MoMTEZUMA's TREASURE.

By THE LATE NJ. C. FIELD.
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SOME tabled GeniI enchanted among the
rocky hills, appears that enormous black pile
known as the mountain of Taos perpet-
ual gloom hangs round il through day as well
as night, and even when the sun is brightest
it assumes no livelier appearance, but seems
ever 10 be enveloped in shadow.


When storm gathers, the lofty peaks of
this mountain is soon hidden, and the heavy
laden clouds roll down its summit The
voice Of the storm seems 10 rumble within
| its breast, the inhabitants Of the valley peep
from their dwelling at theblack mountain, with
| fear, and curiosity, and wonder. From the
valley the snow upon this mountain, is only
in the winter time; in the middle ofAugusi,
when crossing high ridge few miles dis
among its most norlherly cliffs and crags,
we saw the snow gliiering like molten silver
beneath The beams of The midday sun.


The appearance of this gigantic black pile
is eminenlly calculated 10 rvet attention and
excite wonder, and there fore it is not surpris-
ing that the superstition concerning it should
exist among The simple-mnded people of the
valley.


Many, very many ears ago, il Is said, the
J }lofly summit was accessible, but all who
achieved the ascent became lunalic, and
could never tell what they had seen. This
fact spread great alarm and awe among the
people, and The opinion was soon prevalent
that the black mountain was the place chos-
en- by Montezuma for temperance.
Alter this no more attempts mere made to
scale the summit, which was now held TO be
a sacred spot, until wealthy young Span
lard in the city of Mexico, laughed al the
popular supersttion, and declared that he
dared to make the ascent of the sacred noun
tain. He was carousing when The boast was
made, and one of his companions prnEosed
him princely wager upon The adventure,
which was accepted, and few days afier in
spite of the warning ofihe priests, the pray
ers ofhis relatives, the entreaIies OF his friends
and the earnest persuasion oil The young man
with whom he had the wager, and who now
offered 10 rclnquish il, the resonte adven-
lurer bade goodbye to all and started for
Santa Fe.


He travelled TO Chhuahua, crossed the
praiiies and sand plains that lay between it
and Santa Fe, and arrived at the base of the
black mountain in Taos. He told the peo-
what he meant 10 do; here again he was
warned and entreated but in vain.


! Alter resting two days he commenced the
ascent, followed by crowd of The mosi dar-
ing spirits of the valley. The extreme sum
init was reached by Ginning splinlered crag
and proceeding from some distance along The
edge of a dangerous cleft which was always
filled with snow, but known TO be very deep,
as man once fell into il and his body was
never recovered.


Here the people paused, and the young
Mexican laughlngly proceeded 10 climb the
fearful and difficult ascent. With undaunt-
| ed resolution, and iron nerves, he ioiled up
the splintered pinnacle, reached the narrow
ledge, and with his small axe, working holes
in the ice 10 cling to, he disappeared slowly
on his hands and knees over The high summit
OF The mountain.


He had been gone but few minutes
when he returned 10 the 81 ght of the people
and called 10 them TO ascend for he had dis
coverad a wonder to the asIonished world-a
magnificent cavern through which ran mex
haustibIe veins of gold, and lit into the blaze
of day with The glare precious stones, the
whole interior Of The mountain he declared,
was an immense cavern, down which fiom the
entrance, ran winding galleries of easy de-
scent, leading 10 various brilliant apartments.
He entreaied some one to follow him up and
confirm his story, or when he returned no one
would ever believe his words.


Scarcely had this announcement left the
lip OF the speaker when a whirlwind came
shrieking around the mountain peak, and the
young man was seen TO fall upon his face,
and cling TO The edge ofthe rock, and TO pre-
serve himself from being blown over The pre-
cipice. The terrific people called him TO de-
scend instantly ;but the sky darkened, and a
thunder bolt suddenly struck The pinnacle by
which which he had ascended, which fell
with trightful roar into the deep cleft, and
his retreat cut off forever.


Filled with CONSERVATION and terror, the peo-
pie fled down the mountain side, abandoning
the wretched victim 10 his fate, and shutting
their ears against his sceams for assistance
From rock 10 rock, and down the ravines-
along briuks beneath which the headlong tor
rents roared-over chasms CLOSED by fallen
irees-srHggling through thickets of brush
and shrubbery oak, and sometimes treadine
/ The water courses Of the mountain, the awe
stricken people hurried, until, when nigh
} had closed over peak and plain, they reach
ed the valley.


5 The reckless young Mexican was neve
heard of more; and this is the legend lolt