The Argosy, January 1907 — page 15: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

IN THE DEPTHS OF DISASTER. tracted our attention, for our devotion to the aim of the adventure was so great that we gave them no more than a pass- ing glance. When, finally, we came near the seem- ing hut we found that it was a domed mass of pumice, similar to many we had already passed, relics of volcanic action in the barranca. But this great bubble was larger than any of its neighbors, fully ten feet in height and as much in its greatest diameter. | We surveyed it without enthusiasm, for we were disappointed to find that after all it was not the outlaw’s dwell- ing-place. We had gone on perhaps fifty yards when I chanced to look back, and as my glance fell on the dome I gave a start of surprise. “T say, Billy,” I called to my brother, who was in advance, “I believe there’s a kole in that thing.” ‘What do you mean?” questioned Billy, staring around. “ Back there in what we thought was the hut.” Billy looked and his face grew eager. “Sure enough, so there. is.” With that he set out running back, and I with him. When we came to the place, we found that on the side hidden from us as we approached there was an uneven hole about five feet in circumference. We peered through this, and our hearts leaped within us, for a glance showed us that we had chanced on José’s secret home. Yet there was little joy in the dis- covery, for the hut was empty.. We must ‘search farther for our prey. 3 We could see but dimly at first, as all the light in this natural hut came through the hole into which our heads were thrust. However, we could make ow that some skins lay on the ground, afd a rude table of stones stood before a cairn that evidently served as a chair. “ Well, let’s go in,” Billy suggested, after our first exclamations had died away. | I assented, and he crawled through the opening. I followed. him. ‘A curious place,” Billy declared, and I had every reason to agree with him. The tiny room was almost bare, for 197 the furniture was no more than I have described, save for a few bones and other remnants of food that littered the floor. Yet we dared hope that we might find here some clue to guide our quest, So we poked the walls and scrutinized the floor, but all in vain. The natural floor and walls were unbroken and could afford no hiding-place. We examined the table, but as it was made up of three pieces of stone we were soon satisfied that there was nothing concealed in it. “There is the cairn,” Billy suggested. “Not a likely field,’ I answered slightingly. “Anyhow, here goes for a_ look,” Billy said, and forthwith he began ‘to scatter the materials of the rough chair. “We'll have to put them back,” I remonstrated. “Why should we?” Billy demanded in surprise. ‘ Because,”’ I replied, “ if we can’t get any trace of the money otherwise, we must keep on José’s trail until he leads us to it. But he must have no hint that we are following him. If he were to suspect our presence, he might ambush us after the cheerful habit he has. So, when we're through with searching the stone pile, we must rebuild it, for he is likely to return here any time.” “All right,” Billy remarked’ senten- tiously. He had now reached the bottom of the heap without having made any discovery, so he at once set about piling the stones up again,-in which I aided him. The top stone was a flat, broad one, and I was just lifting it to its place when my eye-was caught by a gleam of white on the under surface. I turned the stone over, and there, written in chalk on the gray slate, was the following: ja Ss i Sul 12 “Here, Billy,” I called, “I believe I’ve found a clue.” =A. Clie?” “ Yes, to the place where José keeps his plunder. It reads like the regular thing that pirates and all that sort, you know, use for a record of buried treasure.”’ “ What! a cipher?” Billy questioned — with new eagerness as he came to look.’ ” ECORNICLOOO Ss Eo