San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-02-16

fallen into kulcan's arms, and Leila was
helping him bear her to the ground floor
of the temple, while old Iklapel, stirred
with Almighty excitement, vainly begged
the dark faced Chalpa for an explana-
ton of the unusual outcries.
Chalpa's face, showed deadly fear.
Pallid and trembling, he stood gazing
at the yellow bearded stranger, unable
to answer Iklapel, or move, as was his
duty, to welcome the descending god:
a strange, president terror paralyzed his
limbs, and his teeth chartered audibly.
The people thronged outside the prin-
cipal gateway as Gilbert was carried
tenderly in the litter. toward the city.
He held his rifle securely and loosened
his revolver in its holster, not knowing
the outcome of events, but resolved to
see the thing through in the interests of
ethnology. Every step his bearers took
revealed new wonders to him, and he
was becoming rapidly convinced of the
truth that he was in a city of the past.
Up the temples causeway they bore
him to the clean white chamber on the
top-its dazzling gold plates arousing
calculations of. their intrinsic value in
his mind at once-and they placed the
litter in the center. Then they brought
him water and food-the first duties of
Atzlan hospitality being to supply the
guest with these before anything else is
done.
Bowling low before him, the priests,
bod in l,ni,
composure, offered him sheets of the
crisp, gauzy waiavi, kind of bread
made of meal finely ground and baked
upon hot stones; thin as a wafer these
sheets were rolled or folded, and they
melted in his mouth deliciOusly. Then
they brought him baked meats and
cakes, with sweet drink made from
the sprouting wheat, called kali. After
he had eaten his fill, which he did in a
slow and careful manner, avoiding the
betrayal of the fact that he was nearly
starved, for god should not, he felt,
show vulgar hunger and thirst, they
brought him a small carafe of the sacred
aitsi, which he found TO be a very ordi-
nary brand of corn whisky, but exceed
ingly strong.
When he had finished he drew out his
meerschaum, filled and lighted it. This
proceeding was watched by the priests
and as many of the chiefs as could see
into the chamber with pudisguised fear
and trembling. The striking of the
match upon the stones and the bursting
of the little flame into life was a signal
for startling outcry. When the CRATE
full smoke proceeded in gently rising
circles from his mouth and the aroma
illed the air the looks cast upon this iv-
ing censor were of profound awe. AS
each new wonder unfolded to their
gaze messengers were sent forth, and
their voices could be heard by Gilbert
as they announced the prodigy to the
people who waited without.
The situation began to grow perplex-
ing to the visitor after awhile. He Won
dered what was expected of him, and
questioned his ability to perform his du-
ties as a god. The role might be an ex-
acting one, and he felt the need of in
struction. The white faces which he
saw around him seemed to forbid the
idea of barbarism, and he addressed to
Kulcan several questions in the language
he was master of to be answered only in
a strange, soft tongue, with many genu-
Elections and much apparent awe.
Finally, rested and fed, he rose and
strobe to the door, placing his wide
sombrero on his head. AS he did so all
hurriedly made way for him. When he
appeared in view of the waiting popu-
lace they set up greatand joyous shout,
to which he answered by removing his
hat and bowling graciously. He was fol
lowed by the obsequious priests, Kulcan
leading, in the endeavor to show him
honor.
81 wonder" he unused, eff they expect
me to fly away suddenly, or if this sort
of thing is going to last. If it does, il
will grow intolerable to man of modest
tastes"
Turning his eyes he encountered the
gaze of Chalpa, whose forbidding face
showed the utmost terror, the muscle.
of his lips working with spasmodic
twitches as he met Gilbert's piercing
questioning glance. The latter knew
intuitively that the man before him haC
some special cause to fear him, and "a
he noted the evil countenance he resolved
to keep a watch upon him, feeling in
stinctively that here was an enemy, anC
possibly dangerous one.
He observed at glance the genera
divisions of society in the crowd below
and about him. The white robes of tn
priests marked their vocation, while tn
dress of the chiefs and the opulen
citizens distinguished them sufficient
from the ordinary rabble. He counte