A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



267 



pursuit of one of his goats. The animal continued to re- 

 treat before him, and led him to the mouth of a cave. The 

 Indian, hesitating at first, at length took off all his clothes, 

 so as to be sure that he carried no iron about him, and en- 

 tered the cavern. But he soon drew back, startled by the 

 sight of fifty broken boxes overflowing with coined money. 

 Instead of profiting by this windfall, and taking possession 

 of the fortune by appropriating some of it which had fallen 

 out on the ground, the stupid fellow returned to his village 

 as quick as he could, and communicated his discovery to his 

 friends. That very evening five of them set out, provided 

 with sacks, intending to convey the treasure to a safe place. 

 They camped in the vicinity of the cave, and the night wore 

 away in drinking to the health of the good genius. As 

 soon as day appeared, they followed their guide. First 

 they ascended, and then they descended ; but they never 

 succeeded in finding the spot where all this enormous 

 wealth lay. 



" He was not able to find his way back to the spot ?" 

 said Lucien, much interested by the story. 



" No, Chanito ; the cave had become invisible." 



" Invisible ! but why ?" 



" Because they had some iron about them !" 



"But you have just told us that he stripped off all his 

 clothes ?" interposed Sumichrast. 



" Ah ! but, unfortunately, he kept his flint and steel in 

 his hand." 



The afflicted tone in which PEncuerado pronounced this 

 last phrase drew a smile even from Lucien. 



Again we entered the cavern, and picking over with care 

 the layer of charcoal which had already been laid bare, I 

 discovered a small vase of burnt clay, full of ashes. On 

 one of the faces of the urn was depicted a grinning visage, 

 and in the interior was found one of the so-called pilgrim's 



