but a battered
helmet, several sizes too large, covered his head and came down about
his ears; a pair of cunning eyes peeped from under the bent rim of the
headpiece, and quickly took in the details of the gathering. The
hearts of the adventurers sunk at the first sight of the ludicrous and
somewhat sinister personage. So this was the long-sought guide to whom
they were to submit their lives and fortunes! Not one present liked
the prospect.

There was a moment's silence. "Tell the zany to uncover," exclaimed
the captain. Then he turned to Ayatlan. "Will my brother tell the
young man what we want with him, and question him as to his fitness for
the duties he offers to fulfil?"

"He will speak for himself. He has been a servant of the Spaniards,
and knows their tongue better than I do."

Master Jeffreys took the young Indian in hand, and questioned him
pretty closely. He answered glibly enough, with a "Yes" to almost
every question. He had been many voyages up the Orinoco.

"How many?"

He held up the fingers of one hand. One voyage had lasted from the
first night of the young moon until it was full.

What did he know of the city of gold?

Apparently he knew everything. The city lay on the headwaters of the
river under the great mountains. A mighty lake lay at the foot of the
city. The sands of the lake were composed of the yellow gold that the
signers desired.

Had he met any one who had visited the city?

Yes; an Indian trader. He had once come into the camp of his Spanish
masters when they were many days' journey up the great river. His
masters had used him as interpreter. The houses of the city were of
dazzling white stone, and the roofs of plates of gold. The people
bathed in the lake on certain festival days, and afterwards sprinkled
themselves so thickly with the precious yellow dust that they looked
like golden images. Yes; they had temples, and the gods were of gold,
and sacrifices were offered on golden altars. Sparkling stones, such
as the signers loved, were found in the waters of the lake.

How far off was the city?

Oh! many moons' journey. No; the inhabitants were not warlike. They
would welcome the white strangers from the land of the rising sun, and
give them yellow dust and sparkling stones as much as their hearts
desired. Yes; the dangers of the way were great, for many forests and
swamps must be passed; roaring waterfalls blocked the passage of the
river. The flow