softly that it would be well to come down in order to
gain a little rest before Poyor returned, Teddy noticed with surprise
that the sun was high in the heavens.

"Well, do you believe now that the Silver City really has an existence?"
the leader asked when the three stood by his side.

"After that anything seems possible," Neal replied with a sigh as if
weary of gazing at so much magnificence.

"Save some adjectives expressive of admiration until we are in the city,
when I fancy you will see very much that is more curious."

"The people don't appear to be so terribly ferocious," Teddy said, "and
yet you think they would kill us all if our presence was discovered."

"I am positive of it. In a white man they see only one of that race
which has worked them so much injury, making ruins of many cities, and
oppressing the rightful owners of the country."

"If that is the case how are we to get in there?" Neal asked.

"Poyor has a plan which I think will be successful; wait until he
returns, and if the conditions are favorable to the attempt you shall
soon know."

"But suppose he stays away until a party of Indians take it into their
heads to come in this direction?"

"There is little danger of our being discovered unless it has been
suspected we have crossed the swamp, which is hardly probable. Very few
of the inhabitants ever venture out, and there is no reason why they
should come to this exact spot. Lie down now, Poyor will be with us by
nightfall."

It was a simple matter to follow the first portion of this advice; but
decidedly difficult to close their eyes in slumber after what had been
seen.

Teddy and Neal, who threw themselves on the ground side by side, could
not keep their thoughts from the wonderful city, and when both Jake and
Cummings were apparently wrapped in slumber the former whispered:

"Do you think now that we were foolish to come?"

"No, because it isn't so far in the swamp but that we can get out in a
short time if anything happens, and a glimpse of that city would repay a
fellow for considerable trouble."

"But suppose the Indians get hold of us?"

"That is something I reckon Cummings can take care of. If he has made
such elaborate preparations for entering, when it is so near where he
was living we can be pretty certain there will be no very grave
mistake."

"Even if we succeed in reaching the city I can't understand how it will
be possible to carry away much gold."

"Nor I; bu