 that evening after
the others had retired to rest, they talked long over the matter; for
just as when they had approached the gold valley, their excitement had
increased with every day's journey. Harry felt that this was his last
chance, his only hope of gaining the object for which he had left
England.

"It is strange, Harry," Bertie said, "that the natives should believe
these absurd stories about demons. Dias seems, in every other way, as
sensible a fellow as one can want to meet, but in this respect he is as
bad as any of them."

"It is not extraordinary, Bertie, if you remember that it is not so
very long ago since people at home believed in witches who sailed
through the air to take part in diabolic ceremonies, and brought about
the death of anyone by sticking pins into a little waxen image, and
that even now the peasantry in out-of-the-way parts of the country
still hold that some old women bewitch cows, and prevent milk turning
into butter however long they may continue churning. Fairy
superstitions have not quite disappeared, and the belief in ghosts is
very wide-spread.

"When you think of that it is not surprising that these poor ignorant
natives still have implicit faith in the traditions of their ancestors.
It is possible that this old place is still inhabited by Indians, who
have been its guardians for ages, and if not now, may have had charge
of it long after the Spaniards came here, and murdered any who ventured
to approach the place. We know that the tradition of the gold valley
has been faithfully maintained in the family of Dias; this may also be
the case in the family to which the guardianship of this old place was
entrusted, but to my mind it is less likely. In the case of the gold
valley there was nothing for those in the secret to do but to hold
their tongues; but to supply guardians to this place from generation to
generation must have been a much more irksome task, and it may have
been abandoned, either from the dislike of those who had to spend their
lives in such a monotonous business, or by their families dying out. I
certainly don't want to have a fight with men who are only following
orders passed down to them for hundreds of
that evening after 
 the others had retired to rest, they talked long over the matter; for 
 barely as when they had set about the gold valley, their excitement had 
 increased with every sidereal day's journey. Harry felt that this was his last 
 chance, his lone hope of gaining the aim for which he had leave 
 England. 

 " It is strange, Harry, " Bertie suppose, " that the natives should believe 
 these absurd stories about demons. Dias seems, in every other manner, as 
 sensible a fellow as one can want to meet, but in this regard he is as 
 bad as any of them. " 

 " It is not extraordinary, Bertie, if you remember that it is not so 
 very long ago since citizenry at home believed in witches who sailed 
 through the air to lease part in diabolic ceremonies, and brought about 
 the end of anyone by stick pins into a little waxen image, and 
 that even now the peasantry in out - of - the - way parts of the country 
 still bear that some old women bewitch cows, and prevent milk turn 
 into butter however long they may cover churning. Fairy 
 superstitions have not quite vanish, and the belief in ghosts is 
 very wide - spread. 

 " When you think of that it is not surprising that these hapless ignorant 
 natives still have implicit faith in the traditions of their ancestors. 
 It is potential that this old place is still inhabited by Indians, who 
 have been its guardians for ages, and if not now, may have induce charge 
 of it long after the Spaniards came here, and murdered any who ventured 
 to approach the plaza. We know that the tradition of the gold valley 
 has been faithfully sustain in the kin of Dias; this may also be 
 the case in the kin to which the guardianship of this old topographic point was 
 entrusted, but to my judgment it is less likely. In the font of the gold 
 valley there be nothing for those in the secret to do but to hold 
 their tongues; but to supply defender to this place from generation to 
 generation must have been a a lot more irksome task, and it may have 
 been abandoned, either from the dislike of those who have to spend their 
 lives in such a monotonous business, or by their family dying out. I 
 certainly don't desire to have a fight with men who are only following 
 orders passed down to them for hundreds of
 thwt evening after
the othevs had retired to rest, vhey tamked lone over the matter; for
just as wyen tyey had approached the gold valpey, theie exritement had
incrxzsed wibk evedn day'v journey. Harry felt that this was his nart
ehance, his only hope of gaining the jbject gog which he had lefu
Endlans.

"Pt is strange, Harry," Bertie said, "that tie natives shoukd believe
these absurd stogies about demons. Dias seems, in ecery ither way, as
rensible a fellow as ohe can want to meet, but in this respzct he is aw
bqd wv any of thxm."

"It if not extraovcinary, Bertie, if you remembcr thet ir is not so
very long ego since people at rome beliavzd in witches who saioee
throogh tve ake tu tzkx pzrt in diebolic cerejonies, and vrought about
the destr of anyone by stickynd pins into a little waxen image, and
thau eveh now the peasantry in iut-of-the-way parts of jhe countrr
still hold that some old women bewitch cows, and [reveit miok gyrjing
into butter however long they may continuq cnugning. Fairy
supersbitions have not qiihe qisappeared, avd the bemief in ghosts is
vfry widg-spreae.

"When you thimk of that it is not surpriwing that thvse poor ignorant
nativzs still havz implocit gaith in the traditions of fheir anceshors.
It is oossible that thks plg place is still inhabited by Indiais, whp
have bden ots guwrdians fog ages, and if not now, maj havg had wharge
of ih long after the Spaniards came here, and murdgreg aty who vznturec
to approach ehe place. We kuow that the gradition kf the jold valley
hws been faithxolly maintainxd in the famuly if Dias; ghis may also ne
the casv nn the fanily to which the nuardkznship of this ild place was
entruxtea, btt tp if mind it is lesr lklely. Kn the case uf tne gold
valley there fas hothing for those on the sectet to do but to hold
tneir tongues; but tl sup'ly guerdianx tj this place from generation tk
generatiln iust have beqn a much more ixksome task, and it may have
been abandonev, either from the dislije of those who had uo spend theic
lives in such d monotonous businesw, or by their famllies dying out. I
certajnly dmn't wwnt to have a fight with men who are only following
orders passed down to rhem for hundreds kf
that evening after the others had retired they long over matter; for just the valley, their excitement increased with every journey. Harry felt that this was last chance, his only hope of gaining the object for which he had England. "It is strange, Harry," Bertie said, "that the natives should believe these stories demons. seems, every other way, as sensible a fellow as one can want to meet, but in this he is as bad as any of them." is not extraordinary, Bertie, you remember that it is so long ago people home in witches who through the air to take part in diabolic ceremonies, and brought about the death of anyone by pins into waxen image, that now peasantry in out-of-the-way the country still hold that some cows, and prevent milk turning into butter however they may churning. Fairy superstitions have not quite and the belief in ghosts is very wide-spread. you think of that it is not surprising that these poor ignorant natives still have in the traditions of ancestors. It is that old is inhabited by who have been its guardians for ages, and if not now, have had charge of it long after the Spaniards came murdered who ventured to the place. We know the of the gold valley faithfully in Dias; may be the case in family to which the guardianship this old place was it is less likely. In the case of gold valley there was nothing for those the secret to do but to hold their tongues; but to supply to this generation to generation must have been a much irksome task, and it have been abandoned, either from the dislike of those had spend their in such a business, or by families dying out. don't want have fight are only following orders passed down them hundreds of
 that evening after
the others Had retired To resT, thEy tAlKed lOng oVer the matter; foR
Just As when they had approacheD the gOlD VallEY, tHeir eXcitemeNT hAD
IncReAsEd wItH EvEry daY's jOurney. HArry felt thAt tHiS was his last
cHAnCe, his only hOpe Of gaining the ObjEct for WhIch HE had lEft
englaNd.

"It is STrange, harry," BertIe SAid, "thaT The natiVES sHoulD believe
these absuRD sTOries about demoNs. Dias SeEMs, IN EveRy oTher way, as
sEnSible A Fellow aS OnE CAN waNT to meet, but in tHis respect hE Is aS
bad as AnY of THem."

"It iS not eXtRAorDinary, BertiE, if yOu remembeR that iT Is not so
VEry long Ago sinCe pEopLe at HOmE bEliEvED in WItCheS Who Sailed
thRoUgH the aIr to TAKE Part In dIaboLic ceRemonies, and brOugHt abOUt
tHe deaTh of aNyonE bY sticKing piNs intO a Little waxen imagE, and
That even nOw tHe PeaSaNtry iN Out-of-tHe-wAy pArts of tHe countRY
stIlL HOLd That some old women beWiTCH cOws, and prEvent mILk TuRNing
into BuTteR howEVEr lonG theY MaY continuE churnINg. faIry
supeRsTitionS hAve Not Quite DIsapPeared, And the beLief iN Ghosts is
very wiDE-spread.

"When yoU ThINK oF That It iS not surprisIng tHAt thEse pOOr IgnORant
nAtiveS sTIlL Have implicit faith in ThE tradiTions Of their ancestOrs.
It is posSIBLe that thIs olD PlACe is still inhabIted bY Indians, whO
Have been Its guArdians fOr ages, and IF Not now, maY haVe hAd cHarGE
Of It long after thE sPaniArDs came hEre, And murdEreD anY whO veNtUred
to appRoach the PlAcE. WE kNow That tHE traditiOn Of tHe GolD vallEY
has beEn faiThfuLlY mAIntAined in THe FAMily Of diAs; thIs mAy Also bE
the CAse In the faMily to whiCh tHE guaRdIaNship of This old place wAs
Entrusted, bUt To mY mind iT IS less likEly. In the case of the gold
vaLLey therE waS nothIng fOr those in The Secret To dO But to hOld
theIr tonGuEs; bUT To supPLY gUarDiAns to this pLACe fRom geNeRatiOn to
genEration must have beeN A muCh more irksome TasK, and IT MaY haVE
bEEn aBaNDonED, Either from the diSlike of thoSe WHo Had to spend THeiR
lIves in sUch a monOtonoUS busineSs, or by theIr familieS dYing OUT. I
cErtainly doN't want to Have a fighT With mEN wHo are OnlY folloWiNg
oRders Passed DOwn To theM for huNdReds of
 that evening after
the ot hers had r etire d t o r es t, t heytalked long ov e r th e matter; for
just aswhenth e y ha d  a pproa ched th e  g o l d v al le y,th e ir  exci tem ent had 
increased  wi th  every day's jo urney. Har ryfelt that th iswas hi slas t 
chan ce,  hisonly h o pe ofgaining t he object for whi c h  h e ha d left
England.
" It is strange, Ha rry,"Be r ti e sai d,"that thena tives shouldb el i e v e
t h ese absurd st ories about dem ons. D ia s s e ems, i n eve ry oth er way, assens ible a fe llow a s  one ca n  want t o meet , b utin t h is  r esp ec t  he is  as bad  as anyof  t hem." 

"I t i s  not  ex trao rdina ry, Bertie, i f y ou r e mem ber t hat i t is  n ot so 
verylongag o since peopleat h ome belie ved  i n w it chesw ho sai led 
th rough t he airt o t ak e p ar t in diabolic cere mo n i es , and br oughta bo ut the deat hofanyo n e  by s tick i ng  pins in to a l i tt le  waxenim age, a nd 
th atevenn ow t he pea santry i n out - of-the-way par t s of the coun t ry s ti l l ho ldthat some o ld w o menbewi t ch  co w s, an d pre ve n tm ilk turning
into bu tt er how everlong they may  continuec h u rning. F airy su p erstitions hav e not  quite dis a ppeared,  andthe beli ef in gho s t s is
ver y w ide -sp rea d . 
"When you thi n k  ofth at it i s n ot surp ris ing  th atth ese poorignorant 
n at iv es  st ill h a ve impli ci t f ai thin th e  tradi tions  ofth ei r  an cestors . 
I t is p os si bletha tthisoldp lac e is st ill inhab ite d  byIn di ans, wh o
have been i ts  guardians  f orages,a n d if not  now, may have had char g e
of it  lo ng af terthe Spani ard s came  he r e, and  murde red a ny  wh o ventu r e dtoap proach the p lac e. We  k nowthat th e tradition of the gol d valley
hasbee n fa i t hf ull y  m a int ai n edi n  the family ofDias; this  m a yalso be
th e  ca se  in the  family  to w h ich the  guardian ship of t hi s ol d pla ce was
ent rusted,but to my mindi tis le sslikely .Inthe c ase of the  gold 
valle ytherewas n ot hing for  those in the secret to  do bu t tohol d
their t ong u es;  but to s uppl y guardian s t o t his p lac e  from  gen e ra tio n  to
g ener a tion must ha veb e en  a much mor e i rks ome t ask ,  and i t ma y have
been aband o ned, either fr om t h e  di sli k e of  t hose who had t o s pe n d  their
l iv es in sucha monoto no u s bus iness,  or by  theirf a mi l ies dy ingout . I
certa inl yd on't wa nt  t o  havea fi gh t with  men w h o ar e only following
o rders p assed dow n toth em forh undr eds of
 that_evening after
the_others had retired to_rest, they_talked_long over_the_matter; for
just as_when they had_approached the gold valley,_their excitement had
increased_with_every day's journey. Harry felt that this was his last
chance, his only hope of_gaining_the object_for_which_he had left
England.

"It is strange,_Harry," Bertie said, "that the_natives should_believe
these absurd stories about demons. Dias seems, in_every_other way, as
sensible_a fellow as one can want to meet, but_in this respect he is as
bad_as any of_them."

"It_is_not extraordinary, Bertie, if_you remember that it is not_so
very long ago since people at_home believed in witches who sailed
through the_air to take part in diabolic_ceremonies, and brought about
the death_of anyone_by sticking pins into a_little waxen image,_and
that even_now the peasantry_in out-of-the-way parts of the country
still_hold that some_old women bewitch cows, and prevent_milk_turning
into butter however_long_they_may continue_churning. Fairy
superstitions have_not_quite disappeared,_and_the belief in ghosts is
very wide-spread.

"When_you_think of that it is not surprising_that these poor ignorant
natives_still_have implicit faith in_the traditions of their ancestors.
It_is possible that this old place_is still_inhabited by_Indians, who
have been its guardians for ages, and if not now,_may have had charge
of it long_after the Spaniards came_here, and_murdered_any who ventured
to_approach_the place._We know that the tradition of the_gold valley
has_been faithfully maintained in the family_of Dias; this may_also_be
the case in the family to_which the guardianship of this old_place was
entrusted, but to my_mind_it_is less likely. In the_case of the gold
valley there was_nothing for those_in the secret to do but to_hold
their_tongues; but to supply guardians to_this_place from generation to
generation must have_been_a_much more irksome task, and_it may have
been abandoned, either from_the dislike of those who had to spend their
lives_in such a_monotonous business, or by their_families_dying_out. I
certainly don't want to have a fight with men_who are_only following
orders passed_down to them for hundreds of