The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-02-24

IN,
Heco1IId see nothing IN the abyss bclotO
The beams Of tho morning sun had
been slanting down on the level plain
shove Atzlan for an hour, but the city
was still in deep shadow a thousand or
more feet below. Rosy tints lowered
. about the vermilion edges of the great
Gins, mingIIng with yellow ana gray
and saffron colored belts farther down,
throwing into ghostly relief the white,
castellated promontories of the majestic
sculptured wall and deepening the
blGokness Of the dark recesses.
But there were people astir in the
streets and delds and on the housetOps,
Tor the storm that had risen in fury
during the night had wrought some
damage to dwellings, and, it was feared,
to the Aocks In the pastures.
But no ego was directed toward the
cliffs, for the sky was now clear, and no
further disturbance was apprehended
from that direction. Storms were few
and far between in Atzlan; they ragged
on the plains at frequent intervals in
springtime, but troubled not the dwell
ers in the deep canyon, who never took
the pains to climb the steep cliff sides.
Had curious eyes peered upward they
would perhaps have discerned q figure
outlined clearly against the sky, but they
could not have seen that it wore no Atz-
Ian garb, and that it surpassed in height
any Atzlan man, or that it bent forward
and seemed to eagerly strive to pene-
trate the darkness of the canyon. Each
early riser carried torch and was too
intent upon his errand to waste time gaZ-
ing aloft, or he might have seen the fig
ure slowly clambering down an ancient,
rude pathway leading to the first terrace,
where ruined cliff houses and caves,
abandoned centuries ago, were the only
evidences Of former human occupation.
But the man on the heights had seen
: the moving torches, and up where he
was is was light enough to easily pick his
way.
It was Eric Gilbert, and he was seek
ing q point Of observation before it grew
light in order to ascertain what manner
Of men these were who carried the lights
far beneath him. Hostile Indians he
knew might In all reason be encountered
In those wilds, and he had escaped one
danger too narrowly to fall carelessly
into another.
Events had crowded so quickly upon
him during the last few hours that he
was prepared for anything. Unaware
even In what state or territory in the
Union he had been thrown in the last
Wild bound Of the balloon. he did not
know what he might encounter, and
though the craving for water and food
began to assert itself he was resolved to
let his caution govern his necessity.
He had gathered the instruments,
which he had thrown in a heap near the
edge OF the cliff, and covered them with
9 blanket, They consisted of small
electric battery and lighting apparatus
fen invention OF Pierce's), lantern, q
thermometer and barometer, camera
and plate box holding hundred instan-
taneous plates, some medical instru-
Tnents In q case, a quadrant and few
other articles.
he carried his Winchester rifle in his
Ioft hand, blanket thrown over his
arm, and carrier pigeon, whose broken
wing hung limp and Tapping, in his
right hand, making his descent a matter
Of caro-. The light was growing stronger
In the canyon when he reached level
shelf or terrace edged with q rough
stone wall and lined with caves and Cliff
! dwellings,; caves whose mouths were
built up in cyclopean masonry, leaving
Q narrow entrance to be reached by a
ladder OF rope or poles.
He felt the need Of haste, although
even vet he could see nothing in the
abyss below, and finding 3 convenient
opening into cave close at hand, yet
where he could overlook the depths, he
laid down his burden and waited for the
light to Ill the canyon.
The fiutter Of the wounded bird
aroused his pity, and he bound its wing
to its side with strip Of his handker.
chief and laid Il upon his blanket, feel
ing q sort Of companionship in its pres
ence-a link with the outer world,
Resting IS he was from a long vigil and
long continued struggle, he stretched
himself beside the bird and fell asleep.
Long before the sun rose upon Atzlar
q figure stirred upon the top Of the high
est building in the city, whence arose &
aim, blue column Of smoke. The figure
moved with slow, hesitating steps from
ono side OF the low walled housetop x
the other, as If from habit, although thu
burden Of years had turned the exercise
into toilsome journey.
He was Iklapel, the high priest o.
Aszsan, watching before the sacred, mex
t;nsuishable fire of Kinchahan, the SUI
sod. which for centuries had burned
ana would burn forever.
Even 1n the half light Of the coming
dawn it could be seen that Iklapel wa.
old and blind, and though his fgur.
bowed many an inch before his onlI
master. Time, fine and tall, thin and
11-skye..ad a StilI allowed the remains q
powerful and graceful form. Now and
fben be held his wasted hands over thi
lenguid hre TO measure its burning Q
est few tMigs Of cedar upon il mQt