There, with it’s top just showing above the dirt was a long iron chest.

“Give me the maul!” shouted the excited treasure seeker.

He attacked the rusty iron fastenings; at last the cover yielded to his thunderous blows and falling on its edge, toppled over to the floor with a crash.

“Somebody’s old clothes,” chuckled Stacy, peering into the open chest.

The garments, priestly robes that lay at the top, fell to pieces the instant Mr. Marquand laid violent hands on them.

“Look!  Look!  Was I right or was I wrong?” he cried, beside himself with joy.

There, before their astonished eyes, lay a chest of gold—­ coins dulled by age, small nuggets and chunks of silver, all heaped indiscriminately in the treasure chest.

“I did it!” shouted Chunky.  “I did it with my little feet!  I fell in and discovered the treasure!”

The tongues of the Pony Rider Boys were suddenly loosened.  Such a shout as they set up probably never had been heard before in the ancient adobe mansion of the Pueblos.  Cheer after cheer echoed through the chambers and reached the ears of a dozen desperadoes who were skulking amid the sage brush without.

Professor Zepplin scooped up a handful of the coins and examined them under the lantern.

“Old Spanish coins,” he informed them.  “Pure gold.  And look at these nuggets!  Where do you suppose the Indians found them?”

“There are hidden mines in the State,” informed Mr. Marquand.  “Some of these days they will be discovered.  I have been hunting for them myself, but without success.  Boys, what do you think of it now?  If it had not been for you I might never have seen this sight.”

Their eyes were fairly bulging as they gazed at the heap of gold.  Chunky squatted down scooping up a double handful and letting the coins run through his fingers.  Then the other boys dipped in, laughing for pure joy, more because their adventure had borne fruit than for the love of the gold itself.

“Must be more’n a bushel of it,” announced Stacy.

“Those old Franciscans must have been saving up for a rainy day.  And it never rained here at all,” suggested Ned humorously.

“Shall we count it?” asked Mr. Marquand.

“Just as you wish,” replied the Professor.

“Were I in your place, Mr. Marquand, I should get the stuff out of here as soon as possible.  You can’t tell what may happen.  I would suggest that we secure the treasure and be on our way at once.  You will want to get it to a bank as quickly as possible.  This is one of the things that cannot be kept quiet.”

“You are right.  Will somebody go over to the camp and get those gunny sacks of mine?  I don’t want to lose sight of my find for a minute.  You know how I feel about it—­ not that I do not trust you.  You know—­”

“Surely we understand,” smiled Tad.

“And you all have an interest in it—­ you shall share the treasure with me—­”