The morning call., 1890-08-24

to escape before they should see us. We
decided that the best plan would be to hide
in the temple Of the serpent god until day
break and then make our way back TO Pich
as best we could. We started for the ravine,
going to the PalOmal first and securing our
arms. Although the moon gave faint
glimmer in the rest of the forest, it was
pitch dark under the trees shading the
ravine in which the temple Stood We crept
into the temple and felt our way around
the wall to the right side OF the altar, where
was the closet which have mentioned be-
fore, and sat down to await the coming OF
daylight. We did not think that the SUBJ
levados would track~us to the temple, as
we believed that they we're Ignorant OF Its
existence. For several hours we sat there IN
the closet, and then Barnard declared that he
was tired of the cIamped position, and pro-
posed that we set out for Pich Immediately.
After some discussion we concluded that it
4 ould be better to start at once instead
of waiting for morning, and so started for
the door. Hardly had we taken ten steps
across the floor, when We heard voices
without. Tine subleyados." whispered
Barnard. IF they discover US we will
make the beS of ii, and fight as well as We
can" We hurried back to the closet and
flattened ourselves against the wall. The
voices now entered the temple, and we
heard bundles Of something deposited on
the floor. There was crack Of flint and
Steel, and flames from a heap OF touch
wood Qhe bundles we heard dep0Slted)
lighted the room, now brightly and now
dimlv, but the closet was so dark that We
were not seen. There were twenty suble-
vados in the temple, fne-looklng men, with
nodding feather planes and quilted armOr.
such as the AZtecS wore. They spoke Ill
the Maya tongue, the tongue OF the ancient
and modern inhabitants OF Southern Mex
leo.
UNDERSTOOD.
I'M. 20, 1i,r 70
us, for, as the Southern Mexlcans use 1t al
most entirely instead Of Spanish. we had
learned il by daily Intercourse with the
people. The Indians ranged themselves
about the end of the altar In half-eircle
and the talleSt and most magnitcently
dressed of them stepped before the rest
and, raising lis hands toward the serpent
image, began to address it: "Itzicoatl, it
is a year since the blood OF human sacrifice
has flowed upon your altar, and tonight
we stand before you empty-hauded. Chill
dren OF the accursed white race are about
watched them, but tonight we slackened
our vigilance and they have escaped.
Empty-handed are we, but IN a little whlle
we shall disperse in the forest to hunt for
these whites, and if they be not found we
will away to the outskirts of some village
and make captive the first we come upon.
for our duty to you must be fulfilled, aud
hu man blood anOlnt your altar once
year" The Indian ceased, and then knelt
prone before the altar, all the others doing
likewise, save TWO, who stood guarding the
door. Silent as death were the Indians. and
the cracking of the fire alone disturbed the
quiet Five minutes passed, and in 4 sud
den flarlng up OF the flames one OF the
guards saw our forms dlmly outlined against
the darkness OF the closet. lie whispered
TO the other guard, and they peered earnestly
in our direction. The fire had died down
ppII,G nothing How
ever their suspicious had been aroused,
and they started across the room to lnveStl-
gate. Slowly they came, pauSing at every
step, silent, probably because they did not
wish TO disturb the wOrShippers by false
alarm. We thought that our time had
come, and | was about to shout to my COM
panious 10 make dash for the door when
the advancing Indians stopped and glared
at the altar with every sign OF fear. Crawl
ing along the altar from the bleak hole Ill
the wall was an immense bOa-constrlctor.
The kneellug Indians, UNCONSCIOUS OF the
danger, had commenced low, grooming
chant " lille the guards stood staring IN
fascinated terror. The serpent reached the
end of the altar and dropped upon the
chief and encircled him with his crushing
coils.
FLEE! FLEE!
The chief and the guards screamed with
fear, and the crowd IF WorshiperS eaped 10
their feet IN confusion. Flee flee % cried
the dying chief, flee from the wrath of
Itzicoatl in whose power | am. The god IS
angry because we brought no sacrifice and
| have become the sacrifice" The Indians
rushed from the temple, scattering their
IRE in their mad haste, leaving us alone in
the dark with the terrible snake and his
victim. We dreaded the sublevados in the
wood, but the means of the dying man and
the sckening sound OF the crushing bones
was more than we could stand, and we fled
from the temple of the serpent god.
Cautiously we walked through the forests
and reconnoiiered the ruins. No Indians
were in sight. We proceeded to the Palomal,
mounted ON mules, and set out for Pich. AS
a turn of the path hid the last white build
ing Of the dead city, again in the forest We
heard the bell of the campanero. 1T was
not for us that the blessed San Antonio
rang his bell" said Jose: ''it was for the
| caciQue of the sublevados."
1t was lucky thing for us thata wander
ing boa had happened TO choose for his lair
the spot where his ancestors had been
orshiped.-Lieutenant W. \. Curtis in
III