Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-12-27


town, to reunite near the roadway that
they followed. Here canoes were ready to
take them across to the island, or, rather,
the peninsula, on which the city was built,
and on the other side of the river they
found priests waiting in the great gate
way, with two litters that had been pre-
pared for Juanna and Otter respectively.
This the farther bank was lined with
some thousands Of spectators, who, when
the divine pair set their feet upon its
shores, Frustrated themselves, men, wom
en- and children, and burst into n shout
of welcome.
Junnna and Otter took no heed. With
such dignity as they could command, and
in the dwarf's case il was not much, they
entered the filters, drew the hide curtains
and were borne forward swiftly. After
them came Leonard, Francisco and the
others, while the population followed in
silence.
Now the sun was sinking, but enough
of daylight was left to show how strange
were the place and the people among
which they found themselves. The city
indeed was rudely built of like materials
and in such fashion as the house in the
plain that has been described already. But
the STREETS were roughly paved. Each
habitation stood apart from the other in
its own garden, and the gates were of
wood, fastened together with primitive
iron bolts. There were drinking shops,
or, rather, booths and n large market
place. which they crossed as they assembled
the hill, and where, as they afterward dis
covered, this people carried on their trade,
if trade it could be called, for they had no
money and conducted all transactions,
like other sayages, upon principle of
barter.
As they went Leonard took note of these
things, which, to his mind, showed clear
~ that the inhabitants of this city were
the degenerate inhcritors Of some ancient
and forgotten civilization. Their forti1ica
tiOns, stone built houses, drinking shops
and markets indicated this, just as their
rude system Of theology, with its divini-
tics of light and darkness or of death and
life, each springing from the other, en-
gagged in an eternal struggle, and yet one,
was probably the survival of some elabo-
rate nature myth of the early world.
But nothing struck him SO much as the
appearance of the people. In sizo they
were almost giants, popularity which
was shared by the women, some of whom
measured feet in height. In common
with other uncivilized racCs, most of these
women wore little except Il girdle and a
goatskin cloak that hung loosely upon
their shoulders, displaying their magnifi
cent proportions somewhat freely. They
were much handsomcr than the men, hay-
ing splendid solemn eyes, very white teeth
and n remarkable dignity Of gait. Their
faces, however, wore the same somber
look rs those Of their husbands and broth
crs, and they did not chatter after the
manner of their sex, but contented them
selves with pointing out the peculiarities
of the strangers in n few brief words to
their children or TO one another.
After they had crossed the market place
there came a 10 y and gentle ascent, which
terminated at avail surrounding the low
or of the two great buildings that they had
seen from the plain. Passing its gates,
they halted at The doors OF the first of these
CdiiicCs- Here the priests stood with
torchCS-Or ut least they judged them to
be priests from the symbol OF the snakes
head tattOOcd upon their naked breasts-
ready TO conduct them TO their resting
place. for now the night was closing in rap
Idly. Soon they found Themselves within
the walls of n great house, built in the usuaI
way with rough powders, but on three
sides Of square and inclOsing a court
yard in which a fountain bubblcd. The
furniture of the house was rude, but gro
tCslucly carved, and in the courtyard stood
n throne sheltered by roof of turf and
fashioned of black wood and ivory, with
feet shaped like those OF n human being.
Indeed. as they aftcrward discovered, this
was the palace of the king, Olfan, who had
been summarily elected by the priests to
make room for the newcomers.
Herr in this strange dwelling the at
tcndant priests assigned them all quar-
tiers, the settlement mon in one wing Leon
ard, Francisco and Soa in the other and
Juanna and Otter in two separate apart
mCnts in the body nf the building. This
arrangement involved the separation of
the party, but it was difficult To offer OBJ
jCCtionS, 81 they were forced to acquicscc
to it Presently women came in bearing
fOOd-bOilcd corn, milk in bowls and
roasted flesh in plcnty-uf which Leonard
and Francisco ate with thankfulnCss.
Before they went to sleep Leonard look
cd into the courtyard and was somewhat
alarmed to find that guards were stationed
at every door, while in front of those lead
ing to the apartments of Juanna and OF
ter stood n body Of priests, with torches in
their hands. He made an effort To pass
through these 81 arb in order To visit .Ju-
anna, but without a word they lifted their
great spears and stopped him, and for that
time he abandoned the attempt.
Why do the priests stand before the
door OF the Shcphcrdess iSoa?" asked
Leonard.
answered. Unless the gods will it none
may enter there
Say, Soa,' Leonard asked again, ''arc
you not afraid of being hero in your own
land:''
II am much afraid, delivercr, for il l
am found out then die. Yet many years
have gone by since l fed. Few live who
knew me, and pcrchancc none remember
me; also now 1 do not wear my hair
after the fashion of my people, and there
fore 1 may escape unless tho priests dis
cover me by their magic. And now
would sleep
On the following morning mt dawn Leon.
ard arose, and accompanied by Francisco
went into the courtyard. This time the
soldiers did not try To stop them. but the
priests We're still standing in front of Ju-
anna's door, looking like spectcrs in the
gray mist. They went to them and sig
nifiCd by signs that they would worship
the queen, but were sternly refused adj
mission in words which they could not
understand, but that Soa who was listen,
ing, afterwarti translated to them.
The mother had come to her home, "
said the spokesman, and might be pro
famed no more by the eyes of the vulgar
The snake also was in his home, and none
should look upon him
When arguments failed, Leonard tried
to force his way through and was met by
a huge spear pointed Mt his throat. How
things would have ended il Is difficult e
say had not Juannn herself appeared al
this juncturc, standing between the cur
tains of the doorway. At the sight of hei
the priests and soldiers fell upon theii
faces, and Leonard had sufficient prcsenc,
| of mind to follow their example, dragging
| Francisco down beside him.
What is this tuInultf" she asks tn,
guards in their own tongue.
Il tell you what it is, Juanna," sait
Leonard, rubbing his head upon thu
ground and speaking in English. IF yol
do not come TO an understanding witt