force a confession from him, and because he refused to reveal the
whereabouts of the gold they thought he had stored away somewhere, they
were set to murder him in anger and revenge."

"And you saved him?"

"I did."

"And he never revealed his secrets to you?"

"Only the secret of this cave. He often made strange remarks and hinted
that some day I would receive my reward. We roomed here together all of
one winter, but he died and never opened his mouth to reveal where his
gold was, if it is true that he had any. I believe he did, but it will
never do me any good, and I do want to make a fortune somehow, but I
suppose I never will. Yes, lad, there are thousands of skeletons of
gold-seekers hid away in caverns in these mountains, victims of the same
ambition which is leading us to take such desperate chances."

Desmond was very greatly interested in the story of the old Mexican, and
he asked a number of questions.

"You never got the least inkling as to where his gold was hidden?"

"I don't know that he had any gold; it is only a suspicion on my part."

"He lived in this cave?"

"Yes."