BOY'S DETERMINATION—GOING THROUGH A CREVICE—THE MOVABLE ROCK—AID TO DISCOVER—UP THROUGH A HOLE—THE GOLDEN HEAP—DESMOND'S GREAT TRIUMPH—THE OLD MEXICAN'S SECRET EXPOSED.
Desmond was somewhat impressed by the words of Creedon, but still insisted that he would like to conduct an exploration.
"You will only go over the ground that I have already gone over."
"I know that, but I propose to look around all the same."
Desmond had been doing considerable thinking. He questioned Creedon again and again, and made out that the old Mexican had lived in the cave along with Creedon for months at a time, and as he learned, the old man had thrown out a great many hints. These hints meant something; and then again, if he had hidden his wealth in the cave he had done it so securely and well that he had no idea of its ever being discovered until such time as he saw fit to disclose the fact. Desmond knew how there were some strange conformations in the rocks; the very place they were in was a testimony to the strange freaks that nature in its upheavals can and does create.
Brooks had nothing to say about the matter, and Creedon did remark finally:
"Of course, as I've said, it can do no harm, but be careful you don't strike—"
Desmond here interrupted, and said:
"I ain't afraid of ghosts; I've met one and I've got used to them."
"I don't mean a ghost, I mean a crevice; go very slow and carefully, or you may become a ghost yourself."
Right here we wish to exchange a few words with our readers in regard to these rock conformations. Right in the State of New York, in Ulster County, and in what is called the Shawangunk Mountains, there are some of the most wonderful caves and crevices, and in some of these caves during the winter the snow drifts down, and in the spring becomes a solid mass of ice, and the writer remembers upon one occasion after a long and weary scramble over rocks under the face of a cliff which towers up and overlooks counties, being shown a rock cave where there was a solid mass of ice, which, in its contour resembled a ship. The ice must have been at least sixty feet in length, twenty feet broad, and fully forty feet high, and adjoining it were all manner of caves. These caves are within a few miles of several settlements, and possibly at the time of the visit of the writer had not been entered by over a dozen persons. In these mountains are some very remarkable rock conformations, and we merely mention this fact to the lads in the East, who may think that these stories of rock caverns are exaggerated. There are probably hundreds of caves in the Catskill and Shawangunk Mountains that have never been entered or explored since the days when the early settlers may have found them while bear hunting.
Desmond had been raised, as we have stated, near the mountains, and probably had explored many rock caverns, and it is because of this fact probably that he was not surprised when led to the cave where he first beheld the girl Amy Brooks. That cave still exists and is well known to many of the people living in its vicinity, and in our description we adhered to almost absolute accuracy.
Creedon was a rough and ready sort of man, but not, the fellow, as Desmond argued, who would apply himself to a critical study. It was a great thing to have learned the facts concerning the old Mexican, and the lad really believed that there was gold secreted somewhere in one of the little cavities in that perforated mountain.
Creedon started in to relate to Brooks the facts about the mine he believed he had discovered, and Desmond, taking the mask lantern, started off to explore.
"You will burn out all my oil, lad; that is the only harm you will do, and certainly little good. I cannot replenish the oil when it's burned out, and I've been very careful, holding it for only such occasions as when we came here across the chasm."
Creedon explained that he had only carried with him one can of oil, which had lasted him to date.
Desmond started off and went direct to the crevice he had first entered, and Creedon smiled as he saw him go in there, remarking to Brooks:
"The lad will run up against a stone wall sure, but he is enthusiastic; it will be a lesson to him."
"Can't tell about that lad," said Brooks, "there is method in his enthusiasm."
"That's all right, but I was camped in here one whole winter, and as I told you, there is not a nook or cranny that I have not explored."
"But there are others," said Brooks, with an odd smile on his face.
Meantime, Desmond followed the crevice until he came to the stone wall. He knew about the same wall, but he was working on a certain theory. He was like the Captain Kidd treasure-seekers—the discouragement of others did not in any way discourage him, and we will here say that a similar persistence in any walk of life, as a rule, leads to great results.
Desmond, as stated, arrived opposite the stone wall, and he commenced a calm, steady, determined examination. First appearances would have discouraged any man, being faced as he was by a solid, smooth face of rock. He stood contemplating the mass before him, and then with the ray of light from his lantern he ran all over the rock.
"By ginger!" he muttered at last, "I reckon it's true. There does not appear a hole big enough in that rock for a spider to crawl through; but, hang me! I've got an impression."
There appeared to be a break in the rock just where it joined with the roof of the cave. Desmond rolled a bowlder over against the rock and mounted, and ran his finger over the crack. It was not a large crack and offered no encouragement, but the lad was determined not to be satisfied until he had established facts beyond all dispute. He ran his finger, as stated, along the crack, and his knuckle pressed against the roof, and to his surprise there appeared to be a loosening. He examined it and he saw that there was a uniform crack running along the roof inclosing a space about two feet square. The lad instinctively pressed on the center between the cracks, and lo, there appeared to be a piece of the roof that yielded. He pressed harder and satisfied himself that the piece of rock between the cracks in the roof was movable. The discovery caused his heart to stand still, and he muttered:
"Great Scott! but I've found it." He flashed the light on the crack and thought he could discern where there had been some chiseling. He made every effort to shift the rock out of its place, but it was too much for him, owing to the fact that he could just about reach it. He did not have purchase enough to exert his full strength.
He stepped down on the floor again and commenced to consider, and then he determined to return to the main cave and solicit Brooks and Creedon to go to his aid.
When he re-entered the main cavern Creedon with a laugh said:
"Well, lad, did you run up against a stone wall?"
"I did."
"I told you it was of no use to search these crevices. I've explored every inch."
"You have?"
"Yes."
"I think not."
Brooks knew Desmond so well he discerned that the lad had really made a discovery, but he said nothing.
"You think not, eh?"
"I do."
"That would hint that you had found something."
"I have."
"What have you found?"
"I don't know yet, but I am certain I have found a cranny or nook that you never explored."
"You have?"
"I have."
"What have you found?"
"Oh, it may be that it's 'tellings,' as the boys say."
Creedon looked at the lad in a curious way.
"It cannot be possible," he said, "that you have found anything?"
"Yes, I have."
"What have you found?"
"Guess."
"It's no time to guess; what have you found?"
"I'll show you what I've found; I want your help."
The lad found a piece of sapling about seven feet in length, and said:
"You gentlemen come with me; I'll show you something."
Animated by great interest and curiosity, Brooks and Creedon followed Desmond. He led them to the little rock cave where the crevice abutted on the solid wall of rock, and he said:
"Now what do you see?"
"We see the rock."
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
"Look sharp; there is something you have not discovered before."
"What is it?"
"Look."
"I've looked."
"I reckon when you did look upon the occasion of your former visits you did as you are doing now—only looked, but you did not search."
"Have you searched?"
"Yes, I have."
"And you've found something?"
"Yes, I have."
"What?"
"Oh, look."
"I'm done looking."
"Then let me show you."
Desmond took the strong piece of sapling he had brought with him and jammed one end with great force against the square piece of roofing, and the piece of rock moved.
Creedon gazed aghast and exclaimed:
"By all that's strange and wonderful, but I believe you have unfolded the Mexican's secret."
"I think so; and now lend me your strength, both of you, and let's see if we can move that loose piece of rock. I'll bet there is an opening there."
"You are right—yes, lad, you have indeed raked into the old Mexican's treasure den; I can recall now some words he once spoke."
"Don't spend any more time recalling; let's shove that rock aside if we can."
The two men lent their aid to Desmond, and sure enough they did raise the piece of rock, and by hoisting it they managed to move it aside a trifle, enough to reveal the fact that there was a chamber above, and that the opening was through the piece of rock.
It was a reward of Desmond's persistence, but after all it was accident that had revealed to him the opening.
By hard work the men finally succeeded in moving the rock aside, and there was disclosed the opening, and Desmond said:
"Now let me stand on our shoulders with the light and I will tell you what it is we have found. There is something there to reveal, I am dead sure."
The two men assisted Desmond to their shoulders. He took the lantern and shoved his head through the opening, and then flashed the light around, and with a joyful shout exclaimed:
"We've got it!"
"This beats me dead," said Creedon.
Both men were greatly excited, for it did appear that they had made a great find of hidden treasure.
Meantime, Desmond managed to force himself up and disappeared in the cave. He glanced around and beheld a sight that filled him with varying emotions.
The chamber was not more than four feet square, but on the floor in one corner was a shining heap. It shone under the ray of his lantern as he flashed the light upon it. He took a handful of the shining stuff and passed it down to Creedon, handing him the lantern at the same time, and he said:
"You are a good judge; tell me what that is?"
"It's gold dust," cried Creedon; "how much is there of it?"
"Oh, barrels full, I should say."
"Great ginger! lad, you've struck it."
"Well, it won't run away, I reckon, but give me your hat and I'll fill it."
"Is that to be my share?"
"No, we're only giving you the first whack at it, that's all."
Desmond filled Creedon's hat with the dust and then descended, and the whole party made their way to the outer cavern.