The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-05-19

Jan-ila he assigned the rife, warming
him not TO fire until he was ordered.
The youth was most bloodthirsty; he.
wanted to NOW down whole rows of the
enemy at once and disperse them before
they could begin the attack. bat Eric
showed him the folly of the proceed
ing.
They could see that the Atzlans were
disputing among themselves, debating
perhaps the method or propriety of nat
tack, but it was impossible to hear what
was being said. TWAS now light enough
to see also that there were hundreds Of
priests in the horde, and that they were
the leaders. As yet the enemy had not
seen the beseiged at all and knew not
how many were in the house. When it
grew lighter they moved mp the slope
and halted again, forming in a great
semicircle about forty feet away. Te-
pelpec, with great ak and a rude sort
of shield, was evidently in command.
He was to the fore few feet, and when,
moment after they had halted, Eric
sent Jan-ila out to speak to them he
raised shout of angry defiance. Jan-ila
took no notice of him, but stood in an
attitude of seniridiculous dignity, with
a most elaborate smile of derision and
contempt ON his face, awaiting silence
to begin his speech. The shouts and
murmurs subsiding quickly, he let his
gaze wander along the line and began:
Chow long, o friends, have the people
| of Atzlan followed the leadership of Te-
| pelpec the Polecat? 1t is new thing to
me to see him in the part of chiefl
! Perhaps he has poured upon you the
| juice of the weed that blinds mems eyes
so that they see no longer, and you think
you follow the eagle or the great bear.
! Or perhaps it's I who am blind, and it is
not the polecGt see arrayed for battle.
Woe to me if he strike me, this mighty
chief Lo, see mel how I tremble be-
fore himl What seek you here, Tepel-
pee? Are there no old women for you to
fightP Are the little girls and boys no
longer alive to be terrified by your face
that you come here to meet men? Step
out, come nearer; though fear you, yet
will speak to you, Tepelpec the Pole
catI"
The priest took o step forward, then
stopped.
''Ha," cried Jan-ila, "you are modestI
Why, Tepelpec, never dreamed of It'll
You, the great chief and warrior, hest
tate to come to me-a boyP'
''T will come to you readily" answered
Tepelpec, eff you lay aside Quetzars
thunder death, which is in your hand.
IT'S that fear, not Jan-ila."
ayes, that it isP' Jan-ila retorted.
''You know well that can strike You
dead where you are by raising it thusp'
Tepelpec recoiled with some haste, and
the whole line drew back several yards.
SIT is the thunder death of Quetzalp
cried the youth, holding it aloft and
looking at iG with bright, exulting eyes.
cit Stays, even as Quetzal Stays with his
eyes if he will. Far away he can smite
with it; no man can escape its deadly
breath. Their lies your ChalpaT He
stepped to the body and tore of the
blanket. There he lies; he dared the
thunder death, and it slew him"
The crowd broke out into wild shouts
and drew nearer. Jan-ila stood unmoved
as the yells increased and weapons were
brandished. He saw arrows being fitted
to the horn crossbows and spears being
aimed at him, and he knew that shower
of missiles might descend upon him, but
, he gave no sign of fear. He heard Eric's
voice behind him:
keep cool, and fire if any of them
come forwardp
He raised the rifle and aimed at Te-
pelpec, whose voice was loudest in incit-
ing an attack, but the priest was now
beyond reason. A wild frenzy possessed
not only him, but all of the priests and
many of the people. It seemed as though
they had imbibed some exciting narcotic
like that which drives the Malay into
the state of blind fury called "amuck,"
for while they ragged many of them
seemed oblivious to Jan-ila and strobe
about with frantic gestures and unmean-
ing cries.
Tepelpec ran a few steps toward jan
ia, and stopping hurled his ak at the
youth; it passed close to his head and
fell in the room beyond. Kuican
crouched closer behind the door, and his
sister, with blush of shame upon her
, face, picked up the weapon.
"Keep back" said Eric to her. Come
inside, Jan-ilai'' he cried, but the boy
had raised the rife again, and he heard
! the click of the hammer as it fell and
, the cartridge failed to explode.
: Jan-ila looked amazed; the whole mass
of men rushed at him and were almost
, upon him before he realized his position
! and turned to the sheltering doorway.
As they came up the slope Eric stepped
!; forth, and they halted for moment at
, the sight of him who, as Tepelpec had
assured them, was dead. He was calm
, and collected, but his face was stern and
; terrible. Tepelpec himself, terrified,
staggered back with his eyes bullying;
but three other priests-tall, why men
, mad and raving, in ferocious ecstasy
Of hate or intoxication, sprang at him.
One of them drew his bow taut, and as
he stood for a single second with his arm
= drawn back Eric fred at him, and be
!, fore the others had recovered from the
startling sound they both fell beside the
, archer. Tepelpec, either losing his head
! IN his fear or gaining courage In his
! desperation, took three steps forward.
. and he, too, fell, pierced by the great
. forty-four bullet from Eric's weapon,
t no BIZ Continual
] /