THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 156, 17 May 1909, Page 3

THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

(AJI Rsgbf» RwtervcJ.)

By W. Ml UH AY OHAYDON, Author of llio Tilackmnil»rs.'l "Heaping thr Whirlwind." "Th» Iter uf the Loudouns," Etc.

IWHT -*.*>. Not nnri> did I hey stop during thot *hn'c morning', nor did th«-> fcvl any weariness or fatigue. »uch «••«•• the diversity and charm, tlu vrrj tug natural features*, of th< •• t■*«rifr«» country through which thej I»«j"s»--«I- Now th«*y were in dee|»est -hrs.l.m Hkc that of twilight. now .\i.,,*.-f| to th«» wrorrhitMC glurv ol tlir *nn. Tlwy threaded deep for.t- ami rugged ravines, crossed narrow off-shoots* of stony d'wrts i.-,»t, »l and descended hill!*, and ».«»wl along the face of prrcipi■■•in cliffs, no high in air thai to ii..>t» down made one's l»rni» reel.

\ iwtli-lKiur's halt by a jungle pool. ;.. i>nri».K«« of the noonday meal and • i ..; »» l»ri*f sirsta. and lh»-y prvswvd ... i»ir.«iti with unflagging ardour. ih.". traversal high ami rolling •,r ( ,nnd until th»* middle of theafti-r----r .m(i. «hen. having made their way -:,.n n for some huntlnrds of f«-et. r?..••< i..isml thcnu«elvfs in o glooim v»t ; i.-.' .-hut >n l»y clom- and lowering

•■'.n'U of vegetation, through which vn s« tin*. I»rnwling hrook. They • •>fEmVvi««l this for n mile or so. and H.itl.ivh emerged si the mouth oi th.- t alley, on the hank of n swift se*»»r*l hundr.-d >arils in width. ».» the l-i'l n *t"'p hill toppled »h. f i- into lln* wnt»>r. and to the vijjht a If* el ?»«rif» of forest, denat ami dark, skirted the shore. With «>m> accord all stopped, and Ittirtsen. a»l'*r a awecping glance in ryxfry dirrvtiun. turned a puzzled and crestfallen countenance to his companion*. "What's wr.ing?" n*k.-,| I'rof.-ssor |«r>«*lai>. "Not nt fault. are >on '.'"• "Thats what I'm tr> »»'S **' '"""* out." was the reply. ••"I>.«'n this i» not tin* stream we arc looking f" r ?" "I'm a>r«tiil not." Ilait-n admitted. "I hoped it might I*, and I would not »wear that it isn't : hut »ci m tick** I don't see anything 'miMliar hereabout*. Xo : I'm pre'ty certain lhi* can't be our ri>er. The one we want flows into »hr* orr. fiti- or si.X miles alnive :"*

*nd re pointed to the right. "I »hould hate kept more to the westnnrd." !•«♦ adilvd.

'lt can't lie he!|*.-U now," aaid l h.- professor.

'What »« to l>c done?" impiirfd C»-oflrey. "Must we cro*-> either o( the streams, or both 7" "Only tin- one you «■■»•." rej.lh-d Ittirtsen. "I harilly know what «.- E.n.S »»'tt«»r do- Titer.' nr.- two plan* (•• ih>u <f trout. We ran |»s.k!i •»:> to tu.-. junction of the two m>iv *»ler«(he water is* very aha How red inll »»' rucks, or tic can l«uihl a r«o"i i.»e. a nil get across* in tM«c or i>mr loads. On the opp«»site l»nnk. t»* ton see. the country i- lair'.y 1»t" "Kxnetly." broke in the pniiV-sor.

'and on this J»ide i» »•»•• mountain rang*-. I»ftrring our .sHaiic. To «.v»le it will be the- u.»rk of lt.»«n.««. It rs « *h<cr dill wher- it dro|s iiiUi ih" wn»»r impassable for a g«»m. Ily which |»l»n. then. !>h«)l «e *av© lit.- moM time?" ;*ll\ the rait, sir."

"Thnt also will ttnM-' n«i hour or •i..." d.-rlarcd C}. o rTri'.« . "tt;li ii Mill l»* {•.»».«*il>l •. tin' iuo»t favouri»»l«- rirr>im.Monie*. !•» t«vrh our 'hoi tnaliun tonight ?"" • U.. will lie then- I»v -ummi." Ilnrt.•n i -plied. conndrM l>. "Once t»-r.»*.v travelling is •■»>>. ami the Jr«.ts»u«" short."

"Well. M it l* tlf rati." ?>aid I'rofcssor I'rjMlale. "A small one, cn|««M«» of holding lour or five men, ran I* constructed in n >hori liuiO. W.- hove the necessary tools, and il»»- mn»>-rial is ready to hand—voung tr.'v*. a couple of lors that I ;-.revive lying yonder, and plenty of lout crrcjiers for binding-ropes." Without further delay the work •••«-= commenced. Th ■ pacl»*» were i.ni dowu and opened, and after he had instructed the cooli'S and I*or- • uruc*-* what to do. and had wat-••l-ed their labours for n lew momeiit*. the professor Iwthought hini«eli wl more Interesting things. Ho cluckrd a rare orchid or two. ami tempted l»y th.? ho|v of finding more h> finally disapiicared into the thick * c««-tati»n at the base of the steep hill, whence came an eager shout a little lat-r.

t;e«>rfrvy ond Cl.cv. with Hartsen at their" heels, hurriedly pushed their w»y to the spot, expecting to And Ihe professor in some |*-ril. Hut he was quite safe, ami creeled them with a teaming countenance. "Look I" he cried, pointing to an irregular-shaped surface of stone. iiltout on a level with hi* shoulders. on which could vaguely I** *een the rode semblance of a human fa«e. "Ah. at last!" exclaimed llecvc "I congratulate you, sir." "What fa it?" asked CJeofircy.

"\ picture rock, such on I have vainly sought for month*."' Professor itrysdale replied. with onthu4ia»m, " "A .Hpk-tulol »|.c.'imeii, from what little of it K visible. That is only tho top. Th.» rest of it is apparently cover •*! by this Moping deposit of !>oil. the accumulation of centurU-*. Jt must lie removed, so that I can make a complete drawing. Itartseit. fetch a couple of spades. The Portuguese, I think. each had one strapped to their packs. lie quick, man." Kartseu departeil in haste, and was back in a moment with the spades, one of which he Jmm'ptl to Clceva. They began to dig rapidly, white the professor and CJeoflrcy looked on. The rich black earth, in which grew ferns and creeping plants, offered little resistance. It was soor thrown aside from the base of tho hill, ami now. its surface having been lightly scraped, the professor's discovery was fully revealed: It was a slab about eight feet long by five in height. slawling upright, except for a slight tmckwnrd slant, and its whole t*r.. : w n « s-uipturo*: with strangr men ar.'l i»*n*>tM nntf

hi' rufrlyphii'S. "Splendid ! magnificent '." exclaim >'l Ihe prof. s-.oi'. "A remarkabh i-i'T- <>t good fortune. This is thi •\<r'.-: ~i the ancient Arawoks, and it ;..fi-i rn;. s some event in the histon • •>' tlvir trilic. I must have a draw ii-er of them? carvin«w. I wondei vl>;it kind of tools they employee i>>\- the work ? Yon saw none a; >«>; i were digging, t*le\c'.»"

"I didn't notice any, sir." "What is this?" said Geoffrey bending over the pile of earth, anc prcking up a dull, reddish objee' that caught his eye. "A Inine." de.lared the professor inkiti? it cap rly from him—"a hu niiin luif. mid evidently hundred; • •>' >.ais «•!•!. IV-rhaps we an Mending on the site of an ArawaJerjive."

"Ihe nn-k may "c a toml«slone.* MlgUesl-ii i'h- vr. V, iffi ihnl lie tapped it severa liie-s wiih th.- handle of his spade and it gate forth a hollow, emptj sound.

"Why. there must Ik: a space behind it." «rie-l the professor. " I is ijetjirhed—yes. 't is not fast »* l'*e hill. Come. l«-t us have it down lti;i I«• \.r.\ ntrei'iil. I really K*lie e wi- n>e about to make another impor: mil oiscov.-ry." Il«n.".ef» and Clc-v«' loosened one end of the s'ab with their picks and then ail four, gripping it 8l tlis too, imlk'-l it ii:«'h by inch toward? ihi-m.' Finding that it was not toe much for their strength, they sl»»w----lv low -ie:l it unit! i* lay flat ot the gro»»««l. Tin- re.-nlt amply re üßid.il «!•• «oii. A circular cavity i!,»«t c-r four i"e«'i in. «limi:fU-r, n lill'e abote I'te le.el of the ground. |en. Iruled :; t » tile hill. It fai i.s far as could !<• seen s*«ilml ro«'k apparently formed th« i.ioi. ami ilf sides were crusted with ler.LUs. hard earth, and sharp-point- ♦-»! s'oee-.

••What luck !"* gasped l'rofessoi hrysdale. "The entrance to a cav•rn '. "It is an Araunk tomb, or I his* iMy one of their dwelling-places Indued.* it may contain treasure." As he spoke*hj" unstrapped a leather ease that was fastened to his Ih-H. and dr-w from it a small watchman's lant'-m. "A match. Ckeve," he demanded. "You are surely not going iu ?"' exclaimed his assistant.

"I shouldn't try it. sir." urged Harts^n-

"Nonsense :" exclaimed the profesvir. "Why not •» There is no feat of noxiou* vapour*. The air—you ran fc! it streaming out—is pure and M»iet."

"It docs *mell like that." Cleeve. tdmitted. "\\-H. >nti are iiight." The professor. hating thus silenced proU-s* anil meant* bile &c,t his lantern to burning clu•••fully, crawled into the hoi*, fleofirej. infused with the s-pirit of anli«pi«rian le-carch—-n.»t an inkling of the tuith has a« >.t occurred to him. cane boldly alter. Cleeve and Harts-n followed in turn, the lat'<r showing some reluctance.

The a'<r was intKe.! nesh and liariul«s-.- a |«r«»of that another outlet — if only a tiny crevice—existed somewhere beneath the hill. The four •repl in in single lil*. until the passage, which continued the same for perhaps a dozen feel, suddenly gave upon a roek chamber that was large enough to contain n score of men standing upright. The professor emerged lis*!, with t.'eofbvy close at h!s heel*. The other two immediatel> joined them, and there they all Mood ior u few jM-conds. blinking and peering ahout. while the yellow elate of the lantern Mreamed on il».- haul walls ami floor of the cavrn. Then Ueofirey broke the siI -lire.

"l.oo\ !" h- cried. "I»y heavens, !..ifJ» : Do »o«i s ••".'"

lie sprang forward n few paces, ininl.iiiis; with r\ei«c:ii'iit, and gazed fluwn til ji ghastly «ib.irct lhat flashed beck the" rays' of light. It was llv skeleton of a man. complete in ?v«-r;. pun. lk-siiV ami mingled with the \*bi«r«ied bi>!ie< were I*its of cloth ntt'i h'alh.-r. .-» M- el casque and plate, a :'«*« roins, a dng-«i-r tji curious simp'". hihl the rotted remains i»f a pa«r of high boots.

« lIAITKK XXXVI. too h.vn;. Gcuftrey's* own voic«\ dashing in iniimod cchovs through the hollow -pace, startled and utile rved him. H«r i-fiiild .«ay no tnor-. With diluted ■•>-■•!*. and lips mo', ing inarticulately. If turned to his companion*, who, iinpr«*>i\ely a«'wl by the «pir«i and unexpected discovery lltex had tumbled upon, first shrank iwity. and then timidly drew nearer to the spot. "A tke'eton '." muttered Ifart'svii. •Who ran this* have Iren ?"' "It was never an Indian, so much is reitain," vowed Cleeve. "An Indian ? No !" exclaimed Professor Hrysdale. "The ahori«in.« of British Guiana wore the -»kin* of wild animals, not tanned leather and cloth, and M>el armour, and high boots. The.se coins are Spuiiixli. and so is the dagger. 1 'lave s«en duplicates of it in a museum <it Toledo. Mi-. Cardew, this is indeed very strange"—— "Sfangt; !" cried Geoffrey. "It is more than that. It is almott too wonderful for belief. Jtut t cannot •c mistaken. Ily heavens, sir, have . (in not guessed where we are V Hon"t you know what this means ? »Vi! are'standing by .the remains of Miguel Torrana." "J cannot doubt It." gasped the irofessor ; and he pat the lantern town with a shaking hand. "N'or I." declared Geoffrey, who .vuS well.nigh overcome with emotion. "It is true; the proofs are indisputable. This is the cavern to which Miguel Torrnnn dragged hiin-H-lf when he recov.-red consciousness •fbr my ancestor dealt him a mortal wound. Here he died alone Hires* hundred years ago. Here ,«t'l\g years later, came Myles Cardew and Lute Torrana. Warned n liiiK*. they barely esca|ied the fall jf earth that overtook their Indian .-ompanion—those were his bones you iu?«t dug upland out \onder. trans'ortnetJ from friends to foe by what aad been revealed to them. they 'ought tho bloody duel that ultiliately caused the Spaniard's death." "And the inscrfption," said Cleeve. "I* that here?" "It must l>e," exclaimed Geoffrey.

Sd/Ing the Jautcrn. he advanced a o\v paces and held it up t ( . the wail. rii-f others approached kV/ir(( rurnusly. for the >ellow flame show.-d :ut Into the smooth surf a'->• of ihe *ock. th«* <ight Urns thnt fi>n:.-d th • 'Jursc of the CnnN-Hi. The ravvli

had grown dim and crusted. but nevertheless it was s'iil legible.

'This is tvlint hr iised," said G'cof frey. picking up th" ii.njry-r. " Se"

the point is "<'ii! ,-!•.•.■;•'"• What strength mi'l ••iidui ;ti< ■■_• h ■• must hav< had at the- J«>s: '."

"Marvellous :" :i>s.|,;t-1 she pro fetsfior. " 'No pi-mi. nor joy not <|iiict life shall male h«-ir of Cardow know,' " he read, and went on tc the end. " 'Cardew. if thou the Curse would spurn, to earth Torrana's dust return,' " h<; repeated, Solemnly. "That v.c will do/' he added. "Yes. by all moans," said Geoffrey. "I believe that T was guided here for that very purpose—i> v something stronger than fat-. Hut th«rr is one thing 1 do not understand. In his written statement, which 1 have seen and read. M\ les Cnrd.-w declared that when he i*«>i;nd tl><body of Miguel Torrana it was in a stale of petrifaction.' 1 "The explanation is .simple." r<*plied the professor. "The dry air llone would have preserved the liod> for twelve years, and at the saier time it probably had liegun to p trify. as- that would indicate ;" nml and he pointed to a cluster of sulactites hanging from the roof j<>>t »ver the skeleton. "Hut the drip pings eventually cease-d," he ecu i inued. "The rain could no longer penetrate through the hill ; ami urndually. in the three centuries that have passed, the flesh crumbled and turned to dust. There i ; - no dampness or moisture here now. The air is eptitc fresh, and it runs' filter in and out by cervices th..' ir<- too small to l>e visib'e."

"The place is like a tomb, a'! Ihe same.*' said Ilartsen. "I don't fe.-l right in here. Let us be go i"g-"

"Very well," assented the pr<.:"<■••Mir, glancing round him. "Then- h nothing more to be .seen." "Shall we take the bones with .ik '.'" asked Clceve. "We had better leave them for the present." replied the professor. ••Wi-n-ill return to-morrow and give them proper burial. Our first duty is to recover the gold which caused this unfortunate man's death three centuries ago, apd is now the rightful property of Mr. Cardew." "The thought of it is hateful to inc." vowed Geoffrey. '"The stain of blood is upon it. Hut rather than let it fall into the hands of those scoundrels" lie broke ofl suddenly, his face lighting up with a iK-uildcred expression, and looke-1 from one to another of his <<>icpanions. "What fools we are !" 1 gasped. "What blind fools ! 1 c think that we should have overlooked it !"

"Overlooked what?" queried the professor. "The significance of these bones, of .•ourse,'' cried Geoffrey. " Why, don't you sec it ? Miguel Torrana was struck down close by here —ho could not have dragged himself far with a mortal wound—and from thai =:pot my ancestor and namesake. Ueoflrey Cardew, fled in a canoe. But only for a short distance. The craft springing a leak, he landed and buried the gold, then resumed his journey. Therefore the place we are seeking is near by. It is on .this river, and not the upper one." "Hy .Jove that stands to reason !" exclaimed Cleeve.

"Vou aro right. Mr. Cardew," declared the professor. "We hav. indeed, overlooked an important fart. Hansen, you have made a mistake." "Xo doubt 1 have, sir," admitted the Dutchman. "It wa« easy enough to do- I told you 1 wasn't (juile sure. I didn't recognise the locality ; but, then, how could I 1 > expected to remember a place that was like a score of others 1 hav«. seen ?''

"And the steeple-shaped rocks ar. iown this river ?"

"They may be." replied Hart-en. •for ail I know to the contrary. The rest of you have the advantage of me at pn-sent-"

••Conic," urged Geoffrey. "Let us settle the question without further delay."

One by one they crept out of the cavern into the bright sunshine and o|*»n air. The negro, s and Portuguese were hard at work on the ran —now unlikely to be meded—and it was decided not to interrupt them. "No use to disturb them," said the professor. "We can manage by ourselves, I think. Jf we limi the spot, and the Spaniard and his companions are there, we will take them by surprise."

"Yes, we can drop on them rpii. ily," assented Cleeve, "We shall be three to three, though, li" it comes to a tussle. You arc not to show yourself, Mr. Cardew. Hear that in mind."

"I will keep out of the way. - ' proatiscd Geoffrey, "in the event of our running across the villians.." Kifles and revolvers were hastily seen to and then the little party set off on their quest. They .saunterMi carelessly out of sight, as if they nad no particular purpose in view : and a moment later they were pushing on rapidly and cautiously in single file, with Uartsen leading and Geoffrey bringing up the rear. The space between th • rising ground and the winding shore of the river was no more than three or Jour yards wide, and obstructed with a dense growth of vegetation and tall reeds. They proceeded in silence, pausing now and then to listen- They heard only the murmui of the water at their lt<:'t and the .•nattering at parrots and other birds overhead, ! 'Po you recognise any landmarks yet ?" * Cleeve presently inquired oi Hart sen, who turned with a negative gesture. "It is uncertain, I suppose. "Mr. L'ardew," said the professor, '* how far your anc.stor paddled before h. was compelled to run ashore ?" "Very uncertain." replied Geuffr-.-y. "His account leaves: !!;,■ distance in ioubt. Tho «:un i» getting low, and wo may have to return and jnake a fresh start in the morning-"

Tiiis was nut t<. happ'-n. lioui.-vcr, though the pruspevt of it grew stronger v.ith ever :-"'•'. Mure than a mil'- had been '. r t i.■. ■•■ >.-> l. and the prof'-ssor a':"ju'. v. vigyi-t a halt, uh'.n Har , ::<jn. l: i; -. li.ir pushed a little ahead, !'ur<--'l his ->vay through a -h : -k f,f I,i;s!k-S: i!irl disapp-ar.-d. '•>:-■ :..-v in-tan-. h'' C u l!'-'i <\iO ' ':;• ' -"> }: ; - '■■ iM.J'aliio'.lS, •Mio fcerarnba.-d a''-;- }.:::, i; : hah'.e. 'T'j !.■•.• ..