Gray-lipped, she sought out Matthews. “Billy,” she asked him, “how far would a man sink in that snow up there if he fell off the top of the peak?” “My God, what questions,” said Billy. “How do I know? He’d stay a thousand years, anyway.” THE JEWELS OF BENDITA By Gibert Cunyngham Terry Old Bendito was digging when he found them--“the jewels of Bendita.” He had been ordered by Don Francisco to make a new border around the “Little Lake of the Emperor” (as it is called even to these days), and, grumbling mightily, the old man set lazily to work. Stopping only occasionally to refresh himself with a corn-husk cigarette, Bendito dug away for as much as two hours, when he was joined by his comrade, Andrés, who proceeded to pass the time of day. “What makest thou, friend? Wherefore dost toil so strenuously with no friend to assist thee, and in the heat of the day?” “Oh, lazybones! According to that fool, Don Francisco--may the devil fly away with him--I am making a new bordering for the little lake. For why? Only God knows. But these strangers--_la Virgen_ bear witness that--lacking other work, they make a hole in the ground, in order that a poor devil may have to straightway fill it up again!” Overwhelmed by his own eloquence, old Bendito groaned, emitted a fiery Indian oath, and set to spading. “To that mango tree, and no further, I will dig to-day!” he muttered. “To the devil with Don Francisco.” Andrés, sprawling in the sunshine, offered sarcastic comments and encouragements. “Have a care, comrade. Knowest thou not that there is wealth concealed in this same garden of the emperor? Oh, yes! I overheard Padre Diego say so to the Obispo. Be careful lest thou dig it up, little brother.” In cynical disbelief, Bendito dug away. “Thinkest thou that if riches were here, Padre Diego and the Obispo would leave them untouched? Nonsense. They-of-the-church never allow the paring of a nail to remain, much less treasure. Compose thyself, little Andrés. _Once_ there may have been buried treasure of the emperor. But the nose of the church is sharp, and it smells gold while yet far off.” At this juncture, Bendito’s spade interrupted conversation with a loud and startling “clink, clank,” and crossing themselves, their faces gray with superstitious terror, both _peons_ fled with all haste from the spot. Their first thought was that a coffin had been uncovered, and only witches and unblessed heretics would be buried here in this unhallowed ground. But, as they ran, another idea occurred to them. They stopped abruptly, and low talk ensued. Then they stole cautiously back to the mango tree, where the spade still stood upright. And while old Bendito dug away, in fear and trembling, but with more energy than he had displayed since the big earthquake (wherein part of his roof came down upon his head), Andrés watched to see that no one caught them. Who knew what might be uncovered? It was well to be cautious.