the legation。 They were most discouraging。 He found that for the
sixteen years prior to his arrival the only events reported to the
department by his predecessors were revolutions and the refusals
of successive presidents to consent to a treaty of extradition。 On
that point all Amapalans were in accord。 Though overnight the
government changed hands； though presidents gave way to dictators；
and dictators to military governors； the national policy of Amapala
continued to be 〃No extradition！〃 The ill success of those who had
preceded him appalled Everett。 He had promised himself by a
brilliant assault to secure the treaty and claim the legation in
Europe。 But the record of sixteen years of failure caused him
to alter his strategy。 Instead of an attack he prepared for a siege。
He unpacked his books； placed the portrait of his own President
over the office desk； and proceeded to make friends with his fellow
exiles。
Of the foreign colony in Camaguay some fifty were Americans； and
from the rest of the world they were as hopelessly separated as the
crew of a light…ship。 From the Pacific they were cut off by the
Cordilleras； from the Caribbean by a nine…day mule…ride。 To the
north and south； jungle； forests； swamp…lands； and mountains
hemmed them in。
Of the fifty Americans； one…half were constantly on the trail；
riding to the coast to visit their plantations； or into the mountains
to inspect their mines。 When Everett arrived； of those absent
the two most important were Chester Ward and Colonel Goddard。
Indeed； so important were these gentlemen that Everett was made
to understand that； until they approved； his recognition as the
American minister was in a manner temporary。
Chester Ward； or 〃Chet；〃 as the exiles referred to him； was one of
the richest men in Amapala； and was engaged in exploring the ruins
of the lost city of Cobre； which was a one…hour ride from the capital。
Ward possessed the exclusive right to excavate that buried city and
had held it against all comers。 The offers of American universities；
of archaeological and geographical societies that also wished to dig
up the ancient city and decipher the hieroglyphs on her walls； were
met with a curt rebuff。 That work； the government of Amapala would
reply； was in the trained hands of Senor Chester Ward。 In his chosen
effort the government would not disturb him； nor would it permit others
coming in at the eleventh hour to rob him of his glory。 This Everett
learned from the consul； Garland。
〃Ward and Colonel Goddard；〃 the consul explained； 〃are two of
five countrymen of ours who run the American colony； and； some
say； run the government。 The others are Mellen； who has the
asphalt monopoly； Jackson； who is building the railroads； and
Major Feiberger； of the San Jose silver…mines。 They hold
monopolies and pay President Mendoza ten per cent of the
earnings； and； on the side； help him run the country。 Of the
five； the Amapalans love Goddard best； because he's not trying
to rob them。 Instead； he wants to boost Amapala。 His ideas are
perfectly impracticable； but he doesn't know that； and neither do
they。 He's a kind of Colonel Mulberry Sellers and a Southerner。
Not the professional sort； that fight elevator…boys because they're
colored； and let off rebel yells in rathskellers when a Hungarian
band plays 'Dixie；' but the sort you read about and so seldom see。
He was once State Treasurer of Alabama。〃
〃What's he doing down here？〃 asked the minister。
〃Never the same thing two months together；〃 the consul told him；
〃railroads； mines； rubber。 He says all Amapala needs is developing。〃
As men who can see a joke even when it is against themselves； the
two exiles smiled ruefully。
〃That's all it needs；〃 said Everett。
For a moment the consul regarded him thoughtfully。
〃I might as well tell you；〃 he said； 〃you'll learn it soon enough
anyway； that the men who will keep you from getting your treaty
are these five； especially old man Goddard and Ward。〃
Everett exclaimed indignantly：
〃Why should they interfere？〃
〃Because；〃 explained the consul； 〃they are fugitives from justice；
and they don't want to go home。 Ward is wanted for forgery or
some polite crime； I don't know which。 And Colonel Goddard
for appropriating the State funds of Alabama。 Ward knew what
he was doing and made a lot out of it。 He's still rich。 No one's
weeping over him。 Goddard's case is different。 He was imposed
on and made a catspaw。 When he was State treasurer the men
who appointed him came to him one night and said they must
have some of the State's funds to show a bank examiner in the
morning。 They appealed to him on the ground of friendship； as
the men who'd given him his job。 They would return the money
the next evening。 Goddard believed they would。 They didn't；
and when some one called for a show…down the colonel was shy
about fifty thousand dollars of the State's money。 He lost his head；
took the boat out of Mobile to Porto Cortez； and hid here。 He's
been here twenty years and all the Amapalans love him。 He's the
adopted father of their country。 They're so afraid he'll be taken
back and punished that they'll never consent to an extradition
treaty even if the other Americans； Mellen； Jackson； and Feiberger；
weren't paying them big money not to consent。 President Mendoza
himself told me that as long as Colonel Goddard honored his
country by remaining in it； he was his guest； and he would never
agree to extradition。 'I could as soon；' he said； 'sign his
death…warrant。'〃
Everett grinned dismally。
〃That's rather nice of them；〃 he said； 〃but it's hard on me。 But；〃 he
demanded； 〃why Ward？ What has he done for Amapala？ Is it because
of Cobre； because of his services as an archaeologist？〃
The consul glanced around the patio and dragged his chair nearer
to Everett。
〃This is my own dope；〃 he whispered； 〃it may be wrong。 Anyway；
it's only for your private information。〃
He waited until； with a smile； Everett agreed to secrecy。
〃Chet Ward；〃 protested the consul； 〃is no more an archaeologist
than I am！ He talks well about Cobre； and he ought to； because
every word he speaks is cribbed straight from Hauptmann's
monograph； published in 1855。 And he has dug up something at
Cobre； something worth a darned sight more than stone monkeys
and carved altars。 But his explorations are a bluff。 They're a blind
to cover up what he's really after； what I think he's found！〃
As though wishing to be urged； the young man paused； and Everett
nodded for him to continue。 He was wondering whether life in
Amapala might not turn out to be more interesting than at first
it had appeared； or whether Garland was not a most charming liar。
〃Ward visits the ruins every month；〃 continued Garland。 〃But he
takes with him only two mule…drivers to cook and look after the
pack…train； and he doesn't let even the drivers inside the ruins。
He remains at Cobre three or four days and； to make a show； fills
his saddle…bags with broken tiles and copper ornaments。 He turns
them over to the government； and it dumps them in the back yard
of the palace。 You can't persuade me that he holds his concession
with that junk。 He's found something else at Cobre and he shares
it with Mendoza； and I believe it's gold。〃
The minister smiled delightedly。
〃What kind of gold？
〃Maybe in the rough；〃 said the consul。 〃But I prefer to think
it's treasure。 The place is full of secret chambers； tombs； and
passage…ways cut through the rock； deep under the surface。 I
believe Ward has stumbled on some vault where the priests used
to hide their loot。 I believe he's getting it out bit by bit and
going shares with Mendoza。〃
〃If that were so；〃 ventured Everett； 〃why wouldn't Mendoza take
it all？〃
〃Because Ward；〃 explained the consul； 〃is the only one who knows
where it is。 The ruins cover two square miles。 You might search
for years。 They tried to follow and spy on him； but Ward was too
clever for them。 He turned back at once。 If they don't take what
he gives； they get nothing。 So they protect him from real explorers
and from extradition。 The whole thing is unfair。 A real archaeologist
turned up here a month ago。 He had letters from the Smithsonian
Institute and several big officials at Washington； but do you suppose
they would let him so much as smell of Cobre？ Not they！ Not even
when I spoke for him as consul。 Then he appealed to Ward； and Ward
turned him down hard。 You were arriving； so he's hung on here hoping
you may have more influence。 His name is Peabody； he's a professor；
but he's young and full of 'get there；' and he knows more about the ruins
of Cobre now than Ward does after having them all to himself for two
years。 He's good people and I hope you'll help him。〃
Everett shook his head doubtfully。
〃If the government has given the concession to him；〃 he pointed
out； 〃no matter who Ward may be； or what its motives were for
giving it to him； I can't ask it to break its promise。 As an
American citizen Ward is as much entitled to my help
officiallyas Professor Peabody； whatever his standing。〃
〃Ward's a forger；〃 protested Garland； 〃a fugitive from jus