Forbidden Cargoes

Ivanhoe. The table, on which rested his steaming cup of home grown, home roasted coffee, was a massive hand-hewn

here was no stove. A great fireplace was there in its stead. Pots a

imself. "Only this is to-day. The last of t

longed to yesterday-a purple coat hanging in a corner and a bo

oung girl," he told himself

ng Spanish girl's grandmother was at that m

-haired American boy, apparently in his early teens, parted the heavy

, he halted

intrude. I had supposed that this house belonged to thes

e you, I am an intruder. But you are from America," he added quickly. "How perfectly gr

he homeland. In their strange surroundings the

ame as Kirk Munson, "they are truly the las

lver box filled with priceless pearls taken from the Pacific when that great ocean was young. The silver box, so the story goes, was

ke that about here," he went on. "It's all

most urgent need. "Are they near? D

t one not four miles back in the bush, and dark. It is said you are

claimed Pant. "I mus

k's voice was f

along? No one who lives here will take me. I have a servant, a

Be glad for the company. But why do thos

nted by the ghosts of more than a thousand Maya Indians who are supposed

o come upon their bo

shudd

, shall we go

nod

ate afternoon. The jungle air will not be so opp

took three light fibre trays, a package of powders, two flashlights, extra batteries for the lights, and his small black box. All the

ife with speculations. How had this strange American boy come here so

escendants of a proud Spanish family. Two centuries before the family had grown immensely rich, so the story ran. How had they come by their wealth? Where had it

telling of a box of beaten silver filled with

large band of Maya Indians who had perished in the cave.

sures with them. Should one come upon their bones he would be sure to find pric

most of all he was concerned with his own b

" he thought imp

nd a rifle that was a veritable cannon and in the other a basket, round

oy knickers and high stout boots,

venture," was Pan

mother put up a bit of lunch for us-casaba bread, home made cheese, b

uld scarcely remember a time when the very mention of

oment. "Is that the girl with

the highest class are wonderfully attune to all things artistic and beautifu

hung over it so thick and low that they were obliged to all but creep on hands and knees; agai

stions of an ancient, permanently cut way. In three places Pant found h

ost steps of the last flight, "that these were built by natives

ck in the hills now. They do not count any more. A nation that was once rich and in a way powerful, that had a civilization rivaling any to be found in the world five centuries ago, has dwindled to a handful of vagabonds of the jungle. It is sad." He cupped

the Spaniard

eat Maya civilization was destroyed by fierce, war-like tribes from the North b

this cave and, unless they knew a secret passage

ancient treasure they mu

tribe follow the

. Afraid the Earth God of the Mayas would push t

ssessed of great wealth. I have read of it. Gold and jade, topaz and perhaps diamonds, pearls

one word did he say as they

esque. Its mouth was entirely hidden by dark spreading palm leaves. A sparkling s

n, the boys peered within to find there a dark hole f

ant. "It's co

ent at his black servant. As if seized by a sudden fit o

Pant as he cau

th God of the Mayas. He has great courage and the strength

t. In the end he won and, seating himself upon a rock, watched his young master and Pant remove their shoes and sto

would provide a feeble light for hours on end. After lighting the lantern he plunged boldly into the stream and led the way through icy water straight into t

arrow stream. The silence was oppressive. The stream flowed placidly over an all but level floor, maki

broke loose. The innocent cause of all the commotion was th

ses, such a whirring and snapping a

k's hand trembled as

Stand perfectly stil

ant, who had seen much of Central American life, was astonished. Bats, a million of them it seemed, circled the air. And such bats! No tiny mouse-lik

d was on his arm. T

aid Pant. "Doubt if they

only a moment. As they emerged there came over them a sense of vastness. Was it the quality of silence that was there? Was it the changed sound of thei

ompare with the splendor of the masonry o

ze that the splendid gleaming pillars were the work of time and a great Creator, the Master Builders of all

stened they caught from afar

d softly while a thousand chi

even the Carib felt something of the awe

eased in volume, became more distinct until it burst upon them as the rush and ro

od with his feet in the lo

et lost," the you

ant. "We have only to

voice. Pant read it correctly. He was eager to go forward for, in some hidden cham

lifted forward now and then by the giant black, he made his way upward until with a sigh of relief he dropped upon dry sand at the head of the waterfall. Once more Pant's

ed for a possible emergency, Pant followed the Carib

t of the darkness before them, on the shore of

younger boy came

came the snap of

y all fell back. Before them, drawn up on the beach,

e expecting any moment to see the mysterious

truck his ears. Wheeling about, he discovered the cause. The black giant's teeth were ch