Chapter Thirteen. The Landing.The property of Don Cumanos , to which he had retired with his family, accompanied by Francisco, extended from the mouth of, to many miles up, the Magdalen river . It was a fine alluvial soil, forming one vast strip of rich meadow, covered with numerous herds of cattle. The house was not a hundreds yards from the bank of the magnificent stream, and a small but deep creek ran up to the adjacent buildings; for Don Cumanos had property even more valuable, being proprietor of a gold mine near the town of Jambrano , about eight miles farther up, and which mine had latterly become exceedingly productive. The ore was brought down the river in boats, and smelted in the outhouses near the creek to which we have just referred.
It will be necessary to observe that the
