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Creedon had made some deerskin bags so that the burden would not fall upon one person. The dust was all secured and they made a start for the town. On the night when they made their last halt before ending their trip in the town, Brooks, the wizard tramp, took advantage of an opportunity to talk to Desmond alone. He said: "Lad, to-morrow we will be in the town and we will have money.
He made every effort to shift the rock out of its place, but it was too much for him, owing to the fact that he could just about reach it. He did not have purchase enough to exert his full strength. He stepped down on the floor again and commenced to consider, and then he determined to return to the main cave and solicit Brooks and Creedon to go to his aid.
As it proved there was not much of a show to run, as the Indians moved away after a little, but Creedon did not permit his friends to go forth. He said: "You can never tell about these redskins; they might suspect we are around, and their going away may be a little trick; they are up to these tricks."
When he re-entered the main cavern Creedon with a laugh said: "Well, lad, did you run up against a stone wall?" "I did." "I told you it was of no use to search these crevices. I've explored every inch." "You have?" "Yes." "I think not." Brooks knew Desmond so well he discerned that the lad had really made a discovery, but he said nothing. "You think not, eh?" "I do."
"On your honor?" "Yes." "Well, here we are on shares; tell us all about it." Desmond laughed in turn; they had had their laugh and he had his laugh, as he said: "Here is what I found." The lad produced the little nugget he had picked up and then Creedon laughed, and said: "By George! that is the bit of gold I lost, and I had a good hunt for it."
At first she had been courageous, but the strain of prolonged uncertainty was telling on her, and her nervous condition did not improve her larynx. Every morning Miles Creedon looked down her throat, only to put her off with evasions, to pronounce improvement that apparently never got her anywhere, to say that tomorrow he might be able to promise something definite.
When she attempted to deliver all this to Doctor Creedon, he merely put his finger on her lips and said they would discuss these things when she could talk without injuring her throat. He allowed her to see no one except the Director of the Opera, who did not shine in conversation and was not apt to set Kitty going.
"Yes, you may see Tevis this evening if you will assure me that you will not shed one tear for twenty-four hours. I may depend on your word?" He rose, and stood before the deep couch on which his patient reclined. Her arch look seemed to say, "On what could you depend more?" Creedon smiled, and shook his head. "If I find you worse tomorrow "
Of course the youth had no real hope of ever finding any gold, but it is a known fact that such finds have been made, and sometimes the skeletons of the owners have been found bleaching beside their gold. Desmond was somewhat impressed by the words of Creedon, but still insisted that he would like to conduct an exploration. "You will only go over the ground that I have already gone over."
It was about midnight when the older men lay down on their blankets to sleep. Creedon had a big silver bull's-eye watch, and he said he always kept it going. Desmond pretended to lie down and go to sleep also, but his head was filled with visions of the Mexican's hidden gold.
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