The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-28

in her eyes Immediately attracted my
attention. She passed and repassed me
and my eyes never left her. She was
movements than from her face knew
that she was q Chan-Santa-Cruz
logged her footsteps all the day long,
and as night came on and she started
out toward the Kantunil road was on
her track. She passed swiftly out through
the southern gate of the city at a sharp
pace, at every step turning to see if she
was being followed. kept well in the
rear, but never lost sight of the dim fig
ure trudging ahead of me. The night
being dark | WAS not discovered, and
for hours we glided along the silent
country road
During the early part Of the night
we passed Sotutu and Toholop, and at
midnight we skIrted the village of Noy-
axche. She had the endurance of a
honess, for never for a moment did she
stop even for a slight rest, but sped along
in manner that would have wearied a
younger man than myself Toward
morning we passed Konot and Kampol-
koche, and my heart beat with excite
ment when, after passing the last named
place, she started across country in the
direction of Chan-Santa-Cruz, the town
that lies close TO the border of the swamp.
Hardly had we left the silent houses
of Kampolloche behind when to my
surprise / found that was following
two figures instead of one. The new
conner was a man, and evidently the
husband of the woman, for they con-
tinued on in company, and, in order to
be more secure, fell a little behind.
81 was now in quandary, for we
were rapidly approaching the dreaded
swamp, and l could smell the damp rank
breeze that blew from it's mysterious
depths.
Il had no time to lose in speculation,
so after moments thought determin-
ed to go on. Streaks of dawn began to
appear in the sky just as the two figures
plunged into the dark depths of the
swamp, and, so as not to lose sight of
them, ] increased my pace. In doing so
| must have lost my caution, for, turning
a short bend formed by the trees, l saw
within ten PAGES Of me q stalwart Chan
Indian.
His bow was drawn taut and the ar
row was pointed straight at me. | stop
ped and turned, and as did so felt the
most agonizirg pains across my eyes,
and the last remember before losing
was a feeling that all the
fires of hell were in my veins.
How long l lay in this condition l
know not. When l regained my senses [
found my clothing torn and blood stain
ed, my feet were covered with mud and
slime, and my face felt hot and caked
with blood and dirt must have wan
dered around during my delirium, fo-
when my mind became clear | found
myself in a place that was entirely new
TO me-a spot that could not remember
ever having seen before.
My head ached terribly and my throat
was parched with thirst. After climb
ing a tall cocoa palm and drinking the
milk Of several nuts the pain in my
throat subsidized little. and as my brain
became clearer heidea suddenly dawned
upon me that | was lost in the dismal
swamp. The thought was one calculated
to inspire in me extreme terror, for |
knew full well that no man. with the ex-
ception of a Cruz. had ever
been known TO leave the place alive.
While meditating on my position a
strange imagination occurred to me.
Could it be that had been wounded by
a poisoned arrow and had the poison so
permeated my system as to render it in
nOcuous TO the deadly miasmas Of the
swamp? placed my hand to my head
and nay fingers came in contact with the
terrible open wound made by the arrow.
Tearing away piece Of my cotton shirt
bandaged as best | could the wound,
and then | looked about me for a means
Of escape By this time all desire had
left me to discover the hidden supply 90
the gold dust, and the thought upper.
most in my clouded mind was to devise
some means of escape from my perilous
position.
Huge, kissing, wriggling serpents
ylided past my feet as made my way
through the dense underground. and the
woods seemed fairly alive with grin
ming, chattering monkeys. Beautiful
birds of brilliant plumage fitted from
rec to tree, and had it not been for the
shiny black pools that at every step
yawned grim and terrible ut my feet | /
,ould have imagined myself in Paradise.
As the suns rays glinted from the top
most branches of a tall palm the idea
TO me to climb a tree and find, /
f possible, what direction 20 take to get |
out OF the swamp. 5uiUing the action /
o the thought climbed "A huge cypress
rec, and now. senores, | only ask as a
that you believe what tell /
you.
AS | reached the topmost branch and /
climbed out on a huge projecting limb /
found that what had taken to be the /
lrect rays Of the sun was only the re- 1
lection from some brilliantly dazzling I
object, which at first ] could not make !
out, so blinded were my eyes. | gazed I
Ong and steadily at the mysterious /
hing, and when my eyes became some
what accustomed TO the glare | saw a |
light that has never for a moment faded |
rom my memory since that memorable /
Glistening and shining in the /
morning sun, flashing d thousand rays Of |
glorious light iato my wondering eyes,
vas what l can only term a silver city"
pread out before my gaze; not over a /
quarter of mile away was the most /
superb pauoram my eyes had ever rested |
lpon. Lying snugly ensconced between a /