"Take these," said Onteora with sudden passion, thrusting the documents toward Carolina, "and show them to the La Granges!"
She sprang to her feet and folded her arms in a matchless pride.
She was, in truth, an Indian.
The rain had ceased and Carolina's things were dried. Onteora helped her to dress, her eyes shining with delight at Carolina's beauty, but she expressed nothing in words.
"Come and see your silver," she said.
She led Carolina to a smaller cavern, where, by the light of a candle, Carolina could see the black shapes of all the silver Cousin De Courcey had described to her. But so cunningly was this cavern concealed, that even one who discovered the cave wherein they stood would never have found the cavern.
"It reminds me of Monte Cristo!" she said to herself in the breathless delight every one feels at the touch of the romantic and mysterious in a humdrum daily life.
Then, as she realized the boundless Source of Supply whence this precious silver and thrice precious information had come, Carolina turned and put her arms around Onteora.
At this sign of human love, tears filled the eyes of the Indian.
CHAPTER XXIII.