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


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 polecat see arrayed for battle.
Woe to me If he strike me, this mighty
chiefl Lo, see mel how 1 tremble be-
fore him! What seek you here, Tepel-
pee? Are there no old women for you to
fight? Are the little girls and boys no
longer alive to be terrified by your face
that you come here to meet men2 Step
out, come nearer; though fear you, yet
will 1 speak to you, Tepelpec the Pole
catl"
The priest took step forward. then
stopped.
"Ha," cried Jsn-ila, "you are modest!
Why, Tepelpec, I never dreamed OF 1T!
You, the great chief and warrior, hesl-
tate to come to me-a boyp
| 81 will come to you readily, answered
Tepelpec, 'if you lay aside Quetzal's
thunder death, which is in your hand.
| his CQaC IedIy uOt Odu-ao'
eyes, that it Isl" Jan-ila retorted
"You know well that can strike you
dead where you are by raising it thusl"
Tepelpec recoiled with some haste, and
the whole line drew back several yards.
"It is the thunder death of Quetzalr
cried the youth, holding it aloft and
looking at it with bright, exulting eyes.
at Stays, even as Quetzal Stays with his
ewes if he will. Far away he can smite
with it; no man can escape its deadly
breath. Their lies your Chalpap 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-ils 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 a 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 forwardI'
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 thoy ragged many of them
seemed oblivious to Jan-ila and strobe
about with frantic gestures and unmean-
ing cries.
Tepelpec ran few steps toward Jan
ila, and stopping hurled his Ak at the
youth; it passed close to his head and
fell in the room beyond. Kulcan
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-ilal' 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 bulging;
but three other priests-tan, wiry men
mad and raving, in a ferocious ecstasy
of hate or intoncation, sprang at him.
One of them drew his bow taut, and as
he stood for 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. Tepespec, 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.
There was q great scattering; the
crowd melted away like mist before the
wind. Into the shelter Of the woods
they rushed, falling over one another,
casting aside their weapons and even
their garments in their haste. Eric stood
there alone beside the four bodies. The
inevitable regret which comes to those
who have to kill filled his soul as he
looked upon them. They were all dead
proofs Of his sure hand and skin-but
1t was a sad and pitiful sight. Hus-
bands they were, perhaps, and fathers,
too; little children would weep for them
and need them; 1t was sad, and the more
that 1t was his duty to kill them. But
ere these thoughts had passed through
his mind there was another wild rush,
and the air was again filed with con-
fused outcries.
He saw the priests and their followers
emerge from the wood, and, with every
sign of terror increased, come wildly up
the slope toward the house. Resolved
to kill no more unless sorely pressed, he
entered the house, but the cries OF
"Quetzal, Quetzal, save usr caused him
to hslt upon the threshold. sis it
ruse?' he thought. No; there was evi.
dence of the most extreme terror in all
the faces; the backward glances Of fear
and surprise were too real to be sinau-
lated. He stepped toward them, and
they gathered about him, crouching and
falling PROSTATE. Leila and Jan-ila came
out and stood beside him in surprise.
The whole great crowd seemed ami
mated by common fear; their looks
pointed in one direction-toward the lit
tie forest. At the same time came 8
body of people under Listah, from the
city, along the riverside They had
barely reached the mill when they were
also affected in the same manner as the
rest, and some retreated to the city,
while those about Listah broke into q
wild run, and reaching Eric threw
themselves upon the ground He could