you the secret, but I do not intend to
alienate my rights to the _placer_. I have vainly endeavoured to get up
an expedition such as yours, for without a strong force it would be of
no use going there. It would be certain death to a party of only two or
three. With your band, however, it will be easy, and success would be
certain. I only ask the tenth part of all the gold that may be
gathered, which I would deserve as guide of the expedition; and going as
guide I will be at the same time a hostage for my good faith."

"Is that what I am to understand; you estimate the price of your secret
and services a tenth part of the whole?"

"That and two hundred dollars paid down to enable me to equip myself for
the expedition."

"You are more reasonable than I expected, Cuchillo. Very well, then let
it be so; the two hundred dollars you shall have, and I promise you the
tenth part."

"Agreed."

"Agreed, and you have my word upon it. Now, answer me some questions
which I wish to put. Is this Golden Valley in that part of the country
where I intended to have taken my expedition?"

"It is beyond the Presidio of Tubac; and since your men are to meet
there you will not need to make any change in the dispositions you have
already taken."

"Good. And you have seen this Golden Valley you say with your own
eyes?"

"I have seen it without the power of touching it. I have seen it
grinding my teeth as I looked upon it, like the damned in hell who get a
glimpse of Paradise."

As Cuchillo spoke, his countenance betrayed beyond doubt the anguish he
felt, at his cupidity having been balked.

Arechiza knew too well how to read the human physiognomy to doubt the
truth of Cuchillo's report. Two hundred dollars were to him a mere
bagatelle; and taking an ebony case from his bed, small but heavy, he
drew from it a rouleau of gold pieces and handed them to the gambusino,
who immediately put them in his pocket.

There was a little more in the rouleau than had been bargained for. The
Spaniard took no notice of this, but forming a cross with his thumb and
index finger of his right hand _a la mode Espagnole_, he held it before
Cuchillo, directing him to make an oath upon it.

"I swear by the cross," said the latter, "to speak the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth. At the end of ten days' journey
beyond Tubac, going in a north-western direction, we shall arrive at the
foot of a range of mountains. They are easy