appeared
somewhat surprised by the manner of his salutation.

"God forbid," cried Fabian, "that you, who have shared the peril, should
not share the treasure. What do you say, Bois-Rose? do you not rejoice
to become in your old age rich and powerful?"

But Bois-Rose, unmoved before all the riches, contented himself with
shaking his head, while a smile of tenderness for Fabian testified to
the only interest that he took in that marvellous spectacle!

"I think like Pepe," said he, after a pause, "what could I do with this
gold that the world covets? If it has for us an inestimable value, it
is because it is to belong to you; the possession of the least of these
stones would take away in our eyes from the value of the service we have
rendered you. But the time for action has arrived; for certainly we are
not alone in these solitudes."

Pepe now began to pull aside the branches, but scarcely had he entered
the valley when the sound of a gun was distinctly heard. In a moment
his voice reassured his anxious comrades.

"It is the devil," cried he, "forbidding us to encroach on his domains;
but at all events it is a devil whose aim is not infallible."

Before entering the valley Bois-Rose and Fabian raised their eyes to the
top of the hill, whence the shot as well as the voice had proceeded.
But the remains of the fog at that moment covered the top of the rock,
and all three rushed simultaneously towards the isolated mass where they
believed their enemy to be hidden. The sides, although steep, were
covered with brushwood, which rendered them easier to climb; but it was
a dangerous attempt, for the fog prevented them from seeing what enemies
were above. Fabian wished to go first, but the vigorous arm of the
Canadian held him back, and meanwhile Pepe was half-way towards the
summit. Bois-Rose followed, begging Fabian to keep behind him.

Pepe mounted boldly, undismayed by the foes that might be concealed
behind that mass of vapour, and soon disappeared under the mist. A cry
of triumph soon warned his friends that he had arrived in safety. Both
hastened to join him, but found no one on the rock except Pepe himself!
Just as, disappointed at their want of success, they were preparing to
descend again, a sudden gust of wind drove off the fog, and allowed them
to see to a distance. To the right and left the plain presented the
most complete picture of the desert in its dreary sadness. They beheld
arid steppes over w