own the slope. A big tree had fallen,
and among its roots Sam's lynx eyes marked a number of the little figures,
washed clean, sparkling in the sun-rays. These good fellows have no
secrets of the sort among themselves. They dug around, assured themselves
that it was indubitably a huaco; then returned, like honest Caribs, to
float the trunks down to Belize, and fulfil their contract, before
attending to personal interests.

They had cleared a space and built a hut of boughs, a 'ramada.' There Mr.
Ponder found them assembled, smoking and sleeping after the mid-day meal.
Warned by the guide's cheery shout they welcomed Mis'r George
heartily--all but Sam; unanimously they asked, however, what on earth he
wanted there, so far from home? Mr. Ponder told his complaint.

The gang resolved itself into a sort of court-martial forthwith, the
eldest seating himself upon a stump and the others grouping round. There
was a moment's silence for thought; then the president, gravely:

'You, Carib Sam, what you say?'

'Say d---- sorry, sah! Mis'r Brown an' all the Mis'rs make fool of me!
Then Mis'r George come--I never see Mis'r George before! He says go to
bush an' pick orchid--a month contract!--a month! But I found gold here,
an' I want pick it up--have no more say! d---- sorry!'

Mr. Ponder relented. 'Why didn't you explain at the time, Sam?--I'm quite
satisfied, Caribs! Sam and I will shake hands and there's an end of it!'

But the others were not quite satisfied. The president sat shaking his
head. 'When rains come,' said Sam to him anxiously, 'I get Mis'r George
two canoe-loads, six canoe-loads of orchid, an' no mistake!'

'There, men! That's final! Let's shake hands round, and wash away all
unpleasantness--here's the wash!--drink it up! Now will you show me your
huaco?'

First they showed him the plunder--hundreds of those little images, mostly
human, in the rudest style of art, but pure gold; a large proportion
alligators, some probably meant for birds, not a few mere lumps. Mr.
Ponder calculated rapidly that the whole might represent three thousand
pounds for division among ten men. But the Caribs began to fear that their
huaco would prove to be a very small one. The yield had been failing in
all directions lately. They had prospected round, but hitherto without
success. No bones, nor weapons, nor anything but a few jars of pottery had
been found. Such is the rule--without exception, I believe--in
burial-grounds of this