The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-05-05
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"Could he dareP' he cried. t'The
fiendI To wreak such a revenge! can
not believe that he would do such an
act. Even he, reckless and cruel as lie is,
would hesitate to bring such thing to
pass. Has he lost his senses?"
| ''What do you mean?'' asked Eric. s'Of
whom are you speakingT
''Chalpa, the head of the council; he
who casts the lots and decides the fatal
dice throwingi Chalpa the cheat and
liarr' cried Kulcan, throwing his arms
up wildly. 81 fear him not, the scoun-
drelly assassin
Iklapel peered at the youth under his
shaggy eyebrows, the fire in his dark
! eyes blazing somber and low.
''Does my brother believe that Chalpa
can cheat; that he would dare to deceive
the other two judges, the whole city and
| Quetzal?"
'Can cheat? Dare?" cried Kulcan. 'He
can, and he dare, and I will face him
with the charged Ny sister shall not be
the sacrifcer'
''No," said Eric quietly, ''she shall
not, even if Chalpa has to be taken off
to check his too pious zeal. Idon't want
to kill him, but certainly shall if he re-
| solves to SacrInce her.
eyes, you are right" said the old
priest. "What can we do?"
''We must get Leila here and keep her
until we can arrange matters" Eric re-
| piled. ''She must come tonight, for she
will be safe here. I could defend this
house, with Kulcan and JAMS help,
against thousand Atzlans."
I'VE will go for her at once" cried
Kulcan excitedly. ''Come, Jan-ila!''
''Eo, not now-not in daylight-they
| will suspect!' cried Ik1apel. eve must
prevent an open conflict; we must win
by peaceful means if possible, unless he
makes the announcement this afternoon.
In that case we must resort to extreme
measures
They dispersed. Eric and Jan-ila imme-
diately prepared for a siege, filling the
| windows with slabs of stone to resist ar
rows, and provided food and water
enough for several days use. Iklapel
stationed himself at the temple to send
the news if the announcement was made,
while Kulcan guarded Leila.
At sunset Iklapels messenger came.
Chalpa had announced that Leila was to
be the Katun sacrifce-the news was in
everybody's mouth. Eric sent Jan-ila to
Leila at once and kept guard at the house.
His pistol was in his holster at his belt,
his rife in the large room, while several
axes and spears-sharp and keen steel
lay ready for Ku1can and Jan-ila.
It grew darker, and they did not ap-
pear. The city was strangely silent. He
could hear none of the usual evening
sounds. A deep, solemn hush hung over
all, and the splashing of the river against
the powders came clear to his ears In
the falling shadow. He stepped outside
and stood before the door, and his tall
figure was outlined darkly against the
light within. He had almost resolved
to desert his post when he deserted two
| figures approaching, one of them appar-
emily Iklapel. He walked toward them,
and noticing that their blankets almost
covered their heads stopped short and
peered into their faces as they came up
to him.
The stopping figure, SO like Iklapel in
its mimicry, Strengthened up before him
suddenly, and at the same instant he
was seized from behind in viselike
grip and thrown to the ground. He
| struggled to release his arms and draw
| his revolver, but his assailants had in
cree Sed in numbers. A gag was forced
| into his mouth, and his arms were bound
behind him. He was allowed TO lie
there for a moment, and then they
raised him to his feet. He saw that he
was surrounded by a number of men in
priests robes, but it was too dark to
recognize any of them. He looked in
vain for Cha1pa's face, but the priest
was not visible One of the band went
into his house, and bringing forth the
candle led the way into the pinon Or
chards, the rest following with Eric,
who, resisting sullenly In unavailing
self censure, was carried bodily.
They hurried him along, as though fear
! ing pursuit, through the orchards, along
the river again until they came to the
ancient burial place, where they halted
a moment to be joined by Chalpa- His
black eyes cleaned in fierce joy as he
leaned over Eric and smiled his cruelest
! smile, so full OF hate and fiendish salts
faction that it chilled his captive's heart
for moment.
ssAh, our pale Quetzal has lost his
powerI Why does ne not strike his sery-
/ ant dead with his eyes2 Where is his
strength now? IF he be a god, let him
now save himself. See. he said, turn
ing to his fellow priests. s'See the sick,
weak god; how he hes there pale and
feeblel Why does he not can forth his