traditions and records; though the records are
often symbolic, and would have no meaning
to persons not initiated. But they have
been sufficient to perpetuate ties of a personal
nature through generation after generation;
and the alliance between Kamaiakan
and Inez was of this kind. His forefathers,
I imagine, were priests, and priests were a
mighty power in Tenochtitlan. For aught
I know, indeed Kamaiakan may be an original
priest of Montezuma's; no one knows
his age, but he does not look an hour older,
to-day, than when I first saw him, over
twenty years ago."

"He must be!" said Miriam, with some
positiveness. "He has told me of seeing
and doing things hundreds of years ago.
And he says----" She paused.

"What does he say, Nina adorada?"
asked her father.

"It was about the treasure, you know."

"Let us hear. The professor is one of
us."

"It's one of our traditions that my
mother's ancestors, at the time of Cortez,