The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-04-01

your master.
First, l will say that l had forgotten
the law of which you speak, whereof 1
have broken the letter, or if at any time
remembered it my necessities caused
me to disregard it. Learn, then, that
the stranger Ignatio is of royal Indian
blood, and the holder of that symbol
which l went forth to seek, and that
the white man whom you call Son
of the Sea is as a brother to him, and
that both of them are of the fellowship
of the Heart, the lord Ignatio being no
less man than the master of the order
in yonder lands as am here
This lord Ignatio summoned to me
and he came. He came, and with his
companion, Son of the Sea, saved me
and my daughter from shame and
death. Then when we had escaped we
tried each other and laid the symbols
side by side, and lol Day and Night
came together, and they were one.
"Then also / told him how it hap
pened that was wandering far from
my own place, and he told me what was
his purpose and the desire of his life
to break the yoke that the white man
has set upon the neck of the Indians in
the far lands, and to build up mighty
Indian nation.
"Then we made compact: That the
lord Ignatio, with the white man,
should accompany us here, where the
symbols should be set in the appointed
place, that the prophecy may be full
filed and fortune return to us. That
should give him so much as he may
need of the treasures which lie useless
in our store houses, that with them he
may arm troops and bring about his
ends; and that in return he should bring
to us what we need far more than gold
and gems-men and women with whom
we may intermarry, so that our race,
ceasing to dwindle, may once again
multiply and grow great.
This, mobiles, is our compact, and
this is the path which the god who rules
us has pointed out for our feet to tread.
Accept it and grow" He ceased and
for awhile there was silence. Present.
ly it was broken, and by Tikal, who
sprang from his seat and cried aloud:
"Of truth they were wise who said
that this old man was mad. Have you
heard and understood, 0 People of the
Heart? This is what you must do to
fulfill the will of Zibalbay: First, you
must set him in his place again, giving
him all power, and me you must con-
demn to death or chains; next, you
must pardon him his breaches of the
law, the law that he of all men was
bound to keep.
''Then you must hand over your treas
ures the treasures boarded by your
forefathers for many generation, to
these wandering thieves whom he has
brought with HIM, and lastly, you must
open yonr gates that have been kept
secret for thousand years to other
thieves whom they shall lead here, to
whom, forsooth, you must give your
women in marriage that the race may
be increased. Say, will you do these
things, Children of the Hearth"
Now, all those mobiles who stood be-
hind Tillal shouted: ''Never!' and the
people beyond took up the cry with a
voice of thunder, though the most of
them understood little of what was
passing. Tikal held up his hand and
there was silence.
''You will not do them," he said, "and
base indeed were you had you answered
otherwise. What, then, will you do?
Tell me, first, whom do you choose as
your ruler--my uncle, who now is mad
and would bring you to shame and ruin,
or me, who have sworn to preserve your
ancient laws?"
eve choose you, TilSal, Tikall" came
the answer.
81 thank you" he cried. "But what,
then, shall be done with this old man
and those WHOM he has brought with
him to spy out our secrets and to rob
us?"
kill them before the altar!" they
shouted, waving their swords.
Tikal thought for a moment. then
pointed toward us and said: "Seize
these men,"
At his words hundred or more of
the mobiles, who evidently had been pre-
pared to execute his orders, rushed at
us suddenly. AS they came across the
open space saw the senor put his hand
to his belt, and l said to him:
"For the love of God do not strike,
for should you touch one of them they
will certainly kill us.
"That they will do in any case, but
as you wish" he answered. Then they
broke on us. AS they came, all those
mobiles who had followed Zibalbay to
the crest of the pyramid gave way be-
fore their rush, leaving the three of us
and the lady Maya standing alone.
"Cowards!" cried Zibalbay, glancing
brhind him. Then he drew his ma
cLete, and with shout cut down the
foremost of those who assailed us--a
great noble. In another instant the
weapon was struck from him, and the
senor and were being dragged toward
the altar, followed by Zibalbay and the
lady Maya, upon whom, however, our
assailants laid no hand.
"What shall we DO with these men?"
cried Tikal again.
And again the mobiles answered: "Kill
themm
Then they threw us down, and men
came at us with swords to make an end
quickly had not tho lady Maya sprung
forward, and standing over the senor
cried; "Hold!' in so piercing voice that
they stayed their hands.
Listen, People of the Heart" she
said; would you do murder upon your
own holy altar, staining it with the
blood of innocent men? You talk of
broken laws, Is there not law in the
city that none can be put to death ex-
cept after trial before the cacique and
his council?, Have these men been tried,
and if so, by whom? You say that my
father, your lawful ruler, is deposed.
If that is so, not Tikal, but l, who am
his heir, rule in his stead, and have
passed no Judgment on them"
Now, at her words there was mur-
mur of mingled doubt and applause,
but Tikal answered her saying:
Lady, you have appealed to the law
on behalf of these wanderers, of your
father and of yourself, and by the law
you shall be dealt with. Tomorrow the
judges shall be chosen and hold their
court here before Sle people"
UIt cannot be Tikal y she answered