e we are," he muttered, "and no mistake."

Desmond saw that his explorations in that direction had ended. He
retraced his steps and selected a second crevice along which he made his
way, and at length he landed in a pretty good sized inner cave.

"Well, I reckon we've got it here."

The lad proceeded to search around with the care of a detective looking
for clues. He did find evidences of some one having been in the cave; he
found the handle of a dirk, a small bit of a deerskin hunting jacket,
and finally a little bit of pure gold. He examined the latter under his
lamp, satisfied himself that it was a nugget of real gold in its natural
state, and his heart beat fast.

"I've got it at last," he muttered; "yes, I thought I knew how to carry
on this search. Creedon must have done it too hurriedly."

Desmond felt quite proud of his success; he had struck it sure, as he
believed, and he continued his search, and was intently engaged when
suddenly he heard a sepulchral groan at the instant he had plunged into
a sort of pocket and was feeling around; but when he heard that groan he
started back into the cave and stood as white as a sheet gazing around
in every direction, and there was a wild terror in his eyes. He stood
for fully two minutes gazing and listening, and finally he said:

"Great Scott! what was that I heard--a groan?"

Desmond, although brave and vigorous, after all was but a lad of less
than eighteen. He could have faced a grizzly bear, but when it came to
the supernatural he was not equal to it. The fact was he was dead
scared, and, then again he believed he had really struck the hidden
recess where the old Mexican's gold was secreted.

The young are more susceptible to superstitious fears, as a rule, than
older people; they are not skeptical.

Desmond listened a long time, and as he did not hear the noise again,
and feeling an intense desire to find the hidden treasure, he again went
to the rock pocket and plunged in, but immediately there came again the
groan, clear, distinct, and unmistakable, and also a voice commanding:

"Go away, go away; do not disturb my gold."

The lad leaped out into the main cave again, and he trembled from head
to foot. He had never received such a shock in all his life; he had
never really believed in ghosts--never thought much about them
indeed--but here he had at least evidence that the dead did watch their
treasures. Still, the desire to secure the wealth was strong up