Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 2.djvu/162

140 This man was of Spanish extraction, and styled himself "Don" Manuel—by which title he was well known in the district. His circumstances were desperate when he arrived in the silver regions, for his life had been one of the utmost dissipation; and he was totally unused to labour. It suited him better to wander about the neighbourhood, keenly observant of the success of others for no honest purpose: it was during one of these rambling excursions that he had been an unseen witness of Lope's discovery; and he now believed he had found the opportunity he had long desired, of enriching himself at the expense of another.

It was no part of Don Manuel's policy personally to effect the villany he had designed, so he cast about for some associate who would undertake the execution of the plot, for a share of the booty. His choice fell upon one Cayan, an Indian of great strength of body and ferocity of disposition; he trusted that, when the treasure should be secured, he could frame a pretext to overreach his comrade, and appropriate their acquisition to his own use.

While Lope Cluca was enjoying his happy prospects, these scoundrels were holding a