Iron County register., 1896-07-02
HEART OF Tie WORLD.
BY II. RIDER HAoGARD.
Strange Story. Taken From Manuscript Be.
queathed by an Old Mexican Indian 10 His
Friend and Cozarade, an English.
mEn Named Jones.
Copyrighted. 1894. by H Rider Haggard
CHAPTER vm-coxrrxUEn

ing the woman who had been engaged
| in swinging the hammock; water may
be wanted and other things"
The girl bowed and went away, and at
the door we found her standing, lamp
in hand, to light us down the passage.
We'll, when you are ready" said Don
4 Jose, will you come to supper? You
I will not lose the way, for you can fol-
| low the smell of the food, " and he left
the room.
Zone moment" said, addressing the
| girl, who was about to accompany him;
perhaps You will see that our serv-
| ant" and l pointed to Molas, has
some meat brought to him here, since
| your masters will not wish MIN to sit at
| table"
''Si," answered the girl, whose name
| was Luisa, searching my face with her
| eyes
| By this time Don Jose was through
| the door, which the draught pushed to
| behind him. watched it close, then a
! thought struck me, for l remembered
| that among our order there are women,
| associates of the outer circle, and /
| whispered some words in her ear and
made sign with my hand. She started
| and gave the ancient answer, which IS
taught even to children, whereto l re-
| piled with another sign, that of the
| Presence of the Heart.
| ''Where?" she asked, glancing at each
| of us in turn.
Here" answered, and, drawing out
| the symbol, held it before her eyes.
| She saw and made obeisance, and at
| that moment we heard Don Jose calling
! her from the further side of the door.
Il come" she cried in answer, then
added in a whisper: Lord, you are in
| danger in this house. / cannot tell you
! now, but if possible will return. The
wine is safe, but drink no coffe, and do
not sleep when you lie down. Search
| the floor and you will understand the
reason. come, senior, l Gomez And
she fed from the room.
So soon as the girl was gone the senior
went to the door and locked it, then he
returned and said:
What does all this mean, Ignatio?"
did not answer, but, pushing aside
one of the beds, | searched the floor be-
meath it. 1t was discolored in several
places. Next / pulled the blankets off
the beds and examined the webbing
that formed the mattresses to discover
that this also was stained, though
slightly, for it had been washed. Then
! said:
Men have died in these beds, senor,
ard the stains were made by their
blood. 1t would seem that the guests
of Don Pedro sleep well, first they are
'lrucged, then they are murdered, and
it is FOR this purpose that we have been
luret to the house. Well, we expected
nothing else"
10 not despond," answered. 1--WE
are warned in time and therefore, I
think, shall escape by the help of that
girl and the other Indians in the place,
since in an hour every one of them will
know who we are, and be prepared to
risk their lives to save us. Now let us
make ready and go among these men
with bold face, for of this you may be
sure, that nothing will be attempted
till late ut night, when they think US
sleeping. Have you understood, Mo-
ias?''
Yes" answered the Indian.
Then watch here, or in the outer
room until we return, and should the
girl come, learn all you can from her as
u the whereabouts of the old doctor
and his daughter, and other matters,
for when she knows you to be of the
order she will speak. Have you been
recognized by any one?"
Il think not, senior. When we en-
tered il was too dark for them to see."
''GoOd. Then keep out of their way,
Il possible, do the best you can with the
girl, and take note of all that passes.
Farewell"
When we reached the end of the din
IiStil DOh CNlIO S1lu 4IOu4 Ills
hammock to the ground and, taking the
sen0r by the hand. said:
Let me Introduce you to my over
seer. the Senor Smith from Texas. He
is an American, and will be glad to
meet one who can speak English, for,
notwithstanding much practice, his
Spanish is none of the best"
The senor bowed and the American
'lcsperado spoke to him in English,
wearing a grin on his face like a wicked
dog as he did SO, though do not know
what he said. Then Don Pedro con-
Quoted him to a place of honor at the
head of the table, that beside his own
scat, while | was led to another table at
4 little distance. where my meat was
served to mc alone. since, as an Indian
of pure blood, was not thought fit for
the company of these croSs-bred ours.
lea Jose having taken his place at the
further end of the table with the
Americana, the meal began. and an ex-
SelleEt one it was.
Try some more of this Burgundy"
said Don Pedro when the dishes had
been removed, filling his tumbler for
The seventh or eighth time; 1t is the
right stuff, straight from France,
though it never paid duty" and he
Ni2lled his leaden eye.
Your health, senior, and may you
i've to do many such brave deeds as
that of yesterday, when you saved my
son from the sea. By the way, do YOU
know that on board that ship they said
:hat you had the evil eye and brought
:Ier to- wreck; yes, aSd your long-fSccd
companion. the Ipdin-. 5ssC.@
Indeed, never heard of it before"
answered the senor with a laugh; but
e so our evil eyes shall not trouble You
For long, as we propose to continue our
journey tomorrow.
Nonsense, friend, nonsense; you
Ion't suppose that / believe in
hat sort OF rubbish, do you?
IYe say many things that we
,io not believe. just for a joke; thus"
;.nd he raised his voice so that | could
near him at my table, your companion
fhere-is he not named Ignatio?-told a
story TO my disadvantage on board the
ship. which am sure he did not be-
-ieve," and suddenly he stared at me
;tnd added insolently: lis it not so,
:ndian?"
''If YOU seek my opinion, Don Pedro"
answered. leaning forward and speak
'ng very clearly, IL can say that it is
lnprofitable 70 repeat words that are
said, or to remember deeds that are
lone with. II ! spoke certain words, or
f in the past you did certain deeds,
here beneath your hospitable roof is
not the place to recall them"
Quite so. Indian. quite so; you talk
like an oracle. as Montezuma used to
talk to Cortes, tili the conqueror found
s way to teach him plain speaking-a
,,reat man, Corses, he understood how
20 deal with the Indians" Then he
Snat upon the floor, and, having looked