the further extremity of the sepulchre. Here we
lifted and removed vast piles of deerskin bags, and of mats, filled as
they were with "the dreadful dust that once was man." As we reached the
bottom of the first pile something glittered yellow and bright beneath
the lantern.

Moore stooped and tried to lift what looked like an enormous plate. He
was unable to raise the object, still weighed down as it was with the
ghastly remnants of the dead. With feverish haste we cleared away the
debris, and at last lifted and brought to light a huge and massive disk
of gold, divided into rays which spread from the centre, each division
being adorned with strange figures in relief--figures of animals, plants,
and what looked like rude hieroglyphs.

This was only the firstfruits of the treasure.

A silver disk, still larger, and decorated in the same manner, was next
uncovered, and last, in a hollow dug in the flooring of the sepulchre, we
came on a great number of objects in gold and silver, which somewhat
reminded us of Indian idols. These were thickly crusted with precious
stones, and were accompanied by many of the sacred emeralds and opals of
old American religion. There were also some extraordinary manuscripts,
if the term may be applied to picture writing on prepared deerskins that
were now decaying. We paid little attention to cloaks of the famous
feather-work, now a lost art, of which one or two examples are found in
European museums. The gold, and silver, and precious stones, as may be
imagined, overcame for the moment any ethnological curiosity.

* * * * *

Dawn was growing into day before we reached the mouth of the cave again,
and after a series of journeys brought all our spoil to the light of the
upper air. It was quickly enough bestowed in bags and baskets. Then,
aided by three of Moore's stoutest hands, whom we found waiting for us in
the pine wood, we carried the whole treasure back, and lodged it in the
strong room which had been the retreat of Gumbo.

III.

The conclusion of my story shall be very short. What was the connection
between Gumbo and the spoils of the Sachem's Mound, and how did the
treasures of the Aztec Temple of the Sun come to be concealed in the
burial place of the Red Man? All this Moore explained to me the day
after we secured the treasures.

"My father," said Moore, "was, as you know, a great antiquarian, and a
great collector of Mexican and native relics. He had given