The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-06-06

TIC lhh nuu water, lhtncF, 90
scended the cueva and fetched II, she
added after moments pause.
The old man looked at her, amazed.
How came II that you found cour-
age TO go down that place, daughter?"
he asked at length.
"The desire 10 save friend gave me
courage" she answered, letting her
eyes fall beneath his gaze. 81 knew that
you could not be back In time, SO L
went"
Zibalbay pondered awhile, then said:
II think that you would have done
better TO let him die. daughter, for i
believe that this white man will bring
trouble upon us. 1t has pleased the
gods TO preserve you alive. Remember
that your life belongs to tAem and that
you must follow the path that they
have chosen. Remember, also, that one
waits you in the city yonder who may
have word TO say as To your friend
ship with this wanderer."
That same evening Maya told me
of her fathers words and said:
II think that before all Is done 1
shall need the help that you have
sworn 10 give me, senior, for / can see
well that my father will be against me
unless my wish runs with his purpose.
For two more days we rested there
by the cueva till the senior was fit 70
travel, then we started on again. For
ten days we journcyed across the
wilderness. On the eleventh day we
began TO ascend the slope OF lofty
range of mountains, and on the twelfth
we reached the snow line, where we
were obliged TO abandon the three
mules that remained To us.
That night we slept with little to eat
In hole dug in the snow, wrapped In
our serapes.
"How far must we travel up this
SNOWY / asked Of Zibalbay as we
stood shivering in the ashy light of the
dawning.
Look yonder," he answered. point
ing TO where the first ray of the sun
shone upon surface of black rock far
above us; there is the highest point
and we should reach 1t before night
fall"
Thus encouraged, we pushed for
ward for hour after hour. Fortunately
the climbing was not difficult, so that
by four in the afternoon we found our
selves beneath the shadow of the wall
of black rock.
Must we climb that prccipice?" i
asked of Zibalbay.
"No," he answered. 1T would not
be possible without wings. There is a
secret way through it,"
"Are you glad TO see the gateway of
your home, Maya" asked the senior.
mo" she answered, almost fierccly,
"for here I'm the wilderness have been
happy, but there sorrow awaits me and
you. Oil II indeed l am dear To you,
let ms turn even now and fly together
back TO the lands where your people
live" and she clasped his hand and
looked earnestly into his eyes.
What" he answered, land leave
your father and Ignatio TO finish the
journey by themselves"
You are more TO me than my father,
James"
But, Maya, having come so far
wish TO see the sacred city"
"As you WILL" she said, letting fall
his hand. 'See, my father has found
the place and calls u.s..
We walked on TO where the old man
stood.
although trust YOU" said the old
man, "yet l must obey the oath, to
suffer no stranger to see the entrance
to the mountain gate. Come hither,
daughter, and blindfold these foreign
ers."
She obeyed. and as she tied the
handkerchief about the senor's face /
heard her whisper: Fear not, will be
your eyes"
Then we were taken by the hand and
led some PAGES; then, as we judged
from the sounds, our guides moved
something heavy. Next we were con-
Quoted down n steep incline through
narrow passage. At length, after talk
ing many sharp turns, the passage
grew wider and the path smooth and
level.
'ioose the bandagcs," said the voice
of Zibalbay.
Maya did so, and we looked round us
curiously to find that we stood at the
bottom of deep cleft or volcanic rift
In the rock. This cleft was still easily
passable after centuries of disuse. and
did not measure more than forty PAGES
from wall TO wall. On either side of IL
lowered sheer black cliffs.
BY degrees the cleft narrowed until
IL ended in a tunnel.
We followed through the gloom till
presently spot of light appeared be-
fore us, and in another minute we
stood on the further side OF the noun
tain.
Without pausing Zibalbay pushed on
down the hill, and suddenly turning to
the right stopped before the door of a
house built OF hewn stone.
Enter" he said. "and welcome TO
the country Of the People Of the
Heart"
AS the door was thrown open, light
from the fire within streamed through
1t, and a mans voice was heard asking:
WHO is there?"
without answering Zibalbay walked
into the room. At table placed be-
fore the fire sat man and
woman eating. sis this the way
that you watch for my return?" he
asked In stern voice. Haste now
and make food ready for us, for we arc
starved with cold and hunger"
The man, who had risen, stood hesi-
tating. but the woman, whose position
enabled her TO see the face of the speak
er, caught him by the arm, saying:
Down 10 your knees, husband. IL
Is the cacique come back"
Pardon" cried the man. taking the
hint, but TO be frank, o lord. Il has
been so dinned into my ears down In
the city yonder that neither you nor the