to recognise--for a thick
vapour hangs over them both night and day. A little river traverses
this range of hills. It is necessary to ascend it to a point where
another stream runs into it. There in the angle where the two meet, is
a steep hill, the summit of which is crowned by the tomb of an Indian
chief. I was not near enough to distinguish the strange ornaments that
surround this tomb; but at the foot of the hill there is a small lake by
the side of a narrow valley in which the water from rain torrents has
thrown to the surface immense treasures of gold, this is the _Golden
Valley_."

"The way will be easily found?" inquired Don Estevan.

"But difficult to travel," replied Cuchillo. "The arid deserts will be
no obstacle compared with the danger from the hostility of Indians.
This tomb of one of their most celebrated chiefs they hold in
superstitious veneration. It is the constant object of their
pilgrimages, and it was during one of these visits that we were
surprised. Arellanos and myself."

"And this Arellanos--do you think, he has not revealed this secret to
any one besides yourself?"

"You must know," replied Cuchillo, "that it is a custom of the
gambusinos, before starting upon any expedition, to swear before the
Holy Evangelists not to reveal the _bonanzas_ they may find without the
consent of their associates. This oath Arellanos took, and his death of
course prevented him from betraying it."

"You have said that after his return from his first expedition, you met
him in Tubac. Was there no woman whom he may perchance have had in his
confidence?"

"His wife only--he may have told it to her. But yesterday a vaquero
gave me the news that she has lately died. For all that, she may have
revealed the secret to her son."

"Arellanos had a son then?"

"An adopted son--a young man whose father or mother no one knows
anything about."

Don Estevan could not repress an involuntary movement.

"This young fellow is, no doubt, the son of some poor devil of this
province?" said the Spaniard, in a careless way.

"No," replied Cuchillo, "he was born in Europe, and very likely in
Spain."

Arechiza appeared to fall into a reverie, his head bending towards his
breast. Some souvenirs were disturbing his spirit.

"This much at least is known," continued Cuchillo. "The commander of an
English brig-of-war brought him to Guaymas. He stated that the child,
who spoke both French and Spanish, had been cap