Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-04-22
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY H. RIDER HAooARD.
4 strsnge Story, Token Frca . Manuseript BE-
euesthed By IN Old ncxican Indian 10 HIS
Friend and Conrsde, IN Easiish-
man Named Jones.
Copyrighted. 1894. By IL Rider Hasgara
CHAPTER xvIn-cosrrsurp


torscame and saw Zibalbay. but, though
they tried many remedies, they were of
no avail. On the night of the second
day we were gathered round his couch
watching him and talking together sad
~ enough, for the solitude and dark
ness and the fear of Impending death
had broken our spirits so that even the
senior ceased to be merry, and the pres
ence OF her beloved TO give comfort to
Maya
IL was just then that looked up and
saw Natal standing i'm the doorway,
watching the scene curiously and with
softening face.
Correcting" he said, 'and forgive me
that come so late, but my business is
secret, and such as is best done at
night How does it go with Zibal-
bay?"
lie lives, l answered; II can saw no
more, Tor he Is senselcSS, and, without
doubt, soon must die. But come, see
for yourself"
Natal walked to the bed and ex-
anined the old man. lifting the eyelids
and feeling his heart.
He cannot live long" he said
swell, death is his best friend. And
Low to my business. There is trouble
IN the city, and strange rumors pass
from mouth to mouth among the peo-
pie, many of whom declare that Tikal
has murdered Zibalbay. and demand
that You, lady, should be brought be-
fore them. that you may be named
cacique in his place.
Things being so, it has been urged
upon Il<al by the chiefs of his party
That, as he will never clear himself of
the death OF Zibalbay, il would be well
that he should make away with Won
also, lady, and with these two stran-
gers. The matter was laid before him
e
ana once he issued the order for your
deaths only to recall it before the mes
senger had left the palace"
now he paused, and Maya asked, in
q low voice:
tai?" U.S. '''V
why should L have plan, lady,
who with my house would benefit so
greatly by your death?"
II do not know why you should have
aplan, old man." broke in the senior.
but L tell you that you win do well to
make one, else you do not leave this
place alive" and as he spoke with a
sudden movement he sprang between
Natal and the door
II we are to be murdered like birds
In a cage" he went on, ''at least YOUR
neck shall be twisted first Do you
understands"
Il understand, Son of the Sea" an
severed Natal, tiinching a little before
the senors fierce face and hand out
stretched as though to grip him. But
L would have you understand some
thing, also; namely, that if ! do not
return presently, there are some with
out VINO Will come TO seek me, and
then
land then they viii find your carcass.
broke in the senior, and what will all
your plots and schemes advantage Won
when you are lump of scnscless
clay?"
Little. indeed confess" he an
severed. Still. my daughter, whom
love better than myself, viii reap some
profit, and with that, in this sad case. |
must be content. But, do not be so
hasty. white man. ! asked why | |
should have plan, | did not say / had
none"
Then if YOU have one, let us hear il
without more ado" said the senior
Natal bowed as he answered.:
Your will is mine, but / know not
how my plan will please the Lady
Maya yonder, and therefore. before /
unfold it, would make 1T clear that
there is but one altcrnative-the death
of all OF You by tomorrow light Your
lives lie in my hands; if must do so to
save my daughter and myself, / shall
not hesitat. TO take them
Any more than | shall hesitate to
take yours, old man" said the senior
grimly, for remember always that if
you do not make your plan such "a we
can accept you viii leave this chamber
feet first. with broken neck"
Again Natal bowed and continued:
I'm ore way only has TilIal been able
to pacify the people, 10y declaring that
the LadT Maya shall be produced be-
fore the Council of the Heart. in the
Of ~ Vrr. !, ~
ofwate-s, ard ufterward at dawn in the
eyes of thr whole city.
Tho words of Iibalbay have taken
strange hold Of the people, and thew
desire TO know what will happen when
once more the severed halves of the
symbol Of the heart are laid side by
side In their place upon the altar
Zibalbay told them that he believed
the god would reveal his purpose and
show what part each of you should play
In the fate that is to he, and therefore
the people look TO see some sign or
wonder when Day and Night are come
together"
Now Natal thought for awhile, and
went On:
Lady, / am old, and for many years
1 have followed the worship OF the
gods, and yet never have known the
gods TO make answer 20 their votaries.
or heard the voices of the immortals
speaking into human ears 1 cannot
tell, but / think were / in so sore a
strait as you find yourselves tonight. 1
should not hesitate to give a voice 20
these dumb gods"
What Is your meaning2" asked MAYA.
when the severed halves OF the |
heart are set in their place upon the al
tar II there should be any gods they
should give a sign The ancient SYM
Dol on the altar Is hollow. and II II
were % open IL might be that writing
would be found within IL, an ancient |
writing Of the gods prepared against
the present time that shall be 10 US as !
lantern % one wandering in the dark. |
or II might be that nothing would he |
found
Now, as IL happens, In searching
through the earliest records OF the tenn
PIE. have discovered certain writing. |
and ~ seems 90 me that your fortune |
would be great II that writing sbould |
lie within the symbol on the night Of |
the Rising Waters. Here IT, is"
And suddenly hc produced a small |
plate Of dull gold covered over with
symbols.
Read It. said Mayo
Then Natal read.
ITO thee IL speaks, unborn daughfo-
Of chief 20 be, whose name is the name
Of a nation. When my people have
grown old and their mum bers have less
ened and their heart IS faint. then