The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-21

lnVlRlDl6 pain. RklrtlnR Luo IOOb OIL ltHo
mountain. Often they we're forced to PEAT
which the plain was covered; the Rrdind
WAS thickly strewn with sharp-edged Hcks
which cut md tore the fire-worAhiprrs's
bare feet. But, needing nothing, he hurried
on as If pursued with wings and, spit OF
his youth and strong limbs, Maurice had
After about an hour OF this hard t4vel.
Goucha-N ichin stopped short and tuned
his face towards the city. :.
Behold ua at our iourney'a end" hesnid
in u quiet voice. ''l'he destinies arc bout
to DO fulfilled. Wait! and when Prfyon
shall have gone to rcst and Affair shal ap-
pear above the horizon Twill lead yu to
evil, fall on thy head, stranger, If eve the
secret is betrayed!'
ut is useless endeavoring to frihten
me-" said Maurice, quite unmoved. am
not a child, and believe me, it is quite plain
to me that you are sel wing your ownends
in revealing the secret to mo. Your own
words ave shown it. Let US move Toward
then. All the stars of the universdhave
nothing to do with us or our work, aid we
are losing valuable rime."
In spite of the gloom Maurice coud see
the fierce look the old man cast uponhim.
Barely. however, had n few seconds PISSED
when Gouoha-Nichin cried:
ne. hAth1l APPChAos ~ u lApVo bRyhCA
Forward!"
He hurried, with sure footsteps, tow I'd a
low-QrowinR bush. He tore aside its
branches and through their network nau-
rice could see, with the aid of the ln1ern
! which the old man had lighted, a large flat
white stone.
"Behold the entrance" said Gorha.
| Nichin in a solemn voice; abandoned one
years ago, this we'll has never been krbwr
to the common herd; only the priests md
those initiated have penetrated here. Ex-
amino your inner self, FeranRhi. Read pu1
own heart! If it contains a single blacl OF
evil thought, if there is within you the
slightest lust for wealth or power, If ypu'
| intentions have the least stain of selfish
ness, if, in a word, your soul is not as pare
az that of a babe who first sees the lightof
| day, beware Of entering this sanctuary
| There is yet time to draw back. Re1,ct
we'll, and be sure that the ruler of the hea-
ems can read every thought within you"
And do you. on your part, examine YOU
land if you consider yourself pure enoul
to enter there. proceed. ] will follow you'
The fire-worshipper stepped back a pad
and drew a deep sigh. After a pause, how
ever, he advanced again and handed t
Maurice the heavy iron bar.
"Your arm is young and strong, Ferane
hi" he said. "Raise the stone, and ma
| Mithra protect us!'
Maurice seized the bar and carefully in
serted one end under a corner of the ston'
With a vigorous effort he succeeded in rails
ing and ov%erturning it upon the grount
Before their eyes was q black u yawnin
hole.
The fre-worshipper extended his arm
and in a loud voice once more pronounce
an %incantation in the same unknown tongu,
Then taking the rope ladder which Maurit
had thrown down when using the lever. /
fastened its iron clamps securely to tn
edge of the we'll, down which he droppe
the ladder,
Follow me-" he directed; and descende
into the blackness of the hole. Maurit
followed him and on reaching the end {
the ladder-some dozen yards. perhaps
found that he was within easy reach of tt
i ground beneath him. Jumping from I'll
ladder he saw that he was upon the topmof
of a flight of broad stone steps. These tt
old man had already commenced I
descend. carrying the lantern in h
hand. Maurice proceeded in his wax
down what seemed an interminabl
number of steps, but which finally cam I
an end at the same time that the light gre
clearer and much brighter. The tire-wo1
shipper was waiting for him at the entrane
to a narrow, winding passage which brougt
him to IA circular, or rather hemispherical
chamber, for the rock had been hollowe
out SO as to form Il dome of perfect rount
ness, and of about twenty meters in dis
meter.
"And now" said Goucha-Nichin, stand
J ing before Maurice and holding his lamp 6