The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1896-08-13
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY n. RIDER HAoGARD.
A Strange STORY. Taken From Manuscript De-
quonthed by an Old Mexican Indian 10 His
Frie3d ard Conrsde. IN English-
man Named Jones.
Copyrighted. 1894 by IL Rider Hhssard.
CHAPTER xvIn-coSrINuEp.

Natal returned to visit us. Other doc |
torscame and saw Hibalbay, 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 !
ly 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.
Ii was just then that looked up and
saw Natal standing in the doorway,
watching the scene curiously and with
softening face.
Greeting, he said, land 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?"
"He lives" answered; 81 can say no
more. for he is senseless. and, without
doubt, soon must die. But come, see
for yourself"
Natal walked to the bed and eg-
amined the old man. lifting the eyelids
and feeling his heart.
"He cannot live long" he said.
"Well, death 10 his best friend. And
row to my business. There is trouble
in the city, and strange rumors pass
iTOIi ulOubl w LuOuIn ttuOuR Int pfO-
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, II has been urged
upon Tilfal by the chiefs of his party
that, as he will never clear himself of
the death of Zibalbay, it would be well
that he should make away with you
also, lady, and with these two stran-
gers. The matter was laid before him
at secret council held this afternoon,
and 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
low voice:
Have you no plan to save us, Mat
tai?"
why should l have a plan, lady,
who with my house would benefit SO
greatly by your death?"
II do not know why you should have
plan, old man." broke in the senior,
but tell you that you will do well to
make one, else you do not leave this
place alive" and as he spoke with
sudden movement he sprang between
Natal and the door.
''If we are to be murdered like birds
in a cage" he went on, 'nt least your
neck shall be twisted first. Do you
understands"
Il understand, Son of the Sea-" an
swered Natal, fiinching a little before
the senors fierce face and hand out
stretched as though to grip him. But
] would have you understand some
thing, also; namely, that if | do not
return presently, there are some with
out who will come to seek me, and
then"
"And then they will find your carcass"
broke in the senior, 'and what will all
your plots and schemes advantage you
when you are lump of senseless
clay?"
Little, indeed, I confess" he an
swered "Still, my daughter. whom |
love better than myself. will 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, l did not say had
none"
''Then if you have one, let us hear it
without more ado" said the senor.
Natal bowed as he answered:
Your will is mine, but | know not
how my plan will please the Lady
MAYA wonder, and therefore, before /
unfold it, ] would make it clear that
there is but one alternative the death
of all of you by tomorrow IS light. Your
lives lie in my hands; If / must do so to
save my daughter and myself, l shall
not hesitate to take them"
Amy 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 as we
can accept you will leave this chamber
feet first, with broken neck"
Again Natal bowed and continued:
I'm one wey only has Tikal been able
to pacify the people, by declaring that
the Lady Maya shall be produced be-
fore the Council of the Heart. in the
sanctuary upon the night of the rising
of fwaters, and afterward at dawn in the
eyes of the whole city.
'The words of Zibalbay have taken a
strange hold of the people, and they
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 be, 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
I have followed the worship of the
gods, and yet never have / known the
gods TO make answer to their votaries
or heard tie voices of the immortals
speaking into human ears. l cannot
tell, but L think were | in SO sore a
strait as you fnd yourselves tonight, L
should not hesitate to give voice to
these dumb gods.
What is your meaning?" asked idaya'
"When the severed halves of the
heart are set in their place upon the al
tar, if there should be any gods they
should give sign. The ancient sym
boil on the altar is hollow, and If it
were to open it might be that writing
would be found within it, an ancient
writing of the gods prepared against
the present time that shall be to us as
lantern to one wandering in the dark,
or it might be that nothing would be
found.
Now, as it happens, in searching
through the earliest records of the TEN
pie, have discovered a certain writing,
and il seems to me that your fortune
would be great If that writing should
lie within the symbol on the night OF
the Rising Waters. Here it is-n
And suddenly ne produced a small
plate of duh gold covered over with
symbols.
"Read it," said Maya.
Then Natal read:
ITO thee it speaks, unborn daughter
4 =. =