The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-05-23
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY H. RIDER HAooARD.
A Strange Story, Taken From . Manuscript Bs-
queathcd by an Old Mexican Indian Ia His
Friend and Comrade, an English.
man Named Jones.
Copyrighted. 1904 by H Rider Hasgard.
CHAPTER X.
HOW MoLAs DIED.

CHAPTER X.
now MoLAs DIED.
For some few minutes we rested to
recover our breath, then we started
forward again. In front went the girl,
Maya. our guide, whom the senior led
by the hand, while behind followed
Zibalbay, supported by Molas and my
self At first these two had run as
quickly as the rest OF MS, but now all
the fatigues and tcrrors that they had
undergone took hold of them, so that
from time TO time they were forced to
stop and rest. which Is little to be
wondered at, seeing that for five days
they had eaten no solid food, for 10 was
Don Pedro's purpose TO starve their Sc
cret out of them.
Slowly and with much toll we forced
O path through the tropical forests.
This forest that seemed so destitute
Of life was peopled by millions OF in
sects, all of them venomous. Garrapat-
as, tiny gray flies, wood wasps, and
ants black and red, tormented us with
their bites and stings, till we groaned
aloud in our misery, then remembering
our danger pushed on again.
Thus two hours and more passed till
reaching a little stream that ran
through q ravine in the forest, we
paused 20 drink and cool our fevered
feet and hands. Zibalbay sank ex-
hausted upon the bank, where
brought him water in my sombrero,
while his daughter SIT herself down on
n stone in the stream, suffering 1t TO
flow over her feet and ankles that by
now were swollen with ant bites and
bleeding from cuts of thorns and
grasses.
Presently she looked up and seeing
the senior standing on the bank talking
20 me, invited him with a motion of her
hand to scat himself beside her.
"What is your name, white man?'
she asked.
flames Strickland"
flames Strickland" she repeated,
with some difficulty. II thank you,
James Strickland, for rescuing my
father from torment and me from in.
suit, and because of that deed !, Maya
OF the Heart, whom many have served
am your servant forever"
"You should thank my friend, Don
ignntio,- me said, pointing 70 me.
For few moments she looked at me
eearchingly, then replied:
II thank HIM also, but 1 thank you
the most. for your hand rid me of thai
hateful man and saved us"
ne said; I'VE are not out Of danger
yet"
II have little fear now that we hav,
escaped from that dreadful house." sh,
answered, almost indifferently, "sincs
our hiding place is near. And how cal
hey find us in this forest? Harlxl wha
Tas that?"
AS she spoke faint and distant souns
fell upon our ears, such a sound a
night have been made by bell strucl
far away at night
THAT is how they will find u.s." h
said, springing TO his feet. "Do yol
hear, 1gnatio? The dogs have hit on
trail. Which way does our road rui
now, lady?"
"Along the banks OF the stream"
s'Then we must go forward In tn
water" said the senior; 'its our onl.
chance, for the hounds cannot track u
there"
Not more than three hundred pace
from the banks of the little stream w
came upon high mound densely over
grown with trees, between the bolcs O
which appeared masses Of cut stone.
"This Is the place" gaspcd Iilbalbay
"Loolx. yonder above us are the walls q
the temple, and here Is the ancien
stairway that led TO It," And he pointe
20 long flight of crumbling stone step
almost hidden in ferns and bushes. u
these steps we went with caution
Molas carrying Zilbalbay upon hi
broad back.
The staircase was i'm three flights, tn
top flight, now almost entirely broke
away, emerging on what once had bee
a broad and splendid terrace. but to-da
was chaos OF stoneworlx, In the ere,
fees of which grew bushes and eve
large trees. over the head OF the stail
way stood n colossal arch sculpture
with the figures OF gods and beasts.
Thsi arch was I'm the last stage of d.
cay; indeed, the crown OF IL, a mass {
masonry that must have weighed b'
tween one hundred and two hundre
tons, had been nearly separated froi
its supports by the action Of time an
rain, aided, perhaps, by a shock {
earthquake, and hung threatening owe
the top of the stair In truth, so sliRl
were the attachments which rcmainc
between Il and It's supporting side co
usnns and buttrcsscs, that at first sigl
Al seemed as thought Il must fall at ono
A closer examination showed, how
ever. that u was held In place by thrs
or four great roots, trees that gre
upon che crown OF the arch. Il
yOnd the arch, on the furth'
aide of the terrace, rose the ruine
temple, singlc-storied building with
nat roof. whereon grew many shrul
and palms.
Passing into the temple. Maya led I
INTO a chamber. In the corner lay