Irving Hancock

“ Captain, I propose to give your men a merry scramble for it!"
As he spoke, Carrick swiftly took hold of the belt by one end, twirled it, and hurled it far into the bushes.
As the belt flew, a golden shower of coins could be heard dropping to the earth. Gold notes fluttered against the faces of some of the soldiers, as, with stifled cries, they raced after the fortune. Nor could even the captain resist the lure. These Mexicans had been too long without real money and on scant food.
"We've about seven seconds!" whispered Carrick, striking Fleming's arm. "Follow me like a streak." ”

“ While I do not expect to die, I am always aware that fate may be about to press the cup to my lips. I have good news—wonderful! We now have four and a half million dollars in gold coin. You know where it is hidden. ”

“ Carrick went on, "is that I appreciate the fact that you are soldiers. Therefore, you must obey your orders, and I bear you no ill will. I have one request to make, and that is that you take full pains to make our deaths instantaneous. I am going to reward you for doing it, for I have gifts that our first captors overlooked. I have with me twelve hundred dollars in American gold, worth nearly twenty-eight hundred dollars in Mexican silver, and worth more than a shipload of your paper currency. I propose, captain, that this gold shall go to you and your soldiers." ”