It must be apparent to all that some time previous to the discovery of
“Old Ninety-Nine’s” cave and Mills’s desire to purchase Point Wawanda,
ostensibly for the purpose of erecting on it a sanitarium, the latter
had, with a notorious mining expert, secretly prospected on the mining
claim and also discovered the cave. His was the knife that had dug free
gold from the pocket commented on by Hernando and theirs the hands
which had chipped the rocks disclosing the untold richness of the mine.
The veritable chest described by Benny Depuy was found under a heap of
rocks which appeared to have been washed over it. It, too, seemed to
have petrified. The hinges and bindings had been eaten away by rust
and the lid simply slid off disclosing, as Benny had said, “Heaps upon
heaps of gold, silver and precious stones.”
Like vultures, the two gloated over their discovery and the spoils
were equally divided between them. Mills’s eyes gleamed and after
the chest had been emptied, he hit it a sounding rap with his hammer
which shattered it into fragments, revealing the secret bottom which
contained a parchment yellow with age. He sprang upon it like a cat and
unfolding the document with shaking hands endeavored to read it.
It was closely written, apparently in Spanish, and so blurred as to
be utterly illegible, but at the bottom was one of those symbolical
pictures which were used as maps by the Esopus Indians. This
represented a bird before a fissure in a mountain. In her beak was a
lump of metal, apparently, and she was looking down into the crevice
from which evidently had come her treasure. About fifty feet below
and six hundred feet distant, according to their measurements, wound
a small stream, and from a mountain peak to the south issued what
appeared to be smoke. Without doubt this was the “Old Ulster Mine.”
“See,” said Mills, “a bird is the omen of good luck. This crevice is
very, very deep and evidently the metal has come from the bottom. Look,
here is the head of an Indian. Who knows but that this is the famous
mine of Unapois? It certainly is not this one, for it is much lower
down the mountain side and to the south.”
“Surely this is the Old Ulster,” replied his companion. “You see, the
location is distinctly that; and true to their racial instincts, the
Indians are guarding their secret against the restoration to them of
the lands of their forefathers.”
“What a disappointing history that mine has had,” said Mills.
“I confess my complete ignorance as to that. I simply know the mine
when I see it,” returned the miner.
“About fifty years ago,” said Mills, “two residents were tramping along
the base of the mountain when they saw a small piece of sulphurate of
lead lodged in a rift near a spot where the old drift is located, but
nothing serious was thought of the matter. Shortly afterward, the
owner conceived the idea of leading the water from the spring, located
at the spot where the old workings were afterwards commenced, to his
house by means of a drain-pipe, and while so engaged discovered further
indications. During the progress of the work, a village lad discovered
a large piece of the ore and took it to the owner who felt so elated
over it that he presented the boy with a cow. The discovery was soon
noised abroad, and coming to the ears of certain New York parties, a
stock company was formed under the title of the Ulster Lead Mining
Company which purchased the land of the owner, and in the following
spring put up machinery and buildings and commenced drifting. They
continued boring with varying success for something over two years when
they suspended for lack of funds.
“Five years later the company recommenced operations and continued the
work for a period of three years when it was reorganized under the
title of the Union Lead Mining Company, and five thousand dollars were
to liquidate all former claims and further the work.
“Information in regard to their operations is meager as their president
and superintendent were not from these parts and those living here at
that time have forgotten the particulars. It is known, however, that
during the latter part of the workings attention was wholly directed
to extracting sulphate of copper from its bed of clay and that large
quantities of the material were shipped off for smelting, suitable
works for the operation not having been erected here. The company
ceased operations two years afterward and the works have gradually
decayed, leaving nothing but the little building once used for an
office.”
“They do not seem to have given a thought to silver,” replied Mills’s
companion.
“You must remember that the Dutch element prevails in this valley, and
if a Dutchman started in for extracting lead, he would consider all
else in his mine ‘gangue.’ Intentness of purpose is their national
characteristic.”
But they must be off before daylight. The fragments of the broken chest
were gathered together and the marauders crept stealthily out of the
cave, dropping the broken chest into a deep hole.
Their horses were impatiently gnawing the saplings to which they had
been tied near the base of the mountain, and mounting, they rode
towards Kerhonkson and thence to Kingston.
What to do with the jewels, now that they had them, was a question.
Mills was known to be a man in moderate circumstances, and these jewels
were priceless diamonds, rubies and many semi-precious stones, fit
ransom for an emperor. They dare not exhibit them nor dispose of them,
so they must be placed in some safe deposit and that at once.
Arriving at Kingston, they were shown into a room in a hotel in which
the attentive servant kindled a fire in the wood stove as the air was
chilly. After dinner they sat hugging the stove and talking in low
tones. The mine must be secured, and that as soon as possible, and it
was decided that Mills should begin negotiations with Mr. De Vere at
once and secure a clear title for the mine on his place, and Mills’s
partner should bend his energies toward obtaining Old Ulster.
“What shall we do with this old document?” Mills inquired, producing
the one found in the cave.
“Destroy it,” said the other. “No one can read it, and anyway, all we
want to know is clear.”
Mills reflected, but ended in agreeing that it would only be a source
of anxiety if preserved and, opening the stove door, it, with some
old letters, was consigned to the flames and the blaze which followed
assured them that at least one witness against them had been disposed
of.
Nothing now remained for them to do but to go on to New York City,
complete arrangements and deposit the gold and jewels in a place of
safety.
How Mills succeeded with Mr. De Vere is known and when the former’s
accomplice endeavored to secure the title to “Old Ulster,” he learned
that the mine was already in the hands of a new company.
Mills secretly regretted having consigned the document so hastily
to the flames; and could he have seen it, as Dr. Herschel, the next
occupant of that room in the hotel at Kingston, drew it from the stove,
every letter distinct, he would have known that in that asbestos-like
sheet was a rarer treasure than money or jewels.