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.