Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-04-13

into his mouth. and Ills arms were s6oundi
behind him. fle was allowed to lie
there for a. moment. and then they
raised him to his feet. He sawsthat he
was surrounded by number Of men In
priests robes, but it was too dark to.
recognize any Of them. he looked i'm
vain for Chalpa's face, but the priest
was not visible. One Of the band went
into his house, and bringing forth the
candle led the way into the pinon or
chards, the rest following with Eric,
who, resisting sullenly in unavailing
self censure, was carried bodily.
They hurried him along, as thong fear
Ing pursuit, through the orchards, along
the river again until they came to the
ancient burial place, where they halted.
moment to be joined by Chalpa. His
black eyes cleaned in fierce JOY as he
leaned over Eric and smiled his cruelest
smile, 30 full of hate and iendish satis-
faction that 1t chilled his captive's heart
for q moment. ysss;
"Ah, our pale Quetzal has lost his
powerl Why does he not strike hissery-
ant dead with his eyes? Where is his
strength now? IL heSbesa god, let him
now save himself See," he said, turn
ling to his fellow priests. "See the sick,
weak god; how he lies there pale and
feeble! Why does he not call forth his
thunder and strike Us deadY
'Show us now thy mighty magic, 20
wonder worker cried another. before
We entomb thee foreyerI'
.He does not answer added Chalpai
In mock pity. HE is silent before his
servants. Speak, o doer of strange
deeds, aud speak thy last, for silenced
You will be forever this night.
Eric made no attempt to speak, know
ing that the effort would but provoke
their derision, and they raised him;
again, carrying him to q ruined mass.
of ancient tombs. Here they placed
him sand while one held the Pickering
light the others removed several flat!
stones, revealing an opening large;
enough to admit q man. Into this they
erawled. one after another, and pushed
Gilbert. feet first, into what he found to
be great square passageway choked
with debris. One man: remained on
guard at the entrance; the rest followed
the light in Chalpa's hand down the In.
clined passage.
The air was cool in the passage, but
not damp, and the light 'aickered now
and then as they proceeded. he noticed
several branching passages, bnt his bear
ers followed the main one until they
came to it's lowest depth. where it seemed
to ascend beyond to u still farther dis,
tance. Here they laid him down and
drew back-all but Ghalpa-who. stand;
ing over him with u scowl of hate, ad.33
dressed him. holding the light close to
his face:
.Fool, to shink to outwit Chalpa, the
rsttlesnake. the willy serpent! Know.
you not how many men haveNdied who
crossed the rattlesuake's path? Their
bones are whitening in secret places:
their homes know them no more: their
memory even is faded and gone-eyel
az yours will be-for Kinchahan. onr
god, loves his servant and hates all fiilse
gods; therefore leave yousto, him here
in the darkness. Listen and you Will
hear the river running overhead; we are
now beneath its bed. You will have
time to listen to its voice and be lnlled
to sleep. No one will disturb your
dreams this night. o false god, for here
man never comes. You will sleep the
sleep that comes to all who anger Chslcu,
the dread one"
With one last bitter glance Of hatred
Chalpa left him. Eric saw the light
grow dim as his csptors went up and
along the tunnel, and then it sdisap.
peared. When the footballs ceased he
heard the solemn sound above him,
! ! z.i-a z.,,ii;-a fold him that the river rolled
80: sed that he