"I must sit down for a few minutes, my lad," he said, "and then we will
make haste on, for those women must not be left for an instant more than
we can help. The gold has all gone, though, Harry."

"Uncle," I exclaimed, "it seems as if my thirst for gold is bringing
down a curse upon your peaceful home."

"Not so fast, my lad--not so fast. Gold is a very good thing in its
way, and helped me this morning out of a terrible difficulty. Remember
that it set me free from Garcia."

"And they've got it all back from him again," chuckled Tom.

"What!" exclaimed my uncle.

"Knocked the poor old lawyer about and grabbed all the bars," said Tom.

My uncle seemed astonished at the news, but his brow knit the next
minute.

"Never mind, Harry," he said, "we'll risk the curses of the gold. I'll
help you, my lad, to the last gasp; and if we don't get the treasure
safe on board some vessel bound for old England, it sha'n't be for want
of trying. But you must give me time, lad--you must give me time; for,
what with Garcia's bullet and this blow on the head, I'm as weak as a
child."

"But how was it, Uncle?" I exclaimed anxiously.

"Give me your arm, lad, and let's make haste back to the hacienda. You,
Tom, keep that pistol in your hand cocked, and walk close behind; and if
you see one of those lurking copper-skins jump up, shoot him down
without mercy. You know how you both left me to go into the house,
where I meant to put the gold into a chest in my little office? Well, I
stood looking at you for a few moments, Hal, and then I had taken a step
forward, when I felt myself dashed to the ground by a tremendous blow
upon the head; hundreds of lights danced before my eyes, and then all
was darkness, from which I came to myself with the sensation of being
suffocated by something bound over my face. I felt, too, that my hands
and arms were tightly bound, and that I was quite helpless, for I could
not cry out. I did not feel much troubled, though, for a heavy, sleepy
feeling was on me. All I wanted was to be left alone, while instead of
that I could feel that I was being dragged slowly along over the ground;
and then at last came a stoppage, and I knew that I was left."

My uncle stopped for a few minutes, apparently exhausted, but he soon
recovered himself and went on:

"I struggled hard to get at liberty; but, do all I would, I could only
get one hand and arm loose as far as the elbow, while as to freeing my
legs