Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-04-06

prospect was very satisfactory to him |
and to Leila and Iklapel. That his COM
ing had been Of immense benefit to the
people he could see, and he felt swell
ing of pride at the fact which was only
quelled by the thought of what he could
have accomplished with better facilities.
He felt no desire to return to civilized
life; he was willing to devote several
years to the work Of converting this city
of the stone age into modern borough
with all its improvements With iron
as his servant everything was possible,
and in a few days iron would be forth
coming. Then for machinery, steam,
electricity!
Meanwhile he had accomplished Won
ders. Hundreds of labor saving devices
benefited the city; candles, soap, glazed
pottery, spinning wheels, improved
looms, beer, yeast, pulley hoists and
many other valuable fruits Of civilization
had been introduced. While he was fin
ishing his furnace he had made molds
for casting plowshares, harrows, anvils,
CRATES, axes, hammers and other imple
ments of cast steel, and he viewed the
outlook with supreme satisfaction. His
iron works were some distance from the
city-down in the canyon-where he had
discovered the remains of ancient smelt-
ing furnaces forgotten long ages since
and almost buried in the debris of the
shady cliffs. Remains like these have
since been discovered in other parts of
the region and show the facilities which
the prehistoric races possessed for smelt-
ing and casting ores. The Atzlans had
traditions only of the times when their
forefathers mined and worked their ores.
He had built as nearly perfect a Besse-
mer furnace as he could with his mate
rails, and it promised great results.
He had erected stone dwelling for
himself outside the city walls in wood
ed spot facing the river. On the APP
proach Of autumn he moved into it with
all his belongings. 1t had three rooms,
with modern tireplaces, and windows
with glass of poor quality, but home
product. The walls We're hung with the
great, gorgeously colored Atzlan blan-
kets, and furs covered the antique pave
ment of the floor-a treasure rihed from
du Oltl POI tlOLl VI tuc Illys
Iklapel had long before assigned to
him body servant named Jan-ila, a
dark, active lad of twenty, Ainee's only
brother, who cared for his wants with
pious zeal. Jan-ila-or Johnnie" as
Eric was fond of calling him-slept in
one of the smaller rooms, his master in
another, while the larger apartment
served as general office, dining aud
council room. Jan was SO apt pupil that
he outstripped both Kulcan and Iklapel
in his knowledge of mechanics, arts and
language under Eric's tuition, and Of
modern ideas he was most eager i'm
biber.
All of Gilbert's reforms and improve
ments had been accomplished without
in any manner usurping the functions
which Iklapel exercised pending the
election of a new governor. He had al
most entirely left his priestly duties to
kulcan, who performed them with a
laxity born of increasing distrust of the
efficacy of the religion Of his fathers.
This the crafty Chaipa had observed, and
he used it as a pretext for fomenting the
fears of the priests. He painted in
strong, fervid colors, and with potent
! logic, the decay of their ancient faith,
the downfall of priestcraft and the loss
of their fat livings. He so wrought upon
/ their fears at every opportunity by
these forceful pleas that he had already
formed fairly strong following.
Familiarity with Eric had lessened
their awe while II had increased their
admiration of him. They were already
willing to abandon their belief in his
divinity, and we1o beginning to realize
that instead of a being from another
world he was a man like themselves.
The events which now occurred aided
Chalpa's plans and strengthened his po
sition as a candidate for the governor
ship Both Iklapel and kulcan were
aware of a growing feeling among the
priests in favor of Chalpa's candidacy
but they did not believe that he could
gain adherents enough to affect the re
suit of the election, which was to occur
in the early spring, a week before thu
feast of the Katun. Eric and Iklapel haC
determined to divest this feast of it
horrible, sacrifcial, murderous char
acter, and the old priests powers wer'
all bent in this direction while he lef
the electioneering to Kulcan.
All of the younger priests could b
counted upon to favor his advanced
views, but only few of the elder coul'
be expected to depart from time hon
ored and powerfully potent religion
custom. While only few of them ha,
witnessed the last Katun feast, tfty-tw
years before, yet the barbaric rite ha'
many firm adherents. The subject ha'
been approached at great tribal meeting
in the circular estufas, but it had bee
handled so carefully that even Iklape
could form no opinion of the strength O
the new movement.
The blast furnaces had proved sue
cessful; men We're even now grindln
the new axes to an edge with intens
eagerness and satisfaction, and ever
one of Erics castings had turned on
perfect, much to his delight. 1t WI:
midwinter before they were finished
and his assistants had worked indoor
ap1 cppyarta1 oDa mart of he praat taD1