The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-05-21

. haK0 40 tcITlults n
WITCH OF the mountains cautioned him
when ne was q child to restrain his
temper, or u would not only prove his
ruin. but the destruction Of Mexico.
~ was SO proud and naughty that he
held even the King In defiance. Sure
~ the Monarch would not dare punish
one so powerful and influential a. he.
The King had been at war with some
northern tribes and had succeeded in
humiliating them. and compelling
them 70 pay tribute. Hcraclio returned
laden with spoils and honors, and a
great banquet "a given In honor
Of him, in the piazza in front of the
Kings palace. lie was honored as
no General had ever been, and made
ono Of the Kings chief advisers. There
was a 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
II was his bravery which had won the
lasting hate Of Hcrac.io. He finally
had the captive Prince dragged 10 the
mountain and there chained to a tree.
He beat him with a stick until he was
pbruises from head to foot. Then he
had the vulturcs come day by day, and
devour his flesh as fast as il grew.
Heraclio rcjoiccd in his misery and
used every device to increase il. The
Prince prayed to die and end his suf-
fcring. but death was denied him.
Hcraclio kept tame v~ulturcs to feast
on his flesh, until his lower limbs were
nothing but dry bones. One day the
tortured nan refused to breathe and
ended his miserable life by voluntary
~suffocation.
The King heard of the cruelty Of
his chief counselor. and had him ar
rested. But Heraclio had such conf
dcnce in his high position that he did
not ream 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 rcmorsc. The blood Of
the murdered slave seemed to cry out
against him. and he fled from the pal
ace. The guards, o knowing he was
condemned, allowed him to pass. He
fled 10 the mountains. Los Tres Frailcs
was first reached. and when be had
concealed himself. he lay down to
sleep. He slept a long time-some say
hours. some say days, and some say a
hundred years. When he awoke 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 cspied a
fawn a short distance away and gave
chase TO it. 1t fled, going down. down,
down into a deep canyon. He seemed
to neither gain nor lose on il. 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 a canyon so dark
that no object but the animal. which
seemed Of a golden color, could be
seem After wandering for miles
through the dark canyon. he came out
in a broad valley watered by delight
full rivers, and covered with luxuriant
grasses. There was a city in the dis
lance, the streets Of which were paved
with gold. The spires and roofs glist-
eIed so that he scarce could bear the
light. The gates were of pearl. and
before them tall. dark soldiers in shin
ing IN solcmnly marched. He had
no thought of the fawn now. but slak-
ing his thirst in the first stream he
came to, started for the Reals Pcrdi-
dos . Encantados.'
"'Alto ahi,' (halt) said the sentry
rs he came near the gate. The un-
fortunate Heraclio came TO a stand
still. for the man handled his shining
lance in such a way that the scnor's
courage seemed all of a sudden 10 de-
sert him. who are youP'
"Hc explained that he was a Gcner-
al Of the army of the King Of the Az
tees. and wanted shelter within the
walls Of the city. The sentry who
seemed to know his past history, re-
fused TO admit him until he had burned
incense to the gods for the peace Of the
man he had 50 cruelty murdered. The
proud Heraclio refused to do this. He
was sorry he had committed the MUIR
der, but he could not humiliate him
self in this manner. For days and
weeks he wandered about the valley.
subsisting on grass, and roots, and
herbs. like the cattle-rcfusing to do
the bidding of the sentry. The sentry
was always at the gate and the walls
were SO high that he could not climb
them, or get a glimpse Of the interior.
From behind those walls came the
sweetest music ear had ever heard.
Ii seemed to come from some instru-
ment that floatcd in the air. Voices
joined in singing songs so sweet rs to
almost drive him mad. He was tor
mentcd at times by flying vulturcs and
serpcnts. and the most loathsome ami
mails one ever saw. Through all one
dove seemed TO act as his friend.
and urged him to comply with the de-
mand Of the sentry, and enter the gate.
lie held out yet awhile, but his torment
was too great and at last he complied,
burning incense 70 appcasc the wrath
of the gods. Then as he approached
the gate, the sentry raised his lance in
and the gates Of pearl opened
wide for him to enter. He passed
through, accompanied by the dove.
which bidding him follow. spread its
and flew to a grove the like Of