oroughly conversant
with Latin--for it was in that tongue--but as a spoken rather than a
written language. It was such Latin as might be written by a man
who knew his Vulgate and prayers by heart, but who had little other
use for the language. In places, where evidently the author did not
know a word, he had used a symbol as though the common medium of
communication with him were some sign language.

With what sort of an instrument the writing had been done it was
impossible to conceive, for it was as fine as could be accomplished
with the finest steel engraving. It occurred to Wilson that possibly
this had been done with a view towards making it illegible to any
ordinary eyes which should chance to see it. With all these
difficulties it was as much as Wilson could do to make anything at all
out of the parchment. But he found the work absorbing, and as he
began to get an inkling of what he really held in his hands, lost
himself altogether in his task. At the end of three hours, which had
passed like so many minutes, he took a piece of paper and wrote down
the result of his work, leaving dashes for words which he had been
unable to make out. He had this broken message:

"I, Manco Capac, priest of the Gilded Man leave this for my
brothers, fearing -- from strangers with --. When I heard
Quesada was near and learned that he was about to -- the lake
I called twenty of the faithful and with great -- we -- piece
by piece, using -- to -- the gifts from the bottom. Many
pieces we -- but much gold, gifts of plate, and -- with --
jewels we reached. In all six hundred and forty-seven pieces
we carried to where they now rest. I will make a chart so that
it may --. But beware for -- the foot stumbles -- death to all
-- except those who --. The Gilded Man is strong and will --
blood and the power of the hills. I alone know and I am about
to die. The other faithful children, leaped from -- and their
bodies I -- where they are protected by --. Never must be
taken from this -- for -- if --. Those who -- death.

The gold I -- in the farther cave where --, but the jewels are
-- beneath and --. The place is -- upon the map which I have
made. This I have truly written for those who --. The hand of
the Gilded Man will crush any who --."

Wilson, his blood running fast, sat back and thought. It was clear
that the struggle over the image was a struggle for this treasu