nt away to the nearest town and lost it all. He came home very
miserable, and could scarcely attend to his duties. Fortunately for
him, an Indian, whose sick child he had attended, had compassion on his
grief, and told him to be comforted. The next day, as soon as it was
dark, the Indian came to his house, bringing a bag full of rich silver
ore. The padre was very grateful; but instead of spending it wisely to
supply his wants, he took it into the town, and it went the way of his
stipend--into the pockets of his gambling companions. Again he returned
home as full of grief as before. The Indian soon heard of what had
happened, for he loved the padre very much; so he brought him another
bag of silver. The padre's propensity was incurable, and he lost that
as he had done the first. The Indian's generosity was not yet worn out,
and he brought him a third bag full of ore. When the padre saw it, he
could scarcely believe his own senses.

"`I fear that I am robbing you, my kind friend,' he said. `I shall
bring you into the poverty to which I have foolishly reduced myself.'

"`O no, Senor Padre; there is plenty more where this comes from,'
returned the Indian. `What I have given you is but like a drop of water
in the ocean to the abundance of rich ore which there lies concealed.'

"`If that be the case, my kind friend, why not show it to me?' exclaimed
the padre. `I shall soon become a rich man, and will no longer think of
gambling.'

"After much persuasion, the Indian agreed to lead the padre to the mine,
on condition that he would consent to be blindfolded both going and
returning. The next night they accordingly set out, the Indian leading
the padre by the hand. After walking for some hours, the bandage was
taken from the padre's eyes, and he found himself in a spot he had never
before visited. The Indian set to work, and clearing away a quantity of
earth and bushes, exposed to the delighted eyes of the padre a cave full
of glittering masses of pure silver.

"`There, Senor Padre, is the mine I spoke of. Take as much as you can
carry, and we will return speedily home,' said the Indian.

"The padre filled a number of bags he had brought with him under his
cloak, till he could scarcely stagger onwards with the weight. While
also he was collecting the treasure, avarice seized his soul, and he
forgot the dictates of honour. He was then again blindfolded; and he
set forward on his return in the same manner a