A FEARFUL EXPERIENCE.
"Well?" queried Donald when Strong had finished reading the paper, "what are we going to do about it?"
"We are going to find out, if we can, whether José Rodriguez told the truth, and if he did, whether any one else has tried to prove it."
"What do you think of it, Pedro?" asked Billie, indicating the opening at their feet.
"Have you ever been down in it?" asked Adrian of Strong.
"No! I did not feel equal to the task and I was afraid to ask help of any of these cutthroats."
"What do you think of it, Pedro?" asked Billie, turning to the Mexican lad, who had made no comment whatever.
"It's an old tale," was the reply, "this story of the Rosario viejo. I have heard it many times and I presume this shaft has been explored by every prospector in this section. In my opinion it is a huge hoax."
At Pedro's words, Strong's face became ashen.
"Are you telling the truth?" he asked hoarsely.
"Indeed I am. My father knows of several who have searched the place and nothing has ever been found."
Strong drew a long breath and passed his hand over his face.
"I have believed it true," he finally said, "ever since I first came into possession of this paper. There is something about it that rings true and I have counted upon finding sufficient wealth to enable me to achieve a long cherished plan. If what you say," turning to Pedro, "is true, my chance of attaining my ambition is very slim."
"I'm sorry, sir, but if I had known for certain what your object was in coming down here I might have saved you the trouble. Isn't there any other way you might obtain the money you wish?"
"If there is, I don't know it."
"Pedro may be right," spoke up Billie suddenly, "but I am in favor of making an inspection of our own, now that we are here. What do you say, Don?"
"I'm with you." Then to Strong: "How are we to get to the bottom?"
Strong reached over and from behind a nearby boulder produced another bundle of rope.
"I had intended making a rope ladder," he said.
"All right, then," from Donald, "a rope ladder it shall be."
The boys set to work and in the course of an hour had made a rope ladder more than fifty feet in length. Lowering it into the shaft, it seemed to reach to the bottom and Billie started to go down, but Strong prevented him.
"I shall go first," he said. "If there is any danger from poisonous gas, or from reptiles, I shall take the risk. You boys have parents and homes. I have no one. If I should suffer any mishap, do not attempt to rescue me. It would not be worth while."
"Nothing will happen," declared Adrian. "I have a hunch and my hunches are usually right."
The rope having been properly fastened and warded off the side by an ingenious arrangement of several large rocks, Strong began his descent. In his left hand he carried a flaming torch and Donald leaned over the edge, looking down, with rifle sighted, to fire upon any reptile which might be brought to light by the torch's ruddy glare.
Step by step Strong went down, stopping every now and then to hold his torch below him, if perchance it might come into contact with fire damp or any other noxious gas.
He had descended at least three-fourths of the way, when, as he swung his torch below, he uttered a cry that was almost a shriek and the torch fell from his hand.
At the same instant Donald gave vent to a loud exclamation and his rifle cracked.
"Hold on," he cried as he arose from the ground, "as you value your life, don't lose your hold."
"What is it?" asked the others in one voice.
"Snakes! Dozens of them," replied Donald. "Climb up, Strong, as fast as you can."
"All right," came a feeble reply, followed almost immediately by a louder call of "Help!"
"Hold fast," called Donald. "I'm coming."
But before he could turn to step down the ladder, a chattering figure sprang past him and shot down the rope.
It was the ape. He had heard his master's call and had gone to his assistance.
A moment later came a joyful cry that told as plainly as words that Ambrosio had reached his master in time.
"Are you all right now?" called Donald.
"Yes. I'll be up in a minute. Good old boy," the last remark evidently addressed to the ape.
When Strong's head appeared above the edge of the shaft a couple of minutes later he was as pale as a ghost and when he at length came into the full light of the torches, it was seen that his hair was as white as snow. The fright had completely changed its color.
"Let's get out of here," he gasped as soon as he was helped to his feet. "I wouldn't go down into that place again for all the gold and silver in the world."
"It was pretty rough for sure," admitted Donald. "I just caught a glimpse as the torch fell among them, but it was so quickly extinguished by the wriggling mass I only shot once for fear of hitting you."
"It was the darkness that frightened me," Strong explained feebly. "If I hadn't let go my torch to hold on with both hands, I don't think I would have minded so much. But the darkness hid what was below and it just seemed as though they were right after me. I'd have been a goner sure if it hadn't been for good old Ambrosio," and he laid his hand affectionately on the ape's head.
"Do you think you'll be able to climb out of the mine?" asked Billie as they reached the main shaft.
"Yes, with Ambrosio's aid; but I'm going out first. I don't think I have nerve enough left right now to be the last out."
The exit from the mine was much slower than the descent had been, but in the course of an hour they were all once more out under the stars.
"What about the bandits?" queried Billie.
"Take my advice," said Strong, "and let them alone. This is none of your quarrel. If the Mexicans want to fight among themselves, let them. It's a family quarrel and you will only make matters worse by interfering. The time may come when these very men may prove your best friends."
"That's the advice I gave when we first discovered them to-day. I wish now we had all followed it."
"If we are not going to do anything," declared Adrian, "the quicker we get out of here the better."
"I consider that more good advice," laughed Billie, "especially as I am just reminded that I haven't had a bite to eat since noon. But I have no horse."
"That's easily remedied," replied Strong.
He went into the old ruin and in a few minutes returned with a very good animal, all saddled and bridled.
"It will not be missed," he said. "Now ride for your lives. Take the trail to the left and don't let moonlight catch you within five miles of here."
"Aren't you coming with us?" asked Donald.
"No! I am better off here."
"How will you account for your white hair?"
"I'll tell them it is a charm. They'll believe it and it will make me that much more valuable. Now go!"
Without wasting more words the boys put spurs to their horses and were soon out of the basin and on their way to Pachuca.
"It seems like a year since we came down here," remarked Adrian to Billie as they galloped along.
"It sure does," was the reply as Billie rubbed his stomach suggestively. "I'll never go out again as long as I'm in this revolutionary republic without a haversack full of grub."
"Who said grub?" called back Donald.
"What a question," laughed Adrian. "Who is it that's always hungry? It's all he thinks about."
"Oh, it is, eh?" from Billie. "Well, I'm thinking about something else now. There's the moon coming up over the valley and we're not three miles from the old Rosario. We'd better keep our eyes peeled and see that our shooting irons are in shape. We may have to fight our way home even yet."
As though to verify the prediction there appeared at the moment the figure of a solitary horseman silhouetted against the rising moon.
"You're a prophet of evil all right," said Adrian. "Now what?"
"Just keep on riding."
"But that chap is right in our way."
"Then ride him down. He'll be worse scared than we are."
The advice seemed good and the boys spurred forward.
"If you think he means us any harm," Donald remarked, "I might take a shot at him."
"I don't believe he does."
Again Billie proved a good prophet as the rider rode directly toward them, waving his hat in his hand.
"It's Tony," exclaimed Pedro as the rider approached a little nearer.
Tony was one of Gen. Sanchez' servants.
"Why, so it is," laughed Donald. "I suppose he is out looking for us."
Which was exactly the case. The news of the fight had reached Pachuca along with the part the boys had played in saving the bullion, and Pedro's father had heard it along with the others.
Later, word had been brought that one of the boys was missing and the others had gone to look for him. When none of them returned after all these hours, Gen. Sanchez had organized a searching party, of which Tony proved to be the advance guard.
A few minutes later, several horsemen dashed up and the boys were given a rousing reception.
"The Jefe politico is waiting to greet you," Tony told the boys.
The jefe politico is the mayor.
Billie smiled broadly and once more rubbed his stomach.
"This begins to look encouraging," he remarked to Pedro. "I think I can taste the good things already."
Half an hour later the boys reached the city and were given a cheer as they passed through the main street and up to Gen. Sanchez' home, which was located half a block from the plaza. And in another ten minutes Billie was facing the mayor over a plate of steaming soup, while a mozo stood at his back waiting to serve the leg of a twenty-five pound turkey. Raising his eyes from the table, he caught sight of what was coming and gave Donald, who sat next to him, a dig in the ribs with his elbow.
"How's this for a prophet of evil?" he asked.
Donald took a look at the great bird which was rapidly falling into pieces under Gen. Sanchez' skillful hand, and remarked with a wink:
"Great!"