But just as he was going down the steps the mail carrier handed him a letter. Thus it was superscribed:
“To Frank Reade Jr.,
Readestown, U. S. A.”
Frank glanced at the foreign postmark and then broke the seal and read:
“Dear Friend Frank—I have been thinking of you of late and so feel constrained to write you. Moreover, I have a big scheme in which I want to interest you. While at Campeachy I fell in with a native trader from Valladolid. I was fortunate enough to do him a service and gain his friendship, and as a reward he accorded me a most astonishing tale and secret.
“He told me of his travels in the interior through jungle and swamp and forest. Also of the deadly animals and reptiles, the poisonous insects, and all the great dangers and pitfalls of the traveler in those latitudes.
“But more than this, he told me a wonderful story of a ruined city far up in the inaccessible table-lands of Tanada.
“No doubt you are familiar with the accounts of the ancient cities of Palonque and others. Well, I imagine that this ruined city, Mazendla he called it, is one of the same sort.
“But Metlo, which is the name of my informant, described a vast temple in which he said there was vast treasures of gold, silver and jewels. But ever since discovered this temple has been a perfect nest of gigantic anacondas, and none of the natives have ever ventured into the place.
“Only one man ever lived to get out of the place, and he brought forth enough gold and jewels to insure his wealth for life.
“And there to-day lies untold wealth all in the possession of the anacondas.