Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 2.djvu/159

Rh a vein of the precious ore, and make the best possible bargain with the administradores and agents in the neighbourhood, either for its sale or future working. His success, thus far, had been but scanty; he was only enabled to procure sufficient metal to furnish him with common necessaries: the great object of his search remained as yet unaccomplished. Sometimes his expectations had been excited to the highest pitch by brilliant appearances: beds of compact white sand and clay had mocked his ardent anticipations; white earth, intermixed with stray particles of silver, had often dazzled his sight; but these only served to enhance his disappointment, and render him the more impatient of delay.

As Lope Cluca hastily turned over the gravel at his feet on the evening in question, murmuring and almost despairing of success (only supported, in fact, by sweet thoughts of his absent Teresa Alxarra), his eye was arrested by what appeared to be a shining yellow substance, partially' covered with the clay and sand he had turned over. With eager impatience he seized upon it; but found, to his dismay, that the yellow tinge was caused by the rays of the sun reflected from a