The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-10-07
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD.

cit is WELL" he answered; 'for you
are the noblest woman that / have
known, and you have saved my life"
Zibalbay did not return until past
midday, when he appeared with the
water, leading the mule, which had set
its foot upon sharp stone in the des-
ert ana gone lame.
Does he still. live?" he asked of
Maya
eyes, father"
"He must be strong. then" he an
swered. II thought that the want of
water would have killed him ere now. :"
HE has had water. father. l de-
scended the cueva and fetched 1t, she
added after a moments pause.
The old man looked at her, amazed.
How came it that you found cour-
age to go down that place, daughter"
he asked at length.
''The desire to save a friend gave me
courage" she answered, letting her
eyes fall beneath his gaze. II knew
that you could not be back in time, so
went"
Zibalbay pondered awhile, then said:
81 think that you would have done
better to let him die, daughter, for
believe that this white man will bring
trouble upon US. 1t has pleased the
gods to preserve you alive. Remem-
Der that your life belongs to them and
that you must follow the path that
they have chosen, not that which you
would choose for yourself. Remember,
also, that one waits you in the city
yonder who may have word to say
as to your friendship with this wan
derer." And he passed on with the
mule. That same evening Maya told
me Of her fathers words, and said:
81 think that before all is done
shall need the help that you have
MI 7 0or n
well that my father will be against me
unless my wish runs with his purpose.
Of one thing / am sure, that my life
is my own and not the gods, for in
such gods as my father worships and
/ was brought up to serve / have lost
faith, if indeed 1 ever had any"
You speak rashly," l answered,
! land if you are wise you will not let
your father hear such words
Lest by and by my life should be for
feited to the gods whom l blaspheme, y
she broke in. Say, then, do you be-
lieve in these gods. Don Ignatio?''
mo, lady, l am a Christian and have
no part with idols and those who wor-
ship them
Il understand; it is only in their
wealth that you would have part.
Well, and why should / not become a
Christian also? l have learned some
thing of your faith from the senior
yonder, and see that it is great and
pure, and full Of comfort for us NOR
tails
May grace be given to you to follow
in that road, lady, but it is not
Christian to taunt me about the
vantage of our race, seeing that you
know / ask nothing for myself
Forgive me-" she answered.; my
tongue Is sharp as yours has been at
times. Don Ignatio. Hark, the senior
calls me-"
For two more days we rested there
by the cueva till the senior was fit to
travel, then we started on again. For
ten days we journeyed across the
wilderness, following the line of the
ancient road and meeting with no
traces of man save such as were fur
nished by the familiar sight of ruined
pyramids and temples. On the elev-
enth day we began to ascend the slope
of a lofty range Of mountains that
pushed its TANKS far out into the des-
ert land, and on the twelfth we reached
the snow line, where we were obliged
to abandon the three mules that re-
manned to US, seeing that no green
food was to be found higher up, and
the path became too steep for them to
find footing on it.
That night we slept, with little to eat
in a hole dug in the snow, wrapped in
our serapes, or rather tried to sleep,
for our rest was broken by the cold
and the moaning of bitter and mysteri-
Gus winds, which sprang up and
passed suddenly beneath a clear sky,
and from time to time by the thunder
of distant avalanches rushing from the
peaks above.
How far must we travel up this
snow?" 1 asked of Zibalbay as we