Chapter 13 Summary

Several days later when the house, which now belongs solely to Sophia, has been cleaned of the blood of Don Tiburcio and three bandits, they begin to clean out the fireplace. Sophia has forgotten her husband's last words and only remembers when they find a metal box filled with gold in the ashes.

Sophia leaves for the lowlands and, ultimately, for the United States, leaving only Dona Margarita, Victoriano, and Lupe left in their ramada. Lupe feels that everything is going wrong. Everyone has either gone to the world beyond or to the valley below.

It is many days later when a large rock in the middle of the plaza is turned up by roots growing due to the rainy season. It is discovered that it contains a large vein of gold, and soon many other rocks containing gold are dug up in...