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ure and of jewels； with the help of Senor Anselmo we were making our preparations once more to clear that shaft when the terrible news of which I have spoken arrived。 After its receipt I had no heart to enter upon the adventure。
A year or so later Jebb returned to Mexico to find； I think； that the Mexican concerned was dead and that Anselmo had vanished； none knew where。 It was suggested that he had been murdered by Indians who knew that he held the secret of their ancient wealth。 But whether this was so or not I cannot say。
The site of the shaft is； I suppose； now lost； although of course some of the peons that assisted in the clearing of the pit may remember its whereabouts； if they still live。 I understand； however； that only Anselmo and the Mexican actually destroyed the covering stone engraved with an owl and explored the passage and flight of steps beyond。 The peons probably thought that they were really digging for sulphur without the permission of the proprietor of the land。
The story as it stands is； I admit； like most such stories； rather vague； but for my part I believe； as did the late Mr。 Jebb； that Montezuma’s treasure or a large part of it remains buried in this place。 That it is buried somewhere is not to be doubted； for the Spaniards never recovered what was lost in the rout of the Noche triste。 Indeed； my impression is； although I cannot verify this without rereading all the old chroniclers； that they put many Indians to the torture； including Guatemoc himself； as I have described in “Montezuma’s Daughter；” in order to force them to reveal its hiding…place。 However this may be； I doubt whether the golden head of Montezuma and the jewels which he wore will ever again see the light of day。 The Aztecs buried them deeply； having time at their disposal； no plough or surface excavation will reveal them； and the place of their sepulture is lost。 And this must anyhow be pleasing to the shade of the heroic Guatemoc。
By a little stretch of the imagination one might almost fancy that this hoard still lies under the protection of the evil Aztec gods； of one of which I will now tell the story。
Shortly before I went to Mexico； in the course of some drainage works which were then being begun at a distance from the city — I think the place was called Zumpango； but of this I am not sure — a peculiarly hideous idol was discovered。 It was grey in colour； but； if I remember rightly； more or less blotched with pink； and its head was sunk almost between the shoulders； while I can only describe the face as devilish。 On its disinterment it is a fact that the Indians of the neighbourhood identified it at once； by the tradition which had descended from father to son among them； as a slaughter…idol of the Aztecs which had been buried at this spot to save it from destruction by the Spaniards in the time of Cortes； and there remained in seclusion until the year 1890。 Its resurrection is said to have occasioned great excitement among them。
One of the old chroniclers — I think it is Bernal Diaz — describes the finding of the Place of Sacrifice over which this idol presided。 If I recollect aright he says that they saw a pole from the top of which the idol itself had been removed； and that the said pole was built all round with the skulls of human victims whose hearts had been torn out as an offering to it。 In short； the pedigree of the thing seems to be well authenticated。 As Mrs。 Jebb describes in the Life of her husband； Jebb； an ardent collector of curiosities； was very anxious to obtain this blood…stained relic； which he offered to buy at no mean price。 The finder； however； could not be tempted to part with it； and there the matter remained。 One day； however； to Jebb’s great astonishment； the idol arrived on the back of a native； unacpanied by any note or word of explanation； and was deposited in his flat in the city of Mexico； where he found it on his return home。 When I visited him very shortly afterwards one of the first things that I saw in the house was this ill…omened effigy of Huitzilpotchli； or whatever god it represented； grinning a wele across the patio。 Now by some strange chance from that moment forward； as Mrs。 Jebb tells； everything went wrong with her husband’s affairs。 His health broke； panies with which he was connected collapsed； mines proved unpayable； and； lastly； he sold a reversionary interest in a considerable sum for a third of its value on the very day before the life…tenant died！ Such were some； but by no means all； of the catastrophes that overwhelmed him； which cause one to wonder for what exact reason the finder had parted gratis with this peculiar treasure for which shortly before he had refused good gold。
One of the places in which we stayed in Mexico was a huge hacienda situated by a lake。 This vast house had once been a monastery； and the great chamber in which we slept was still hung round with the portraits of ill…favoured abbots。 A feature of the house consisted of its almost endless cemented roofs； on which we used to walk。 It was tenanted by the two bachelor stewards of the great estate； who kept mastiff dogs to guard them at night； friendly creatures enough when once mutual confidence had been established。 Altogether that hacienda was not a cheerful residence to my mind； although the wild…fowl shooting on the lake was excellent and the farming operations that were carried on interested me much。
Shortly after the receipt of the desolating news of which I have written； in order to try to occupy our minds we made an expedition to a place called Pinal among the mountains； where； with Mr。 Jebb； we were the guests of a gentleman named Stockdale who had charge of a silver mine in which Jebb was interested。 It was a spot of extraordinary loveliness； with its deep valleys and pine…clad heights； but the journey there on horseback was very rough。 Sometimes the road ran along the dry bed of a river； where the animals stumbled from stone to stone； while at others it wended on the edge of precipices。 Down one of these precipices I nearly disappeared； for my horse； a wooden brute； took the opportunity to fall at a spot where the two…foot…wide path had been washed away by rain； in such a fashion