and giving us the country
salutation, they bade us good-night, and we moved off; but Tom pulled
up, and shouted after the leader of the party, who returned; when, with
a face whose gravity could be seen, even in that dim short twilight, to
be extreme, Tom took out one of his smallest stalactites, held it up
before him, and repeated the word "buono" three times, and then
presented it to the Indian, who received it with grave courtesy and
retired.

"There," said Tom, "if he don't go and tell his tribe that we're madmen
after that, why, I was never born down Cornwall way. Say, though, Mas'r
Harry, that was a narrow escape; those chaps watch that gold, and they
thought we had it; and if we had been loaded that way I'm thinking that
it would have been buried again, with two skulls and bones this time,
and those would have been ours."

I shuddered as I urged my mule onward, anxious to reach the hacienda,
which we did earlier than I hoped for, stabled our mules, and then,
relieving Tom of his golden burden, I went up to my room and secured it
in my travelling case, before descending to find my uncle sitting, with
Lilla kneeling beside him, holding his hand; and a glance showed me that
both she and Mrs Landell had been weeping bitterly.

I was surprised to see them assembled at so late an hour, but taking no
notice, I went up and shook hands.

"Well, Harry," said my uncle sadly; "had enough of exploring yet?"

"Quite, Uncle," I said. "I have finished now."

He looked up at me for a moment, and then fell to stroking Lilla's
golden hair.

"Well, lad, I'm sorry," he said, after a pause; "but I may as well tell
you, and be out of my misery. But don't think I blame you, lad--don't
think I blame you, for I suppose it was to be."

"What is it, Uncle?" I said in an indifferent tone. "No new trouble, I
hope?"

He glanced at me in a sadly disappointed way, and then said sternly:

"_I_ don't reproach you, Harry; but that blow you struck Garcia has been
my ruin, unless I buy his favour with this."

As he spoke he laid his hand tenderly upon Lilla's head, then drew her
to him and kissed her lovingly.

"But we can't do that, my little lamb--we can't do that," he continued.
"We are to be turned out of the place; but I daresay there's a living to
be got--eh, Harry? You'll not leave us, I suppose, now we're in
trouble? You said you would not, and now, my lad, is the time to put
you to the proof. You'll work now, won't you