The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-05-11

A-~0
he rcSolred to keep II lratch upon him
Il think I've broken up this perform
ancc in about as clever manner as an,
playwright ever devised" was Eric Gil
bert's reflection as he lowered his Win
chester and surveyed the result Of hi
shot.
Worn ont by the eyertions and hard
ships of the last two days he had slep
far into the morning. and found wheI
he awakened that the sun was pouring
down into the roOtlesS ruin III hot fury
upon him.
AS he lay there collecting his waking
senses his ears detected low murmul
that rose and fell III musical cadence
below IL the. canyon. Rising instantly
and gazing over the low wall of rubble
he behcld the procession mounting the
ascent To the temple. He saw the white
faces among the crowd, and his heart
leaped III thankfulneSS.
Selling his rifle and tenderiy raising
the wounded bird he ran quickly down
the slanting path to the next terrace.
Here the descent was more difficult, as
the way had been worn by the fingers OF
the wind and rain for ages, and there
was scarcely foCthold upon the shaley
rock. But he clamb ered from terrace to
terrace till he reached the highest of the
little gardens slightly above the temples
golden top. Amazed that he was as yet
unnoticcd, he stopped here to survey the
strange spectacle.
Before him the scenes of prehistoric
age were being enacted in prehistoric
city by people whose dress resembled
the strange figures in the Mexican Man
uscTipt Troano."
1t seemed as though the hand of time
had been turned backward to the DAYS
when the triumphant Cortez marched
his handful Of men into Montezuma's
capital.
The whole city, with its myriad ladder
poles, was spread beneath him like a
vast circus, with its gayly caparisoned
inhabitants performing a sort of melo-
drama upon an elevated stage. The
many figures We're confusing; the eve
was lost i'll the crowds, but his gaze fol-
lowed that Of the others, and his eve
caught the flash of the knife in Kulcan's
hand.
In an instant he realized that perhaps
he was mistaken, and it flashed across
las mind that he was in a city of some
Wild. bloody sect, who sacrificed human
victims in their religious exercises.
lie had not the remotest idea of
course that he had discovered a people
and city older than our own civiliza-
ton III these almost inaccessible wilds.
Butwhile these thoughts darted through
his mind he saw the priest raise his
weapon to strike, and he instantly
aimed his rife and fired at Kulcan's up-
lifted arm.
The bullet missed its aim and proyi-
dentia!jy struck the knife just above
the priests hand, but its effect was one
entirely unexpected by Gilbert.
Standing ready to fire again. he was
astoElsEed 10 see the entire multitude
turn and kneel together, extending their
arms toward him with loud and iovful
cries, unintelligible, but joyous, vel
coming and fervent.
All was confusion; terror blended with
JOY In the many blanched faces. Ouetzal
the long expected: Quetzal, the fair god
had returned! Returned, as the proph-
ecles OF ages had fortold, with the white
dove OF peace on his arm, as he was mic
tured III the ancient rock carvings and
paintings, and with the thunder and
lightning of heaven in his hand, He
came down the cliff side, where the paths
were easy, for his ear had caught the
word QCetzal, and be was aware Of its
meaning
Seeing that he was taken for a god Of
Old Iol'ec mythology by this STRANGE
people, Gilbert resolved to accent the
somewhat difficult role as his easiest
form OF action. Food was now his most
pressing neceessity-the calls Of scientific
discovery and research could wait Rnt
the four chiefs, with the litter of ool1
We're already half way to meet MIN
eager to bear him in triumph into the
city. INC
overcome with emotion, Aimee had
fallen into kulcan's arms. and Leila was
helping him bear her to the ground floor
OF the temple, while old Iklapel. stirred
with mighty excitement, vainly be,gad
the dark faced Chaipa for an exniana-
tion OF the unusual outcries,
Chalpa's face showed deadly fear
Palild and trembling, he stood gazing
at the yellow bearded stranger. nnable
to answer Iklapel, or move. as was bis
outy, to welcome the descending god.
strange, president terror paralvzed his
hmbs, and his teeth chartered audiblv
Inc people thronged outside the min
clpai gateway as Gilbert was carried
tenderly III the litter toward the ci+r
de held his rifle securely and loosened
ms revolver IN its holster, not kpow;na
the outcome OF events, but resolved 70
see the thing through in the interests ~
ethhoiogy. Every step his bearers tooL
revealed new wonders to him ard -
was becoming rapidly convinced of +be
truth that he was in CITY of the ,,ss+
up the temples causeway they horo
him to the clean white chamber =, the
top-its dazzling gold plates arous;ng
calculations of their intrinsic yalne in
ms mind at once-and they placed fba
inter Ii the center. Then thew bro,obt
bum water and food-the first drt;as -
ATTAIN hospitality being to sunnlv Az
g uest with these before anything else -
done. e1Se Is
Sowing low before him, the priests
w.o had regained in some measure tbei,
offered him sheets of tba
crlsp' gauzy Waiavi, a kind of bread
made OF meal finely ground and bakad
upon hot stones; thin as a wafer thaso
snee1s were rolled or folded, and thew
melted In his mouth deliciously. Then
they brought him baked meats and
cakes' with q sweet drink made from
the sprouting wheat, called kali af.an
be had eaten his fill, which he did ~ =
1loW and careful manner. avo;a;,,. -,