A STORY OF BRASSAVOLA DIGBYANA 157 



Mostly, perhaps, huacos are discovered by accident. So 

 it was in the memorable instance on Chiriqui lagoon, where 

 many thousand people dug for months and many brought 

 away a fortune — for them. And so it was here. The 

 Caribs told their story gleefully. From the crest of the 

 ridge the land sloped gently down towards a stream. 

 When they reached this place to secure the timber, now dry, 

 the rains were very heavy. But Sam and another, heaven- 

 directed, roamed down the slope. A big tree had fallen, and 

 among its roots Sam's lynx eyes marked a number of the little 

 figures, washed clean, sparkling in the sun-rays. These 

 good fellows have no secrets of the sort among themselves. 

 They dug around, assured themselves that it was indubitably 

 a huaco ; then returned, like honest Caribs, to float the 

 trunks down to Belize, and fulfil their contract, before attend- 

 ing to personal interests. 



They had cleared a space and built a hut of boughs, a 

 'ramada.' There Mr. Ponder found them assembled, 

 smoking and sleeping after the mid-day meal. Warned by 

 the guide's cheery shout they welcomed Mis'r George 

 heartily — all but Sam ; unanimously they asked, however, 

 what on earth he wanted there, so far from home.? Mr. 

 Ponder told his complaint. 



The gang resolved itself into a sort of court-martial 

 forthwith, the eldest seating himself upon a stump and the 

 others grouping round. There was a moment's silence for 

 thought ; then the president, gravely : 



' You, Carib Sam, what you say .'' ' 



' Say d sorry, sah ! Mis'r Brown an' all the Mis'rs 



make fool of me ! Then Mis'r George come — I never see 

 Mis'r George before ! He says go to bush an' pick orchid 

 ■ — a month contract ! — a month ! But I found gold here, 

 an' I want pick it up — have no more say ! d sorry ! ' 



Mr. Ponder relented. ' Why didn't you explain at the 



