NOT LONG AGO I was rambling in a strange country. There were great stretches of open, with few inhabitants. No one seemed to be around.

While walking and meditating, very suddenly I came unexpectedly upon an open shed of a house. It was not large and seemed to have been very recently erected, and on close inspection I found it to be open on two sides or ends. Four large corner posts held up the building, and it was covered with new corrugated iron.

My curiosity being excited, I walked into the shed with the intention of crossing to the opposite side; when what was my surprise to see stacked up in the middle of the floor an immense pile of money. It was of all denominations and variety,—gold, silver and paper currency.

It was piled in circular shape and bore some resemblance to a pyramid. Crisp new bank bills were sticking out through the interstices of the gold and silver, and what seemed most remarkable was the fact that the bills were rolled up leaving holes, about as if they had been wrapped around a large lead pencil or in some instances, a broom handle, and then pulled off and placed in that way among the gold and silver pieces. I saw bills ranging as high in value as one thousand dollars—all new and crisp.

Suddenly the idea struck me, “Why not fill your pockets; you need the money?” I looked around—not a soul in sight; and a voice whispered, “It is as much yours as anyone’s,—it is yours.”

I felt in my pockets,—not a cent!

Yes! Yes! I’ll load myself down. And suiting the action to the word, I walked around to where appeared to be the bills of the largest value, and stooping I reached for a crisp one thousand dollar bill which protruded very conspicuously through a mass of gold and silver pieces. My thought was, “Get those of the largest denomination, thereby enabling me to procure the large amount.”

Just as my outstretched hand was about to grasp the bill, very suddenly there appeared the head of a snake. I jumped