enjoying ourselves so."

"You did nothing but grumble yesterday, and said I was having all the
fun."

"Ah, but I didn't know how sore you were going to be then," cried Ned
merrily. "There, look sharp. Breakfast's waiting.--I say."

"What?"

"I wouldn't stop to shave this morning as it's so late."

Chris passed his hand over his chin.

"I expect it wants a scrape," he said, "to take all the dust off."

A few minutes later, feeling much refreshed, Chris was feasting away at
a most enjoyable breakfast, the lads chatting away merrily the while.

"I say," said Ned, "this wouldn't be a bad place if it wasn't for the
Indians. Quite a palace when it's put in repair. Land one's own; the
soil beautifully rich. I believe anything would grow here. I vote we
settle down."

"And what about the gold?"

"Ah, the gold! I'm beginning to think with my father that we shall
never find the old temple, and that if we did we should be none the
better for it. I don't think we want all that gold."

"Grapes sour?" said Chris dryly.

"N-no," replied Ned. "But there, what's the good of talking? We've
come to find the gold, and we shall go on till we feel it's no good. I
like what we're doing, though. We must stop here, of course, till the
Indians are tired and have gone. I wish they would go."

"Yes, it makes it so horrible."

"Ah! Doesn't it? I don't mind shooting something that we want to eat.
But firing at them--Ugh!"

"Yes, it is horrid," said Chris; "but they're hardly men. Savage
wretches! They seem to love killing."

"Have some more vulture," said Ned quietly. "There's all that piece of
breast yet."

"Vulture!" said Chris, laughing.

"Well, didn't it taste bitter?"

"Yes, a little. It's one of those prairie hen things, of course."

"No, it was a fine fat cock."

"Well, they call them prairie hens. It was, as you say, delicious."

"Well, finish it."

Chris shook his head, rose stiffly, and helped his companion to clear
away.

"Now then," he said, "I'm not much disposed to walk to-day. It's just
as if I'd strained one of the muscles or something up in my hip. I
should like to go and sit out on the terrace. Haven't got the glass,
have you?"

"Yes, it's there, in the lookout. You can't do better than take my
place. There's a rifle too, and cartridges, in case the Indians show,
and the stones are built-up with loop-holes so that you'll be safe from
arrows if the brutes do come crawling u