San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-02-02

pray that may never suner so again.
But | drank water and lived. Who
brought it to me?"
at came from the cueva, that place
which we examined before you were
bitten"
"Who went down the cueva to get itP
The place is unclimbable.
II went down"
"You!" he said, in amazement. "Youl
1t is not possible. Do not Jest. Tell
me the truth. Quick; am tired"
II am not jesting. Listen, senior.
You were dying for want of water.
could not bear it, and knew that my
father would not be back in time; so
took the water skin and some torches
and went, without saying anything to
Ignatio. The place was hard to climb
and the adventure strange; but came
through it safely"
The senior heard, but made no answer.
| He only stretched out his arms toward
her, and there in the wilderness did
/ Layy plight their troth
Remember, l an u: an Indian girl"
she murmured presently, and you are
one of the white lords of the earth. Is
it well that you should love me?"
v
are the noblest woman that | have
known, and you have saved my life"
Zibalbay did not return until past
midday, when he appeared with the
water.
Does he still liveP" he asked of
Maya.
Eyes, father"
"He must be strong, then" he an
swered. II thought that the want of
water would have killed him ere now"
HE has had water, father. | de-
scended the cueva and fC' ched it., she
added after moments pause.
The old man looked at her, amazed.
How came it that you found cour-
age to go down that place, dauGhter?"
he asked at length.
1.-THE desire to save friend gave me
courage" she answered, le: ling her eyes
fall beneath his gaze. 81 new that you
could not be back in time. so l went"
Zibalbay pondered awhile, then said:
IL think that you would have done
better to let him die, de- gLser, for 1
believe that this white mu.I viii bring
trouble upon us. 1t has pleased the
gods to preserve you alive. Remember
that your life belongs to EN- and that
you must follow the p2,h that they
have chosen. Remember, also, that one
waits you in the city yond2r who may
have word to say as to your friend
ship with this.wanderer."
That same evening Ma told me
Of her fathers words and i'd:
81 think that before all is dona l
shall need the help that you hive
sworn to give me, senior, for l can see
well that my father will = against me
unless my wish runs with his purpose"
For two more days we rested there
by the cueva till the senior was fit to
travel, then we started on again. For
ten days we journeyed across the
wilderness. On the eleventh day we
began to ascend the slope of lofty
range of mountains, and on the twelfth
we reached the snow line, where we
were obliged to abandon the three
mules that remained to us.
That night we slept with little to eat
In hole dug in the snow, wrapped in
our serapes.
"How far must we travel up this
snow?" l asked Of Zibalbay as we
stood shivering in the ashy light of the
dawning.
Look yonder," he answered, point
ing to where the first ray of the sun
shone upon surface Of black rock far
above us, there is the highest point
and we should reach 1t before night
fall"
Thus encouraged, we pushed for
ward for hour after hour. fortunately
the climbing was not diflcutt, SO that
by four in the afternoon we found our
selves beneath the shadow Of the wall
OF black rock.
"Must we climb that precipice9" I
asked Of zibalbay.
"No," he answered, ut would not
be possible without wings. There Is a
secret way through it."
care you glad to see the gateway Of
your home, Maya" asked the senior.
mo" she answered, almost hercely
.for here In the wilderness I have been
happy, but there sorrow awaits me and
you. Oil If indeed I am deaf to you,
let us turn even now and fly together
back to the lands where. your people
i've and she clasped bis hand and
looked earnestly into his eyes
"What," he answered, land leave
your father and Ignatio to finish the
Journey by themselves"
"You are more to me than my father,
James,"
But, Maya, having come so far 1
wish to see the sacred city"
"As you WILL she said, letting fall
his hand. ''See, my father has found
| the place and calls u.s."
We walked on to where the old man
stood.
Although trust you," said the old
man, "yet I must obey the oath, to
suffer no stranger to see the entrance
to the mountain gate. Come hither,
daughter, and blindfold these foreign
ers."
She obeyed, and as she tied the
handkerchief about the senor's face /
heard her whisper: Fear not, / will be
your eyes"
Then we were taken by the hand and
led some PAGES; then, as we judged
from the sounds, our guides moved
something heavy. Next we were con-
Quoted down a steep incline through a
narrow passage. At length, after TAX
ing many sharp turns, the passage
grew wider and the path smooth and
| level.
Loose the bandages," said the voice
of Zibalbay.
Maya did so, and we looked round us
curiously to find that we stood at the
| bottom of a deep cleft or volcanic rift