The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-07-18

rns oouscIL oF rHE HAN

On the following day the attendants
who set our meals brought with them
clean robes for each OF us, scented and
wonderfully worked, and for Maya
certain royal ornaments. In these we
arrayed ourselves before evening and
waited. The hours passed, and at
length the copper gates were opened
and band Of mobiles and guards pre-
scented themselves before US, saying
that they were commanded TO lead US
TO the sanctuary.
We answered that nothing would
please us better, and In few minutes
found ourselves walking up the stairs
toward the crest of the pyramid.
We reached IL and saw the stars shin
ing above us and felt the breath OF
heaven blowing In our faces. and never
have the sight OF the stars or the taste
of the night air seemed more sweet TO
me. Leaving the watchhouse we
walked TO the great stair across the
lonely summit of the pyramid and be-
gan TO descend it's side.
At the foot OF the stairway we turned
TO the right till we came TO a double
door of copper, beautifully worked,
built In the center OF the western face
of the pyramid and guarded by small
body OF soldiers, who salutsd and ad-
mitted us.
Entering our guides went without fall
tering, turning now to the right, now
TO the left, and now seeming 10 retrace
their footsteps, till at length they
halted to open door covered over
with plates of beaten gold, on the fur
Their side OF which lay the most sacred
spot, save one, in the City OF the Heart,
| that served the threefold purpose OF
| Judgment hall, church wherein the
/ ~. .4to.IaA xsprahfn md a burial
place OF the departed caciques OF the
city.
| Here In this vast and awful vault,
| each OF them set in his own niche,
stood the bodies of every king-priest
| who had reigned in the holy city, in
| closed In collins of solid gold fashioned
TO the shape and likeness Of the corpse
within and having the name, age, date
OF birth and briefaccount OF the good
or evil that the man had done cut In
symbols on his breast.
For moment Maya paused TO look
upon the bodies of her parents, then
with sigh and an obeisance she passed
on. saying To me:
sSee, this Hall of the Dead is
full; there Is no place left for
me or nv descendants. and surely
that Is an evil omen. "Well," she added
with n sigh, what does IL matter
where they set as when we are deadY
Then we went on defiling before the
silent company of the golden dead,
till passing through hall, we stood In
front OF IA little door over which burned
great lamps This door was guarded
by two priests with drawn swords
which they pointed towards us sign
that we should halt Then the priests
who had escorted us SO far fell back he
| hind and we were l0ft alone.
''Give the sign, keepers of the gate,
said Maya. -,
Thereupon one of the men will
drawn swords did so, and after q few
moments delay the doors opened anc
we entered the sanctuary.
In front OF the altar was an oper
: space, and beyond its circle, each wear
ing the orders of his spiritual rank, sa
, the Brethren of the Heart, according
70 their degree, to the numberof thirty
six.
Led by Maya, we advanced into tn
, omen space before the altar, and stood
there in silence. At length one OF tn
brethren, he who sat nearest TO tn
door. rose, and, addressing Tiltal, said
"Keeper OF the Heart, one who claim
2 TO be Of our company stands before you
and with her two for whom she youches
, BE pleased TO prove them by the voic
! Of their sponsor, that their mouths ma.
4 be opened and their prayers come I
the ears OF the council"
At his words two OF the brethre
u rose and blindfolded the senior and my
!. self lest we should see the sacred signs
y with all OF which, indeed, | was well nc
Z ouaintcd; but Maya they did not blind
!. fold. Then we heard TilSal asking;
! GLOW are you named who are strang
/ A
. our ears cautioned us TO be silent.
1--WE are named the Son OF the Sc
= and Ignatio the Wanderer," answere
: the voice of Maya.
= "Son OF the Sea and Ignatio the Wal
: derer, why come you here, aske
y Tilsal. Through the gate on which
= written, Death TO the Stranger"
= Because we have n prayer TO ute
: an offering 20 make, and because,
= though we dwell In far land, we al
- the servants of the Heart" answert
n Maya.
!, Then the various signs of the ritu
II were made by Maya.
4. "Strangers, said TilSal, your moutl
- are opened I'm the sanctuary accordir
"a 20 the ancien. form, and IL is lawful Il
the council TO listen TO your praye
y. Speak then without fearE Then
m spoke, saying:
m Brethren, for so will dare TO ca
20 you, seeing that l also, though a stra
pe ger, am OF the Brotherhood OF u
h Heart, as l can prove 10 you IL need
ay, and higher In rank than any pre-
"a ent here, unless IL be you, o Keeper
y the Heart. On my own behalf, on I
half OF my brother, who also Is OF o
he company, aud on behalf of Maya, g
an Lady OF the Heart, daughter OF hi
nd who ruled you, and heiress TO his po
nm err, speak and make my prayer TO 20
ms ut would seem that we three,
nv gc,her with Zibalbay, who Is dead, al
80 therefore beyond your Judgment, ha
violated the laws OF this city, we
.. daring TO enter it's gates, and Zibalb
,et and the Lady Maya by leading ms
nj those gates. For this crime we shou
he have been put TO death eight days n
Am upon the pyramid had not the La
Maya claimed right TO have our cat
he laid before this high tribunal. In