"This is my house," said Don Esteban. "Be pleased to consider it
your own. Now, if you will follow me to the library, I will
explain the mission I wish you to undertake."
The boys followed without a word, but as they passed up the
stairs Billie muttered under his breath:
"Did you notice, boys, that this house backs right up against
Santiago's?"
CHAPTER XXIV.
DON ESTEBAN'S STRANGE LOSS.
"Before I explain to you the mission I wish you to undertake,"
said Don Esteban, "I must narrate briefly a story that has been
handed down from the days of Montezuma. It is to the effect that
when the Spanish conqueror, Cortez, was about to capture the City
of Mexico, most of the treasure of the Aztecs was sunk in the
lake, which at that time covered a portion of the Mexican
plateau.
"A part of this treasure is said to have been recovered, but the
mine from which the gold of Montezuma was taken has never been
discovered, although search has been made for upward of five
hundred years. Some have supposed that the mine was adjacent to
the City of Mexico and that it was flooded at the time the
treasure was sunk in the lake. Others have thought it was located
in the state of Michoacan, while still others have believed it
located in the vicinity of Mt.
Pages:
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200