The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-28

aged oueber. Leaning against the wall,
with his arms folded upon his breast, the
tre-worshipper was gazing at him with IN
EXPRESSION of %ferocity.
What is the matter, Goucha- Nichin?''
Maurice cried. "Why do you look at me
thus?'
The old man made no answer. Whether
from anger, fear. or hatred. his whole face
had changed. At first sight Maurice and
Gargaridi also thought that his Senses must
have left him, but there was something
about the expression of his eyes which dis
PEELED this fear. Maurice approached him
and laid a hand upon his arm.
Tell me-" he said firmly, what ails you?
Why this look upon your face? Is it anger
at my having led you here? But, after all,
there was no necessity for your following
me. Exnlain, Goucha-Nichin, or, perhaps,
we had better return, and you can tell me
on our homeward way. My sister and your
granddaughter must be anxious about US.
Let us go back to them and recommence our
explorations Tomorrow"
"And if you will oblige me-" put in Gar
garidi will an injured air, you will assume
a more amiable look. Is is not too cheerful
here us it is. and your expression, Monsieur
Goucha-Nichin. makes ones flesh creep. Is
it not so, Monsieur Maurice?"
Without needing the Greeks words, the
old man continued to gaze at Maurice with
the same strange and savage look. Sudden
ly he raised both arms, made one step for
ward, and, drawing his cloak around him
with Il gesture of despair, he uttered a long
and harsh CRY. Then, while the other two
looked at him in stupefaction, he cried:
"Oh! thrice-cursed day! Oh! day of des-
tiny and wrath! They have penetrated into
your sanctuary. o Mithra! With their
footsteps they have polluted the sacred
soil which has never yet been trod-
priest that l am! Wretched old man! 1t
is owing to me that this frightful sacrilege
has been committed; l have been the one
to guide a stranger to the very heart of thy
temple: my hand has led him to the sane
tuary consecrated by the devotion of ages.
il his impure breath sullies the mystic all,
If by his presence he pollutes the holy of
| holes, if the words of his barbarous tongue
are spoken in thy chambers, it is thanks to
me! to me. the wretched Goucha-Nichin
The temple is soiled, the sacrilege is ac-
complished; and it is thy priest, oh Mithra,
who is to blame!"
Then. as if addressing himself: "Thou
dids't wish to p oft through the strangers
science. Mobed; thinking to deceive this
young Feranghi and to make use of him in
regaining the secret of which cruel fate had
robbed thee! And 10! it .s the stranger who
has proiited by thy knowledge; who.
thanks to thee, has been able to penetrate a
spot where his very presence is an outrage.
Thy crime is a %frightful one, Mobed. and
the most cruel death would nos suffice to
punish it.! Die, wretch that thou art, die!
Honorable burial shall not be thine! Thy
flesh shall corrupt the sacred air of this
crypt But even that sacrilege cannot
equal the awful insult laid to thy charge;
the presence, the breath, the look of this
impure stranger.
"But here! stop!' cried Gargardi. at last,
indignant at the fire-worshipper's libei al
abuse; latter all, the evil is one that can DO
cured, and If our coming here has been such
Il great sin-why, we can easily go away. A
few publications and other ceremonies Of
your religion and NIL be well.'
| But the words seemed to redouble tho old
mans Jury. go away from here?' he
cried; "regain the outer world in order to
divIlge the secret of the mystic temple2
Never! Neverl Death. n thousand times.
starvation! Leave here? Yes. without
doubt l could lead you back: n few minutes
and we should once more be in the hall of
Instruments; Il few more and we should
arrive Mt the turning stone-of
which you, miserable fool, discovered
the secret-in less than two hours we
should be III the open air above Goul-Hek.
But, 1 tell you. 1t shall not be 30! | will
not add to my crime, already so terrible, by
taking you from here. You insisted upon
entering? Well, remain! Die! Evil be
upon you! Curses IN you, vile strangers!
Oh. Mlthra! deign to accept the sacrifice
which in his depair the Mobed offers. These
F~ernnghis counts for nothing, but he gives
up his life, his last few hours consecrated
to thy service. A weak young girl is all
that will DO left Of n race which has served
thee SO long and faithfully; but she has my
instructions, she Possesses all my science.
Unhappy child! Will sue be able to WORTH