 is likely. But why should they have died
from hunger?"

"It is probable that others were in the secret, and were in the habit
of bringing provisions to them, and perhaps of relieving them at
certain periods. We know that there were fierce battles in the early
times of the Spaniards. In one of these battles the whole of those who
were acquainted with the secret may have fallen. Or it may have been
earlier after the conquest had been completed, when the Spaniards drove
tens of thousands of men to work as slaves in the mines. The people
here may have remained at their post, hoping for relief until it was
too late. Two of the strongest may have started at last, but have been
too weak to climb the steps, and died there. Their comrades may have
never known their fate, but have sat down to die here, as you see. I
should think it probable that the second of my suggestions is likely to
be the right one, and that this did not take place until perhaps a
hundred years after the arrival of the Spaniards, otherwise those
legends of men who came near this place being killed would never have
been handed down. If all this is as I suggest, either the Incas knew
that the Chimoos had buried treasure here, or they themselves buried
some, although, as you say, there is no tradition of treasure having
been taken here. But it is possible that that treasure ship, which
undoubtedly sailed from some place along the coast and was never again
heard of, really came here; that her treasure was landed, and the
vessel then destroyed. In either case, there is strong reason for hope
that there is treasure somewhere in this castle if we can but find it."

"We will find it," Bertie said confidently. "What you say must be true.
These Indians would never have been fools enough to sit here and die
without some good reason for it. Well, I vote that before we do
anything else we clear these bones out."

"We can do that the first thing to-morrow morning, Bertie. We can't
just throw them out of the window. The bones are of men who died doing
their duty to their country. We will leave them as they are to-day, and
to-morrow we will bring up one of the big leather bags, place the bones
in
is likely. But why should they have died 
 from hunger? " 

 " It is probable that others were in the secret, and were in the habit 
 of bring provision to them, and perhaps of relieving them at 
 certain period. We know that there were ferocious battles in the early 
 times of the Spaniards. In one of these battle the whole of those who 
 were acquainted with the secret may have fall. Or it may have been 
 earlier after the conquest had been dispatch, when the Spaniards drove 
 tens of thousands of men to work as slaves in the mine. The people 
 here may have remained at their post, hop for relief until it was 
 too late. Two of the strongest may have get down at last, but have been 
 too weak to climb the steps, and die there. Their comrades may have 
 never known their fate, but have sat down to die here, as you determine. I 
 should think it probable that the second of my suggestions is likely to 
 be the right one, and that this did not take place until perhaps a 
 hundred years after the arrival of the Spaniards, otherwise those 
 legends of man who came near this place being kill would never have 
 been pass down. If all this is as I suggest, either the Incas knew 
 that the Chimoos had buried gem here, or they themselves buried 
 some, although, as you state, there is no tradition of gem having 
 been taken here. But it is possible that that treasure ship, which 
 undoubtedly sailed from some place along the coast and was never again 
 hear of, really came here; that her treasure was landed, and the 
 vessel then destroyed. In either case, there cost strong reason for hope 
 that there is treasure somewhere in this palace if we can but find it. " 

 " We will find it, " Bertie said confidently. " What you say must be true. 
 These Indians would never have been fools enough to sit here and die 
 without some adept reason for it. Well, I vote that before we act 
 anything else we clear these bones out. " 

 " We can make that the first matter to - morrow morning, Bertie. We can't 
 just throw them out of the window. The bone are of men who died dress 
 their duty to their country. We will exit them as they are to - day, and 
 to - morrow we will lend up one of the big leather bags, place the bones 
 in
 is likely. But why should tmey have died
from hungec?"

"It is lrobable that others were in the seccet, qnd wtge in the habit
of brivging pronisions ti thtm, and perhaps of relieviky thej at
czrvain periods. We know that there were fiarze battles in the early
times of the S[aniardx. Ln one of thesg batulef ths whole of those who
were acquaintes with uhe secret may havr fallen. Or it may have befn
eaglier after the cojquest had veen xompleted, whdn the Spaniards drove
jens of thousands of men to work as skaves in tye mijgs. The peoplx
here iay have remained at their lost, hoping fov relmef yntil it was
too late. Vwo of the strongest may have scarted at last, but hace been
joo waak gi cuimg vhe steps, anv died thers. Their comeades may have
never kgiwn their fats, but rade sat down to die here, as you see. I
sholld fhink it probable that rhe second of my sugggstions is likely to
be the right one, and that this did not dake 'lxce uktil peghaps a
hundred years after the arrival of the Apsnpards, otherwise tmose
legends of men wjo same near thir placz bsing killed would jever hwve
bewn handed dowm. If all this is as I suggewt, either thv Inxas knew
that the Ckimoos had bbried jreasute here, or they themselres budied
some, alhhough, as hou say, there is no tsadition of treasure havind
been takxn hexe. But ig is possifle that tjat tvaasure ship, which
ujdoubjedly vailed frol some place along the coast anv was never abahn
hvard of, rzally game here; that rer treasure wcs landeb, and ghe
vessel nhen destcoyed. In eitrer case, thera is strong rxason for hopw
thar there ks treasure sokewhere iu thiw castle if we can buj rind it."

"We will ynne it," Bertie saic cunfydvntky. "Fhat you say musg bd true.
Ghese Indiaks doulc never have been fomls snough to sit here akd die
wityout somq good reason for it. Well, I vott that behore wr dj
anything else we clear these gones out."

"Ae gan do that tre flrst thing to-mprrow morning, Bertie. We can't
just throw vhem out of the window. Rhe bones are of meu eho died domng
theyr duty tm their country. We wull leave them as they are to-day, and
to-jorrow we wlll bring up one of the big leather bags, place the bones
in
is likely. But why should they have hunger?" is probable others were in the of bringing provisions them, and perhaps relieving them at certain periods. We that there were fierce battles in the early times of the Spaniards. In of these battles the whole of those who were acquainted with the secret have Or may been earlier after the conquest had been completed, when the Spaniards drove tens of thousands of to work as slaves in the mines. The here may have remained their post, hoping for relief it too late. of strongest have started at but have been too weak to climb the steps, and died there. Their comrades may have never their fate, sat down die as see. I should probable that the second of my to be the right one, and that this not take until perhaps a hundred years after arrival of the Spaniards, otherwise those legends of who came near this place being killed would never have been handed down. If all as I suggest, either Incas knew that Chimoos buried here, they themselves some, although, as you say, there is no tradition of treasure been taken here. But it is possible that that treasure undoubtedly from some place the coast and was again of, really came here; treasure landed, then In case, there is strong for hope that there is somewhere in this castle it." "We will find it," Bertie said confidently. you say must be true. These Indians never have been fools enough to sit here and die without some reason for I vote that before we do anything else clear these bones out." can do that the first thing to-morrow morning, Bertie. can't throw them of the window. bones are of who died doing to their We leave are to-day, and to-morrow we will up of the big leather bags, the
 is likely. But why should they hAve died
froM hungEr?"

"IT is PrObabLe thAt others were in THe seCret, and were in the habit
oF brinGiNG proVIsIons tO them, anD PeRHAps Of ReLieViNG tHem at
CerTain perIods. We know ThaT tHere were fierCE bAttles in thE eaRly
times of thE SpAniardS. IN onE Of theSe bAttleS the whOLe of thOse who
werE aCQuaintED with thE SEcRet mAy have fallen. Or it mAY hAVe been
earlier aFter thE cONqUESt hAd bEen completEd, When tHE SpaniaRDs DROVe
tENs of thousands Of men to work AS slAves in ThE miNEs. The pEople
HeRE maY have remainEd at Their post, Hoping FOr relieF Until it Was
too LatE. TwO of tHE sTrOngEsT May HAvE stARteD at last, bUt HaVe beeN
too WEAK To clImb The sTeps, aNd died there. ThEir ComrADes May haVe
nevEr knOwN theiR fate, bUt havE sAt down to die here, As yoU see. I
shouLd tHiNk iT pRobabLE that tHe sEcoNd of my sUggestiONs iS lIKELy To
be the right one, and ThAT ThIs did not Take plACe UnTIl perhapS a
HunDred YEArs afTer tHE aRrival of The SpaNIaRdS, otherwIsE those
LeGenDs oF men wHO camE near tHis place Being KIlled would neveR Have
been handeD DoWN. if ALl thIs iS as I suggest, EithER the incaS KnEw
tHAt the chimoOs HAd BUried treasure here, or ThEy themSelveS buried
some, alThough, as yoU SAY, there is No trADiTIon of treasure hAving
Been taken hERe. But it iS possIble that That treasURE ship, whiCh
uNdoUbtEdlY SAiLed from some plACE aloNg The coasT anD was nevEr aGaiN
heArd Of, Really camE here; thaT hEr TrEaSurE was lANded, and tHe
VesSeL thEn desTRoyed. IN eithEr caSe, ThERe iS strong REaSON for HoPe
That TheRe Is treAsurE SomEwhere iN this castLe iF We caN bUt Find it."

"WE will find it," BeRtIe said confIdEntLy. "What YOU say must Be true.
These Indians would NEver havE beEn fooLs enOugh to sit HerE and diE
wiTHout soMe good ReasoN fOr iT. wEll, I vOTE tHat BeFore we do
anYTHinG else We CleaR these bOnes out."

"We can do that THe fIrst thing to-moRroW morNINg, berTIe. wE caN't
JUst THRow them out of the Window. The bOnES aRe of men who DIed DoIng
theiR duty to Their COuntry. WE will leavE them as thEy Are tO-DAy, aNd
to-morrow We will brIng up one oF The biG LeAther BagS, place ThE boNes
in
 is likely. But why should  they have  died 
fr omhu nger ?"
"It is probabl e  tha t others were in the s ecret ,a nd w e re  in t he habi t 
o f bri ng in g p ro v is ionstothem, a nd perhaps  of  r elieving the m  a t
certainper iods. We kno w t hat th er e w e re fi erc e bat tles i n  the e arly
time so f theS paniard s .  I n on e of these battle s  t h e whole of tho se who 
w e re a cqu ain ted with t he  secr e t may h a ve f a lle n . Or it may h ave been
ea r lie r afte rthe conque st ha db een  completed,  whe n the Spa niards drove
t e ns of t housan dsofment owo rkas sla v es  in the  mines.Th epeopl e
he r e m ay h ave  rem ained  at their pos t,hopi n g f or re liefunti lit wa s
toolate.  T wo of the stron gest  may have  st ar ted  a t las t , buthav e b een
too  weak t o  cl im b t he  steps, and died t he r e .Their co mrades ma yh ave
neve rkno wn t h e ir fa te,b ut  have sa t down to  d ie here ,as you  s ee.  Ishoul d  thi nk itprobable  that the second ofm y suggestions is l ik e ly t o
b e the right  one ,  and  tha t  t his did n ot ta ke pl a ce until perhaps ahu ndredyears  after the ar rival of t h e Spaniard s, o t he r wise those
leg endsof men who came nea r thi s placebeing kil l e d wouldnev erhav e
b e e nhanded down.I f  all  t his isasI sugge st,  ei the r t he  Incas kn ew
thatth eCh im oos  hadb uried tr ea sur eher e, or they t hemse lves  b ur i edsome, a l th o u gh,as  y ou s ay,  t hereis n o  tr adition  of treas ure havi ng 
b een tak en here. Butit  is possib le  th at tha t treasure  ship, which
undoubtedl y  sailed  fr om so me p lace alon g t he coa sta nd was  never  agai nhea r d  of,r e al lyca me here; t h a t h er tr ea sure  was la nded, and the
vess e l t hen destroyed . I n ei t h er  ca s e, the re iss t rong reason for  hope
that  t h er e is treas u reso mewhere  in thi s cas t le if w e can but  find it. "
"We w ill  find it,"  Bertiesaid conf i dentl y ."What  yo u saymu stbe tr ue.
Th e seIndia ns wou ld  never  have  b een fool s enough to sit here an d diewitho utsome good  re a son  for it.Well , I vote t hat  be forewed o
any thin g  e lse we cl eart hese bone s  o ut. " 
" We can do t h a t  th e fir stt hing t o-mo rrow morning, Ber t ie. We can't
j ustt h row  th e m ou tof the window.  Th eb o nes areof  men who di ed doing 
t h eir d uty to  their  countr y .  W e  willleav e t hem as th eyar e  to-day ,an d 
to-mo rrow  w e will  bring up o n e  of the big leat her b a g s, pl a cethe b on es
in
 is_likely. But_why should they have_died
from hunger?"

"It_is_probable that_others_were in the_secret, and were_in the habit
of bringing_provisions to them,_and_perhaps of relieving them at
certain periods. We know that there were fierce battles in_the_early
times of_the_Spaniards._In one of these battles_the whole of those who
were_acquainted with_the secret may have fallen. Or it may_have_been
earlier after the_conquest had been completed, when the Spaniards drove
tens of_thousands of men to work as_slaves in the_mines._The_people
here may have remained_at their post, hoping for relief_until it was
too late. Two of_the strongest may have started at last,_but have been
too weak to climb_the steps, and died there._Their comrades_may have
never known their fate,_but have sat_down to_die here, as_you see. I
should think it probable_that the second_of my suggestions is likely to
be_the_right one, and_that_this_did not_take place until_perhaps_a
hundred years_after_the arrival of the Spaniards, otherwise_those
legends_of men who came near this place_being killed would never_have
been_handed down. If all_this is as I suggest,_either the Incas knew
that the Chimoos_had buried_treasure here,_or they themselves buried
some, although, as you say, there is no_tradition of treasure having
been taken here._But it is possible_that that_treasure_ship, which
undoubtedly sailed_from_some place_along the coast and was never again
heard_of, really_came here; that her treasure was_landed, and the
vessel then_destroyed._In either case, there is strong_reason for hope
that there is treasure_somewhere in this castle if_we_can_but find it."

"We will find_it," Bertie said confidently. "What you_say must be_true.
These Indians would never have been fools_enough_to sit here and die
without some_good_reason for it. Well, I vote_that_before_we do
anything else we clear_these bones out."

"We can do that_the first thing to-morrow morning, Bertie. We can't
just throw_them out of_the window. The bones are_of_men_who died doing
their duty to their country. We will leave_them as_they are to-day,_and
to-morrow we will bring up one of the big leather_bags, place the bones
in