The Constitutional., 1860-08-25

astonshcd view He suggested the necessity OF
renewed efforts in order to gain admission, and
proposed circling the walls to discover some inlet
or at least finding warder who might testify
more human sympathy than the figure before
them.
He told them it would be impiety to seek any
other passage across the valley than the one that
lay through the city, for the Great Spirit had
thrown them difficulties in the way i'll order to
prove the perseverance and f'arlessness which
must be their passport to the happy hunting
grounds"
1t was time to speak the language of encourage
ment, for the spirits of the Indians were Begin
ming to flag, under the suffsrings of body and
mind to which they had been exposed.
| Faith, or creduy, is the leading characteristic
of the savage. They listened and believed, and
had their path been enveloPcd in flames, not an
inch would they have swerycd from it.
As they approached the gate, which seemed by
its stupcndous size to have been hewn from the
gigantic trees of The adjacent forest, it was hoavi-
lv thrown open, and an old man with long
white beard, and costume which although re-
sembling those they had already seen, far sun
passed them in richness, emerged from the gate
and approached the strangers.
The warrior who stood nearest the entrance
gazcd with curiosity at the scene thus unexpected
" disclosed to view. lie saw a confused mass o
buildings glistcnng in the mornings sun, hu
his attention was soon riyctcd upon mulutud"
of people who stood in a scmi-circlr around AZ
open space directly in front Of the gate. Not the
slightest pcrccptibic motion amongst them, be
huycd the existence Of active, breathing life, bu
with a fixed umwirking stare, their eyes restr'
upon him. The warrior shudlcred when he ne
the stony gaze which chilled the blood within hi
veins. and as the old man by courteous gcstlW
invited the Prophet andlhis companions to enter
he shrurk back with indrfnable feeling q
dread
Whilst he lc,ita.ed, his friends Cut".ed and Il.
gate closed behind them. The heavy SCUM
aroused him, and he sprang forward 20 slar" th''
fate. whatever it might be; hut too late!
vain he called loudly for admittancc-no "sw"
my sound met his ear; in vain in his agony h
, appealed TO the wardcr-a vacant stare was ii
only answer For two most miserable days an
nights he remained before the walls, with ever
% sense painfully and acuiely strained 70 ca:e
r some token Of the continued existence q j
f: friends; but he was at las',forcrd TO the bitt'
# conclusion tha: they had met within tn city,
j fare even more dreadful fs,m the mystery IA
i rounding It,
Sick at heart, Il, prepared to r.'racc HI. so'i'a'
/, way but before hi, departure som" Gc@r''
c sympathy was testified by the wardcr, who. as
u aware Of hi, intentions lowered h.u a G.oat
# quantity Of provisions dsa at a..y prar;ou. 5r
Y SION.
b, This hon. ward iourn.y was hat ar'capi'u'
ton of aI previous difiyn;irs, enhanced i.!'-fo
$, bv III, solitary situation However, om his cour
IL he me-, with s.vcral wandering tribe of Indian
and remained lorg enough with them to r,cr'
ls in some degree his failing strength, and 90 "a
a. slfirirnt knowlrdgr of their dialect {" qn'sii
m ,hcm about the mysterious city. They h
- never heard of the existence Of such place, a
is in fact s,cmrd To give little crcd"nc" to
be- strange history
I'd His own tribn however were more G"dnlouN ID
re firmly believed the city to be the Portal 10
.c. happy hunting ground which lay back OF
w mountains, and would scofingly ask the unt'fj
n nate reater of the marvellous tale, of what en-
~ he had been guilty to thus close the gate
Paradise upon him. Stunned and d'Srl>'d
~ his tribe, the unhappy Indian dragged out a ~
IL crabe existence, lamcuting tn" cowardce VIII
.,h had d.bancd lin the entrance Of tn" SiLE
Dl