Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-07

took their places In the filters Presently they felt themselves beng borne forward at considerable speed. When they wore outside the palace gates, Otter peeped through the curtain in the hope of perceiv- ing some change in the weather. In vain. The mist was denser than usual, although it grew gray with the light of tho coming dawn. Now they were at those gates of the temple that was nearest to the colossal idol, and here, at tho mouth of one of the numerous underground passages, guards assisted them to descend.
 Farewell, queenI'' said the yoice of Olfan in Francisco's ear ''I would have given my life to save you. Asit is, live to avenge you upon Nam and all his sery- ants" Francisco made no answer, but pressed on down the passage, holding his head low Soon they were at the foot of the idol, and led by priests began to ascend the stair way in the interior of tho statue. Up they toiled slowly in the utter darkness Indeed to Francisco this the last journey of his life seemed the longest.
 At length they emerged upon the head of the colossus, where neither of them had been before. It formed a fiat platform about feet square, quite unprotected at the edges, beneath which the outlines of the sculptured head curved sheerly. The ivory throne whercon Juanna had sat when first she visited the temple was gone, and instead of it, placed at the very verge of the forehead, were two wooden stools upon which the victims must seat them selves. From this horrible elevation could be seen that narrow space of rock between the feet of the colossus and the wall of tho pool where stood the stone altar, although, owing to the slope of the head, he who stood upon 1t almost overhung the waters of the pool.
 Otter and Francisco seated themselves on the stools, and behind them Nam and three other priests took their stand, Nam placing himself in such n position that his companions could not see anything of Francisco's slight form, which they be- lieyed to be that of the Shepheriess.
 Hold me, Otter, ' whispered Francisco. My senses will leave me, and shall fall. :"
 shut your eyes and lean back. Then you will see nothing" answered Otter. Moreover, mako ready your medicine, for the time is at hand"
 Ut Is ready" he answered. May be forgiven the sin, for cannot bear to be hurled living to the snake"
 Otter made no answer, but set himself to watch the scene beneath him. The tenn pie was filled with mist that from the great height looked like smoke, and through this veil he could just distinguish tho black and moving mass of the thousands of the audience who had sat tho long night through waiting to witness the consumma- tion of tho tragedy, while tho sound of their voices us they spoke together in hushed tones reached him like that of the murmuring of distant waters Behind him stood the four priests, or execptioners, in a solemn, silent line, their eyes fixed upon the gray mist, while above them, around them and beneath them was noth- ing but sheer and giddy space. It was hideous position, heightened by every ter TOT that man and nature can command, and even the intrepid dwarf, who feared neither death nor devil and over whom re- ligious doubts had no power, began to feel its chilling influence grip his heart. As for Francisco, such mind us he had left to him was taken up with fervont prayer, so 1t is possible that he did not suffer so much as might have beon expected.
 Five minutes or more passed thus. Then voice spoke from the mist below, saying:
 'Are those who are named Aca and Jal on high, O priest?"
 They are on high, " answered Nam
 "Is it yet the hour of dawn, O priestf" said the voice again, and this time Otter knew it for that of the spokesman of the elders.
 Not yet awhile," answered Nam, and turning he glanced up toward the snow peak that lowered thousands of feet into the air behind them. Indeed every eve in that vast assembly was staring at this peak, although at present its gigantic out line could only be seen dimly because of the mist, like the shape of n man buried in a winding sheet of snow. Here, upon the lofttest precipices of the mountain, the full light of morning struck first and struck always, for they scared far above the level of the mist wreaths, and by its character this people judged the weather Of the newborn day. If tho snow was rosy red, then they knew that the sun would shine upon them, though perhaps not yet awhile. If, on the other hand, 1t shone cold and white, or, still worse, gray, 1t was a sign that the coming day would Do misty in the city and on the plains Therefore in this the hour of the trial of tho gods whom they had set up all eyes watched the mountain peak to sec if 1t should show white or red as they had nev. or watched before.
 Very gradually the light increased, and 1t seemed to Otter that the mist was some what thinner than was usual at this hour though as yet it hung densely between them and tho mountain snow. Now he could trace the walls of tho amphitheater now he could see the black shimmer of the water beneath and distinguish the glitter of many hundreds of upturned eyeballs as they glared at him land beyond him. The silence grew more Snd moro intense, for none spoke or moved. All were wait. ing to sec the light fall upon the slope of snow and wondering would it be rod or whitc. Would the gods die or llvct So intense and fearful did it grow, indeed. unbroken us it was even by a breath ot air or tho calling of n bird, that Otter could bear 1t no longer, but suddenly burst out into song.
 HO had fine deep voice, and 1t was a Zulu warsong that he sang, a triumphant chant of the rush of conquering impis in- terspersed with the walls of women and tho groans of the dying Louder, louder he sang, stamping his naked feet upon the rock. whilo the people wondered at the marvel. Surely this was a god, they thought, who could sing thus exultinHly in strange tongue while men waited to sec him cast Into the jaws of the snake. No man about to die so soon and thus could ind tho heart to sing, and much less could he sing such song as that they had heard.
 He is a god!" cried voice far away, and tho cry was echoed on every slde till at length, on sudden, men grew silent and Otter also ceased from his singing for he had turned his head and seen. To, the veil of mist that hid the mountains upper snow grew thinI It was the moment of dawn, but would 1t be a red dawn or a whites Suddenly the vapors disappeared from the peak, though they still lay thick upon the slopes below, and in their place wero seen its smooth and shining outlines clothed in their cloak of everlasting snows
 The ordeal was ended. No touch of col or, no golden sunbeam or crimson shadow stained the ghastly surface of those snows. They were pallid as the faces of the dead
 "A white dawn, white dawn!" roared the populace. Away with the false godsl Hurl them to the snake!"
 1t is finished, whispered Otter again into Francisco's ear "Now take your medicine, and, friend, farewelll"