The Sunken Isthmus

ted. "Then you d

ly, "that such a story from the lips of a stranger looked

ain's fa

lieve it no

admitted Wade. "We are prep

lain. "I haven't any hard feelings against you, though it

we believed, i

es. In regard to this offer of mine-do you accept it? One

a fair share?" asked

in swore

at you could get no better terms from an

igned a

ught to have

ered a frig

body else." Then, after a moment's thought: "Well,

his pocket and wrote dow

. You are to show us the place,

ubbed h

, briskly, "but the

O

my men to go down with you whi

tted th

lse?" h

. What are

hese terms and return with an answer as quickly as possible. Hav

ooked a

e prepared to acce

isively. "Mr. Reade is the m

are his

es

I don't feel like being trifled with.

Wade, with a manner which belie

ound your

ir

ver this situation. Bring me a

y. Then he got into the boat. He had

rowed to the gangway of the Div

here for me; do n

. Frank and Barney were puffing l

it?" ask

k. "There is only one more nu

old hi

was de

n answer," he said.

vate cabin and wrote a

. They are hardly liberal enough. However, if I decide to acc

Read

not help

he said. "He will b

id Frank, "for, thanks to your skillful di

ngway and handed the l

in," he said; "deliver

right

hen it was twenty yar

, everybody! We

The doors and Windows

here was a sudden quivering of the b

his schooner's de

e read the message sent hi

will go and recover the gold themselves now. Up sails, men! Bear away at the tiller there! We must be t

sea. No sooner, however, had the sandy bottom c

r shot out of

ich had attacked the boat onc

low who had dented the shell of the pilot-

houted. "We may

long steel ram. 32This was provided with

eseen just su

h this heavily-charged ram the trouble would be q

s quickly as possible to meet

abaft her bow. For a moment the

de, but as it righted Frank instantly

t literally tore these away and the monster

are to meet many of that fellow's stri

the deep sea," declared Frank. "We

ope

Diver ascended the ragged, rocky hills and p

distance of twenty miles, the

isthmus began to

eneath them, and suddenly

ped; "just wha

marine

st

rkable one. There in the heart of the rolling country was unmi

and doors deserted and kelp and debris cl

ions might be drawn

n these dismal streets a people thronged, h

re could only be imagined. But that they were

at mass of human souls had

rtex life had counted for naught. What tragedies were there enact

as they gazed upon the sunken city. Per

slowly down ove

e of the open gates and allowed the s

ght upon the entire length o

id. "Now is your chance fo

anch of the old race which built Palenque and other Yucatan

action of the salt water has remove

ings," replied Wade. "However, we can make

ied Frank. "Barney, bri

oight,

e after-cabin. Very soon h

em, and they were of

by means of an air-pump and life-line, but these

met, with connections with a square box-l

ished plenty of pure air for the diver for