The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-03-28
THE HIDDEN CITY.

:he Mexican frontier.
There>had been the ususl amount Oh
,orse raging and betting, and the
greatest attraction was not reached
NTH nearly night.
4 huge balloon, gay in the national
jeolors, strained at the ropes which held
; t as it swayed in the rising wind.
Small, the aeronaut. was talking
With a group of young men, each one
eager to risk his life for the sake Of
eaving terra frnao for short time.
ssI'd like to please you all, 1 would,
pom honor; but it is impossible to take
more than three. Harding, you are
noted for your steady nerves. Young,
you will be second? Aud, Bolton, you
may meet with an adventure which
will throw all previous ones in the
Ihade. What do you say?'
''That We will gladly make the trip
with you," answered Harding, as
,poIesman OF the three.
AS soon as they took their seat in the
car, the last rope was cut, and the great
balloon, like huge carrier dove, shot
straight up for few hundred feet,
wavered, swung motionless for an in
slant, then crossed the Mexican line
and sailed slowly away over thai
mysterious land.
1T isn't going to be clesr night
after all. A moonlight balloon ride is
weird and grand, but we shall have it
dark, fear said Small, pointing to
cloud bank near the horizon.
Il hope you have telescope cried
Bolton, .eargerly.
Small placed magnificent feld-glass
his hand, saying:
ssNow you can see your I'll of Mexico.
IF lam not mistaken We shall cross it
oblieuely and strike the western coast
il we can land there. If not, we may
take bath in the broad Pacific. But
we'll not borrow trouble, for there is no
certainty of either. The wind is liable
to sudden changes in this climate, and
may send us back into the United
States IN less than two hours.
Il hope not-not until we meet with
the adventure which you promised
me, answered Bolton, who was busily
scanning the changing landscape be,
meath them. Chow the water shines!
/ believe our earth is star to other
planets or moon. Who knows? See
the people run to cover like frightened
partridges? I suppose they never saw
balloon before
They'll get used to them," said
Harding. "Whoever lives hundred
years from now will think no more of
travelling in air ships than We do Of
going on the cars.
:sDo you believe that?" asked Young.
II do, and I think that the North Pole
problem will be solved in that very
way"
II care more just now about discov-
ering the hidden Aztec city folks are
talking about" unused Bolton. "Why
shouldn't we? We have passed by the
settlement, and now see how fast we
are nearing that range of mountains
shah watch for It.
The others auged, but Bolton watched
mountain aud valley as the night shad'
?ws fell.
Before dark the lower hills were
passed, and tier on tier the magnificent
mountain region of Mexico spread out
before them.
The moon was somewhat obscured,
out they could determine that they
we're passing over lofty mountains,
deep ravines and dense, shadowy Tor
ests.
1t seemed as if the night would
never end, and Bolton had his glass in
hand at the first streak of day.
Presently he uttered cry Of in
:redulous surprise.
Take the glass, some of you and
look! Tell meif I am growing crazy.
There: just beyond that tall, dome-like,
rocky mountain. What do you see?''
Il should call it city, with walls Of
FURNISHED silver!" calculated Harding.
"White stone, no doubt. but the
genuine hidden cityn cried Small,
excitedly.
'.But precious little good it'll do US, "
groaned Young. "We'll not be in this
vicinity long at the rate we're going. "
II don't know about that" answered
, Small, with critical glance atthe sky.
"Do YOU see that black cloud? I
I thought we shouldn't escape storm.
Do you feel these puffs of hot air?
Sure sign of coming tempest. Don't
you see that the wind has nearly
ceased? When it blows again it will
come with a tornado and carry us back
Easter than we care to 90, perhaps"
"Yes, it has stopped-and we are di-
.ectly over the cityr' cried Bolton, a
moment later. 'See the people run
ming like frightened sheep. Can't you
lower US, Small? "You remember the
ancient Aztec belief in superstition.
They will surely take US for gods of
air. Let's make them call. -
Small silently pulled the cord, and
the balloon descended slowly and ma
iestically.
"Hold!" breathed Young. eve
have happened along upon one OF their
sacrificial days. / can see the temple
piainiy-the horrible altaz-the dia-
bolical priests-yes, and the victim!
See, it is maiden as white as we are!
Here, take the glass and see for your
selves, Look at that old villain, MS
knife in his hand! See the bound
maiden, and the people kneeling to
our airship. Boys, the Aztecs believed
in killing a beautiful maiden as sacrl.
fee every year, until Quetzal should