Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-06-03

Heraclio possessed very violent tenn
per, and when in rage was terrible.
witch of the mountains cautioned him
when he was child to restrain his
temper, or it would not only prove his
ruin, but the destruction of Mexico.
He was SO proud and naughty that he
held even the King in defiance. Sure
ly the Monarch would not dare punish
one so powerful and influential as he.
The King had been at war with some
northern tribes and had succeeded in
humiliating them, and compelling
them to pay tribute. Heraclio returned
laden with spoils and honors, and a
great banquet was given in honor
OF him, in the plaza in front Of the
Kings palace. He was honored as
no General had ever been, and made
one of the Kings chief advisers. There
was poor slave whom Heraclio bitterly
hated. He purchased the slave. who
had been captured in war. and made
his life miserable. Before his capture
the young man had been a Prince, and
it was his bravery which had won the
lasting hate of Heraclio. He finally
had the captive Prince dragged to the
mountain and there chained to tree.
He beat him with a stick until he was
bruises from head to foot. Then he
had the vultures come day by day, and
devour his flesh as fast as it grew.
Heraclio rejoiced in his misery and
used every device to increase it. The
Prince prayed to die and end his suf-
fering. but death was denied him.
Heraclio kept tame vultures to feast
on his flesh, until his lower limbs were
nothing but dry bones. One day the
tortured man refused to breathe and
ended his miserable life by voluntary
suffocation.
1.-The King heard of the cruelty of
his chief counselor, and had him ar
rested. But Heraclio had such conf
dence in his high position that he did
not dream that harm could befall him.
As he was going across the judicial
chamber he saw his own portrait hang
ing on the wall, with a line traced by
an arrow across it., He started back
filled with fear and establishment. A
capital sentence was indicated in that
manner. He had over-estimated his
power, and had been sentenced to
death. With the fear of death, came
the horrors of remorse. The blood of
the murdered slave seemed to cry out
against him, and he fled from the pal
ace. The guards, not knowing he was
allowed him to pass. He
fled to the mountains. Los Tres Frailes
f1,.sf rnanbal on1 hoy, ho bod
concealed himself, he lay down to
sleep. He slept lenStime-some say
hours, some say days, and some say a
hundred years. When he awdke the
small trees about him had grown old
and died. He was very hungry and
had no food, and no means of provid-
ing any save the flint-head spear he
had brought with him. He espied a
fawn short distance away and gave
chase to'it. 1t fled, going down, down,
down into deep canyon. He seemed
to neither gain nor lose on it. The
chaparral and mesquit bushes disap-
peared, the cactus was left behind, and
on every side there sprang up a
strange, unnatural tree He pursued
the fawn through canyon SO dark
that no object but the animal, which
seemed of golden color, could be
seen. After wandering for miles
through the dark canyon, he came out |
n broad valley watered by delight
jul rivers, and covered with luxuriant |
grasses. There was city in the dis |
.ance, the streets Of which were paved |
with gold. The spires and roofs glist-
,ned so that he scarce could bear the |
light The gates were of pearl, and |
before them tall, dark soldiers in shin
NC armor solemnly marched. He had |
10 thought of the fawn now, but slak-
ne his thirst in the first stream he
came to, started for the Reals Perdi-
los o Encantados'
"Alto ahi,' (halt) said the sentry
Is he came near the gate. The I'M
fortunate Heraciio came to stand.
still, for the man handled his shining
ance in such way that the senor's |
courage seemed all of a sudden to de-
'ert him. who are you?'
''He explained that he was Gener-
Il of the army OF the King of the Az
ecs, and wanted shelter within the
N stAlS VI INC CitN. 1Hc. ScIltIy WHO |
seemed to know his past history, re-
used to admit him until he had burned |
incense to the gods for the peace of the
nan he had so cruelty murdered. The
proud Heraclio refused to do this. He |
vas sorry he had committed the MUIR
Ter, but he could not humiliate him
self in this manner. For days and !
weeks he wandered about the valley,
on grass, and roots, and
herbs, like the cattle-refusing to do
he bidding of the sentry. The sentry
gas always at the gate and the walls
we're so high that he could not climb
hem, or get glimpse of the interior.
from behind those walls came the
sweetest music ear had ever heard.
It seemed to come from some instru-
nent that foated in the air. Voices
Oined in singing songs so sweet as to
Utmost drive him mad. He was tor
nented at times by flying vultures and
and the most loathsome ami
mails one ever saw. Through all one
white dove seemed to act as his friend.
md urged him to comply with the de-
nand of the sentry, and enter the gate.
ie held out yet awhile, but his torment
vas too great and at last he complied,
incense to appease the wrath