Produced by Jana Srna, Suzanne Shell and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
[Illustration: Instead of releasing his hold on Neal the reptile
held firm, etc. See Page 193.]
THE SEARCH FOR THE SILVER CITY.
A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN YUCATAN.
By JAMES OTIS.
Author of "The Castaways," "A Runaway Brig," "The
Treasure Finders," etc., etc.
ILLUSTRATED.
NEW YORK:
A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER.
Copyright, 1893, by A. L. BURT.
INTRODUCTION.
In Mr. E. G. Squier's preface to the translation of the Chevalier Arthur
Morelet's "Travels in Central America" the following paragraph can be
found:
"Whoever glances at the map of Central America will observe a vast
region, lying between Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan, and the republic of
Guatemala, and comprising a considerable part of each of those states,
which, if not entirely a blank, is only conjecturally filled up with
mountains, lakes and rivers. It is almost as unknown as the interior of
Africa itself. We only know that it is traversed by nameless ranges of
mountains, among which the great river Usumasinta gathers its waters
from a thousand tributaries, before pouring them, in a mighty flood,
into the Lagoon of Terminos, and the Gulf of Mexico. We know that it has
vast plains alternating with forests and savannas; deep valleys where
tropical nature takes her most luxuriant forms, and high plateaus dark
with pines, or covered with the delicate tracery of arborescent ferns.
We know that it conceals broad and beautiful lakes, peopled with fishes
of new varieties, and studded with islands which supports the crumbling
yet still imposing remains of aboriginal architecture and superstition.
And we know, also, that the remnants of the ancient Itzæs, Lacandones,
Choles, and Manches, those indomitable Indian families who successfully
resisted the force of the Spanish arms, still find a shelter in its
fastnesses, where they maintain their independence, and preserve and
practice the rites and habits of their ancestors as they existed before
the discovery. Within its depths, far off on some unknown tributary of
the Usumasinta, the popular tradition of Guatemala and Chiapas places
that great aboriginal city, with its white walls shining like silver in
the sun, which the _curé_ of Quiche affirmed to Mr. Stephens he had seen,
with his own eyes, from the tops of the mountains of Quesaltenango."
In Stephens' "Yucatan," Vol II, page 195, are the following lines:
"He (meaning the padre of Quiche, with whom Mr. Stephens was
conversing), was then young, and with much labor climbed to the naked
summit of the Sierra, from which, at a height of ten or twelve thousand
feet, he looked over an immense plain--and saw at a great distance a
large city spread over a great space, and with turrets white and
glittering in the sun. The traditionary account of the Indians of Chajul
is, that no white man has ever reached this city, that the inhabitants
speak the Maya language, are aware that a race of strangers has
conquered the whole country around, and murder any white man who
attempts to enter their territory. They have no coin or other
circulating medium; no horses, cattle, mules, or other domestic animals
except fowls, and the cocks they keep under ground to prevent their
crowing being heard. One look at that city would be worth ten years of
an every-day life. If he (the padre) is right, a place is left where
Indians and an Indian city exist as Cortez and Alvarado found them;
there are living men who can solve the mystery that hangs over the
ruined cities of America; who perhaps can go to Copan and read the
inscriptions on its monuments. No subject more exciting and attractive
presents itself to my mind, and the deep impression will never be
effaced."
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I.
The Sea Dream. 1
CHAPTER II.
Under Weigh. 8
CHAPTER III.
Nassau. 19
CHAPTER IV.
A New Danger. 29
CHAPTER V.
Fighting the Flames. 39
CHAPTER VI.
The Last Resort. 49
CHAPTER VII.
On Shore. 60
CHAPTER VIII.
Suspense. 71
CHAPTER IX.
Across the Country. 81
CHAPTER X.
A Strange Story. 91
CHAPTER XI.
The Journey. 101
CHAPTER XII.
The Silver City. 111
CHAPTER XIII.
In the City. 122
CHAPTER XIV.
The Festival. 132
CHAPTER XV.
A Retreat. 142
CHAPTER XVI.
Discovered. 152
CHAPTER XVII.
A Halt. 162
CHAPTER XVIII.
Cave Life. 172
CHAPTER XIX.
A Change of Base. 182
CHAPTER XX.
A Desperate Struggle. 192
CHAPTER XXI.
A Long Halt. 202
CHAPTER XXII.
Jake's Venture. 212
CHAPTER XXIII.
A Hurried Departure. 222
CHAPTER XXIV.
Jake. 231
CHAPTER XXV.
On the Range. 241
CHAPTER XXVI.
The Pursuit. 251
CHAPTER XXVII.
At Bay. 260
CHAPTER XXVIII.
The Catastrophe. 270
CHAPTER XXIX.
A Fierce Conflict. 280
CHAPTER XXX.
A Welcome Change. 290
CHAPTER XXXI.
The Sea. 299
CHAPTER XXXII.
A Happy Surprise. 308
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Homeward Bound. 318
THE SEARCH FOR THE SILVER CITY.
CHAPTER I.
THE SEA DREAM.
Three years ago last August, it is unnecessary to specify the exact
date, Teddy Wright was not only a very lonely fellow, but considered
himself abused by circumstances.
During the previous season he had studied very hard at the military
school on the Hudson which he often referred to slightingly as "the
barracks," and as a reward for the flattering reports sent home by his
teachers, had been promised a long vacation in the Adirondacks with a
schoolmate who lived in the northern portion of New York state.
Teddy's parents and sisters intended spending the summer at some one of
the fashionable watering places; but with three long months of "roughing
it" where game could be found in abundance, he had no desire to
accompany them.
"Life in the woods knocks staying at a big hotel on the sea-shore,
where a fellow is obliged to be dressed up all the time," he said when
one of his sisters expressed surprise at his choice. "We shall regularly
camp out, and father has given me a doubled-barreled breech-loader, to
say nothing of his own rod and collection of flies. Jack and I will have
the jolliest kind of a time while you're moonin' on the hot sands trying
to think it is fun."
Teddy went to Jack's home, and, to his sorrow and dismay, found that
young gentleman so ill that there was no hope of his being allowed to
take the long-contemplated trip.
He remained there, however, until perfectly certain of this unpleasant
fact, and then returned home to the house which had been left in charge
of one servant, and, as he expressed it, "just to spite himself,"
refused to join the remainder of the family.
Of course this was a most foolish proceeding; but Teddy was in that
frame of mind where a boy of seventeen is prone to foolish deeds, and
there he stayed in a frame of mind very nearly approaching the sulks,
until he received a letter from Neal Emery, another schoolmate, whose
father lived in Bridgeport.
Mr. Emery owned a large factory in that city, and Neal had intended to
spend his vacation at home where he could enjoy the use of a small
sloop-rigged yacht his mother had presented him with the year previous.
The letter contained a very pressing invitation for Teddy to visit
Bridgeport, since his trip to the Adirondacks had been postponed, and
concluded with the startling announcement:
"Father has just bought the Sea Dream, a beautiful steam yacht of an
hundred feet in length, and I don't know how many tons. He proposes to
cruise around three or four weeks while mother is at Bar Harbor, and is
perfectly willing I should invite you to join us. We will have a jolly
time, and if nothing prevents I want you to come at once. We are to
start Wednesday morning."
The letter had been received Monday afternoon, therefore Teddy had but
little time for preparation.
He first sent a long telegram to his father, repeating the substance of
what Neal had written, and asked permission to enroll himself on the Sea
Dream's passenger list.
Not until late in the evening did he receive a favorable reply; but his
traps, including the gun and fishing tackle, were packed, and on the
first train Tuesday morning he started, all traces of ill-humor having
vanished, for a cruise on a steam yacht promised quite as great pleasure
as had the stay in the woods, with not so much certainty of hard work.
Neal met him at the depot, and after going to the former's home only
long enough to leave the baggage, the two set out to view the yacht
which, in all the bravery of glistening paint and polished metal, lay at
anchor in the harbor.
Although not an expert in matters pertaining to marine architecture,
Teddy could appreciate the beauty of the little craft while she swung
lazily to and fro at her cable as if husbanding strength against the
time when speed and endurance would be required.
Neal signaled from the pier, two of the crew came ashore in the
captain's boat, and the boys went on board where, during the remainder
of the day, they were busy examining and admiring the jaunty little
craft.
Leading from the main saloon were two state-rooms on either side, and in
one of these Neal had already stored such of his belongings as he
intended to take on the cruise.
"This is our room, and now that we are here I wonder why we were so
foolish as to carry your baggage up to the house. If it was with us we
would remain on board, for it is very much more pleasant than in the hot
town."
"There is nothing to prevent our bringing it down," Teddy replied with
a laugh. "I had certainly rather stay here to-night."
"Come on, and then we shall feel more at home when the cruise begins."
The boys were rowed ashore, and the sailors instructed to remain at the
pier until their return.
Then a short visit was made to Mr. Emery's office, where Neal explained
what they proposed to do, and having received permission to occupy the
quarters slightly in advance of sailing time, Teddy's baggage was soon
in the small apartment which to both the boys looked so enchanting.
"I wish we were to be gone three years," Teddy said as he threw himself
on a locker and gazed around.
If he could have known just at that moment how long the cruise would
really last it is very certain he would not have expressed such a
desire.
"Next year father says he will start early in the season, take mother
with us, and not come back until it is time for me to go to school."
"And you must get an invitation for me," Teddy replied, his eyes
glistening with pleasure at simply contemplating such an excursion.
"There won't be any difficulty about it. He has already promised that if
nothing happens he will speak to your father."
"And in the meanwhile we've got before us the jolly fact that we're to
stay on board a month."
"Yes; but there's no good reason why we should remain below where it is
so warm. Come on deck for awhile, and then we'll have a look at the
engine-room."
The engineer, Jake Foster, was under the awning aft, and Neal introduced
his friend, saying as he did so:
"Teddy has never been yachting before, not even in a sailing craft."
Jake, a stout, jolly looking fellow hardly more than twenty-five years
of age, gazed at the visitor curiously a moment, and then said with a
hearty laugh:
"He'll have a chance to find out what an acquaintance with the ocean
means, for I understand that Mr. Emery is going to run well over to the
Bahamas before he comes back."
"Father has business there which it would be necessary to attend to not
later than next fall, so intends to make it a portion of the pleasure
trip."
"Are we likely to have much rough weather?" Teddy asked, realizing for
the first time that it was more than possible he might be called upon to
pay Neptune a tribute.
"Not at this time of the year; but its more'n probable the Sea Dream
will kick up her heels enough to show something of what is meant by a
life on the ocean wave before she pokes her nose into this port again."
Then the engineer was summoned from below, and the boys remained aft
recalling to mind all they had studied relative to the Bahama banks.
The stores were on board; everything was in readiness for the start as
soon as the owner should arrive, and when the steward summoned them to
supper it seemed as if the voyage had really begun.