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which he had been engaged for many years； struck me as strange — though； as we know； elephants are adepts at the picking up of pins。
When I was missioner in America in 1905 I stayed with the Burnhams at their charming house in Pasadena； Los Angeles。 After I parted from them I travelled with another remarkable man； Mr。 Hays Hammond — who was once condemned to death with Jameson at Pretoria — across America in his private car； and spoke with him of Burnham。 Also I told him the strange tale of a certain odd gentleman of the name of Carmichael； now I believe long dead； who thought that he had discovered the secret of the hidden city of the Aztecs； that lies somewhere at the back of Chiapas； in which treasure to the value of three million sterling is supposed to have been concealed by Montezuma on the approach of the Spaniards。27 Thinking； from the documentary evidence； that there was something in this tale； a friend and I furnished Carmichael with a moderate sum of money to enable him to locate the place。 He set out； and after incredible hardships found the wrong city； or the wrong part of the right city； where his Indian carriers deserted him； leaving him suffering from fever to support life upon catfish； which he caught with a bent nail。 Ultimately he was rescued and brought back to civilisation。
26 This was the sacred treasure held by Montezuma as High Priest； which it took 1500 men to carry in bars of gold。 It must not be mixed up with the private royal treasure whereof I have already spoken； that was buried by Guatemoc — also to save it from the Spaniards。 — H。 R。 H。
Hays Hammond was so taken with this exciting narrative that he determined to send Burnham to look for the Aztec city； and telegraphed to him to e from San Francisco to New York to see him。 Needless to say； Burnham was quite ready for the adventure； and followed me to England to get particulars； among other business。 Whilst here a terrible thing befell him。 He had taken a little villa on the Thames； where he was living with his wife and a fine little boy； the brother of the child Nada。 One day the boy was missing。 His body was found in the Thames。 I was informed that when Burnham saw it he fell to the ground senseless as though he had been shot。
Afterwards he returned to America and started to look for the Aztec city； but was prevented from getting very far by a rebellion among the Indians。 His last letter to me was written from that district some four years ago。 I answered it； but since then have heard nothing from him。 I do not think that he is dead； as such news would probably have reached me one way or another； or Hays Hammond would have mentioned it when I had a hurried interview with him at the time of the King’s Coronation； which he attended as Special Ambassador from the United States。 I conclude； therefore； that Burnham is probably now engaged in all the Mexican fighting that has ensued upon the deposition of President Diaz； which leaves him no time for correspondence； or perhaps he is disinterring the treasure from the hidden city！ One day I hope that he will appear again and greet me in his quiet fashion as though we had parted but yesterday — I mean； of course； on this bank of the great “Divide。”
Chapter 18 RURAL ENGLAND
H。 R。 H。 returns to the country — Devotes himself to agriculture — “Farmer’s Year” — Arthur Young — Bradfield bust — Bobbin — Determines to follow Arthur Young’s example — Agreed with Daily Express for series of articles on Rural England — Visit to Cyprus and Holy Land — A Winter Pilgrimage — Rural England journeys — Heaviest labour of H。 R。 H。‘s life — Arthur Cochrane’s help — Hundreds of interviews — Practical results disappointing — Mr。 R。 W。 Hanbury — Agricultural Post — Lord Onslow — Mrs。 Asquith。
My town excitement over I returned to the country and the writing of books。 Oddly enough； I found that the thorough change of thought seemed to have rested my mind； with the result that my imagination was fresher than it had been for some years before。 Also the work itself was and has remained less irksome to me than during the years 1891 to 1895。 Still the desire haunted me to do something in my day more practical than the mere invention of romance upon romance。 By degrees it came home to me that a great subject lay to my hand； that of the state of English agriculture and of our rural population； also of all the questions thereto pertaining。
So forcefully did it e home that I grew to think and indeed to believe that I was appointed to serve my own； and perhaps other countries； by following up this neglected branch of research which to many has seemed so useless and so dull。 Therefore with a bold heart I gave all my spare time and energy to a study of the matter。
First I wrote the book that is called “A Farmer’s Year；” with the twofold purpose of setting down the struggles of those who were engaged in agriculture during that trying time； and of preserving for the benefit of future generations； if these should care to read of them； a record of the circumstances of their lives and of the condition of their industry in England in the year 1898。 In its way this book； which was first published serially in Longman’s Magazine — now； alas！ defunct； like most of the good magazines of my early days — proved extraordinarily successful。 It ost without exception； with great favour。 Also the letters that poured in upon me concerning it were almost without number； they still continue to arrive。 But； pared with my romances； it brought me in but a small amount of money。 For this there were several reasons。 It was published at too low a price — 7s。 6d。 — whereby Charles Longman and I hoped to put it within the reach of all； also the charming illustrations by my friend Mr。 Leon Little； of which I have the originals in this house； involved a good deal of expenditure。
The chief reason； however； is very simple。 The British public as a whole is a nation of town dwellers and not rural in its tastes。 It wants novels to read； not works that deal with agriculture in however interesting a fashion。 He who treats of such subjects must do so at his own cost and be content to take his pay in honour and glory。 Well； as