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〃Possibly；〃 the professor suggested； 〃the place where the treasure is hidden is the place whence the water is to flow out； and the water is the treasure。〃
〃Seriously； do you suppose that such a phenomenon as the return of an inland sea is physically practicable？〃 asked Trednoke。
〃No phenomenon； in this part of the world； would surprise me；〃 returned Meschines。 〃The Colorado might break its barriers； or it is conceivable that some huge stream； taking its rise in the heights hundreds of miles north and east of us； may be flowing through subterranean passages into the sea； emerging from the sea…bottom hundreds of miles to the westward。 Now； if a rattling good earthquake were to happen along； you might awake in the morning to find yourself on an island； or even under water。〃
〃A moderate Mediterranean would satisfy me；〃 the general said。 〃I wouldn't exchange the certainty of it for the treasures of Montezuma。〃
〃The thirst for gold and for water are synonymous in your case？〃
〃Give this section a moist climate； and I needn't tell you that the Great American Desert would literally blossom as the rose。 Even as it is； I expect a great deal of it will be redeemed by scientific irrigation。 The soil only needs water to become inexhaustibly productive。 Our desert； as you know； is not sand； like parts of the Sahara； it has all the ingredients that go to nourish plants； only their present powdery condition makes them unavailable。 Now； I can； to…day； buy a hundred square miles of desert for a few dollars。 You see the point； don't you？〃
〃And all you want is expert opinion as to the likelihood of finding water？〃
〃The man who solves that question for me in the affirmative is welcome to half my share of the results that would ensue from it。〃
〃Why don't you engage some expert to investigate？〃
〃One can't always trust an expert。 I don't mean as to his expertness only； but as to his good faith。 He might prefer to sell the idea to somebody who could pay cash； which I cannot。〃
〃Why； you seem to have given this thing a good deal of thought； Trednoke。〃
〃Well； yes： it has been my hobby for a year past； and I have made some investigations myself。 But this is the first time I have spoken of it to any one。〃
〃I understand。 And what of the investigations？〃
〃I can say that I found enough to interest me。 I'll tell you about it some time。 I should be glad to leave Miriam something to make her independent。〃
〃I should say that her Creator had already done that！〃 said Meschines。 〃By the way； I know a young fellowif he were only herewho is just the man you want； and can be trusted。 He's a civil engineer； Harvey Freeman： the Lord only knows in what part of the world he is at this speaking。 He has made a special study of these subterranean matters。〃
〃Don't you remember； papa； Coleridge's poem of Kubla Khan？
〃Where Alph； the sacred river； ran Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea！〃
〃Our sacred river； when we find it； shall be named Miriam。〃
〃It ought to be Kamaiakan；〃 she rejoined； 〃for； if anybody finds it； it will be he。〃
〃I think I hear the wings of the angel of whom we have been speaking；〃 said the general。 〃Yes； here he is； and he has got the letters。 Let us see！ One for you Meschines。 And this； I see； is from our friend Miss Parsloe； postmarked Santa Barbara。 Why； she'll be here to…morrow； at that rate。〃
〃Here's a queer coincidence！〃 exclaimed the professor； who had meanwhile opened his envelope and glanced through the contents。 〃The very man I was speaking of； Harvey Freeman！ Says he is in this neighborhood； has heard I'm here； and is coming down to pay me a visit。 Methinks I hear the rolling of the sacred river！〃
〃But you won't mention it to him； until〃
〃Bless me！ Of course not。 I'll bring him over here； in the course of human events； and you can take a look at him； and act on your own intuitions。 I won't say on Princess Miriam's； for Harvey is a very fine… looking fellow； and her intuitions might get confused。〃
〃A civil engineer！〃 said Miriam； with an intonation worthy of the daughter of a West…Pointer and the descendant of an Aztec prince。
Kamaiakan （who spoke only Spanish） had been gathering up some cushions that had fallen out of the hammock。 Having replaced them； and cast a quick glance at Meschines； he withdrew。
CHAPTER II。
The Southern Pacific Railway passes； today； not far from the site of General Trednoke's ranch。 But the events now to be narrated occurred some years before the era of transcontinental railroads： they were in the air； but not yet bolted down to the earth。 The general； therefore； was a pioneer； and was by no means overrun with friends from the East in search of an agreeable winter climate。 The easiest way to reach himif you were not pressed for time was round the cape which forms the southernmost point of South America and sticks its sharp snout inquiringly into the Antarctic solitudes； as if it scented something questionable there。 The speediest route； though open to strange discomforts； was by way of the Isthmus； and then there were always the saddle； the wagon； and the stage； with the accompaniments of road… agents； tornadoes； deserts； and starvation。
Miss Grace Parsloe came via the Isthmus； and the latter part of her journey had been alleviated by the society of a young gentleman from New York； Freeman by name。 There were other passengers on the vessel； but these two discovered sympathies of origin and education which made companionship natural。 They sat together at table； leaned side by side over the taffrail； discussed their fellow…travellers； and investigated each other。 As he lolled on the bench with folded arms and straw hat tilted back from his forehead she； glancing side… long； as her manner was； saw a sunburnt aquiline nose； a moustache of a lighter brown than the visage which it decorated； a lean； strong jaw； and a muscular neck。 His forehead； square and impending； was as white as ivory in comparison with the face below； his hair； in accordance with the fashion introduced by the late war； was cropped close。 But what especially moved Miss Grace were those long； lazy blue eyes； which seemed to tolerate everything； but to be interested in nothing；hardly even in her。 Now； Grace could not help knowing she was a pretty girl； and it was somewhat of a novelty to her that Freeman should appear so indifferent。 It would have been difficult to devise a better opportunity than this to monopolize masculine admiration； and she fell to speculating as to what sort of an experience Mr。 Freeman must have had； so to panoply him against her magic。 On the other hand； she was the recipient of whatever attentions he could bring himself to detach from the horizon…line； or from his own thoughts （which appeared to amount； practically； to about the same thing）。 She had no other rivals； and a woman will submit amiably to a good deal of indifference； provided she be assured that no other woman is enjoying what she lacks。
Freeman； for his part； had nothing to complain of。 Grace Parsloe was a singularly pretty girl。 Singular properly qualifies her。 She was not like the others；by which phrase he epitomized the numerous comely young women whom he had； at various times and in several countries； attended； teased； and kissed。 Both physically and mentally； she was very fine…wrought。 Her bones were small； her body and limbs were slender； but beautifully fashioned。 She was supple and vigorous。 Grace is a product of brain as well as an effect of bodily symmetry： Grace had the quality on both counts。 She answered to one's conception of Mahomet's houris； assuming that the conception is not of a fat person。 Her head was small； but well proportioned；compact as to the forehead； rather broad across the cheek…bones； thence tapering to the chin。 Her eyes were blue； but of an Eastern strangeness of shape and setting； they were subject to great and sudden changes of expression； depending； apparently； on the varying state of her emotions； and betraying an intensity more akin to the Oriental temperament than to ours。 There was in her something subtle and fierce； yet overlaying it； like a smooth and silken skin； were the conventional polish and bearing of an American school graduate。 She was； in deed； noticeably artificial and self…conscious in manner and in the intonations of her speech； though it was an aesthetic delight to see her move or pose； and the quality of her voice was music's self。 But Freeman； after due meditation； came to the conclusion that this was the outcome of her recognition of her own singularity： in trying to be like other people； she fell into caricature。 Freeman； somehow； liked her the better for it。 Like most men of brain and pith； who have seen and thought much； he was thankful for a new thing； because； so far as it went； it renewed him。 It pleased him to imagine that he could； with a word or a look； cause this veil of artifice to be thrown aside； and the primitive passion and fierceness behind it to start forth。 He allowed himself to imagine； with a certain satisfaction； that were he to make this young woman jealous she would think nothing of thrusting a dagger between his ribs。