The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-08-15
tho summit of the pyramid just as the
dawn began To break

The dawn was breaking. and seldom,
perhaps. has the light OF day revealed
a moro wonderful or terrible sight to
the eyes OF man. Outside the gates OF
the courtyard of the pyramid were
gathered great multitude OF people
waiting TO be admitted 10 celebrate the
feast that ON this day of the year was
70 be held, according TO custom, upon
the summit OF the pyramid. Indeed.
they should have already been as
semblcd there, but IL was the rule that
the gates could not be opened until the
council had left the sanctuary, and this
night the Council sat late.
AS we looked at them a cry OF fear
and wonder rose from the multitude,
and this was the cause OF IL: Along
that street which ran from the landing
place TO the great square rushed q vast
wall of water twenty feet or more In
depth by one hundred broad. Now we
learned the truth. The symbol on the
altar, know not how. was connected
with secret sluice gates which for
many generations had protected the
City of the Heart from flood. When IL
was torn from its bed these sluice gates
were opened, and, the waters rushing
In, sought their natural level, which
was higher than the housetops of the
city. On the summit of the pyramid
were two priests, who tended the sa-
cred fire and made ready for the service
to be celebrated. Seeing us emerge
from the watch house, they ran toward
us, wringing their hands and asking
what dreadful thing had come TO pass.
/ replied that we did not know, but
that, seeing the water gather In our
prison, we had fed from it. How we
had fed they never stopped 10 ask, but
ran down the stairway OF the pyramid,
only 10 return again presently, for be-
fore they reached its base their escape
was cut Off
Meanwhile the terror thiclSened and
the doom began. Everywhere the
waters spread and gathered, replen-
ished from the inexhaustible reservoir
of the lake. Whole streets went down
before them To vanish suddenly be-
meath their foaming face, while from
the crowd below rose one continuous
shrek of agony. Maya heard it, and
casting herself face downward upon
the surface of the pyramid that she
might not see her handiworlS. thrust
her fingers iuto her ears, while the
senior and watched, fascinated.
Now the food struck the people,
some thousands of them, who were
gathered on the rising ground at the
ICllDlt,
and, lol in an instant they were gone,
borne away as withered leaves are
borne before a gale. Ere man might
count ten the most of the population
of the City of the Heart had perishcdi
For little while some OF the more
massive houses stood, only to vanish
one by one, in silence, as IL seemed, for
now the roar of the waters covered all
other sounds. Before the sun was well
mp il was finished, and ON the ancient
and beautiful city, Heart of the World,
there remained nothing 10 be seen ex-
cept the tops OF the trees and the upper
parts of the pyramids OF worship rising
above the level of the lake.
The Golden city was no more.
Presently Maya rose 20 her knees and
looked out from beneath the hollow of
her hand, for the light was dazzling
there upon the white summit of the
pyramid. Then she flung her arms
above her head and uttered great and
bitter cry.
Behold my handiwork," she said
land the harvest of my sin! O, my
father, that dream which was seat to
haunt my sleep was dreadful. but IL did
not touch the truth. o. my father, the
people whom you would have saved are
dead. and lost Is the city that you loved,
and it is / who have destroyed them.
o., my father, my father, your curse
has found me out, indeed, and l am nc
cursed"
Some such words as these she spoke,
then began 10 laugh, and turning to
the senior, said:
where is the child. husbandP"
He could not answer her, but she
took no note Of H. only she bcntrher
arms, rocking them and grooming as
though the infant lay upon her breast;
then came first TO him and next to me,
saying:
"LoolS, is he not pretty boy? Am /
not happy To be the mother Of such n
boy?"
WEAKNESS, sorrow and shock had
turned her brain. and she was mad.
We led her 10 the watch house, where
there was shelter, and the priests, who
had returned, gave MS food as soon as
we could make them understand that
we needed 1t, for they, too, were almost
mad. Here her last illness seized her.
IL began with hardening OF the breast
which changed presently 10 fever.
Two days and nights with breaking
hearts we nursed her there upon the
pyramid, striving not to listen 20 her
mad rawlings and piteous talk about the
child, and at dawn upon the third day
She died Before she died her senses
returned TO her, and she spoke 10 her
husband beautiful and tender words
which seem too holy TO set down.
She turned 10 the senior, and in a
gasping and broken voice prayed OF him
not TO forget her or her child. l heard
him answer that this she need not fear,
as his happiness died with her, and
even IL he should escape he thought
10.
long. nor could any other woman take
her place in his heart
She blessed him and thanked him.
caressng his face with her dying hapds.
and unable 60 bear more OF such a sight
left them together.
An hour later the senior came from
the watchhousc, and though he did not
speak one glance at his face was enough
To tell me that all was over.
Thus died Maya, Lady OF the Heart,
the last Of the ancient royal blood Of
| the Indian priuceS myself alone exc