Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-04-09
Copyrighted. 1894. BY H Rider Hassard.
CHAPTER XI-CoHrMurn

Copyrighted. iss4. BY II Rider Hassard
CHAPTER XL-CoNTINuEn
There were none left upon the main
land to rcplenish the race, and this Is
our law, a law that cannot be broken
under pain of death, that no man or
woman may leave our territories to seek
q husband or wife of different blood.
Thus, then, il has come about that
the people have grown fewer and fewer,
wasting away like snow upon a noun
tain top in summer, till at length they
are dwindled to a few thousands, who
In bygone days could count their num-
>her by tens and twenties of thousands.
But an ancient prophecy has come
down to us from our forefathers, and II
is that, when once more the two halves
of the symbol of the Heart are laid side
by side in their place upon the altar in
the sanctuary OF the holy city, then
from that hour she shall grow great
again. Over this saying brooded long.
and often did pray 70 that God whom
worship that might find that which
was lost, and save the people from
perishing.
"At length a voice spoke to me In .
dream answering my prayer, bidding
me TO wander forth from the country OF
the heart and follow the ancient road
toward the sea, for there, near to the
eastern shore, ! should find that which
was lost.
"Then / summoned the Council Of the
Heart and told them ca Iay 6>Asm and
that purposed to obey it. But they
made a mock of me and said that /
t.~l.. n 81. l..A
of the people should accompany me
across the mountains, for that was
against the ancient law.
ITO be Short" continued Zibalbay,
s.since my heart was set upon this mis-
sion and my daughter yonder, who is
willful, would not be gainsaid of her de-
sire to accompany me, Tikal, my
nephew, was placed over the city TO
rule as cacique in my stead, until
should return again
"Alone we crossed the mountains,
and alone, following the traces of the
ancient road, we travelled through the
desert and the forest that lies beyond
Il, till at last we reached this secret
place.
There isnoneed to ten rfcrcst of the
talo, for II Is known 10 you. Now, il II
pleases you, let us hear yours, and
learn what purpose led you and your
companion here in time TO save us from
the grip of that white devil who lies
dead upon the stairway"
Then Ispole, telling to Zibalbay and
his daughter the story of my life, and
Of my great scheme to build up again
that empire which fell in the day of
Montezuma.
snow you speak words that are after
II. Il II N
tell me, how is II TO be done?"
by your help" ] answered. "Men
are here in plenty, but to use them I
seems, you have gold and no men.
Therefore ] ask of you some portion OF
your useless wealth, that by its help !
may lift up your people and my own.
Follow me to the city, and Il / can
bring IL about you shall have all that
you desire" he answered. "Now,
daughter, lead me to my rest, for ] am
overwhelmed, not with toll and suffer
ing, but with too much JOY"
When he had gone the senior spoke to
me. This is very well, Ignatio," he
said, land most interesting, but Just
now, as I may remind you. there are
things more pressing than the regener-
alton of the Indian race; for instance,
our own safety. Tomorrow, at the lat
est, men will come to seek those villains
who lie yonder, and il we are found
here il seems likely that we shall be
shot down as murderers. Say, then,
what do you propose to dor
81 propose, senior, that at the first
light of dawn we should take the mules
and ride away. The forest Is dense and
st will be difficult to find us in it; more.
over, two days journey will take us
beyond the reach of white men. Tell
me, lady" ] added to Maya, who had
returned from the chamber, do you
know the road?"
81 know the road" she answered,
but, sirs, before you take Il, 1t Is right
that should tell you something.
"You have heard my fathers words
and they are true, every one of them
but they are not all the truth. He rules
that city of which he has spoken to you
but the mobiles there are weary of his
rule, that at times Is somewhat harsh
$50 they deem him mad. 1t was for
this reason that they suffered him &c
wander forth, seeking the fulfillmen,
of prophecy In which none of them
have faith, for they were certain tina;
he would perish in the wilderness and
return no more to trouble them"
"Then why did they allow you. who
are his heir, to accompany him, LADY,
Because i would have Il so. / love
my father, and IL he was doomed to die
because of his folly, 1t was my wish tc
die with him Moreover, II you would
know the truth, hate that city where
! was born and the man In 1t to whom
am destined TO be married, and desired
TO escape from 1t II only for awhile"
.And does that man hate you, lady?''
NO. she answered, turning hel
head aside; but II he loves me, be
lieve that he loves power more. Had
stayed, my father would have appoint
ed me to rule in his place, and Tikal
throne, not on II; therefore IL was thai
he consented to my going, or at leas'
! think so.
'.Sirs. learn now that you are to &C
company us TO the City Of the Heart
should we live to reach Il.
..Come II you viii, but be warned, my
people arc a Jealous people, and the
name Of a stranger Is hateful to them
Few such have ever reached the City Of
the Heart for many generations, and Of
these, save one or two, none have es
capped from 1t alive. They do not de
sire new things, they have little knovl
sdee Of the world beyond their walls
and week for none.
Now, Eirs. choose whether you VII
accompany ms In our march toward the
City Of Waters, or whether ron win se,
your face 70 the sea again and forget
that you chanced TO hear Q certain storJ
hon wandering doctor, whose mis-
fortunes bad made him mad and an In
dinD girl who tended him"
How ] listened to these words which
~ lady Maya spsaEs very earnestly and