‘’Why did not this Mexican himself take advantage of it?’

’’He could not, for he was banished.  He is now dead.  But what do you think of these specimens?’

’He took from a drawer ten or twelve opals of rare size and brilliancy.  I examined them with care; they were, beyond all doubt, of very considerable value.  My incredulity gradually gave way to amazement.

’’Are you certain these opals really came from the mine of which you speak?’

’’Nothing can be more certain; you saw Pepito hand me a package; you heard his remark that he could have brought a mule-load; these are a few of what he did bring.’

‘’This mine then really exists?’ I said, my incredulity giving way to the most ardent curiosity.

’’Really exists! yes, my friend; if you listen, I will dispel all doubt of that.’

X.

’’On arriving in this country, my first step was to procure a guide and the necessary equipage for reaching the opal mine.  Although I felt sure of its existence, I could not dispel the fear that the story of its marvelous richness would prove false.  Without loss of time, I started; for to me it was a question of life and death.  I had, however, barely accomplished a third of the journey, when I was prostrated by fever.  The fatigue of traveling in the interior of this magnificent but wretched country, combined with excitement and anxiety, preyed upon my mind, and brought on an illness, from which at one time I gave up all hope of recovering.  I was compelled to return to Vera Cruz.  The doctors were all of the opinion that several months of perfect repose would be necessary before I could undertake another such journey.  Several months—­oh! how those words fell on my ears; they sounded like the knell of all my hopes.  A thousand expedients floated through my brain, and in adopting the course I eventually did, time alone will prove whether I followed the promptings of a good or evil genius.  One evening, I explained to my attendant that I was a medical man, deeply interested in botanical and mineralogical discoveries; that my object in undertaking my recent journey was to collect certain rare herbs and a singular description of shell.  I laid peculiar stress on the herbs, and added in relation to the shells, that I merely wanted a few specimens, as they were rare in my country.  My attendant at once proffered his services, to go in search of them.  I appeared at first to attach but little importance to his offer; but as he renewed it whenever the subject was alluded to, I at last employed him.  The mine is situated on the margin of a little brook.  One day’s work of an active man will turn the stream into a fresh channel, and a few inches beneath its bed will be found, mixed with the damp sand and loam, the shells, which, when polished, form the opal.  I gave my servant the needful information as to localities and landmarks, and promised him a gratuity of a hundred dollars over and above his wages, in case he succeeded.  Having given him instructions, I retained his services until I reached this city, where I determined to await his return, it being more healthy than Vera Cruz.  Having selected my lodgings and given him the pass-word by which alone a stranger could obtain admittance to me, with an anxious heart I dispatched him on the mission.