The very stones of their
temples have crumbled and been decomposed, but the precious metal has
been formed into nuggets, according to the natural laws of molecular
attraction, and under the impulse of gravity and in obedience to the
laws of affinity of matter.
People from Prescott in their rambles in the vicinity of Thumb Butte
have probably noticed a slag pile as comes from a furnace. I have
heard them theorize and argue on the question of its origin or use,
as there is not a sign of ore in existence thereabouts to indicate a
smelting furnace. I say this was an altar erected I by the ancient
worshipers to their idol, the Sphinx. Before it stood the awful
sacrificial stone, whereon quivered the bodies of victims while
priests tore open their breasts and offered their throbbing hearts in
the sacred fire on the altar, a sacrifice to their cruel god. Many
prospectors have undoubtedly traced a blood red vein of rock coursing
from this place toward Willow Creek--a valuable lode of cinnabar,
they must have thought. If they had tested the ore for quicksilver,
they would have received discouraging results. Porphyry stained with
an unknown petrified substance and without a trace of metal
invariably read the analytical assays.
Pages:
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130