Treasure of the Templars by Tim Champlin

Author:Tim Champlin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: western, treasure, western novel, western fiction, templar knights, western adventure, western action, templar treasure, treasure quest, treasure mystery
Publisher: Tim Champlin

Chapter Eleven

QUANTUS TREMOR EST FUTURUS

“I’m sure we haven’t come three leagues from the river yet,” Professor Roddy McGinnis said, holding his horse on a tight rein and studying the formation of the sandstone cliffs on the opposite side of the Chama River.

“Three leagues?” Helverson almost snorted. “What kind of measurement is that? Along the course of the Chama, it’s been about eight miles.”

Flood, a few yards downwind of them, could hear the conversation plainly. He doubted that the fierce New Mexico sun, pouring into the narrow cañon, could completely account for the redness of Helverson’s face. Flood unwrapped the end of the lead line from his saddle horn and handed it to Merliss, then kneed his horse forward. “What’s the problem?” he asked.

“He won’t let me see the directions he’s got written down,” Helverson said. “Keeps talking distances in leagues instead of miles.”

“My...uh...directions indicate a stream comes in from the northwest. We follow that stream. But I’m sure we’re not there yet,” McGinnis said.

As he spoke, Helverson had dismounted and was holding an Army compass in his hand. Then, walking a dozen steps to his left, he stopped and appeared to be aligning the compass with some mark on the far shore. All Flood saw was a spur of sandstone that had split off from the bluff and was jutting out at a slight angle.

“Is there anything in that diary that describes specific landmarks, besides trees or rivers?” Flood asked the professor in an undertone.

“No. The directions are pretty general after we leave the Río Grande.”

“Then what is he doing with that compass? Looks like he’s taking sightings on some landmarks of his own,” Flood observed quietly.

“By the Star of the Magi, he’s supposed to be our guide,” McGinnis growled.

“But unless he’s been to the exact location before, how does he know where to guide us?” Flood muttered.

“These cañons look pretty much alike to me. I suppose he’s got some spots marked where he takes compass bearings on certain sandstone spires so he knows exactly where he is. Like coastal piloting for a sailor.”

In a louder voice Flood said: “The cliff dwelling we’re looking for was once known as the Stone Castle. Do you know of such a place?”

Helverson didn’t reply for a few seconds, but then snapped the compass case shut and came toward them. “No such name that I know of. Could be called anything now, depending on who named it,” he said. “Every new naturalist who comes digging has some old ruin named for him...like Wetherill and Bandelier. But, from what the professor’s told me, I have to go with my best guess. And I say this is the side cañon you’re looking for. This cañon runs thirty or forty miles back that way and does a lot of looping around on itself. If we don’t find the ruins you’re looking for right off, we might be two or three weeks climbing up to them, one by one. I take it you’ll know the right place when you find it.

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