Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-04-13

peered into their faces as they came up
to him.
The STOPPING figure, SO like Iklapel in
it's mimicry, Strengthened up before him
suddenly. and at the same instant he
was seized from behind in viselilie
grip and thrown to the ground. He
struggled to release his arms and draw
his revolver, but his assailants had in
creased in numbers. a gag was forced
into his mouth, and his arms were bound
behind him. He was allowed TO lie
there for a moment, and then they
raised him to his feet. lie saw that he
was surrounded by a number OF men in
priests robes, but it was too dark to
recognize any of them. He looked in
vain for Chalpas face, but the priest
was not visible. One of the band went
into his house. and bringing forth tho
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 though 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, so full of hate and fendish salts
faction that it chilled his captive's heart
| for a moment.
"Ah, our pale Quetzal has lost his
power! Why does he not strike his serv-
ant dead with his eyes; Where is his
| II !.
now save himself. See" he said, turn
ing 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 dead"
"Show us now thy mighty magic, o
wonder worker" cried another, 'before
We entomb thee forever!'
He does not answer" added Chalpa
in mock pity. He is silent before his
servants. Speak, O doer of strange
deeds, and 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 a ruined mass
of ancient tolnbs. Here they placed
him, and while one held the tiickering
light the others removed several flat
stones. revealing an opening large
enough to admit Il man. Into this they
crawled, one after another, and pushed
Gilbert, feet first, into what he found to
DO q great square passageway choked
with debris. One man remained on
guard at the entrance; the rest followed
tho light in Chalpa's hand down the in
clincd passage.
The air was cool in the passage, but
not damp, and the light fiiclSered now
and then as they proceeded. He noticed
several branching passages but his bear
crs followed the main one until they
came to It's lowest depth, where it seemed
to ascend beyond to still farther dis
lance Here they laid him down and
drew bacl-all but Chalpa-whO, stand
ing over him with a scowl of hate, adj
dressed him, holding the light close to
his face:
Fool to think to outwit Chalpa. the
rattlesn&ke, the willy serpent. Know
you not how many men have died who
crossed the rattlesnakos path? Their
homes are whitening III secret places;
their homes know them no more; their
memory even is faded and coue-even
Us yours viii be-for KiNchahan. our
god, loves his servant and hates all false
gods; therefore | leave you to him here
III the darkness. Listen and you will
hear the river running overhead; we are
now beneath It's bed. You will have
time to listen TO its voice and be lulled
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 Chalcu,
the dread one.
With one last bitter glance of hatred
e. Chalpa left him. Eric saw the light
grow dim as his captors went up and
along the tunnel, and then it disap-
peared. When the footballs ceased he
heard the solemn sound above him,
which told him that the river rolled
close over his head. lie realized that hs
was in one of the most ancient of the
crypts of which Iklapel had informed
him, SO old that it had been forgotten
long ages ago.