GOLD POUNDS
Twelve bands. Weight each 2 lbs. 1 oz. 26
Two bowls. Weight each 6 lbs 12
Two "body-scrapers." Weight each 9 oz 1 1/2
Wings, head and talons of Sacred Eagle 82
Breastplate 3
Radiating sun over entrance 12
Total, 136 1/2, or 1,638 ounces.
SILVER POUNDS
Twenty-four bands. Weight each 1 lb. 8 oz 40
Four bowls. Weight each 5 lbs 20
Four "body-scrapers." Weight 10 oz.. 3 1/3
Body of Sacred Eagle. Weight 218
Ninety-six miscellaneous rings, bands,
anklets and wristlets, many set with
mother-of-pearl and turquoise 16 1/3
Total, 297 2/3, or 3,580 ounces.
The market value of these precious metals was easily computed. The silver at sixty cents an ounce was worth $2,148. The more valuable gold, at twenty dollars an ounce, was worth $32,760. Together, the 484 pounds were worth $34,908.
"And one-third of that," said Ned with a smile—almost discernible beneath his dust—begrimed face, "is nearly $12,000. And that is $6,000 for each of us."
"But how about the amethysts and pearls?" said Alan.
"I suppose," answered Ned, "that they are worth a great deal more, but I don't know. I should think that those that have no holes in them would be very valuable."
All this figuring was intensely interesting, but the boys, as the revelation progressed, knew that they were now facing a new problem. They could not possibly carry that gold and silver, to say nothing of even a portion of the exquisite mother-of-pearl bowls or the finest samples of the turquoise. When, in the end, nearly a quarter of a ton of the metal treasure alone lay in a heap in the corner of the temple vestibule they could come to but one conclusion.
This portion of the treasure would have to be removed at another time.
"It has lain here undisturbed for over three hundred years," said Ned hopefully, though sadly, "and we'll have to take a chance that it can be left a while longer."
Sorrowfully enough Alan agreed. It was to be no easy work getting out of the wilderness, and food must be carried. That might be more precious to them than gold before they saw a railroad again. The boys agreed to take at noon the next day the exact latitude and longitude of the mesa. The latitude, on one slip of paper, was to be carried by one boy and the longitude, on another piece, was to be in the possession of the other. This was a precaution against accidental revelation of the treasure mesa.
The set jewels were removed. There were two hundred and ninety-four pierced pearls and ninety-eight pierced amethysts. Among the whole gems, eighteen magnificent pearls were extracted from the jeweled belt. Eighteen unpierced amethysts were also taken from the alternating turquoise squares of the belt and sixteen magnificent amethysts from the gold breastplate.