The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-04-27
CHAPTER Ii.
ATzr.Ax, THE HIDDEN CITY.

| TPr-S-' y II w tsst.ss leg
He could sec nothing In the abyss betOtc.
| The beams of the morning sun had
| been slanting down on the level plain
above Atzlan for an hour. but the city
was still in deep shadow thousand or
more feet below. Rosy tints lowered
about the vermllion edges of the great
cliffs, mingling with yellow and g.
and saffron colored belts farther down
throwing into ghostly relief the white
castellated promontories of the majesti
sculptured wall and deepening tn
blackness of the dark recesses.
But there were people astir in tn
streets and fields and on the housetops
for the storm that had risen in fur
during the night had wrought som
damage to dwellings, and, it was feared
to the fiocks in the pastures.
But no eye was directed toward th
cliffs, for the sky was now clear, and III
further disturbance was apprehendet
| from that direction. Storms were few
and far between in Atzlan; they raget
on the plains at frequent intervals il
springtime, but troubled not the dwell
ers in the deep canyon, who never tool
the pains to climb the steep cliff sides.
Had curious eyes peered upward they
would perhaps have discerned figure
outlined clearly against the sky, but the,
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 toe
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 it was light enough to easily pick his
way.
1t was Eric Gilbert, and he was seek.
ing 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 heap near the
edge of the cliff, and covered them with
blanket. They consisted of small
electric battery and lighting apparatus
ian invention of Pierce's), lantern,
thermometer and barometer, a camera
and plate box holding hundred instan-
taneous plates, some medical instru-
ments In case, a quadrant and few
other articles.
He carried his Winchester rifle in his
left 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 care. The light was growing stronger
IN the canyon when he reached level
shelf or terrace edged with a rough
stone wall and lined with caves and cliff
dwellings,; caves whose mouths were
built up in cyclopean masonry, leaving
narrow entrance to be reached by
ladder of rope or poles.
he felt the need of haste, although
even yet he could see nothing in the
abyss below, and finding a convenient
opening into cave close at hand. vet
where he could overlook the deptbs. he
laid down his burden and waited for tbe
light to fill the canyon.
The hutter of the wounded bird
aroused his pity, and he bound its wing
to its side with strip of his handker.
cn1e1 and laid it upon his blanket, feel
ing a sort OF companionship in its pres
ence-a link with the outer world.
Resting as he was from long vigil and
long continued struggle, he stretched
himself beside the bird and fell asleen.
Long before the sun rose upon Attain
a figure stirred upon the top of the high
est building in the city, whence arose a
slim, blue column smoke. The figure
moved with slow, hesitating stems from
one side of the low walled bouseton r.
,ne otner, as If from habit, although the
burden OF years had turned the exercise
into toilsome journey.
He was Iklapel, the high priest Of
Atzlan, watching before the sacred iner-
ungulshable fire of Kinchahan the SIM
god, which for centuries had burned
and would burn forever.
Even In the half light of the coniro
dawn 1T could be seen that Iklane1 w.e
old and blind, and though his figure
bowed many an inch before his onlv
master, Time, fine and tall, thin and
"ithered, 1t still showed the remains of
powerful and graceful form. Now and
.nen he held his wasted hands over the
ianguld hire to measure its burnino o,.
cast a Few twigs of cedar upon it, NUT
terlng, as old men do, to himself tba
"nlie. AS the sky grew brighter and
Fedder with the dawn he seemed To fool
It and know that the day was approacb'
ing TOT ne raped sharply several times
upon the root, as if in summons 20 an
other person. ~ an
IN a moment a second figure appeared |
coming up through a trapdoor and |
stood before him in respectful. vet |
easy and familiar attitude. Then 90 fba
aged ikiapel tottered it sprang to his
side and lovingly passed strong arm
about him, leading him to stone sea.
beside the altar and placing him ten.
aeriy upon it. The old man reached |
out his hand, feeling for that of the |
Younger man, and placing it against his
breast he held it there In silence. Aftay
awhile he spoke, and his voice WAS