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 Of course, the men were curious to know what the building was for, and it was hinted that it was for a prison; then they were curious to know why a prison should be built there, nearly three miles from the town. The whites considering it a prison, and the Indians being informed that it was "bad medicine," no one was likely to try to get into it, and Ralph's object was to prevent anyone from discovering the mine inside.

Henry and Charles Morton had been informed of the existence of the mine, under the strongest bond of secrecy. Ralph had refused to inform his other brothers and John Somers of the source of his wealth, but let them infer from the legend on the gold bars that he had been in at the capture of a Spanish West Indian carrick, something which most Englishmen still considered by no means a reprehensible proceeding, although there had been peace between England and Spain for several years.

The spring and summer passed without any such epidemic as Ralph Morton somewhat apprehended. There was some mild, temporary sickness from change of climate, and some from ordinary causes, but there had been no