The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-04-07

picious, vindictiYe look IN mis- lace that
left feeling III Eric's mind that Chalpa
would be a good man to make target
of before very long. Iklapel had seen
nothing, but when Eric explained the
occurrence he angrily called to Chalpa,
but received no answer. The man had
slipped out stealthily, and this added to
Eric's unpleasant feeling. That Chalpa
hated as we'll as feared him he knew full
well from the evil chances he cast upon
him, and there seemed something omi-
nous IN his stealthy lowering and spying.
Still, as he had disappeared, neither
Eric nor Iklapel allowed it to rest long
upon their minds, and they continued
their examinations of the relics undis-
turbed.
Each of the glazed tiles inserted in
the walls, Iklapel asserted, had been
brought in the very earliest times from
At. They were covered with rude pic
ture writing. among which Eric found
representations of elephants, lions and
camels, distinctly and carefully drawn,
animals of which Iklapel had no con-
ception whatever beyond these rude out
lines. There were boats delineated
there somewhat resembling the one be-
fore them, and figures in costumes re-
sembling those i'll the early Toltec
manuscripts. Temple fronts and houses,
war chariots with prancing horses, and,
most wonderful of all, battle scene,
in which clouds of rolling smoke and
curiously carved tubes belching flames,
moving down whole rows of men, were
depicted with rare skill. 1t would have
stood for d rude picture of a modern
; field of war.
! 1t was with wonder and amazement
that Gilbert studied the strange pic
lures, undoubtedly relics of long past
age, for he was convinced that the
priest had no knowledge of their import
and meaning; in fact the characters in
which the records were written upon
them were with few exceptions urfa-
miliar to him, they having been super
seeded by a more convenient if less pic
turesqe method in later times. In these
characters he found many resembling
those of the Maya alphabet, but more in
the nature of pictorial representation.
These were similar to the characters
upon the slab of bronze, and there
flashed across his mind a memory of
4dCO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES LDO pOOp4O VI
Atlantis engraved their laws upon col
umns and plates of bronze and gold.
Could it be that this was one of those
tablets?
While he was occupied with these
thoughts the old priest brought quaint
1y carved cedar box, and removing its
cover disclosed a double handful of
roughly cut gems, the great value of
which Eric discerned at a glance. He
examined them with appreciative eyes,
finding among them several diamonds of
the size of hazel nuts and many fine
rubies and emeralds.
"These," said Iklapel, scar from the
far south; they are the seeds of the ser
pent. Before he came and covered the
world with clay and stones and water
there was none of these on the earth:
no man had seen them before. Such l.
the tradition. The people of Atlantis
had no such shining stones, but they had
| stones such as this" handing Eric an
| oval of carnelian, with fattened sides.
Carved on one face was an intaglio,
finely executed, representing a pyr-
amidal mountain, with city surround
ing its base, evidently a picture of the
fated city. Around the edge was a
border of small characters in the ancient
writing. On the reverse side was cut
| the Crux Ansata, the mystic Tau, the
sacred symbol of the Phallic god of the
old world, which has puzzled the savants
| for ages.
''What treasure thought Eric, ''tU
lay before the scientists of the country
and what deal of discussion it would
arouser'
There was nothing more to be seen,
| and with glance around the room he
took up his light and followed Iklapel
up the ladder. They had spent several
hours in the vaultlike place and found
Kulcan above waiting for them. He
! looked anxious and moody, and catching
! Gilbert's eye motioned to him to follow
him. The young priest led the way
silently, yet casting quick, cautious
| chances about him, to the large gate,
and when they were outside, almost into
the pinon orchards, he turned to Eric,
and after moments nervous hesitation
he began, Ibid my brother ever gambler
"Wel1," replied Eric, with smile,
Give played the game my people call
poker many times, I'm sorry to say
too many times in fact-and I've tried
faro also once or twice. with poor re-
suits
"But," interrupted Kulcan, Ibid you
ever allow yourself to be so carried
away with the excitement of these games
that you forgot your duty to your sisters
and brothers?"
mo- answered Eric, ''but L have
seen many men lose their heads and
gamble away all they owned. >
''Then," said the priest, you will I'M
derstand. l must confess to you, my
brother, and burden you with miser-
able tale-a tale of grief and shame
cannot look you in the face, but l must
tell you. We have, as you have seen, a
game called titlaca-meaning the I'M
known, unknowable-a game of num-
bers. All, how can tell you? You will
despise mer'
[To BE Continued
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