The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-04-01
Copyrighted 1894, by H Rider HagGard.
CHAPTER XVI.
ON THE PYRAMID

CHAPTER XVI.
ON THE PYRAMID.
docs not the city lie very lowP" 1
asked of Maya, when we had studied
the prospect on every side. ITO my
eye it seems almost upon level with
the waters of the lake"
II believe that is So" she answered.
Moreover, during those months of the
year that are coming, the level of the
lake rises many feet, so that the island
is submerged and the water stands
about the wall"
"How, then, do you prevent the town
from being flooded?" asked the senor.
''If once the water flowed in the place
would vanish and every soul be
drowned"
"Yes, friend, but the waters never
rise beyond certain height, and are
kept from flooding the city by the great
sluice gate If that gate were to be
opened in the time Of inundation, then
we should perish, every one. But it
never is opened during those months,
for, if any would leave or enter the city
they do so by means of ladders leading
from the summit of the wall to floating
landing stages on the moat beneath"
1T seems strange place to build a
CITY," answered the senior. 81 do not
think that l should ever sleep sound
during the months of inundation, know
ing that my life depended on single
gate
'Yet men have slept safely here for q
thousand years or MORE" she said. LIE
gend tells us that our forefathers who
came up from the coast in ancient days
settled on the island by command of
their gods, choosing this hollow bed of
land to build in, so that, rather than
submit themselves to foes, as their
fathers were forced to do in the country
beyond the mountains, they could, if
need were, flood the place and perish in
the water
For this reason it is that the holy
sanctuary of the nameless God, the
Heart of Heaven, is hallowed deep in
the rock beneath us, for the waters of
the lake would flow in upon it at
touch, burying it and all its treasures
from the sight of man forever. Now,
If you have seen enough, l will take
You to visit the public workshops where
fish is dried, garments woven, and all
OBuCl luuuObI CdIIlcu Ou UlldU dTG utC-
essary to our comfort" and turning she
led the way with her ladies toward the
head of the stairs.
As we drew near to it, however, three
men appeared upon the platform, IN one
of whom l knew Tikal. Seeing Maya
he advanced toward her, bowling as he
came.
Lady" he said, '1earning that you
were here with these strangers, have
followed YOU to beg that you will
speak with me alone for some few min
ntes."
"That cannot do, cousin" she an
swered, coldly, "for who knows what
color might afterward be put upon my
words. II you have anything to say to
me say 1t before us all"
"That l cannot do" he answered,
'for what / have to say is secret. Still,
for your fathers sake, and perhaps for
your own, you will do well to hear il"
"Without witness will not listen
to you, Tikal."
"Then, lady, FAREWELL" he said, and
turned to go.
"Stay, cousin. If you fear to speak
before our own people let this stranger"
--and she pointed to me, Ignatio-"be
present at our talk. He is of our blood
and can understand our tongue, dis
Greet man, and, moreover, one of the
Brethren of the Heart"
sOne of the Brethren of the Heart!
How can stranger be Brother of the
Heart? Prove it to me. wanderer."
And drawing me aside he said GER
tain words which | answered, giving
him the signs.
do you agree?" asked Maya.
Yes, lady, since | must, though it
pleases me little to open my mind be-
fore a stranger. Let us step apart"
and he walked to the center of the plat
form, followed by Maya and myself.
"Lady," he began, "my business with
you is not easy to tell. For many years
we were affianced, and both you and
your father promised that we should be
wed when you returned from this jour-
new"
surely, as things are, cousin, it is
needless to discuss the matter Of our
betrothal," she broke in with sarcasm.
mot altogether needless, lady," he
answered. 81 have much to ask your
pardon for, and yet make bold to ask
IT Maya, you know well that l have
loved, and love you dearly, and that no
other woman has ever been near my
heart"
"Surely," she said with laugh,
''these words sound strange in the
mouth OF the new-made husband Of
Nahua."
perhaps, lady, and yet are true. 1
am married to Nahua, but do not love
/, her, though she loves me. It is you
whom ] love, and when / saw you yes
terday all my heart went out to you, so
that almost hated the fair bride at my
side"
31Why, then, did you marry her?"
Because. must and because be-
lieyed you dead, and your father with
tyon, as did every man in the city. You,
Zibalbay, being dead, as thought, was
j IL wonderful that l should wish to keep
the place that many were plotting to
take from me? This could be done in
one way only, by the help Of Natal,
the most clever and the most powerful
man IN the city; and this was Mattai's
price, that his daughter should become
Lady Of the Heart.