The Search for the Silver City

with plenty of freshly cooked tortillas, and as Teddy remarked in a low tone when it was abs

anana avenue where he slung another hammock that both the boys might lie down, gave Jake a cigar of home man

e story I promised to tell

w it happens that you are living a

st home I had previous to the building of this shanty, was in Baltimore, Maryland. Two years ago-it may have been longer, for one does not

ou mean that the precious metal is s

he houses is of silver, and so profuse as to give it the appearance, at a distance, of being a collection of silver

k Swamp. It is a fact that no white man has ever seen it, since the only approach is across the swamp on the south side, and the way so closely guarded that a person must have specia

saw on the sea coast. As you doubtless know, the Indians hereabout have never been conquered b

n ornaments, valuing the yellow treasure so lightly, and bringing such quantities that there can be no doubt they have access to an enormous deposit. Silver the

ld follow, to learn the secret of the city in the swamp," Jake suggeste

dge of the marsh, and both times they disappeared so silently and completely as to make it seem as if the earth had opened and swallowed them. Th

" Jake asked

with them for many years, and, what is more, has been within sight of the famous city. From him I have gained all the information necessary to

doing nothing else but studying ho

d these trees for a lounging place, and now raise

the man yo

t will return by the day after to-mor

make the attempt to g

you accept m

do with it?" Jake

ave our lives. With you three as an addition to the party, and two armed with good weapons, I would not be afraid to travel straight through the city. As a matter of fact the

d Jake might agree to the scheme. "You know we must get back to our own country as s

t what if I tell you that by goi

that be p

the United States this morning. If you remain here two weeks more, there will then be ample opportunity to get

leisurely to the house, and returned with the

to learn that his statement was a fact, and whe

less than ten days from the time we begin the journey, and

an would not return for th

ctly what we want as an outfit, and we can meet him at the only entrance to the swamp w

ad heard it in Merida and from Poyor, and so well did he tell the story

he matter so long I feel warranted in saying that it is not an unusually dangerous ventu

m in Mr. Emery's employ I couldn't go contrary to his son's orders. As a matter o

?" Cummings asked as h

e shouldn't spend the time in what will be the jolliest kind

o Neal questioningly, and t

ght to go with you. If it was possible for us to leave the country at once there coul

u have no objections to joining u

l to-morrow, so we have a chance to

tend to, and while I am away you

d the house and when he disappe

m; I mean, what you think father would say if we

have a little fun, seein's how we're bound to stay here longer than he allows is enough to go to this Silver

r would approve of our

sh to reply in the negative after his acquiescence in all the host had advance

must sail on the next steamer, and if Mr. Cummings is willing we should desert him, no matter what may be the cond

lied with considerable emphasis. "On this basis no one can possibly fi

ave Yucatan on the next steame

shall be out of the Silver City in that time

be," Teddy said approvingly, and from that moment the

terview, Jake explained upon what grounds the decision had been arrived

dertake to see you on board the next steamer which sails. Now it only remains to decide upon the detai

e time was spent in discussion, and as the boys retired on this night it was with the knowledge that when the