When we got to a small town, called Indian Ridge,
near Leadville, Colorado, the men insisted that I must now
proceed in secret, and consent to be blindfolded, as they were
not yet ready to reveal the secret of the place where they made
the diamonds.
"I did not want to agree to this, but they insisted, and I gave
in, foolishly perhaps. At any rate I was blindfolded one night,
placed in a wagon, and we drove off into the mountains. After
traveling for some distance I was led, still blindfolded, up a
steep trail.
"When the bandage was taken off my eyes I saw that I was in a
large cave. The men were with me, and they apologized for the
necessity that caused them to blindfold me. They said they were
ready to proceed with the making of diamonds, but I must promise
not to seek to discover the secret until they gave me permission,
nor was I to attempt to leave the cave. I had to agree.
"Next they demanded that I give them a large sum, which I had
promised when they showed me, conclusively, that they could make
diamonds. I refused to do this until I had seen some of the
precious stones, and they agreed that this was fair, but said I
would have to wait a few days.
"Well, I waited, and, all that while, I was virtually a
prisoner in the cave. All I could learn was that it was in the
midst of a great range, near the top, and that one of the peaks
was called Phantom Mountain.
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