The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1896-08-20

See. this Hall of the Dead is
fuiiS there Is no place left for
me or my descendants, and surely
that is an evil omen. well" she added
with a sigh, what does il matter
where they set us when we are dead?"
Then we went on detiling before the
silent company of the golden dead,
till passing through hall. we stood in
front of a little docs over which burned
great lamps. This door was guarded
by two priests with drawn swords,
which they pointed towards us a sign
that we should halt. Then the priests
who had escorted us so far fell back be-
hind, and we were left alone
Give the sign, keepers of the gate"
said Naya.
ThereupoB one of the men with
drawn swords did so, and after few
moments delay the doors opersed and
we entered the sanctuary.
In front of the altar was an open
space, AMI beyond its circle, each wear
ing the e'orders of his spiritual rank, sat
the Brethrel of the Heart, according
10 their degree, to the Number of thirty
six.
Led by Maya, re advanced into the
open space before the altar, and stood
there in silence. At length one of the
| brethren, he who sat nearest TO dhe
door, rose, and. addressing TilSal, said.
Keeper of the Heart, Que who ciRins
TO he of our company stands before YOii.
ant with her two for whom she vouchcs.
BE pleased To prove them by the voice
of their sponsor thattheir mouths may
be opened aud rheir prayers come to
the ears of the council"
\ AT his words two of the bTctlnen
rose and blindfoldeH the senior and my
4 Al.
I with all of which. indeed. was well ac-
] quaintcd; but Maya they did not blind
/ fold. Then we heard TilSal asking:
How are You named who are strange
TO Dur cyes?" and the voice of Maya in
! our ears cautioned us to be silent.
I'VE are named the Son of the Sea
and Ignatio the Wanderer," answered
the voice of Maya.
"Son of the Sea and Ignatio the Wan
dcrer, why come you here" asked
Tikal through the gate on which is
written, Death to the Stranger?'"
"Because we have prayer to utter,
an Offering to make, and because, al
though 1--WE dwell in far land. we are
the servants of the Heart" answered
Maya.
Then the various signs of the ritual
were made by Maya.
Strangers" said TilSal, ''your mouths
are opened in the sanctuary according
to the ancient form, and it is lawful for
the council to listen to your prayer.
| Speak then without fear" Then i
spoke saying:
Brethren. for so will dare TO call
you, seeing thatiI also. though stran-
ger. am of the Brotherhood of the
Heart, as | can prove to you if need be,
ay. and higher in rank than any pres
ent here, unless it be you, o Keeper OF
the Heart. On my own behalf, on be-
half of my brother, who also is of our
company, and on behalf of Maya, the
Lady of the Heart. daughter of him
who ruled you, and heiress to his pow
er,lIspeals and make my prayer to you.
at would seem that we three, to.
gether with Zibalbay, who is dead, and
therefore beyond your judgment, have
violated the laws of this city. we by
daring to enter its gates, and Zibalbay
aud the Lady Maya by leading us tc
those gates. For this crime we should
have been put to death eight days age
upon the pyramid had not the Lady
Maya claimed right to have our cause
laid before this high tribunal. In heI
case, and in that of her father, this was
conceded, and l pray now that the
same clemency may be extended to me
and to my brother"
Upon what grounds do YOU claim
this, stranger" asked Tikal
Upon the ground that we are breth
ren of the inmost circle of the Heart
and. therefore, have committed nc
crime in visiting this city, which is free
to us by the right of Our rank and
office"
Now there was a murmur of true
from the council behind me. and TilSal
also said true" but added: "lf you
are brethren of the inmost circle of the
Heart you are free from offense, but
first you must prove that this is so
which as yet you have not done.
brother of the inmost circle knows its
mysteries, and can answer the secret
questions. Come. let us put you to the
test, but first let the white man be re-
moved from the sanctuary, for in this
matter each must answer for himself.
Accordingly the senior was led away
and the doors having been closed and
the lamps shaded, the oldest and most
instructed of the councillors stood for
ward and put to me the test with many
l,questions, all of which | answered
readily. Then they commanded me tc
stand before the altar. and, as Keeper
of the Heart, to open the Heart in the
highest degree. This did also, though
afterward they't told me that my ritua
differed in some particulars from theil
own.
After that i took up my parable anC
questioned them till at length none
could answer me. no. not ever
the high priest or Natal, and they con
fessed humbly that | was more in
structed than anyone of them, and be
cause of this from that day forward
was held in veneration in the City o.
the Heart.
Now was given a seat among tn,
brethren. the highest, indeed, after
those of the high priest and the great
officers, and the senior was sent for,
He entered with a downcast look, anC
while Maya and watched him sadly hi:
examination began. 1t was not long.
At the second question he became
confused, psed angry language il
Spanish and English and broke down
Brethren" said Tikal, and there wa,
JOY in his eye as he spoke. sit seemi
that we need not trouble further with
this impostor. BY daring to enter oul
city he has earned the penalty of death
moreover he has blackened his Grim,
by claiming to be one of our brother
hood whereas he scarcely knows tn,
simplest password. Is it your will thai
he should be taken to his fate? If so
speak the word of DOOM"
Now Maya rose affrighted, and mo
tioning to her to be silent, / spoke. say
ing:
Hear me before that fatal word i,
Spnlyep which cannot ka racalled Thi,