nce of a marvelous opal mine in the interior;
the precise location of which is known to no one save Adele and myself.'

'In spite of the greatest effort, I could not suppress a smile of
incredulity, at this announcement. Mexico is so full of strange stories
of fabulous mines, that this wondrous tale of opals looked to me like
some new confidence game, and I felt sure my neighbors were duped or
else trying to dupe me.

''Oh! I see you think we are deceived?'

''I admit,' I replied, 'it strikes me as possible that you have been the
victims of some crafty scheme. Did you hear of this mine before or since
your arrival in Mexico?'

''Before we left New-Orleans.'

''And yet it is not known to the natives?'

''It was from a Mexican we had our information.'

''Why did not this Mexican himself take advantage of it?'

''He could not, for he was banished. He is now dead. But what do you
think of these specimens?'

'He took from a drawer ten or twelve opals of rare size and brilliancy.
I examined them with care; they were, beyond all doubt, of very
considerable value. My incredulity gradually gave way to amazement.

''Are you certain these opals really came from the mine of which you
speak?'

''Nothing can be more certain; you saw Pepito hand me a package; you
heard his remark that he could have brought a mule-load; these are a
few of what he did bring.'

''This mine then really exists?' I said, my incredulity giving way to
the most ardent curiosity.

''Really exists! yes, my friend; if you listen, I will dispel all doubt
of that.'

X.

''On arriving in this country, my first step was to procure a guide and
the necessary equipage for reaching the opal mine. Although I felt sure
of its existence, I could not dispel the fear that the story of its
marvelous richness would prove false. Without loss of time, I started;
for to me it was a question of life and death. I had, however, barely
accomplished a third of the journey, when I was prostrated by fever. The
fatigue of traveling in the interior of this magnificent but wretched
country, combined with excitement and anxiety, preyed upon my mind, and
brought on an illness, from which at one time I gave up all hope of
recovering. I was compelled to return to Vera Cruz. The doctors were all
of the opinion that several months of perfect repose would be necessary
before I could undertake another such journey. Several months--oh! how
those words fell on my ears; they soun