As I descended it seemed to me as though
I was being lowered into some forgotten tomb.
At length my feet touched ground, and, extricating myself from my
cradle, I began to explore the course of the stream. The light in these
depths, although it was noonday, was not greater than twilight, and I
found some difficulty in ascertaining of what the bed of the stream was
composed, but by crawling on all fours I was able to form some idea of
its composition, and among the wash-dirt I found a number of dark
stones, which, from the experience I had gained at Amsterdam, I knew to
be rubies of a size and weight that promised great value.
I now became so absorbed in my hunt for rubies that the dismal nature
of my surroundings was forgotten. The greed of gain obsessed me, and as
I gathered the precious stones into my pocket I would not have
exchanged this desolate valley for the most beautiful spot on earth.
But I was soon to learn how the wealth of the world is for ever
encompassed by dangers that we wot not of. A shout drew my attention,
and on looking up a sight met my gaze which drove all thoughts of
ruby-hunting from my mind, and made self-preservation my only concern.
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