The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-04
XX1I.
rnE MARRIAGE or NAyA.

death, for | saw that his teeth were set. and tina
his hand clenched. as though TO defend himself
but as he came the most Of the council rose ant
bowed 10 him. crying:
HAL 20 you. Son ~ the Sea, Favored o
Heaven. Father. foreordained Of the DELIVERED
to comel'
Then he knew that ths plot had succeeded and
utt.red q great sigh Of relief.
"Hearken. white lord. ' said Natal, for TisaI
eat still and scowled on him In silence. "ths
gods have spoken by their oracle. As Zibnlbay
thought 40 II Is, and your feet nave been led for
apurpose TO the gates Of the City NJ the Heart
Listen TO the words of tho gods" and taking the
tablet he read to him the false prophecy. Nov
choose. white man. win you take the Lady
Maya to wife. or will you he put 60 death In that,
having wandered to the City of the Heart. you
refuse 10 obey the ommand Of tho gods"
Now the sefor thought and answered:
"The man would he foolish who hesitated he
tween death and so fair and sweet a bride. Still.
this Is a matter that ! cannot decide alone.
What says the Lady Maya p
"She says" answered Maya. that although
this Is q marriage for which she did not look and
Il IL a new thing that n daughter of the Heart
should take a stranger OF less ancient blood to
husband. the will of heaven II her will and the
lord that heaven chooses for her shall he her
lord" and she stretched out her hand to him.
He took II. and bending down, kissed her
fingers. saying:
MAY ! be worthy Of your choice. lady"
Now ] thought that the ceremonies we're
finished and was glad. for | grew weary OF as
sisting at this farce, but the old priest, Zibal-
bays foster brother. rose. and said:
One thing more must be done. brethren, be-
fore we leave this sanctuary. and ii Is to swear
in these strangers ms members of the council.
They have wandered her, from far, and here
with us they must live and die, seeing that both
Of them know our secrets, and one Of them is
predestined 10 become the father OF that great
lord to whose arising we have looked for many
generations. and therefore, until the child Is
born, no must he watched and guarded as
priests watch n sacred fire.
"Ay!lt is we'll thought Of. Let them be sworn.
and remember that to break the oath is DEATH"
was the answer.
Then Natal roso as Keeper of the Sanctuary.
and said:
You, white man. Son NJ the Sea, and you, Ig-
natio. the Wanderer, Il Lord of the Heart, do
swear upon the holy symbol of the Heart, the
oath " break which is to die horribly in this
world and be lost evcr!astingly in the worlds
that are to be. You swear, setting In pledge
your souls and bodies for the f%ulflinent Of the
oath, that neither by word nor sign. nor deed,
will you reveal aught of the mysteries OF the
council of this Brotherhood. whereof YOU will
he the faithful servant till your deaths, holding
ii supreme above every power upon earth.
"Iou swear that Won will not possess your
selves OF the treasures Of the City Of the Heart.
nor, without the consent OF this high Brother
hood, attempt tn leave its gates, or TO bring any
stranger within its walls. These things you
swear with your hands upon the altar. setting in
pledge your souls and bodies for the fulhlment
OF the oath"
Other clauses there were which have forgot
ten, but this was the substance OF the vow that
was dictated to us. We looked Mt each other
helplessly, and then. there being no escape, we
sworc. kneeling before the altar with our hands
resting upon 1t. As the solemn words OF con-
firmation passed our lips we heard a sound of
the movement of heavy stones behind us.
Arise now" said tho old priest; - turn and look
upon thai which lies behind you"
We obcycd, and the next instant shrank back
against the altar in alarm, for within six feet OF
usR massive stone In the floor had been lifted,
the mouth of a we'll, from the deep re-
cesses OF which came the sound OF rushing
waters.
Behold, my brethren" he went on. land
learn that should the oath which you have
sworn be broken in "A single letter, after what
fashion you must suffer for your sins. Into that
pit you shall be cast that the water may choke
your breath and the demons of the world may
prey upon your souls through all eternity. Have
YOU seen? And do you understand :"
We have seen and We understand" we an
swered.
Then let the mouth of the pit be sealed
again, and pray YOU in your hearts that IL may
never be opcHed to receive the living body OF
you or any of us. Son OF the sea, and you. L.
na;io, the Wanderer. the oaths have been sworn
-
II" 'Wo vcre"'ohS - hh'shod' hehceiofth tlh
your death you are of us. sharcrs In our rights
and privileges, and to YOU will be assigned
-" 80 ~ "H "su
houses an" vsvenues fitted to your station.
forth, brethren. that you may refresh
vourselyas and nrenare IN rnest tho naonIs unnn
fNPe -"
the summit OF the pyramid AT dawn that Is
within an hour. Lead them away with you, my
lord. Natal"
20 w "eht' anu accompanied by Maya, Mat
tai, and the escort of priests, passed through
thc halls and n,ssares o1t into the rourtvord 90
~ ,anata .,L 49,
I'VE tcihpic "hh theh'e 10 apartments IN Inc pal
where we refreshed ourselves with food, for
NJ. were weary. The trick had sucreAded The
- ,,s - 80 -. 80 ~ :"
o'"ea' was l"'N', ana i"r the present AT Ieast we
were no longer In danger OF our lives; more, the