sweetness. The sky +was clear, but there was no moon. A beautiful +planet, however, bright enough to cast +a shadow, hung in the southwestern sky, and +its mysterious light touched Miriam's face, +and cast a dim rectangle of radiance on the +white matting that carpeted the floor of her +room. It was the planet Venus,--the star of +love. Miriam thought it would be a pleasant +place to live in. But one need not journey +to Venus to find a world where love is the +ruling passion. Circumstances over which +she has no control may cause such a world +to come into existence in a girl's heart. + +She left the window at last, and got into +bed, where she soon presented an image of +perfect repose. Meanwhile, in a dark corner +of the court-yard at the rear, a dark, +pyramidal object abode without motion. It +might have been taken for a heap of blankets +piled up there. But if you examined it +more narrowly you would have detected in +it the vague outlines of a human figure, +squatting on its haunches, with its head resting +on its knees, and its arms clasped round +them,--somewhat as figures sit in Egyptian +hieroglyphics, or like Aztecan mummies in +the tomb. So still was it, it might itself +have been a mummy. But ever and anon a +blinking of the narrow eyes in the bronze +countenance told that it was no mummy, but +a living creature. In fact, it was none other +than the aged and austere Kamaiakan, who, +for reasons best known to himself, chose to +spend the hours usually devoted to rest in an +attitude that no European or white American +could have maintained with comfort longer +than five minutes. + +An hour--two hours--passed away. Then +Kamaiakan noiselessly arose, peered about +him cautiously for a few moments, and +passed out of the court-yard through the +open gate. He turned to the left, and, +stealing beneath Miriam's windows, paused +there for an instant and made certain +gestures with his arms. Anon he continued +his way to the garden, and was soon concealed +by the thick shrubbery. + +History requires us to follow him. The +garden extended westward, and was quite a +spacious enclosure: one not familiar with its +winding paths might easily lose himself +there on a dark night. But Kamaiakan +knew where he was going, and the way +thither. He now stalked along more swiftly, +taking one turn after another, brushing aside +the low-hanging boughs, and passing the +loveliest flowers without a glance. He was +as one preoccupied with momentous business. +Presently he arrived at a small open space, +remote and secluded. It was completely +surrounded by tall shrubbery. In the centre +was a basin of stone, evidently very +ancient, filled to the brim with the clear +water of a spring, which bubbled up from +the bottom, and, overflowing by way of a +gap in the edge, became a small rivulet, +which stole away in the direction of the sea. +Across the slightly undulating surface of the +basin trembled the radiance of the star. + +Kamaiakan knelt down beside it, and, +bending over, gazed intently into the water. +Presently he dipped his hands in it, and +sprinkled shining drops over his own gaunt +person, and over the ground in the vicinity +of the spring. He made strange movements +with his arms, bowed his head and erected it +again, and traced curious figures on the +ground with his finger. It appeared as if +the venerable Indian had solemnly lost his +senses and had sought out this lonely spot to +indulge the vagaries of his insanity. If so, +his silence and deliberation afforded an +example worthy of consideration by other +lunatics. + +Suddenly he ceased his performance, and +held himself in a listening attitude. A light, +measured sound was audible, accompanied +by the rustling of leaves. It came nearer. +There was a glimpse of whiteness through +the interstices of the surrounding foliage, +and then a slender figure, clad in close-fitting +raiment, entered the little circle. It +wore a sort of tunic, reaching half-way to +the knees, and leggings of the same soft, +grayish-white material. The head was covered +with a sort of hood, which left only the +face exposed; and this too might be covered +by a species of veil or mask, which, however, +was now fastened back on the headpiece, +after the manner of a visor. The +front of the tunic was embroidered with +fantastic devices in gold thread, brightened +here and there with precious stones; and +other devices appeared on the hood. The +face of this figure was pale and calm, with +great dark eyes beneath black brows. The +stature was no greater than that of a lad of +fifteen, but the bearing was composed and +dignified. The contours of the figure, +however, even as seen by that dim light, were +those of neither a boy nor a man. The +wearer of the tunic was a girl, just rounding +into womanhood, and the face was the face +of Miriam. + +Yet it was not by this name that Kamaiakan +addressed her. After making a deep +obeisance, touching his hand to her foot and +then to his own forehead and breast, he said, +in a language that was neither Spanish nor +such as the modern Indians of Mexico use,-- + +"Welcome, Semitzin! May this night +be the beginning of high things!" + +"I am ready," replied the other, in a +soft and low voice, but with a certain stateliness +of utterance unlike the usual manner +of General Trednoke's daughter: "I was +glad to hear you call, and to see again the +stars and the earth. Have you anything to +tell?" + +"There are events which may turn to our +harm, most revered princess. The master +of this house----" + +"Why do you not call him my father, +Kamaiakan?" interposed the other. "He +is indeed the father of this mortal body +which I wear, which (as you tell me) bears +the name of Miriam. Besides, are not +Miriam and I united by the thread of +descent?" + +"Something of the spirit that is you +dwells in her also," said the Indian. + +"And does she know of it?" + +"At times, my princess; but only as one +remembers a dream." + +"I wish I might converse with her and +instruct her in the truth," said the princess. +"And she, in turn, might speak to me of +things that perplex me. I live and move in +this mortal world, and yet (you tell me) +three centuries have passed since what is +called my death. To me it seems as if I +had but slept through a night, and were +awake again. Nor can I tell what has +happened--what my life and thoughts have +been--during this long lapse of time. Yet +it must be that I live another life: I cannot +rest in extinction. Three times you have +called me forth; yet whence I come hither, +or whither I return, is unknown to me." + +"There is a memory of the spirit," +replied Kamaiakan, "and a memory of the +body. They are separate, and cannot +communicate with each other. Such is the +law." + +"Yet I remember, as if it were yesterday, +the things that were done when Montezuma +was king. And well do I remember you, +Kamaiakan!" + +"It is true I live again, princess, though +not in the flesh and bones that died with +you in the past. But in the old days I was +acquainted with mysteries, and learned the +secrets of the world of spirits; and this +science still remained with me after the +change, so that I was able to know that I +was I, and that you could be recalled to +speak with me through the tongue of Miriam. +But there are some things that I do not +know; and it is for that I have been bold +to summon you." + +"What can I tell you that can be of use +to you in this present life, Kamaiakan, when +all whom we knew and loved are gone?" + +"To you only, Semitzin, is known the +place of concealment of the treasure which, +in the old times, you and I hid in the +desert. I indeed remember the event, and +somewhat of the region of the hiding; but +I cannot put my hand upon the very spot. +I have tried to discover it; but when I +approach it my mind becomes confused +between the present and the past, and I am +lost." + +"I remember it well," said Semitzin. +"We rode across the desert, carrying the +treasure on mules. The air was still, and +the heat very heavy. The desert descended +in a great hollow: you told me it was where, +in former days, the ocean had been. At +last there were rocky hills before us; we +rode towards a great rock shaped like the +pyramid on which the sacrifices were held +in Tenochtitlan. We passed round its base, +and entered a deep and narrow valley, that +seemed to have been ploughed out of the +heart of the earth and to descend into it. +Then---- But what is it you wish to do +with this treasure, Kamaiakan?" + +"It belongs to your race, princess, and +was hidden that the murderers of Montezuma +might not seize it. I was bound by +an oath, after the peril was past, to restore +it to the rightful owners. But our country +remained under the rule of the conquerors; +and my life went out. But now the +conquerors have been conquered in their turn, +and Miriam is the last inheritor of your +blood. When I have delivered to her this +trust, my work will be done, and I can return +to the world which you inhabit. The +time is come; and only by your help can +the restitution be made." + +"Was there, then, a time fixed?" + +"The stars tell me so. And other events +make it certain that there must be no delay. +The general has it in mind to discover the +gates through which the waters under-ground +may arise and again form the sea which flowed +hereabouts in the ancient times. Now, this +sea will fill the ravine in which the treasure +lies, and make it forever unattainable. A +youth has also come here who is skilled in +the sciences, and whom the general will ask +to help him in the thing he is to attempt." + +"Who is this youth?" asked Semitzin. + +"He is of the new people who inherit +this land: his name is Freeman." + +"There is something in me--I know not +what--that seems to tell me I have been +near such a one. Can it be so?" + +"The other self, who now sleeps, knows +of him," replied the ancient Indian. "He +is a well-looking youth, and I think he +has a desire towards her we call Miriam." + +"And does she love him?" inquired the +princess. + +"A maiden's heart is a riddle, even to +herself," said Kamaiakan. + +"But there is a sympathy that makes me +feel her heart in my own," rejoined Semitzin. +"Love is a thing that pierces through +time, and through barriers which separate +the mind and memory of the past from the +present. I--as you know, Kamaiakan--was +never wedded; the fate of our people, and +my early end, kept that from me. But the +thought of that youth is here,"--she put +her hand on her bosom,--"and it seems to +me that, were we to meet, I should know +him. Perhaps, were that to be, Miriam and +I might thus come to be aware of each +other, and live henceforth one life." + +"Such matters are beyond my knowledge," +said the Indian, shaking his head. +"The gods know what will be. It is for +us, now, to regain the treasure. Are you +willing, my princess, to accompany me +thither?" + +"I am ready. Shall it be now?" + +"Not now, but soon. I will call you +when the moment comes. The place is but +a ride of two or three hours from here. +None must know of our departure, for there +are some here whom I do not trust. We +must go by night. You will wear the +garments you now have on, without which all +might miscarry." + +"How can the garments affect the result, +Kamaiakan?" + +"A powerful spell is laid upon them, +princess. Moreover, the characters wrought +upon them, with gold thread and jewels, are +mystical, and the substance of the garment +itself has a virtue to preserve the wearer +from evil. It is the same that was worn by +you when the treasure was hidden; and it +may be, Semitzin, that without its magic aid +your spirit could not know itself in this +world as now it can." + +As he spoke the last words, a low sound, +wandering and muttering with an inward +note, came palpitating on their ears through +the night air. It seemed to approach from +no direction that could be identified, yet it +was at first remote, and then came nearer, +and in a moment trembled around them, +and shivered in the solid earth beneath their +feet; and in another instant it had passed +on, and was subdued slowly into silence in +the shadowy distance. No one who has +once heard that sound can mistake it for +any other, or ever can forget it. The air +had suddenly become close and tense; and +now a long breeze swept like a sigh through +the garden, dying away in a long-drawn +wail; and out of the west came a hollow +murmur, like that of a mighty wave breaking +upon the shore of the ocean. + +"The earthquake!" whispered Kamaiakan, +rising to his feet. And then he pointed +to the stone basin. "Look! the spring!" + +"It is gone!" exclaimed Semitzin. + +And, in truth, the water, with a strange, +sucking noise, disappeared through the +bottom of the basin, leaving the glistening +cavity which had held it, green with slimy +water-weed, empty. + +"The time is near, indeed!" muttered +the Indian. "The second shock may cause +the waters from which this spring came to +rise as no living man has seen them rise, and +make the sea return, and the treasure be +lost. In a few days all may be over. But +you, princess, must vanish: though the shock +was but slight, some one might be awakened; +and were you to be discovered, our plans +might go wrong." + +"Must I depart so soon?" said Semitzin, +regretfully. "The earth is beautiful, +Kamaiakan: the smell of the flowers is sweet, +and the stars in the sky are bright. To feel +myself alive, to breathe, to walk, to see, are +sweet. Perhaps I have no other conscious life +than this. I would like to remain as I am: I +would like to see the sun shine, and to hear +the birds sing, and to see the men and +women who live in this age. Is there no +way of keeping me here?" + +"I cannot tell; it may be,--but it must +not be now, Semitzin," the old man replied, +with a troubled look. "The ways of the +gods are not our ways. She whose body +you inhabit--she has her life to live." + +"But is that girl more worthy to live than +I? You have called me into being again: +you have made me know how pleasant this +world is. Miriam sleeps: she need never +know; she need never awake again. You +were faithful to me in the old time: have +you more care for her than for me? I feel +all the power and thirst of youth in me: the +gods did not let me live out my life: may +they not intend that I shall take it up again +now? Besides, I wear Miriam's body: +could I not seem to others to be Miriam +indeed? How could they guess the truth?" + +"I will think of what you say, princess," +said Kamaiakan. "Something may perhaps +be done; but it must be done gradually: +you would need much instruction in the +ways of the new world before you could +safely enter into its life. Leave that to me. +I am loyal as ever: is it not to fulfil the +oath made to you that I am here? and what +would Miriam be to me, were she not your +inheritor? Be satisfied for the present: in +a few days we will meet and speak again." + +"The power is yours, Kamaiakan: it is +well to argue, when with a word you can +banish me forever! Yet what if I were to +say that, unless you consent to the thing I +desire, I will not show you where the treasure +lies?" + +"Princess Semitzin!" exclaimed the +Indian, "remember that it is not against me, +but against the gods, that you would contend. +The gods know that I have no care for +treasure. But they will not forgive a broken +oath; and they will not hold that one guiltless +through whom it is brought to naught?" + +"Well, we shall meet again," answered +Semitzin, after a pause. "But do you +remember that you, too, are not free from +responsibility in this matter. You have +called me back: see to it that you do me +justice." She waved her hands with a gesture +of adieu, turned, and left the enclosure. +Kamaiakan sank down again beside the +empty bowl of the fountain. + +Semitzin returned along the path by which +she had come, towards the house. As she +turned round one of the corners, she saw a +man's figure before her, strolling slowly +along in the same direction in which she +was going. In a few moments he heard her +light footfall, and, facing about, confronted +her. She continued to advance until she +was within arm's reach of him: then she +paused, and gazed steadfastly in his face. +He was the first human being, save Kamaiakan, +that she had seen since her eyes closed +upon the world of Tenochtitlan, three hundred +years before. + +The young man looked upon her with +manifest surprise. It was too dark to +distinguish anything clearly, but it did not take +him long to surmise that the figure was that +of a woman, and her countenance, though +changed in aspect by the head-dress she +were, yet had features which, he knew, he +had seen before. But could it be Miriam +Trednoke who was abroad at such an hour +and in such a costume? He did not recognize +the Golden Fleece, but it was evident +enough that she was clad as women are not. + +Before he could think of anything to say +to her, she smiled, and uttered some words +in a soft, flowing language with which he +was entirely unacquainted. The next moment +she had glided past him, and was out +of sight round the curve of the path, leaving +him in a state of perplexity not altogether +gratifying. + +"What the deuce can it mean?" he +muttered to himself. "I can't be mistaken +about its being Miriam. And yet she didn't +look at me as if she recognized me. What +can she be doing out here at midnight? I +suppose it's none of my business: in fact, +she might very reasonably ask the same question +of me. And if I were to tell her that +I had only ridden over to spend a +sentimental hour beneath her window, what +would she say? If she answered in the +same lingo she used just now, I should be +as wise as before. After all, it may have +been somebody else. The image in my +mind projected itself on her countenance. +I certainly must be in love! I almost wish +I'd never come here. This complication +about the general's irrigating scheme makes +it awkward. I'm bound not to explain +things to him; and yet, if I don't, and he +discovers (as he can't help doing) what I +am here for, nothing will persuade him that +I haven't been playing a double game; and +that would not be a promising preliminary +towards becoming a member of his family. +If Miriam were only Grace, now, it would +be plain sailing. Hello! who's this? Senor +Don Miguel, as I'm a sinner! What is he +up to, pray? Can this be the explanation +of Miriam's escapade? I have a strong +desire to blow a hole through that fellow! +--Buenas noches, Senor de Mendoza! I +am enchanted to have the unexpected honor +of meeting you." + +Senor de Mendoza turned round, +disagreeably startled. It is only fair to explain +that he had not come hither with any lover- +like designs towards Miriam. Grace was +the magnet that had drawn his steps to the +Trednokes' garden, and the truth is that +that enterprising young lady was not without +a suspicion that he might turn up. +Could this information have been imparted +to Freeman, it would have saved much +trouble; but, as it was, not only did he +jump to the conclusion that Don Miguel +was his rival (and, seemingly, a not +unsuccessful one), but a similar misgiving as to +Freeman's purposes towards Grace found its +way into the heart of the Spaniard. It was +a most perverse trick of fate. + +The two men contemplated each other, +each after his own fashion: Don Miguel +pale, glaring, bristling; Freeman smiling, +insolent, hectoring. + +"Why are you here, senor?" demanded +the former, at length. + +"Partly, senor, because such is my +pleasure. Partly, to inform you that your +presence here offends me, and to humbly request +you to be off." + +"Senor, this is an impertinence." + +"Senor, one is not impertinent to prowling +greasers. One admonishes them, and, +if they do not obey, one chastises them." + +"Do you talk of chastising Don Miguel +de Mendoza? Senor, I will wash out that +insult with your blood!" + +"Excellent! It is at your service for the +taking. But, lest we disturb the repose of +our friends yonder, let us seek a more +convenient spot. I noticed a very pretty little +glade on the right as I rode over here. You +are armed? Good! we will have this little +affair adjusted within half an hour. Yonder +star--the planet of love, senor--shall see +fair play. Andamos!" + + + +CHAPTER V. + +Having mounted their steeds, the two +sanguinary young gentlemen rode onwards, +side by side, but in silence; for the +souls of those who have resolved to slay each +other find small delight in vain +conversation. Moreover, there is that in the +conscious proximity of death which stimulates +to thought much more than to speech. But +Freeman preserved an outward demeanor of +complacent calm, as one who doubts not, +nor dreads, the issue; and, indeed, this was +not the first time by many that he had taken +his life in his hand and brought it unscathed +through dangers. Don Miguel, on the other +hand, was troubled in spirit, and uneasy in +the flesh. He was one soon hot and soon +cold; and this long ride to the decisive +event went much against his stomach. If +the conflict had taken place there in the +garden, while the fire of the insult was yet +scorching him, he could have fought it out +with good will; but now the night air seemed +chiller and chiller, and its frigidity crept +into his nerves: he doubted of the steadiness +of his aim, bethought himself that the +darkness was detrimental to accurate shooting, +and wondered whether Senor Freeman +would think it necessary to fight across a +handkerchief. He could not help regretting, +too, that the quarrel had not been occasioned +by some more definite and satisfactory +provocation,--something which merely to think +of would steel the heart to irrevocable +murderousness. But no blow had passed; even +the words, though bitter to swallow, had +been wrapt in the phrases of courtesy; and +perhaps the whole affair was the result of +some misapprehension. He stole a look at +the face of his companion; and the latter's +air of confident and cheerful serenity made +him feel worse than ever. Was he being +brought out here to be butchered for +nothing,--he, Don Miguel de Mendoza, who +had looked forward to many pleasures in +this life? It was too bad. It was true, the +fortune of war might turn the other way; +but Don Miguel was aware of a sensation in +his bones which made this hope weak. + +At length Freeman drew rein and glanced +around him. They were in a lonely and-- +Don Miguel thought--a most desolate and +unattractive spot. An open space of about +half an acre was bounded on one side by a +growth of wild mustard, whose slender stalks +rose to more than the height of a man's +head. On the other side was a grove of +live-oak; and in front, the ground fell away +in a rugged, bush-grown declivity. + +"It strikes me that this is just about what +we want," remarked Freeman, in his full, +cheerful tones. "We are half a mile from +the road; the ground is fairly level; and +there's no possibility of our being disturbed. +I was thinking, this afternoon, as I passed +through here, what an ideal spot it was for +just such a little affair as you and I are bent +on. But I didn't venture to anticipate +such speedy good fortune as your obliging +condescension has brought to pass, Don +Miguel." + +"Caramba!" muttered the senor, +shivering. He might have said more, but was +unwilling to trust his voice, or to waste +nervous energy. + +Meanwhile, Freeman had dismounted, +and was tethering his horse. It occurred +to the senor that it would be easy to pull +his gun, send a bullet through his +companion, and gallop away. He did not +yield to this temptation, partly from +traditional feeling that it would not be suitable +conduct for a De Mendoza, partly because +he might miss the shot or only inflict a +wound, and partly because such deeds +demand a nerve which, at that moment, was +not altogether at his command. Instead, +he slowly dismounted himself, and wondered +whether it would ever be vouchsafed him to +sit in that saddle again. + +Freeman now produced his revolver, a +handsome, silver-mounted weapon, that +looked business-like. "What sort of a +machine is yours?" he inquired, pleasantly. +"You can take your choice. I'm not +particular, but I can recommend this as a sure +thing, if you would like to try it. It never +misses at twenty paces." + +"Twenty paces?" repeated Don Miguel, +with a faint gleam of hope. + +"Of course we won't have any twenty +paces to-night, "added Freeman, with a +laugh. "I thought it might be a good +plan to start at, say, fifteen, and advance +firing. In that way, one or other of us +will be certain to do something sooner or +later. Would that arrangement be agreeable +to Senor de Mendoza?" + +"Valga me Dios! I am content," said +the latter, fetching a deep breath, and setting +his teeth. "I will keep my weapon." + +"Muy buen," returned the American. +"So now let us take our ground: that is, if +you are quite ready?" + +Accordingly they selected their stations, +facing respectively about north and south, +with the planet of love between them, as it +were. "Oblige me by giving the word, +senor," said Freeman, cocking his weapon. + +But Don Miguel was staring with perturbed +visage at something behind his antagonist. +"Santa Maria!" he faltered, +"what is yonder? It is a spirit!" + +Freeman had his wits about him, and +perhaps entertained a not too high opinion +of Mexican fair play. So, before turning +round, he advanced till he was alongside +his companion. Then he looked, and saw +something which was certainly enigmatic. + +Among the wild-mustard plants there +appeared a moving luminosity, having an +irregular, dancing motion, as of a will-o'-the- +wisp singularly agitated. Sometimes it +uplifted itself on high, then plunged +downwards, and again jerked itself from side to +side; occasionally it would quite vanish for +an instant. Accompanying this manifestation +there was a clawing and reaching of +shadowy arms: altogether, it was as if some +titanic spectral grasshopper, with a heart of +fire, were writhing and kicking in convulsions +of phantom agony. Such an apparition, +in an hour and a place so lonely, +might stagger a less superstitious soul than +that of Don Miguel de Mendoza. + +Freeman gazed at it for a moment in +silence. It mystified him, and then irritated +him. When one is bent heart and soul upon +an important enterprise, any interruption is +an annoyance. Perhaps there was in the +young American's nature just enough remains +of belief in witches and hobgoblins +to make him feel warranted in resorting to +extreme measures. At any rate, he lifted +his revolver, and fired. + +It was a long shot for a revolver: +nevertheless it took effect. The luminous object +disappeared with a faint explosive sound, +followed by a shout unmistakably human. +The long stems of the wild mustard swayed +and parted, and out sprang a figure, which +ran straight towards the two young men. + +Hereupon, Don Miguel, hissing out an appeal +to the Virgin and the saints, turned and +fled. + +Meanwhile, the mysterious figure +continued its onward career; and Freeman +once more levelled his weapon,--when a +voice, which gave him such a start of +surprise as well-nigh caused him to pull the +trigger for sheer lack of self-command, +called out, "Why, you abominable young +villain! What the mischief do you mean? +Do you want to be hanged?" + +"Professor Meschines!" faltered Freeman. + +It was indeed that worthy personage, and +he was on fire with wrath. He held in one +hand a shattered lantern mounted on the +end of a pole, and in the other a long- +handled net of gauze, such as entomologists +use to catch moths withal. Under his left +arm was slung a brown japanned case, in +which he presumably deposited the spoils +of his skill. Freeman's shot had not only +smashed and extinguished the lantern which +served as bait for the game, but had also +given the professor a disagreeable reminder +that the tenure of human life is as precarious +as that of the silly moth which allows itself +to be lured to destruction by shining promises +of bliss. + +"Upon my soul, professor, I am very +sorry," said Freeman. "You have no idea +how formidable you looked; and you could +hardly expect me to imagine that you would +be abroad at such an hour----" + +"And why not, I should like to know?" +shouted the professor, towering with +indignation. "Was I doing anything to be +ashamed of? And what are you doing here, +pray, with loaded revolvers in your hands? +--Hallo! who's this?" he exclaimed, as +Don Miguel advanced doubtfully out of the +gloom. "Senor de Mendoza, as I'm a +sinner! and armed, too! Well, really! +Are you two out on a murdering expedition? +--Oho!" he went on, in a changed tone, +glancing keenly from one to another: +"methinks I see the bottom of this mystery. +You have ridden forth, like the champions +of romance, to do doughty deeds upon each +other!--Is it not so, Don Miguel?" he +demanded, turning his fierce spectacles +suddenly on that young man. + +Don Miguel, ignoring a secret gesture +from Freeman, admitted that he had been +on the point of expunging the latter from +this mortal sphere. + +The professor chuckled sarcastically. "I +see! Blood! Wounded honor! The code! +--But, by the way, I don't see your seconds! +Where are your seconds?" + +"My dear sir," said Freeman, "I assure +you it's all a mistake. We just happened +to meet at the gen--er--happened to meet, +and were riding home together----" + +"Now, listen to me, Harvey," the +professor interrupted, holding up an expository +finger. "You have known me since some +ten years, I think; and I have known you. +You were a clever boy in your studies; but +it was your foible to fancy yourself cleverer +than you were. Acting under that delusion, +you pitted yourself against me on one or +two occasions; and I leave it to your candid +recollection whether you or I had the best +of the encounter. You call yourself a man, +now; but I make bold to say that the-- +discrepancy, let us call it--between you and me +remains as conspicuous as ever it was. I see +through you, sir, much more clearly than, by +this light, I can see you. I am fond of you, +Harvey; but I feel nothing but contempt +for your present attitude. In the first place, +conscious as you are of your skill with that +weapon, you know that this affair--even had +seconds been present--would have been, not +a duel, but an assassination. You acted like +a coward!--I say it, sir, like a coward!-- +and I hope you may live to be as much +ashamed of yourself as I am now ashamed +for you. Secondly, your conduct, considered +in its relations to--to certain persons +whom I will not name, is that of a boor and +a blackguard. Suppose you had accomplished +the cowardly murder--the cowardly +murder, I said, sir--that you were bent upon +to-night. Do you think that would be a +grateful and acceptable return for the courtesy +and confidence that have been shown +you in that house?--a house, sir, to which I +myself introduced you, under the mistaken +belief that you were a gentleman, or, at +least, could feign gentlemanly behavior! +But I won't--my feelings won't allow me to +enlarge further upon this point. But allow +me to add, in the third place, that you have +shown yourself a purblind donkey. Actually, +you haven't sense enough to know the difference +between those who pull with you and +those who pull against you. Now, I happen +to know--to know, do you hear?--that had +you succeeded in what you were just about +to attempt, you would have removed your +surest ally,--the surest, because his interests +prompt him to favor yours. You pick out +the one man who was doing his best to clear +the obstacle out of your path, and what do +you do?--Thank him?--Not you! You plot +to kill him! But even had he been, as you +in your stupidity imagined, your rival, do +you think the course you adopted would +have promoted your advantage? Let me +tell you, sir, that you don't know the kind +of people you are dealing with. You would +never have been permitted to cross their +threshold again. And you may take my +word for it, if ever you venture to recur to +any such folly, I will see to it that you +receive your deserts.--Well, I think we +understand each other, now?" + +Freeman's emotions had undergone +several variations during the course of the +mighty professor's harangue. But he had +ended by admitting the force of the +argument; and the reminiscences of college +lecturings aroused by the incident had +tickled his sense of humor and quenched +his anger. He looked at the professor with +a sparkle of laughter in his eyes. + +"I have done very wrong, sir," he said, +"and I'm very sorry for it. If you won't +give me any bad marks this time, I'll +promise to be good in future." + +"Ah! very smooth! To begin with, +suppose you ask pardon of Senor Don +Miguel de Mendoza for the affront you +have put upon him." + +To a soul really fearless, even an apology +has no terrors. Moreover, Freeman's night +ride with Don Miguel, though brief in time, +had sufficed to give him the measure of the +Mexican's character; and he respected it so +little that he could no longer take the man +seriously, or be sincerely angry with him. +The professor's assurance as to Don Miguel's +inoffensiveness had also its weight; and it +was therefore with a quite royal gesture +of amicable condescension that Freeman +turned upon his late antagonist and held out +his hand. + +"Senor Don Miguel de Mendoza," said +he, "I humbly tender you my apologies +and crave your pardon. My conduct has +been inexcusable; I beg you to excuse it. +I deserve your reprobation; I entreat the +favor of your friendship. Senor, between +men of honor, a misunderstanding is a +misunderstanding, and an apology is an +apology. I lament the existence of the +first; the professor, here, is witness that I +lay the second at your feet. May I hope +to receive your hand as a pledge that you +restore me to the privilege of your good +will?" + +Now, Don Miguel's soul had been grievously +exercised that night: he had been +insulted, he had shivered beneath the shadow +of death, he had been a prey to superstitious +terrors, and he had been utterly perplexed +by the professor's eloquent address, whereof +(as it was delivered in good American, and +with a rapidity of utterance born of strong +feeling) he had comprehended not a word, +and the unexpected effect of which upon +his late adversary he was at a loss to +understand. Although, therefore, he had no +stomach for battle, he was oppressed by a +misgiving lest the whole transaction had +been in some way planned to expose him to +ridicule; and for this reason he was +disposed to treat Freeman's peaceful overtures +with suspicion. His heart did not respond +to those overtures, but neither was it stout +enough to enable him to reject them +explicitly. Accordingly, he adopted that +middle course which, in spite of the +proverb, is not seldom the least expedient. +He disregarded the proffered hand, bowed +very stiffly, and, saying, "Senor, I am +satisfied," stalked off with all the rigidity +of one in whose veins flows the sangre azul +of Old Castile. Freeman smiled superior +upon his retreat, and then, producing a +cigar-case, proceeded to light up with the +professor. In this fragrant and friendly +cloud we will leave them, and return for a +few minutes to the house of General Trednoke. + +It will be remembered that something was +said of Grace being privy to the nocturnal +advances of Senor de Mendoza. We are +not to suppose that this implies in her +anything worse than an aptness to indulge in +romantic adventure: the young lady +enjoyed the mystery of romance, and knew +that serenades, and whisperings over star-lit +balconies, were proper to this latitude. It +may be open to question whether she really +was much interested in De Mendoza, save +as he was a type of the adoring Spaniard. +That the scene required: she could imagine +him (for the time-being) to be the Cid of +ancient legend, and she herself would enact +a role of corresponding elevation. Grace +would doubtless have prospered better had +she been content with one adorer at a time; +but, while turning to a new love, she was by +no means disposed to loosen the chains of a +former one; and, though herself as jealous +as is a tiger-cat of her young, she could +never recognize the propriety of a similar +passion on the part of her victims. She +had been indignant at Freeman's apparent +infidelity with Miriam; but when she had +(as she imagined) discovered her mistake, +she had listened with a heart at ease to +the protestations of Don Miguel. She had +parted from him that evening with a half +expressed understanding that he was to +reappear beneath her window before day- +light; and she had pictured to herself a +charming balcony-scene, such as she had +beheld in Italian opera. Accordingly, she +had attired herself in a becoming negligee, +and had spent the fore part of the night +somewhat restlessly, occasionally emerging +on the veranda and gazing down into the +perfumed gloom of the garden. At length she +fancied that she heard footsteps. Whose +could they be, unless Don Miguel's? Grace +retreated within her window to await +developments. Don Miguel did not appear; +but presently she descried a phantom-like +figure ascending the flight of steps to the +veranda. Could that be he? If so, he +was bolder in his wooing than Grace had +been prepared for. But surely that was a +strange costume that he wore; nor did the +unconscious harmony of the gait at all resemble +the senor's self-conscious strut. And +whither was he going? + +It was but too evident that he was going +straight to the room occupied by Miriam! + +This was too much for Grace's equanimity. +She stepped out of her window, +and flitted with noiseless step along the +veranda. The figure that she pursued +entered the door of the house, and passed into +the corridor traversing the wing. Grace +was in time to see it cross the threshold of +Miriam's door, which stood ajar. She stole +to the door, and peeped in. There was the +figure; but of Miriam there was no trace. + +The figure slowly unfastened and threw +back the hood which covered its head, at +the same time turning round, so that its +countenance was revealed. A torrent of +black hair fell down over its shoulders. +Grace uttered an involuntary exclamation. +It was Miriam herself! + +The two gazed at each other a moment in +silence. "Goodness me, dear!" said Grace +at last, in a faint voice, "how you have +frightened me! I saw you go in, in that +dress, and I thought you were a man! +How my heart beats! What is the matter?" + +"This is strange!" murmured the other, +after a pause. "I never heard such words; +and yet I seem to understand, and even to +speak them. It must be a dream. What +are you?" + +"Why, Miriam, dear! don't you know +Grace?" + +"Oh! you think me Miriam. No; not +yet!" She raised her hands, and pressed +her fingers against her temples. "But I +feel her--I feel her coming! Not yet, +Kamaiakan! not so soon!--Do you know +him?" she suddenly asked, throwing back +her hair, and fixing an eager gaze on +Grace. + +"Know who? Kamaiakan? Why, +yes----" + +"No, not him! The youth,--the blue- +eyed,--the fair beard above his lips----" + +"What are you talking about? Not +Harvey Freeman!" + +"Harvey Freeman! Ah, how sweet a +name! Harvey Freeman! I shall know it +now!--Tell him," she went on, laying her +hand majestically upon Grace's shoulder, +and speaking with an impressive earnestness, +"that Semitzin loves him!" + +"Semitzin?" repeated Grace, puzzled, +and beginning to feel scared. + +"Semitzin!" the other said, pointing to +her own heart. "She loves him: not as +the child Miriam loves, but with the heart +and soul of a mighty princess. When he +knows Semitzin, he will think of Miriam no +more." + +"But who is Semitzin?" inquired Grace, +with a fearful curiosity. + +"The Princess of Tenochtitlan, and the +guardian of the great treasure, "was the +reply. + +"Good gracious! what treasure?" + +"The treasure of gold and precious +stones hidden in the gorge of the desert +hills. None knows the place of it but I; +and I will give it to none but him I love." + +"But you said that . . . Really, my +dear, I don't understand a bit! As for Mr. +Freeman, he may care for Semitzin, for +aught I know; but, I must confess, I think +you're mistaken in supposing he's in love +with you,--if that is what you mean. I +met him before you did, you know; and if +I were to tell you all that we----" + +"What are you or Miriam to me?--Ah! +she comes!--The treasure--by the turning +of the white pyramid--six hundred paces-- +on the right--the arch----" Her voice +died away. She covered her face with her +hands, and trembled violently. Slowly she +let them fall, and stared around her. +"Grace, is it you? Has anything happened? +How came I like this? What is +it?" + +"Well, if you don't know, I'm afraid I +can't tell you. I had begun to think you +had gone mad. It must be either that or +somnambulism. Who is Semitzin?" + +"Semitzin? I never heard of him." + +"It isn't a man: it's a princess. And +the treasure?" + +"Am I asleep or awake? What are you +saying?" + +"The white pyramid, you know----" + +"Don't make game of me, Grace. If +I have done anything----" + +"My dear, don't ask me! I tell you +frankly, I'm nonplussed. You were somebody +else a minute ago. . . . The truth is, +of course, you've been dreaming awake. +Has any one else seen you beside me?" + +"Have I been out of my room?" asked +Miriam, in dismay. + +"You must have been, I should think, to +get that costume. Well, the best plan will +be, I suppose, to say nothing about it to +anybody. It shall be our secret, dear. If I +were you, I would have one of the women +sleep in your room, in case you got restless +again. It's just an attack of nervousness, +probably,--having so many strangers in the +house, all of a sudden. Now you must go +to bed and get to sleep: it's awfully late, +and there'll be ever so much going on to- +morrow." + +Grace herself slept little that night. She +could not decide what to make of this +adventure. Nowadays we are provided with +a name for the peculiar psychical state +which Miriam was undergoing, and with +abundant instances and illustrations; but +we perhaps know what it is no more than +we did twenty-five or thirty years ago. +Grace's first idea had been that Miriam was +demented; then she thought she was playing +a part; then she did not know what to +think; and finally she came to the conclusion +that it was best to quietly await further +developments. She would keep an eye +on Freeman as well as on Miriam; something, +too, might be gathered from Don +Miguel; and then there was that talk about +a treasure. Was that all the fabric of a +dream, or was there truth at the bottom of +it? She had heard something said about a +treasure in the course of the general +conversation the day before. If there really +was a treasure, why might not she have a +hand in the discovery of it? Miriam, in +her abnormal state, had let fall some +topographical hints that might prove useful. +Well, she would work out the problem, +sooner or later. To-morrow, when the +others had gone off on their expedition, she +would have ample leisure to sound Don +Miguel, and, if he proved communicative +and available, who could tell what might +happen? But how very odd it all was! +Who was Semitzin? + +While asking herself this question, Grace +fell asleep; and by the time the summons +to breakfast came, she had passed through +thrilling adventures enough to occupy a new +Scheherazade at least three years in the +telling of them. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +By nine o'clock in the morning, +Professor Meschines and Harvey Freeman +had ridden up to the general's ranch, +equipped for the expedition. The general's +preparations were not yet quite completed. +A couple of mules were being loaded with +the necessary outfit. It was proposed to be +out two days, camping in the open during +the intervening night. It was necessary to +take water as well as solid provisions. +Leaving their horses in the care of a couple +of stable-boys, Meschines and Freeman +mounted the veranda, and were there +greeted by General Trednoke. + +"I'm afraid we'll have a hot ride of it," +he observed. "The atmosphere is rather +oppressive. Kamaiakan tells me there was +a touch of earthquake last night." + +"I thought I noticed some disturbance,----" +returned the professor, with a stealthy side- +glance at Freeman,--"something in the +nature of an explosion." + +"Earthquakes are common in this region, +aren't they?" Freeman said. + +"They have made it what it is, and may +unmake it again," replied the general. +"The earthquake is the father of the desert, +as the Indians say; and it may some day +become the father of a more genial offspring. +Veremos!" + +"How are the young ladies?" inquired +Freeman. + +"Miriam has a little headache, I +believe; and I thought Miss Parsloe was +looking a trifle pale this morning. But +you must see for yourself. Here they +come." + +Grace, who was a little taller than +Miriam, had thrown one arm round that +young lady's waist, with a view, perhaps, to +forming a picture in which she should not +be the secondary figure. In fact, they were +both of them very pretty; but Freeman had +become blind to any beauty but Miriam's. +Moreover, he was resolved to have some +private conversation with her during the +few minutes that were available. A +conversation with the professor, and some +meditations of his own, had suggested to him a +line of attack upon Grace. + +"I'm afraid you were disturbed by the +earthquake last night?" he said to her. + +"An earthquake? Why should you +think so?" + +"You look as if you had passed a restless +night. I saw Senor de Mendoza this morning. +He seems to have had a restless time +of it, too. But he is a romantic person, +and probably, if an earthquake did not +make him sleepless, something else might." +He looked at her a moment, and then +added, with a smile, "But perhaps this is +not news to you?" + +"He didn't come--I didn't see him," +returned Grace, wishing, ere the words had +left her lips, that she had kept her mouth +shut. Freeman continued to smile. How +much did he know? She felt that it might +be inexpedient to continue the conversation. +Casting about for a pretext for +retreat, her eyes fell upon Meschines. + +"Oh, there's the dear professor! I must +speak to him a moment," she exclaimed, +vivaciously; and she slipped her arm from +Miriam's waist, and was off, leaving Freeman +in possession of the field, and of the +monopoly of Miriam's society. + +"Miss Trednoke," said he, gravely, "I +have something to tell you, in order to clear +myself from a possible misunderstanding. +It may happen that I shall need your +vindication with your father. Will you give +it?" + +"What vindication do you need, that I +can give?" asked she, opening her dark +eyes upon him questioningly. + +"That's what I wish to explain. I am +in a difficult position. Would you mind +stepping down into the garden? It won't +take a minute." + +Curiosity, if not especially feminine, is +at least human. Miriam descended the +steps, Freeman beside her. They strolled +down the path, amidst the flowers. + +"You said, yesterday," he began, "that +I would say one thing and be another. +Now I am going to tell you what I am. +And afterwards I'll tell you why I tell it. +In the first place, you know, I'm a civil +engineer, and that includes, in my case, a +good deal of knowledge about geology and +things of that sort. I have sometimes been +commissioned to make geological surveys +for Eastern capitalists. Lately I've been +canal-digging on the Isthmus; but the other +day I got a notification from some men in +Boston and New York to come out here on a +secret mission." + +"Secret, Mr. Freeman?" + +"Yes: you will understand directly. +These men had heard enough about the +desert valleys of this region to lead them to +think that it might be reclaimed and so be +made very valuable. Such lands can be +bought now for next to nothing; but, if the +theories that control these capitalists are +correct, they could afterwards be sold at a +profit of thousands per cent. So it's +indispensable that the object of my being +here should remain unknown; otherwise, +other persons might step in and anticipate +the designs of this company." + +"If those are your orders, why do you +speak to me?" + +"There's a reason for doing it that +outweighs the reasons against it. I trust you +with the secret: yet I don't mean to bind +you to secrecy. You will have a perfect +right to tell it: the only result would be +that I should be discredited with my +employers; and there is nothing to warrant me +in supposing that you would be deterred by +that." + +"I don't ask to know your secret: I +think you had better say no more." + +Freeman shook his head. "I must +speak," said he. "I don't care what +becomes of me, so long as I stand right in +your opinion,--your father's and yours. I +am here to find out whether this desert can +be flooded,--irrigated,--whether it's possible, +by any means, to bring water upon it. +If my report is favorable, the company will +purchase hundreds, or thousands, of square +miles, and, incidentally, my own fortune +will be made." + +"Why, that's the very thing----" She +stopped. + +"The very thing your father had thought +of! Yes, so I imagined, though he has not +told me so in so many words. So I'm in +the position of surreptitiously taking away +the prospective fortune of a man whom I +respect and honor, and who treats me as a +friend." + +Miriam walked on some steps in silence. +"It is no fault of yours," she said at last. +"You owe us nothing. You must carry out +your orders." + +"Yes; but what is to prevent your father +from thinking that I stole his idea and then +used it against him?" + +"You can tell him the truth: he could +not complain; and why should you care if +he did? I know that men separate business +from--from other things." + +They had now come to the little enclosed +space where the fountain basin was; and by +tacit consent they seated themselves upon it. +Miriam gave an exclamation of surprise. +"The water is gone!" she said. "How +strange!" + +"Perhaps it has gone to meet us at our +rendezvous in the desert.--No: if I tell +your father, I should be unfaithful to my +employers. But there's another alternative: +I can resign my appointment, and let my +place be taken by another." + +"And give up your chance of a fortune? +You mustn't do that." + +"What is it to you what becomes of +me?" + +"I wish nothing but good to come to +you," said she, in a low voice. + +"I have never wanted to have a fortune +until now. And I must tell you the reason +of that, too. A man without a fortune does +very well by himself. He can knock about, +and live from hand to mouth. But when +he wants to live for somebody else,--even +if he has only a very faint hope of getting +the opportunity of doing it,--then he must +have some settled means of livelihood to +justify him. So I say I am in a difficult +position. For if I give this up, I must go +away; and if I go away, I must give up +even the little hope I have." + +"Don't go away," said Miriam, after a +pause. + +"Do you know what you are saying?" +He hesitated a moment, looking at her as +she looked down at the empty basin. "My +hope was that you might love me; for I +love you, to be my wife." + +The color slowly rose in Miriam's face: +at length she hid it in her hands. "Oh, +what is it?" she said, almost in a whisper. +"I have known you only three days. But +it seems as if I must have known you before. +There is something in me that is not like +myself. But it is the deepest thing in me; +and it loves you: yes, I love you!" + +Her hands left her face, and there was a +light in her eyes which made Freeman, in +the midst of his rejoicing, feel humble and +unworthy. He felt himself in contact with +something pure and sacred. At the same +moment, the recollection recurred to him +of the figure he had seen the night before, +with the features of Miriam. Was it she +indeed? Was this she? To doubt the +identity of the individual is to lose one's +footing on the solid earth. For the first +time it occurred to him that this doubt +might affect Miriam herself. Was she +obscurely conscious of two states of being in +herself, and did she therefore fear to trust +her own impulses? But, again, love is the +master-passion; its fire fuses all things, and +gives them unity. Would not this love that +they confessed for each other burn away all +that was abnormal and enigmatic, and leave +only the unerring human heart, that knows +its own and takes it? These reflections +passed through Freeman's mind in an +instant of time. But he was no metaphysician, +and he obeyed the sane and wholesome +instinct which has ever been man's +surest and safest guide through the +mysteries and bewilderments of existence. He +took the beautiful woman in his arms and +kissed her. + +"This is real and right, if anything is," +said he. "If there are ghosts about, you +and I, at any rate, are flesh and blood, and +where we belong. As to the irrigation +scrape, there must be some way out of it: +if not, no matter! You and I love each +other, and the world begins from this moment!" + +"My father must know to-morrow," said +Miriam. + +"No doubt we shall all know more to- +morrow than we do to-day," returned her +lover, not knowing how abundantly his +prophecy would be fulfilled: he was over- +flowing with the fearless and enormous joy +of a young man who has attained at one +bound the summit of his desire. "There! +they are calling for me. Good-by, my +darling. Be yourself, and think of nothing +but me." + + +A short ride brought the little cavalcade +to the borders of the desert. Here, by +common consent, a halt was made, to draw +breath, as it were, before taking the final +plunge into the fiery furnace. + +"Before we go farther," said General +Trednoke, approaching Freeman, as he was +tightening his girths, "I must tell you what +is the object of this expedition." + +"It is not necessary, general," replied +the young man, straightening himself and +looking the other in the face; "for from +this point our paths lie apart." + +"Why so?" demanded the general, in +surprise. + +"What's that?" exclaimed Meschines, +coming up, and adjusting his spectacles. + +"I'm not at liberty, at present, to +explain," Freeman answered. "All I can +say is that I don't feel justified in assisting +you in your affair, and I am not able to +confide my own to you. I wish you to put +the least uncharitable construction you can +on my conduct. To-morrow, if we all live, +I may say more; now, the most I can tell +you is that I am not entirely a free agent. +Meantime--Hasta luego." + +Against this unexpected resolve the +general cordially protested and the professor +scoffed and contended; but Freeman stayed +firm. He had with him provisions enough +to last him three days, and a supply of +water; and in a small case he carried a +compact assortment of instruments for +scientific observation. "Take your departure +in whatever direction you like," said he, +"and I will take mine at an angle of not +less than fifteen degrees from it. If I am +not back in three days, you may conclude +something has happened." + +It was certainly very hot. Freeman had +been accustomed to torrid suns in the Isthmus; +but this was a sun indefinitely multiplied +by reflections from the dusty surface +underfoot. Nor was it the fine, ethereal fire +of the Sahara: the atmosphere was dead +and heavy; for the rider was already far +below the level of the Pacific, whose cool +blue waves rolled and rippled many leagues +to the westward, as, aeons ago, they had +rolled and rippled here. There was not a +breath of air. Freeman could hear his +heart beat, and the veins in his temples and +wrists throbbed. The sweat rose on the +surface of his body, but without cooling it. +The pony which he bestrode, a bony and +sinewy beast of the toughest description, +trod onwards doggedly, but with little +animation. Freeman had no desire to push +him. Were the little animal to overdo +itself, nothing in the future could be more +certain than that his master would never see +the Trednoke ranch again. It seemed +unusually hot, even for that region. + +There was little in the way of outward +incident to relieve the monotony of the +journey. Now and then a short, thick +rattlesnake, with horns on its ugly head, +wriggled out of his path. Now and then his +horse's hoof almost trod upon a hideous, +flat lizard, also horned. Here and there +the uncouth projections of a cactus pushed +upwards out of the dust; some of these the +mustang nibbled at, for the sake of their +juice. Freeman wondered where the juice +came from. The floor of the desert seemed +for the most part level, though there was a +gradual dip towards the east and northeast, +and occasionally mounds and ridges of +wind-swept dust, sometimes upwards of fifty +feet in height, broke the uniformity. The +soil was largely composed of powdered feldspar; +but there were also tracts of gravel +shingle, of yellow loam, and of alkaline +dust. In some places there appeared a salt +efflorescence, sprouting up in a sort of +ghastly vegetation, as if death itself had +acquired a sinister life. Elsewhere, the +ground quaked and yielded underfoot, and +it became necessary to make detours to +avoid these arid bogs. Once or twice, too, +Freeman turned aside lest he should trample +upon some dry bones that protruded in his +path,--bones that were their own monument, +and told their own story of struggle, +agony, exhaustion, and despair. + +None of these things had any depressing +effect on Freeman's spirit. His heart was +singing with joy. To a mind logically +disposed, there was nothing but trouble in +sight, whether he succeeded or failed in his +present mission. In the former case, he +would find himself in a hostile position as +regarded the man he most desired to +conciliate; in the latter, he would remain the +mere rolling stone that he was before, and +love itself would forbid him to ask the +woman he loved to share his uncertain +existence. But Freeman was not logical: he +was happy, and he could not help it. He +had kissed Miriam, and she loved him. + +His course lay a few degrees north of +east. Far across the plain, dancing and +turning somersaults in the fantastic atmosphere, +were the summits of a range of abrupt +hills, the borders of a valley or ravine +which he wished to explore. Gradually, as +he rode, his shadow lengthened before him. +It was his only companion; and yet he felt +no sense of loneliness. Miriam was in his +heart, and kept it fresh and bold. Even +hunger and thirst he scarcely felt. Who +can estimate the therapeutic and hygienic +effects of love? + +The mustang could not share his rider's +source of content, but he may have been +conscious, through animal instincts whereof +we know nothing, of an uplifting and +encouraging spirit. At all events, he kept up +his steady lope without faltering or apparent +effort, and seemed to require nothing more +than the occasional wetting which Freeman +administered to his nose. There would +probably be some vegetation, and perhaps +water, on the hills; and that prospect may +likewise have helped him along. + +Nevertheless, man and beast may well +have welcomed the hour when the craggy +acclivities of that lonely range became so +near that they seemed to loom above their +heads. Freeman directed his steps towards +the southern extremity, where a huge, pallid +mass, of almost regular pyramidal form, +reared itself aloft like a monument. He +skirted the base of the pyramid, and there +opened on his view a narrow, winding valley, +scarcely half a mile in apparent breadth, +and of a very wild and savage aspect. Its +general direction was nearly north and +south, and it declined downwards, as if +seeking the interior of the earth. In fact, +it looked not unlike those imaginative +pictures of the road to the infernal regions +described by the ancient poets. One could +picture Pluto in his chariot, with Proserpine +beside him, thundering downwards behind +his black horses, on the way to those sombre +and magnificent regions which are hollowed +out beneath the surface of the planet. + +Freeman, however, presently saw a sight +which, if less spectacularly impressive, was +far more agreeable to his eyes. On a shelf +or cup of the declivity was a little clump of +vegetation, and in the midst of it welled up +a thin stream of water. The mustang +scrambled eagerly towards it, and, before +Freeman had had time to throw himself out +of the saddle, he had plunged his muzzle +into the rivulet. He sucked it down with +such satisfaction that it was evident the +water was not salt. Freeman laid himself +prone upon the brink, and followed his +steed's example. The draught was cool +and pure. + +"I didn't know how much I wanted it!" +said he to himself. "It must come from a +good way down. If I could only bring the +parent stream to the surface, my mission +would be on a fair road to success." + +An examination of the spring revealed the +fact that it could not have been long in +existence. Indeed, there were no traces +whatever of long continuance. The aperture in +the rock through which it trickled bore the +appearance of having been recently opened; +fragments were lying near it that seemed to +have been just broken off. The bed of the little +stream was entirely free from moss or weeds; +and after proceeding a short distance it +dwindled and disappeared, either sucked up in +vapor by the torrid air, or absorbed into +the dusty soil. Manifestly, it was a recent +creation. + +"And, to be sure, why not?" ejaculated +Freeman. "There was an earthquake last +night, which swallowed up the spring in +the Trednokes' garden: probably that same +earthquake brought this stream to light. It +vanished there, to reappear here. Well, the +loss is not important to them, but the gain is +very important to me. It is as if Miriam +had come with a cup of water to refresh her +lover in the desert. God bless her! She +has refreshed me indeed, soul and body!" + +He removed the saddle from the mustang, +and turned him loose to make the best of +such scanty herbage as he could find. Then +he unpacked his own provisions, and made a +comfortable meal; after which he rolled a +cigarette and reclined on the spot most available, +to rest and recuperate. The valley, or +gorge, lay before him in the afternoon light. +It was a strange and savage spectacle. Had +it been torn asunder by some stupendous +explosion, it could not have presented a rougher +or more chaotic aspect. To look at it was +like beholding the secret places of the earth. +The rocky walls were of different colors, +yellow, blue, and red, in many shades and +gradations. They towered ruggedly upwards, +sharply shadowed and brightly lighted, +mounting in regular pinnacles, parting in +black crevices; here and there vast masses +hung poised on bases seemingly insufficient, +ready to topple over on the unwary passer +beneath. A short distance to the northward +the ravine had a turn, and a projecting +promontory hid its further extreme from sight. +Freeman made up his mind to follow it up +on foot, after the descending sun should +have thrown a shadow over it. The indications, +in his judgment, were not without +promise that a system of judiciously-applied +blastings might open up a source of water +that would transform this dreadful barrenness +into something quite different. + +The shade of the great pyramid fell upon +him as he lay, but the tumultuous wall opposite +was brilliantly illuminated: the sky, over +it, was of a peculiar brassy hue, but entirely +cloudless. The radiations from the baked +surface, ascending vertically, made the rocky +bastion seem to quiver, as if it were a reflection +cast on undulating water. The wreaths +of tobacco-smoke that emanated from Freeman's +mouth also ascended, until they touched +the slant of sunlight overhead. As the +young man's eyes followed these, something +happened that caused him to utter an +exclamation and raise himself on one arm. + +All at once, in the vacant air diagonally +above him, a sort of shadowy shimmer +seemed to concentrate itself, which was +rapidly resolved into color and form. It was +much as if some unseen artist had swept a +mass of mingled hues on a canvas and then +had worked them with magical speed into a +picture. There appeared a breadth of rolling +country, covered with verdure, and in +the midst of it the white walls and long, +shadowed veranda of an adobe house. Freeman +saw the vines clambering over the eaves +and roof, the vases of earthenware suspended +between the pillars and overflowing with +flowers, the long windows, the steps descending +into the garden. Now a figure clad in +white emerged from the door and advanced +slowly to the end of the veranda. He +recognized the gait and bearing: he could almost +fancy he discerned the beloved features. +She stood there for a moment, gazing, as it +seemed, directly at him. She raised her +hands, and pressed them to her lips, then +threw them outwards, with a gesture eloquent +of innocent and tender passion. Freeman's +heart leaped: involuntarily he stretched out +his arms, and murmured, "Miriam!" The +next moment, a tall, dark figure, with white +hair, wrapped in a blanket, came stalking +behind her, and made a beckoning movement. +Miriam did not turn, but her bearing +changed; her hands fell to her sides; +she seemed bewildered. Freeman sprang +angrily to his feet: the picture became +blurred; it flowed into streaks of vague +color; it was gone. There were only the +brassy sky, and the painted crags quivering +in the heat. + +"That was not a mirage: it was a miracle," +muttered the young man to himself. +"Forty miles at least, and it seemed +scarcely three hundred yards! What does +it mean?" + +The sun sank behind the hills, and a +transparent shadow filled the gorge. Freeman, +uneasy in mind, and unable to remain +inactive, filled his canteen at the spring, and +descended to the rugged trail at the bottom. +Clambering over boulders, leaping across +narrow chasms, letting himself down from +ledges, his preoccupation soon left him, and +physical exertion took the precedence. Half +an hour's work brought him to the out- +jutting promontory which had concealed +the further reaches of the valley. These +now lay before him, merging imperceptibly +into indistinctness. + +"This atmosphere is unbearable," said +Freeman. "I must get a little higher up." +He turned to the right, and saw a natural +archway, of no great height, formed in the +rock. The arch itself was white; the super- +incumbent stone was of a dull red hue. On +the left flank of the arch were a series of +inscribed characters, which might have been +cut by a human hand, or might have been a +mere natural freak. They looked like some +rude system of hieroglyphics, and bore no +meaning to Freeman's mind. + +A sort of crypt or deep recess was +hollowed out beneath the arch, the full extent +of which Freeman was unable to discern. +The floor of it descended in ridges, like a +rough staircase. He stood for a few moments +peering into the gloom, tempted by +curiosity to advance, but restrained partly +by the gathering darkness, and partly by the +oppressiveness of the atmosphere, which +produced a sensation of giddiness. Something +white gleamed on the threshold of the crypt. +He picked it up. It was a human skull; +but even as he lifted it it came apart in his +hands and crumbled into fragments. Freeman's +nerves were strong, but he shuddered +slightly. The loneliness, the silence, the +mystery, and the strange light-headedness +that was coming over him combined to make +him hesitate. "I'll come back to-morrow +morning early," he said to himself. + +As if in answer, a deep, appalling roar +broke forth apparently under his feet, and +went rolling and reverberating up and down +the canon. It died away, but was +immediately followed by another yet more loud, +and the ground shook and swayed beneath +his feet. A gigantic boulder, poised high +up on the other side of the canon, was +unseated, and fell with a terrific crash. A hot +wind swept sighing through the valley, and +the air rapidly became dark. Again came +the sigh, rising to a shriek, with roarings +and thunderings that seemed to proceed +both from the heavens and from the earth. + +A dazzling flash of lightning split the air, +bathing it for an instant in the brightness +of day: in that instant Freeman saw the +bolt strike the great white pyramid and +splinter its crest into fragments, while the +whole surface of the gorge heaved and +undulated like a stormy sea. He had been +staggering as best he might to a higher part +of the ravine; but now he felt a stunning +blow on his head: he fell, and knew no +more. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +Two horsemen, one of whom led a third +horse, carrying a pack-saddle, had +reached the borders of the desert just as the +earthquake began. When the first shock +came, they were riding past a grove of live- +oaks: they immediately dismounted, made +fast their horses, and lay down beside some +bushes that skirted the grove. Neither the +earthquake nor the storm was so severe as +was the case farther eastward. In an hour +all was over, and they remounted and +continued their journey, guiding their course +by the stars. + +"It was thus that we rode before, +Kamaiakan," remarked the younger of the two +travellers. "Yonder bright star stood as it +does now, and the hour of the night was +the same. But this shaking of the earth +makes me fear for the safety of that youth. +The sands of the desert may have swept +over him; or he may have perished in the +hills." + +"The purposes of the gods cannot be +altered, Semitzin," replied the old Indian, +who perhaps would not have much regretted +such a calamity as she suggested: it would +be a simple solution of difficulties which +might otherwise prove embarrassing. "It +is my prayer, at all events, that the entrance +to the treasure may not be closed." + +"I care nothing for the treasure, unless +I may share it with him," she returned. +"Since we spoke together beside the fountain, +I have seen him. He looked upon me +doubtfully, being, perhaps, perplexed +because of these features of the child Miriam, +which I am compelled to wear." + +"Truly, princess, what is he, that you +should think of him?" muttered Kamaiakan. + +"He satisfies my heart," was the reply. + +"And I am resolved never again to give up +this mortal habitation to her you call its +rightful owner. I will never again leave +this world, which I enjoy, for the unknown +darkness out of which you called me." + +"Princess, the gods do not permit such +dealings. They may, indeed, suffer you to +live again; but you must return as an +infant, in flesh and bones of your own." + +"The gods have permitted me to return +as I have returned; and you well know, +Kamaiakan, that, except you use your art +to banish me and restore Miriam, there is +nothing else that can work a change." + +"Murder is not lawful, Semitzin; and to +do as you desire would be an act not different +from murder." + +"On my head be it, then!" exclaimed +the princess. "Would it be less a murder +to send me back to nothingness than to let +her remain there? Mine is the stronger +spirit, and has therefore the better right to +live. I ask of you only to do nothing. +None need ever know that Miriam has +vanished and that Semitzin lives in her place. +I wear her body and her features, and I am +content to wear her name also, if it must be +so." + +Kamaiakan was silent. He may well be +pardoned for feeling troubled in the presence +of a situation which had perhaps never +before confronted a human being. Two +women, both tenants of the same body, +both in love with the same man, and therefore +rivals of each other, and each claiming +a right to existence: it was a difficult +problem. The old Indian heartily wished that a +separate tenement might be provided for +each of these two souls, that they might +fight out their quarrel in the ordinary way. +But his magic arts did not extend to the +creation of flesh and blood. At the same +time, he could not but feel to blame for +having brought this strenuous spirit of +Semitzin once more into the world, and he +was fain to admit that her claim was not +without justification. His motives had been +excellent, but he had not foreseen the +consequences in which the act was to land him. +Yet he more shrank from wronging Miriam +than from disappointing Semitzin. + +But the latter was not to be put off by +silence. + +"There has been a change since you and +I last spoke together," she said. "I am +aware of it, though I know not how; but, +in some manner, the things which Miriam +has done are perceptible to me. When I +was here before, she did but lean towards +this youth; now she has given herself to +him. She means to be united to him; and, +if I again should vanish, I should never +again find my way back. But it shall not +be so; and there is a way, Kamaiakan, by +which I can surely prevent it, even though +you refuse to aid me." + +"Indeed, princess, I think you mistake +regarding the love of Miriam for this young +man; they have seen little of each other; +and it may be, as you yourself said, that he +has perished in the wilderness." + +"I believe he lives," she answered: "I +should know it, were it otherwise. But if I +cannot have him, neither shall she. I have +told you already that, unless you swear to +me not to put forth your power upon me to +dismiss me, I will not lead you to the treasure. +But that is not enough; for men deceive, +and you are a man. But if at any +time hereafter I feel within me those pangs +that tell me you are about to separate me +from this world, at that moment, Kamaiakan, +I will drive this knife through the +heart of Miriam! If I cannot keep her +body, at least it shall be but a corpse when +I leave it. You know Semitzin; and you +know that she will keep her word!" + +She reined in her horse, as she spoke, and +sat gazing upon her companion with flashing +eyes. The Indian, after a pause, made a +gesture of gloomy resignation. "It shall be +as you say, then, Semitzin; and upon your +head be it! Henceforth, Miriam is no +more. But do you beware of the vengeance +of the gods, whose laws you have defied." + +"Let the gods deal with me as they will," +replied the Aztecan. "A day of happiness +with the man I love is worth an age of +punishment." + +Kamaiakan made no answer, and the two +rode forward in silence. + +It was midnight, and a bright star, nearly +in the zenith, seemed to hang precisely above +the summit of the great white pyramid at +the mouth of the gorge. + +"It was here that we stopped," observed +Semitzin. "We tied our horses among the +shrubbery round yonder point. Thence we +must go on foot. Follow me." + +She struck her heels against her horse's +sides, and went forward. The long ride +seemed to have wearied her not a whit. The +lean and wiry Indian had already betrayed +symptoms of fatigue; but the young princess +appeared as fresh as when she started. Not +once had she even taken a draught from her +canteen; and yet she was closely clad, from +head to foot, in the doublet and leggings of +the Golden Fleece. One might have thought +it had some magic virtue to preserve its +wearer's vitality; and possibly, as is sometimes +seen in trance, the energy and concentration +of the spirit reacted upon the body. + +She turned the corner of the pyramid, but +had not ridden far when an object lying in +her path caused her to halt and spring from +the saddle. Kamaiakan also dismounted and +came forward. + +The dead body of a mustang lay on the +ground, crushed beneath the weight of a +fragment of rock, which had evidently fallen +upon it from a height. He had apparently +been dead for some hours. He was without +either saddle or bridle. + +"Do you know him?" demanded Semitzin. + +"It is Diego," replied Kamaiakan. "I +know him by the white star on his muzzle. +He was ridden by the Senor Freeman. They +must have come here before the earthquake. +And there lie the saddle and the bridle. +But where is Senor Freeman?" + +"He can be nowhere else than in this +valley," said Semitzin, confidently. "I +knew that I should find him here. Through +all the centuries, and across all spaces, we +were destined to meet. His horse was killed, +but he has escaped. I shall save him. Could +Miriam have done this? Is he not mine by +right?" + +"It is at least certain, princess," responded +the old man rather dryly, "that had it not +been for Miriam you would never have met +the Senor Freeman at all." + +"I thank her for so much; and some time, +perhaps, I will reward her by permitting her +to have a glimpse of him for an hour,--or, +at least, a minute. But not now, Kamaiakan, +--not till I am well assured that no thought +but of me can ever find its way into his +heart. Come, let us go forward. We will +find the treasure, and I will give it to my +lord and lover." + +"Shall we bring the pack-horse with us?" +asked the Indian. + +"Yes, if he can find his way among these +rocks. The earthquake has made changes +here. See how the water pours from this +spring! It has already made a stream down +the valley. It shall guide us whither we are +going." + +Leaving their own horses, they advanced +with the mule. But the trail, rough enough +at best, was now well-nigh impassable. +Masses of rock had fallen from above; large +fissures and crevasses had been formed in +the floor of the gorge, from some of which +steaming vapors escaped, while others gave +forth streams of water. The darkness added +to the difficulties of the way, for, although +the sky was now clear, the gloom was +deceptive, and things distant seemed near. +Occasionally a heavy, irregular sound would +break the stillness, as some projection of a +cliff became loosened and tumbled down the +steep declivity. + +Semitzin, however, held on her way +fearlessly and without hesitation, and the Indian, +with the pack-horse, followed as best he +might, now and then losing sight for a moment +of the slight, grayish figure in front of +him. At length she disappeared behind the +jutting profile of a great promontory which +formed a main angle of the gorge. When +he came up with her, she was kneeling +beside the prostrate form of a man, supporting +his head upon her knee. + +Kamaiakan approached, and looked at the +face of the man, which was pale; the eyes +were closed. A streak of blood, from a +wound on the head, descended over the +right side of the forehead. + +"Is he dead?" the Indian asked. + +"He is not dead," replied Semitzin. "A +flying stone has struck him; but his heart +beats: he will be well again." She poured +some water from her canteen over his face, +and bent her ear over his lips. "He +breathes," she said. Slipping one arm +beneath his neck, she loosened the shirt at his +throat and then stooped and kissed him. +"Be alive for me, love," she murmured. +"My life is yours." + +This exhortation seemed to have some +effect. The man stirred slightly, and emitted +a sigh. Presently he muttered, "I can-- +lick him--yet!" + +"He will live, princess," remarked +Kamaiakan. "But where is the treasure?" + +"My treasure is here!" was her reply; +and again she bent to kiss the half-conscious +man, who knew not of his good fortune. +After an interval she added, "It is in the +hollow beneath that archway. Go down +three paces: on the wall at the left you will +feel a ring. Pull it outwards, and the stone +will give way. Behind it lies the chest in +which the jewels are. But remember your +promise!" + +Kamaiakan peered into the hollow, shook +his head as one who loves not his errand, +and stepped in. The black shadow swallowed +him up. Semitzin paid no further +attention to him, but was absorbed in +ministering to her patient, whose strength was +every moment being augmented, though he +was not yet aware of his position. But all +at once a choking sound came from within +the cave, and in a few moments Kamaiakan +staggered up out of the shadow, and sank +down across the threshold of the arch. + +"Semitzin," he gasped, in a faint voice, +"the curse of the gods is upon the spot! +The air within is poisonous. It withers the +limbs and stops the breath. No one may +touch the treasure and live. Let us +go!" + +"The gods do not love those who fear," +replied the princess, contemptuously. "But +the treasure is mine, and it may well be that +no other hand may touch it. Fold that +blanket, and lay it beneath his head. I will +bring the jewels." + +"Do not attempt it: it will be death!" +exclaimed the old man. + +"Shall a princess come to her lover +empty-handed? Do you watch beside him +while I go. Ah, if your Miriam were here, +I would not fear to have him choose between +us!" + +With these words, Semitzin stepped across +the threshold of the crypt, and vanished in +its depths. The Indian, still dizzy and +faint, knelt on the rock without, bowed +down by sinister forebodings. + +Several minutes passed. "She has +perished!" muttered Kamaiakan. + +Freeman raised himself on one elbow, +and gazed giddily about him. "What the +deuce has happened?" he demanded, in a +sluggish voice. "Is that you, professor?" + +Suddenly, a rending and rushing sound +burst from the cave. Following it, Semitzin +appeared at the entrance, dragging a heavy +metal box, which she grasped by a handle +at one end. Immediately in her steps broke +forth a great volume of water, boiling up as +if from a caldron. It filled the cave, and +poured like a cataract into the gorge. The +foundations of the great deep seemed to be +let loose. + +Semitzin lifted from her face the woollen +mask, or visor, which she had closed on +entering the cave. She was panting from +exertion, but neither her physical nor her +mental faculties were abated. She spoke +sharply and imperiously: + +"Bring up the mule, and help me fasten +the chest upon him. We must reach higher +ground before the waters overtake us. And +now----" She turned to Freeman, who by +this time was sitting up and regarding her +with stupefaction. + +"Miriam!" was all he could utter. + +She shook her head, and smiled. "I am +she who loves you, and whom you will love. +I give you life, and fortune, and myself. +But come: can you mount and ride?" + +"I can't make this out," he said, +struggling, with her assistance, to his feet. "I +have read fairy-tales, but this . . . Kamaiakan, +too!" + +Semitzin, meanwhile, brought him to the +mule, and half mechanically he scrambled +into the saddle, the chest being made fast to +the crupper. Semitzin seized the bridle, +and started up the gorge, Kamaiakan bringing +up the rear. The lower levels were +already filling with water, which came +pouring out through the archway in a full flood, +seemingly inexhaustible. + +"I see how it is," mumbled Freeman, +half to himself. "The earthquake--I +remember! I got hit somehow. They +came from the ranch to hunt me up. But +where are the general and Professor +Meschines? How long ago was it? And how +came Miriam . . . Could the mirage have +had anything to do with it?--Here, let me +walk," he called out to her, "and you get +up and ride." + +She turned her head, smiling again, but +hurried on without speaking. The roar of +the torrent followed them. Once or twice +the mule came near losing his footing. +Freeman, whose head was swimming, and +his brains buzzing like a hive of bees, had +all he could do to maintain his equilibrium +in the saddle. He was excruciatingly +thirsty, and the gurgling of waters round +about made him wish he might dismount and +plunge into them. But he lacked power to +form a decided purpose, and permitted the +more energetic will to control him. It +might have been minutes, or it might have +been hours, for all he knew: at last they +halted, near the base of the white pyramid. + +"Here we are safe," said Semitzin, +coming to his side. "Lean on me, my +love, and I will lift you down." + +"Oh, I'm not quite so bad as that, you +know," said Freeman, with a feeble laugh; +and, to prove it, he blundered off the saddle, +and came down on the ground with a +thwack. He picked himself up, however, +and recollecting that he had a flask with +brandy in it, he felt for it, found it +intact, and, with an inarticulate murmur of +apology, raised it to his lips. It was like +the veritable elixir of life: never in his life +before had Freeman quaffed so deep a +draught of the fiery spirit. It was just what +he wanted. + +But he felt oddly embarrassed. He did +not know what to make of Miriam. It was +not her strange costume merely, but she +seemed to have put on--or put off--something +with it that made a difference in her. +She was assertive, imperious; as loving, +certainly, as lover could wish, but not in the +manner of the Miriam he knew. He might +have liked the new Miriam better, had he +not previously fallen in love with the former +one. He could not make advances to her: +he had no opportunity to do so: she was +making advances to him! + +"My love," she said, standing before +him, "I have come back to the world for +your sake. Before Semitzin first saw you, +her heart was yours. And I come to you, +not poor, but with the riches and power of +the princes of Tenochtitlan. You shall see +them: they are yours!--Kamaiakan, take +down the chest." + +"What's that about Semitzin?" inquired +Freeman. "I'm not aware that I knew any +such person." + +"Kamaiakan!" repeated the other, raising +her voice, and not hearing Freeman's last +words. Kamaiakan was nowhere to be seen. +Both Freeman and she had supposed that he +was following on behind the mule; but he +had either dropped behind, or had +withdrawn somewhere. "O Kamaiakan!" +shouted Freeman, as loud as he could. + +A distant hail, from the direction of the +desert, seemed to reply. + +"That can't be he," said Freeman. "It +was at least a quarter of a mile off, and the +wrong direction, too. He's in the gorge, +if he's anywhere." + +"Hark!" said Semitzin. + +They listened, and detected a low murmur, +this time from the gorge. + +"He's fallen down and hurt himself," +said Freeman. "Let's go after him." + +In a few moments they stumbled upon the +old Indian, reclining with his shoulders +against a rock, and gasping heavily. + +"My princess," he whispered, as she bent +over him, "I am dying. The poisonous +air in the cave was fatal to me, though the +spell that is upon the Golden Fleece +protected you. I have done what the gods +commanded. I am absolved of my vow. +The treasure is safe." + +"Nonsense! you're all right!" exclaimed +Freeman. "Here, take a pull at this flask. +It did me all the good in the world!" + +But the old man put it aside, with a feeble +gesture of the hand. "My time is come,----" +said he.--"Semitzin, I have been faithful." + +"Semitzin, again!" muttered Freeman. +"What does it mean?" + +"But what is this?" cried the girl, +suddenly starting to her feet. "I feel the sleep +coming on me again! I feel Miriam returning! +Kamaiakan, have you betrayed me at +the last?" + +"No, no, princess, I have done nothing," +said he, in a voice scarcely audible. "But, +with death, the strength of my will goes +from me, and I can no longer keep you in +this world. The spirit of Miriam claims +her rightful body, and you must struggle +against her alone. The gods will not be +defied: it is the law!" + +His voice sank away into nothing, and his +beard drooped upon his breast. + +"He's dying, sure enough, poor old +chap," said Freeman. "But what is all +this about? I never heard anything like +this language you two talk together." + +Semitzin turned towards him, and her eyes +were blazing. + +"She shall not have you!" she cried. "I +have won you--I have saved you--you are +mine! What is Miriam? Can she be to +you what I could be?--You shall never have +him!" she continued, seeming to address +some presence invisible to all eyes but hers. +"If I must go, you shall go with me!" +She fumbled in her belt, caught the handle +of a knife there, and drew it. She lifted it +against her heart; but even then there was +an uncertainty in her movement, as if her +mind were divided against itself, or had +failed fully to retain the thread of its +purpose. But Freeman, who had passed rapidly +from one degree of bewilderment to another, +was actually relieved to see, at last, +something that he could understand. Miriam-- +for some reason best known to herself--was +about to do herself a mischief. He leaped +forward, caught her in his arms, and snatched +the knife from her grasp. + +For a few moments she struggled like a +young tiger. And it was marvellous and +appalling to hear two voices come from her, +in alternation, or confusedly mingled. One +said, "Let me kill her! I will not go! +Keep back, you pale-faced girl!" and then a +lower, troubled voice, "Do not let her come! +Her face is terrible! What are those strange +creatures with her? Harvey, where are +you?" + +At last, with a fierce cry, that died away +in a shuddering sigh, the form of flesh and +blood, so mysteriously possessed, ceased +to struggle, and sank back in Freeman's +arms. His own strength was well-nigh at +an end. He laid her on the ground, and, +sitting beside her, drew her head on his +knee. He had been in the land of spirits, +contending with unknown powers, and he +was faint in mind and body. + +Yet he was conscious of the approaching +tread of horses' feet, and recollected the +hail that had come from the desert. Soon +loomed up the shadowy figures of mounted +men, and they came so near that he was +constrained to call out, "Mind where you're +going! You'll be over us!" + +"Who are you?" said a voice, which +sounded like that of General Trednoke, as +they reined up. + +"There's Kamaiakan, who's dead; and +Miriam Trednoke, who has been out of her +mind, but she's got over it now, I guess; +and I,--Harvey Freeman." + +"My daughter!" exclaimed General Trednoke. + +"My boy!" cried Professor Meschines. +"Well, thank God we've found you, and +that some of you are alive, at any rate!" + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +As it was still some hours before dawn, +and Freeman was too weak to travel, +it was decided to encamp beside the pyramid +till the following evening, and then +make the trip across the desert in the +comparative coolness of starlight. Meanwhile, +there was something to be done, and much +to be explained. + +The spirit of Kamaiakan had passed away, +apparently at the same moment that the +peculiar case of "possession" under which +Miriam had suffered came to an end. They +determined to bury him at the foot of the +great pyramid, which would form a fitting +monument of his antique character and virtues. + +Miriam, after her struggle, had lapsed +into a state of partial lethargy, from which +she was aroused gradually. It was then +found that she could give no account what +ever of how or why she came there. The +last thing she distinctly remembered was +standing on the veranda at the ranch and +looking towards the east. She was under +the impression that Kamaiakan had approached +and spoken with her, but of that +she was not certain. The next fact in her +consciousness was that she was held in +Freeman's arms, with a feeling that she had +barely escaped from some great peril. She +could recall nothing of the journey down the +gorge, of the adventure at the bottom of it, +or of the return. It was only by degrees +that some partial light was thrown upon this +matter. Freeman knew that he was at the +entrance of the cave when the earthquake +began, and he remembered receiving a blow +on the head. Consequently it must have +been at that spot that Miriam and the Indian +found him. He had, too, a vague impression +of seeing Miriam coming out of the cave, +dragging the chest; and there, sure enough, +was a metal box, strapped to the saddle of +the pack-mule. But the mystery remained +very dense. And although the reader is in +a position to analyze events more closely +than the actors themselves could do, it may +be doubted whether the essential mystery +is much clearer to him than it was to +them. + +"We know that the ancient Aztecan +priests were adepts in magic," observed the +professor, "and it's natural that some of +their learning should have descended to +their posterity. We have been clever in +giving names to such phenomena, but we +know perhaps even less about their esoteric +meaning than the Aztecans did. I should +judge that Miriam would be what is called a +good 'subject.' Kamaiakan discovered that +fact; and as for what followed, we can only +infer it from the results. I was always an +admirer of Kamaiakan; but I must say I +am the better resigned to his departure, +from the reflection that Miriam will +henceforth be undisturbed in the possession +of her own individuality." + +"As near as I could make out, she called +herself Semitzin," put in Freeman. + +"Semitzin?" repeated the general. +"Why, if I'm not mistaken, there are +accounts of an Aztecan princess of that name, +an ancestress of my wife's family, in some +old documents that I have in a box, at +home." + +"That would only add the marvel of +heredity to the other marvels," said +Meschines. "Suppose we leave the things we +can't understand, and come to those we can?" + +"I have something to say, General +Trednoke," said Freeman. + +"I think I have already guessed what it +may be, Mr. Freeman," returned the general, +gravely. "Old people have eyes, and +hearts too, as well as young ones." + +"Come, Trednoke," interposed the +professor, with a chuckle, "your eyes might +not have seen so much, if I hadn't held the +lantern." + +"I love your daughter, and I told her +so yesterday morning," went on Freeman, +after a pause. "I meant to tell you on my +return. I know I don't appear desirable as +a son-in-law. But I came here on a +commission----" + +"Meschines and I have talked it all +over," the general said. "When an old +West-Pointer and a professor of physics get +together, they are sometimes able to put two +and two together. And, to tell the truth, I +received a letter from a member of your +syndicate, who is also an acquaintance of mine, +which explained your position. Under the +circumstances, I consider your course to +have been honorable. You and I were +both in search of the same thing, and now, +as it appears, nature has sent an earthquake +to do our affair for us. No operations of +ours could have achieved such a result as +last night's disturbance did; and if that do +not prove effective, nothing else will." + +"If it turns out well, I was promised a +share in the benefits," said Freeman, "and +that would put me in a rather better condition, +from a worldly point of view." + +"After all," interrupted Meschines, "you +found your way to the spot from which the +waters broke forth, and may fairly be +entitled to the credit of the discovery.--Eh, +Trednoke? At any rate, we found nothing. +--Yes, I think they'll have to admit you +to partnership, Harvey: and Miriam too,-- +who, by the way, seems to be the only one +who actually penetrated into this cave you +speak of. Maybe the removal of the chest +pulled the plug out of the bung-hole, as it +were: the escape of confined air through +such a vent would be apt to draw water +along with it. By the way, let's have a +look at this same chest: it looks solid +enough to hold something valuable." + +"I would like, in the first place, to hear +what General Trednoke has to say about +what I have told him," said Freeman, clearing +his throat. + +"Miriam," said the general, "do you +wish to be married to this young man?" + +The old soldier was sitting with her hand +in his, and he turned to her as he spoke. +She threw her arms round his neck, and +pressed her face against his shoulder. "He +is to me what you were to mamma," she +said, so that only he could hear. + +"Then be to him what she was to me," +answered the general, kissing her. "Ah +me, little girl! I am old, but perhaps this is +the right way for me to grow young again. +Well, if you are of the same mind six +months hence----" + +"Worse; it will be much worse, then," +murmured the professor. "Better make it +three." + +The chest was made of some alloy of steel +and nickel, impervious to rust, and very +hard. It resisted all gentle methods of +attack, and it was finally found necessary to +force the lock with a charge of powder. +Within was found another case, which was +pried open with the point of the general's +bowie-knife. + +It was filled to the brim with precious +stones, most of them removed from their +settings. But such of the gold-work as +remained showed the jewels to be of ancient +Aztecan origin. There was value enough +in the box to buy and stock a dozen ranches +as big as the general's, and leave heirlooms +enough to decorate a family larger than that +of the most fruitful of the ancient patriarchs. + +"I call that quite a respectable dowry," +remarked Meschines. "Upon my soul, +Miriam, if I had known what you had up +your sleeve, I should have thought twice +before allowing a 'civil engineer'--do you +remember?--to run off with you so easily." + + +At dawn, they prepared the body of old +Kamaiakan for its interment. In doing +this, the professor noted the peculiar +appearance of the corpse. + +"The flesh is absolutely withered," said +he, "especially those parts which were +uncovered. It must have been subjected to +the action of some destructive vapor or gas, +fatal not only to breathe, but to come in +contact with. I have heard of poisonous +emanations proceeding from the ground in +these regions, but I never saw an instance +of their effects before. That skull that you +say you found, Harvey, was probably that +of a victim of the same cause. But it is +strange that Miriam, who must have +remained some time in the very midst of it, +should have escaped without a mark, or +even any inconvenience." + +"Kamaiakan ascribed it to the magic of +the Golden Fleece," said Freeman. + +"Well," rejoined the other, "he may +have been right; but, for my part, the only +magic that I can find in it lies in the fact +that it is made of pure wool, which undoubtedly +possesses remarkable sanative properties; +or maybe the fiery soul of Semitzin was +powerful enough to repel all harmful +influences. The poor old fellow himself, being +clad in cotton, and with no soul but his +own, was destroyed. Let us wrap him in +his blanket, and bid him farewell--and +with him, I hope, to all that is uncanny +and abnormal in the lives of you young +folks!" + + +The last rites having been paid to the +dead, the party mounted their horses and +rode out of the gorge on to the long levels +of the desert. + +"Who come yonder?" said Freeman. + +"A couple of Mexicans, I think," said +the general. + +"One of them is a woman," said Meschines. + +"They look very weary," remarked Freeman. + +Miriam fixed her eyes on the approaching +pair for a moment, and then said, "They +are Senor de Mendoza and Grace Parsloe." + +And so, indeed, they were; and thus, in +this lonely spot, all the dramatis personae of +this history found themselves united. + +In answer to the obvious question, how +Grace and De Mendoza happened to be +there, it transpired that, left to their own +devices, they had undertaken no less an +enterprise than to discover the hidden treasure. +Grace had communicated to the Mexican +such bits of information as she had +picked up and such surmises as she had +formed, and he had been able to supplement +her knowledge to an extent that seemed to +justify them in attempting the adventure,-- +not to mention the fact that Don Miguel +(such was the ardor of his sentiment for +Grace) would, had she desired it, have gone +with her into a fiery furnace or a den of +lions. Grace, who was ambitious as well as +romantic, and who longed for the power +and independence that wealth would give, +was all alight with the idea of capturing the +hoard of Montezuma: her social position +would be altered at a stroke, and the world +would be at her feet. Whether she would +then have rewarded Don Miguel for his +devotion, is possibly open to doubt: the +sudden acquisition of boundless wealth has been +known to turn larger heads than hers. +Fortunately, however, this temptation was +withheld from her: so far from finding the +treasure, she and Don Miguel very soon lost +themselves in the desert, and had been +wandering about ever since, dolely uncomfortable, +and in no small danger of losing +their lives. They were already at the end +of their last resource when they happened +to encounter the other party, as we have +seen; and immeasurable was their joy at the +unlooked-for deliverance. So there was +another halt, to enable them to rest and +recuperate; and it was not until the evening of +that day that the journey was finally resumed. + +Meanwhile, Grace had time to think over +all that happened, and to arrive at certain +conclusions. She was at bottom a good +girl, though liable to be led away by her +imagination, her vanity, and her temperament. +Don Miguel's best qualities had revealed +themselves to her in the desert: he +had always thought of her before himself, +had done all that in him lay to save her +from fatigue and suffering, and had stuck to +her faithfully when he might perhaps have +increased his own chances of escape by +abandoning her. Did not such a man deserve to +be rewarded?--especially as he was a handsome +fellow, of good family, and possessed +of quite a respectable income. Moreover, +Harvey Freeman was now beyond her reach: +he was going to marry Miriam, and she had +realized that her own brief infatuation for +him had had no very deep root after all. +Accordingly, she smiled encouragingly upon +Don Miguel, and before they set out on +their homeward ride she had vouchsafed him +the bliss of knowing that he might call her +his. + +The general, as her guardian, did not +withhold his approval; but when Grace drew +him aside and besought him never to reveal +to her intended the fact that she had once +been a shop-girl, the old warrior smiled. + +"You can depend upon me to keep your +secret, if you wish it, my dear," said he; +"but I warn you that such concealments +between husband and wife are not wise. He +loves you and would only love you the +more for your frankness in confessing what +you seem to consider a discreditable episode: +though I for my part am free to tell you that +you will be lucky if your future life affords +you the opportunity of doing anything else +so much to your credit. But the chances +are that he will find it out sooner or later; +and that may not be so agreeable, either to +him or to you. Better tell him all now." + +But Grace pictured to herself the aristocratic +pride of an hidalgo shocked by the +suggestion of the plebeianism of trade; and +she would not consent to the revelation. +But the general's prediction was fulfilled +sooner than might have been expected. + +For, after they were married, Don Miguel +decided to visit the Atlantic coast on the +wedding journey; and one of the first notable +places they reached was, of course, New +York. Don Miguel was delighted, and was +never weary of strolling up Fifth Avenue +and down Broadway, with his beautiful wife +on his arm. He marvelled at the vast white +pile of the Fifth Avenue Hotel; he frowned +at the Worth Monument; he stared inexhaustibly +into the shop-windows; he exclaimed +with admiration at the stupendous +piles of masonry which contained the goods +of New York's merchant princes. It seemed +to be his opinion that the possessors of so +much palpable wealth must be the true +aristocracy of the country. + +And one afternoon it happened that as +they were strolling along Broadway, between +Twenty-third Street and Union Square, and +were crossing one of the side-streets, a horse +belonging to one of Lord and Taylor's delivery- +wagons became frightened, and bolted +round the corner. One of the hind wheels +of the vehicle came in contact with Grace's +shoulder, and knocked her down. The blow +and the fall stunned her. Don Miguel's +grief and indignation were expressed with +tropical energy; and a by-stander said, +"Better carry her into the store, mister; it's +their wagon run her down, and they can't +do less than look after her." + +The counsel seemed reasonable, and Don +Miguel, with the assistance of a policeman, +lifted his wife and bore her into the stately +shop. One of the floor-walkers met them at +the door; he cast a glance at their burden, +and exclaimed, "Why, it's Miss Parsloe!" +And immediately a number of the employees +gathered round, all regarding her with +interest and sympathy, all anxious to help, +and--which was what mystified Don Miguel +--all calling her by name! How came they +to know Grace Parsloe? Nay, they even +glanced at Don Miguel, as if to ask what +was HIS business with the beautiful unconscious +one! + +"This lady are my wife," he said, with +dignity. "She not any more Miss Parsloe." + +"Oh, Grace has got married!" exclaimed +the young ladies, one to another; and then +an elderly man, evidently in authority, came +forward and said, "I suppose you are aware, +sir, that Miss Parsloe was formerly one of +our girls here; and a very clever and useful +girl she was. I need not say how sorry we +are for this accident: I have sent for the +physician: but I cannot but be glad that +the misfortune has at least given me the +opportunity of telling you how highly your +wife was valued and respected here." + +At this juncture, Grace opened her eyes: +she looked from one face to another, and +knew that fate had brought the truth to +light. But the physical shock tempered the +severity of the mental one: besides, she +could not help being pleased at the sight of +so many well-remembered and friendly faces; +and, finally, her husband did not look by +any means so angry and scandalized as she +had feared he would. Indeed, he appeared +almost gratified. The truth probably was, +he was flattered to see his wife the centre of +so much interest and attention, and at the +discovery that she had been in some way an +honored appanage of so imposing an +establishment. So, by the time Grace was well +enough to be driven back to her hotel, the +senor was prattling cheerfully and familiarly +with all and sundry, and was promising to +bring his wife back there the next day, to +talk over old times with her former associates. + +Such was Grace's punishment: it was not +very severe; but then her fault had been a +venial one; and the episode was of much +moral benefit to her. She liked her husband +all the better for having nothing more +to conceal from him; her vanity was rebuked, +and her false pride chastened; and +when, in after-years, her pretty daughters +and black-haired sons gathered about her +knees, she was wont to warn them sagely +against the un-American absurdity of +fearing to work for their living, or being +ashamed to have it known. + +But the married life of Miriam and +Harvey Freeman was characteristically American +in its happiness. The representatives of the +oldest and of the latest inhabitants of this +continent, their union seemed to produce +the flower of what was best in both. Their +wedding is still remembered in that region, +as being everything that a Southern Californian +wedding should be; and the bride, as +she stood at the altar, looked what she was,-- +one of those women who, more than anything +else in this world, are fitted to bring back to +earth the gentle splendors of the Garden of +Eden. In her dark eyes, as she fixed them +upon Freeman, there was a mystic light, +telling of fathomless depths of tenderness +and intelligence: it seemed to her husband +that love had expanded and uplifted her; +or perhaps that other spirit in her, which +had battled with her own, had now become +reconciled, and therefore yielded up whatever +it had of good and noble to aggrandize +the gentle victory of its conqueror. Somehow, +somewhere, in Miriam's nature, Semitzin +lived; and, as a symbol of the peace +and atonement that were the issue of her +strange interior story, her husband preserves +with reverence and affection the mysterious +garment called the Golden Fleece. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg etext of The Golden Fleece. + |