e
have had proofs enough of there being rich gold-loving nations in North,
South, and Central America who built great temples--the Mexicans, the
Peruvians, and the nations who have left the huge ruins in Yucatan. I
do not see why there should not be another gold city and temple here."

"Here!" said Bourne dryly. "Where?"

"In the desert place among the mountains that we are going to find, my
dear sir," said the doctor firmly.

"_Bagh! Bagh! Bagh! Bagh_!" roared Griggs enthusiastically, and the
boys joined in the "tiger," as he called it.

"Don't say any more, doctor," he cried. "That's enough. I began to
think you were playing fast and loose, and I said to myself, Doctor's
got too much shilly-shally, willy-nilly in him to make a good leader of
this expedition, but I don't now. I can see farther than I did, and
that you've been weighing it all over and looking before you leaped.
And that's the right way to succeed. Gentlemen, and you two youngsters,
we've got a grand captain--one that can lead us and guide us, and cure
us, and set us up when we're down. What more can we want? We're sure
to succeed. I won't sell my share now for anything."

There was a fresh cheer at this, and the party broke up to take the
necessary rest.

"Ned," said Chris, after they had been in bed a short time, "we're off."

"Yes," said Ned. "_Bagh! Bagh! Bagh_! as Griggs has it."

"Hush, or you'll wake my dad."

CHAPTER EIGHT.

SHUTTING UP SHOP.

"I didn't believe we ever should start," said Chris, one morning at
daybreak.

"But you were wrong," said Ned, "and here's good-bye to the old place."

It was a month later, during which time the journey had been made to the
nearest town, the stores and other necessaries purchased, and after
preparations which had lasted till midnight, every one had declared that
there was nothing else to be done, and all had lain down to sleep,
Griggs included, he having decided to stay at the ranch for the last
night, after bringing over his baggage and animals, and he had by a
gruesome kind of choice elected to sleep in the long shed.

"Where the poor old adventurer was put," he said, "and that will make me
dream about him and perhaps have some happy thoughts about the best way
to go."

There were not many farewells to bid, for the settlers at the nearest
plantations were scattered widely about the district, and all for the
most part too much worried about their own disappointments t