Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-05-04

the priest was about to throw the knife.
His hand was raised, and his fingers
lessened their hold upon the blade, and
then Eric saw fash, loud report rang
through the room, and Chalpa dropped
the knife and fell prone upon his face.
He rose in moment to his knees in a
convulsive effort and strained every
muscle to gain his feet. His body swsyed
forward thrice; then, with his empty
hands reaching forward with wild,
clutching motion, he fell on his face
again, dead.
Jan-ils stood in the doorway with the
smoking rifle in his hand and a smile OF
mixed wonder and complacency on his
face.
"You have killed him" cried Eric as
he placed the now unconscious girl upon
his bed.
eyes," said Listah, appearing behind
Jan-ila and looking somewhat askance
at the rifle. she would have killed you.
He deserved his death; it is justice"
"Thanks to the gods," interposed Jan
liza, 'she is now out Of the way. can
breathe easier"
Eric cut the bonds that confined Kul-
cans limbs, and as he did so Jan-ila
cried out:
ssSome one comes!'
AS he spoke Tepelpec stood In the
doorway, and after giving one look at
the PROSTATE form of his dead accom-
plice turned and was lost in the dark
ness. Listah called to him, but received
no answer; they only heard his rapid
footballs as he hurried toward the city.
"He has gone to get help" said Jan
lila. eve may have to defend ourselves
until we can summon our own forces.
1 will go to the city and arouse our
friends"
"No, let me co." suggested Listah'
"I am too old to be Of as much use here
as you"
eyes, Listah can co." said Eric. "He
can best serve us SO, and meanwhile il
we have to fight we can hold this place
against a thousand until he brings help.
Listah departed Immediately. They
carried the corpse of Chalpa out and laid
it upon blanket.
"Now for preparations" cried Eric.
"First let us wet down the roof, for If
they fight us they may try to fire that
first"
This they set about doing at once. AS
tbav worked thew heard sounds in the
city which told them that the people
had been aroused by the rifle shot. They
could see lights moving upon the roofs
and hear the shouts of the people. A
little later they saw group approach,
ing the house which was now to be
fortress. 1t was too dark to distinguish
the features of those approaching, and
they retired within doors to await them.
The group halted within a hundred
yards of the house, and the watchers
heard them conversing in low tones.
Shortly afterward another and larger
party appeared and Joined forces with
those already upon the ground. Eric
began to feel that they were really be.
sieged. No move was made by the
enemy, however, and he concluded that
they were awaiting the light Of day to
begin operations. Itwas now about two
o'clock in the morning. Leila had re.
covered consciousness and had been sc
calmed by the presence of her lover and
brother that she had sunk to sleep.
Eric's own eyes were heavy, for he had
not slept for two nights. Jan.ila, who
was as fresh looking as a boy and as
wakeful as cat, whispered to him
when they had grown tired Of watching
and waiting for some action on the part
of the besiegers:
ellie down, master; you and Kulcan
both need rest, and I will watch them.
If anything happens l will awaken you
at once"
Realizing the need of rest, Eric felt
the force of this advice, and after few
words of caution to their sentinel threw
himself upon his bearskin. Kulcan
stretched himself beside his sister, and
in very few minutes they were both
soundly sleeping. Jan-ila Sat upon the
doorsill, with his eyes fixed upon the now
silent forces Of the enemy. he felt
rather than saw that there were eyes In
the darkness Watching him, also closer
perhaps than he imagined, and he invol.
unfairly drew indoors as he speculated
upon an unseen enemy piercing him with
a stone tipped spear or arrow.
Nothing occurred, however, and at
last the nights intense blackness began
slowly to give way to the gray dawn.
BE awoke Eric and Kulcan, and they
surveyed the array before them with
different feelings.
Eric measured the forces with cool,
calculating eye. He knew that his re-
volver and rifle were equal to the task
of defending his fortress, but he did not
relish the idea of slaughtering these
human beings, and he still hoped that
they were there only to parley with him
and not to avenge Chalpa's death. To
Jan-ila he assigned the rifle, warning
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, but Eric
showed him the folly of the proceed
ing.
They could see that the Atzlans wera
disputing among themselves, debating
perhaps the method or propriety of an at
tack, but it was impossible to hear what
was being said. Itwas now light enough
to see also that there werei 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 up the slope
and halted again, forming in a great
semicircle about forty feet away. Te-
pelpec, with great ak and rude sort
of shield, was evidently in command.
He was to the fore few feet, and when.
q moment after they had halted, Eric
sent Jan.ila out to speak to them he
raised shout of angry defiance. Jan-ila