Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-11

1 ging it from the moldering skeleton of tho unlucky priest who, having offended the | new found god, had been let down through ! the hole to lay it in its hiding place and to perish in the jaws of the water dweller. Leonard took tho bag, and opening its mouth, which was drawn tight with a run ming strip of hide, peeped into 1t while Otter held down the candle that he might see. From Its depths came a glimmer of
 red and blue light that glowed like the heart of some dull fire.
 Ut is the treasure" he said in a low
 tone of exultation. At last tho luck has turned"
 "How much does it weighf" said Juan
 ma as they sped onward.
 "Some seven or eight pounds, should l say," he answered, still exultantly. "Sev-
 en or eight solid pounds of gems, the fin l est in the world.''
 "Then give 1t me-" she said "I havo
 nothing else to carry. You may have to ! use both your hands presently" "True," he answered and passed the string of the bag over her head. Then they went on up the smooth slop. ing bed of the stream, suffering little in. convenience, except from the cold of the water that flowed about their ankles. "The stream has risen somewhat, baas, I since passed 1t this morning. Doubtless l this days sun has melted some snow at | its source. Tomorrow we might not have been able to travel this road.'' 'Very likely" answered Leonard. 1T told you that our luck had turned at last [" Twenty minutes more and they reached 1 the mouth of the tunnel, and passing be- | tween the blocks of ice found themselves upon the mountain side; but, as it chanced, the face of the moon was hidden by clouds, which is often the case in this country at the beginning of the spring season, for, whereas in winter the days are almost in- l variably misty and the nights clear, in I spring and summer these atmospheric con. ! ditions arc frequently reversed. So gloomy
 was it indeed that it proved impossible to ] attempt the ascent of the mountain until the day broke, since to do so would be to run the risk of losing themselves and very possibly of breaking their necks among its numerous clefts and precipices. After minutes nasty discussion they
 set to work to fill up the mouth of the tunnel, or rather the cracks between the l blocks of ice that already encumbered 1t, I with such material as lay at hand-name- ly, Jumps of frozen snow, gravel and few
 large stones which they were fortunate enough to find in the immediate vicinity, for the darkness rendered 1t impossible to
 search for these at a distance. While they were thus engaged they heard the voices
 of priests speaking on the farther side of their somewhat inefficient barrier and worked harder than ever, thinking that
 the moment of attack had come.
 To their astonishment, however, tho sound of voices died away.
 Now where have they gone," said Leonard-"to climb the cliff by another
 path and cut us offH"
 II think not, deliverer," answered Ol- fan, flor I know of no such path. think
 that they have gone to bring heavy beams
 by means of which they will batter down
 the ice wall.'
 Still there is such a path, king" said one of the captains, flor myself have of ten climbed 1t when I was young search ing for snow flowers to bring to her whom
 courted in those days"
 Gan you find it now, friendf" asked
 Olfan eagerly.
 II do not forget a road that I have
 trod," said the captain. "bu3 it is one not
 easy to follow"
 See now, Shepherdess," said Olfan
 after thinking awhile, shall we take this
 man for a guide and return down the cliff
 to the city. for there, unless fate is against
 us, we may find friends among the soldiers
 and fight out this battle with the priests"
 No, no, answered Juanna almost pas
 sionately. ''I would rather die than go
 back to that dreadful city to be murdered
 at last. Do you go if you will, olfan, and
 leave us to take our chance"
 That cannot do, queen, for am sworn to certain service, he said proud
 Iy. But hearken, my friond, follow this
 path of which you speak, if you can do so
 in the darkness. and find help. Then rs-
 turn swiftly to this spot, where and your
 two comrades will hold the priests at bay. PerchaDce you will not find us living, but
 this charge you-if we are dead give it
 out that the gods have left the land bo-
 cause they were so evilly dealt with and
 rouse up the people to fall upon tho priests
 and make an end of them once and for
 ever, for thus only shall they win peace l and safety"
 Making no reply, the man shook Olfan
 and the other two captains by the hand,
 saluted Juanna and vanished into the
 darkness. Then they all sat down in front
 of the mouth of the tunnel to wait and
 watch, and very glad were they of the goatskin cloaks which had belonged to the
 dead priests, for as the night drew toward dawn tho cold became so bitter that they
 could scarcely bear it, but were obliged to
 rise and stamp to and fro to keep their
 wet feet from freezing.
 Leonard" said Juanna, ''you do not | know what passed after Nam trapped you" And she told him all that tale. When she had finished, he rose, and talk
 ing Olfan by tho hand Said: King,
 thank you. May fortune deal as well %fth
 you qs you have deafE~ith meantI mine"
 Say no mora. deifveref," !" answered
 olfan hastily. II have but done my duty
 and fulfilled my oath, though at times the path of duty is hard for Q man to follow. And he looked toward Juanna and sighed. Leonard sat down and was silent, but
 many 8 time both then and in after days | did he wonder at the nobleness of mind
 shown by this savage king, who, under
 circumstances so cruel, conquered his own
 passion and was willing to lay down life
 and throne together that he might carry
 out his VOW to protect stranger who had
 brought him so much pain and now left him forever with his successful rival. Atlength, looking at the mountain peak
 above them, they saw its Enows begin to blush rcd with the coming of the dawn,
 and just then also they heard many voices: talking within the tunnel and caught
 glimpses of lights flashing through the | openings in their rude Qualifications. Tho | priests, who no doubt had been delayed by the procuring of the timbers which were to serve as batterIng rams and the labor necessary to drGS them up the steep
 incline of the tunnel, had returned and in force. A few more minutes and a succes-
 sion of dull thuds on the farther side of
 the Ice wall told the little band of defend | CTS that their enemies were at work. ''The light grows quickly, deliVerer,"
 said Olfan quietly. II think that now you
 may begin to ascend the mountain and l take no harm"
 What shall we do with this mant'
 asked Leonard, pointing to Nam. | ''Kin him., said Otter
 No, not yet awhile, " answered Olfan.
 "Tako this, and he handed Leonard the | spear of the third captain, who had left it
 when he started down the mountain, fear
 ing that it might cucumber him, 'sand