Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/72

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has ever seen it has been able by daylight to find from whence it came."

The belief of the Indians that after they had endured their punishment for sins committed, the Great Spirit would restore to them their hunting-grounds caused them to keep their mines a secret. "Old Ninety-Nine" is one no longer, and let us hope that in richer mines and fairer hunting-grounds than he dreamed of, he is beyond the treachery of his white brother—beyond injustice and unfair dealing, where his great Manitou does not offer him the cup of good-will in the form of an unknown intoxicant as did Henry Hudson when planning the seizure of the land of his forefathers.

Hernando signalled for them to be drawn up and the news of the accident was duly reported.

"After all," said Mr. De Vere, "it is better so. His body would simply have been an object of curiosity. Let the waters which transformed his flesh into stone receive it again."