But such of the gold-work as remained showed the jewels to be of ancient Aztecan origin.

There was value enough in the box to buy and stock a dozen ranches as big as the general's, and leave heirlooms enough to decorate a family larger than that of the most fruitful of the ancient patriarchs.
"I call that quite a respectable dowry," remarked Meschines.

"Upon my soul, Miriam, if I had known what you had up your sleeve, I should have thought twice before allowing a 'civil engineer'-- do you remember ?--to run off with you so easily." At dawn, they prepared the body of old Kamaiakan for its interment.

In doing this, the professor noted the peculiar appearance of the corpse.
"The flesh is absolutely withered," said he, "especially those parts which were uncovered.

It must have been subjected to the action of some destructive vapor or gas, fatal not only to breathe, but to come in contact with.