The third, the master called Mountain and Hastie to the
tent, announced himself to be dying, gave them full particu-
lars as to the position of the cache, and begged them to set
out incontinently on the quest, so that they might see if
he deceived them, and (if they were at first unsuccessful),
he should be able to correct their error.
But here arose a difficulty on which he doubtless counted.
None of these men would trust another, none would consent
to stay behind. On the other hand, although the master
seemed extremely low, spoke scarce above a whisper, and
lay much of the time insensible, it was still possible it was
a fraudulent sickness ; and if all went treasure-hunting, it



356 U/orl^s of P^obert Couis Steuepsop

might prove they had gone upon a wild-goose chase, and
return to find their prisoner flown. They concluded, there-
fore, to hang idling round the camp, alleging sympathy for
their reason; and certainly, so mingled are our dispositions,
several were sincerely (if not very deeply) affected by the
natural peril of the man whom they callously designed to
murder. In the afternoon Hastie was called to the bedside
to pray : the which (incredible as it must appear) he did with
unction; about eight at night, the waiUng of Secundra an-
nounced that aU was over, and before ten the Indian, with a
link stuck in the ground, was toiling at the grave. Sunrise
of next day beheld the master's burial, all hands attending
with great decency of demeanor; and the body was laid in
the earth wrapped in a fur robe, with only the face uncov-
ered ; which last was of a waxy whiteness, and had the nos-
trils plugged according to some Oriental habit of Secundra's.
