Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-04-15
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY H. RIDER HAooARD.
= Strange Story. Taken From . Manuscript De.
Sseafhed BY an Old Mexican Indian 20 Lis
Friend and Comrade, nm English.
man Named Jones.
copyrish,ed. 1894. by IL Rider Hasgard
CHAPTER XvII-CoNrrNurn

1ihdiN SiANtT latnDS. ana IN one part of
IL rugs were laid. and on them stood
tables ard seats.
For awhile we stood staring ut each
other IN silence. 1t was Zibalbay who
broke it. and his voice rang stranrcly
An the vaulted place.
1T il his hour now" he said shaking
his fists toward the stair by which TilIal
had left us, but let him pray that mine
may never come" and he suddenly
turned. and. walking 20 couch. flung
himself upon it and buried his face in
his hands
Maya followed him. and. bending
down. strovc To comfort him. but he
waved her away and she came back to
us
This is gloomy place" said the
senior in "a halt whisper. for here one
scarcely dared TO speak loud because of
the echoes that ran about the walls.
but dark though il is. il seems safer
than the summit of the pyramid, where
sword points are SO MANY" and he
pointed to q little cut upon his throat.
at is safe enough" Maya answered.
with bitter laugh. and safely will il
keep our bones till the worlds end. for
through those gates and the men that
guard them there's no escape. and the
death that threatened us in the sun
shine shall ovortalSe us in the shadow.
What mast be must be-" answered
the senior with sigh, but for my part
hope that the worst is past and that
they will not kill us. 1t was your
fathers rashness brought these
evils on us. and perhaps misfortune
may teach him wisdom. -
Never, she answered, shaking her
head, FOR they are right On this mat
ter he Is mad. aS you, lgnatio. are mad
also. Come. let us look mt our prison
for have never seen it till this hour -
and, taking one of the hand lamps that
stood near. she walked down the length
of the hall. At its further end were
gates similar to those by which we had
entered, and through them came a
draught of air.
Where do they lead?'' asked.
Il do not know, she answered: per
haps TO the sanctuary by a secret way.
The pyramid is full of these chambers
that in old days were used for many
things. such Us the storage of co I'm and
weapons and the burying places OF
priests. thousands of whom are at rest
within IL. Now they are empty and de-
serted"
As we walked back again stopped
before a wooden door leading into one
of the chambers of which have spoken.
that stood ajar.
Let Is go in" said MAYA. pushing il
open, and we entered to- find ourselves
IN small room lined with shelves
packed. some of them with yellow and
some with white bars of metal.
Copper and lead" said the senior.
glancing at them.
Not So" answered Maya with
la0G.,, but that which You white men
co7ot, gold and silver. Look what is
painted above the Shelves and she
held up the lamp and read: Pure
metal from the southern mines set
apart for the service of the Temple of
the Heart, and of the temples of the
east and west. OF gold-such weight:
of siiver-such weight"
stared and my eyes grew greedy,
Tor aere in this one room. neglected
and forgotten. was enough wealth to
carry out my purpose three times over.
stored there 10y the forefathers of this
strange rust-eaten race. All. if ONLY [
could see one-half of it safe across the
mountains. how great might be my fu-
ture and that of the people which /
lived to serve,
1gnatio." said Maya, interpreting nv
thoughts, but to be frank, i fear that
You will gain nothing except a sep
1lchre in these gloomy vaults
After this we visited several cham
bers that were empty, or filed only
with the wreck of moth-eaten tapes
tries and curious furniture. till at
IL
large cupboard, piled from floor to cell
ing with golden vessels of the most
quaint and ancient workmanship. which
had been discarded by the priests and
cast aside as worthless; WHY | do not
know. In front of this cleaning pile
stood a chest, unlocked. that the senior
opened. 1t was packed with priestlv
ornaments of gold set with great EN-
cr2ids. Maya picked out a belt from
the box and gave it to me, saying:
Take II. Ignatio. since YOU love
such trinkcts. 1t will set off that robe
of yours
took it and put it on. not over nv
robe. but beneath it.
Ncaried at length by the sight Of
30 much treasure we returned to Zibal-
bay, who was seated ~ we left him.
lost in thought
think IL must have been in the carly
afternoon OF the day following that ON
which wc were imprisoned that Tilal
visited -. accompanied only 10y four
guards.
"A small band. said the senior. as ne
watched them advance. but enough To
put us 20 death who are unaimcd for
all our weapons had been taken from
us--if such should be their will"
Have no fear. friend" said MAYA.
they will not do murder 80 openly
By now Tikal stood before uS boyy-
ing. and /ibalbay. who a. usual was
serted brooding at the table looked up
and saw him. What do Won seek
traitor bc asked. angrilv. the blood
flushing beneath his withcred skin.
Would you kill rs? II 80. slay on. for
thus shall ] come the sooner to che
bosom Of that God whose vengeance
call down upon yOu
Il AN ~ murderer. /ibalbav." an
ewcrcd Tlk',l with dignity. ~ you die
twill hc b. the command Of the law
that Eou bavc broken and not by rnino.
am here u speak with you. II you s. 800
Come apart with me"
Then speak on before these Others
or leave Your words unsaid hc an
Swcrcd, '4ur not one step will / stir
with you. who doubtless seek some Oh
portunltN 90 stab me Ia the back
a it j. Important that YOU should
hear what have 20 say. /iGalbay."
say on. then traitor. or go."
Now Iikal thought for awhile. look
Ing dOUbtfuly al MAYA. from whose
fair face indeed Do rarely tool, DBL. ewes.
as 10 your wish that I should v'ifh.
draw she asked. shortly.
1T Is not mine said /ibdlbav STAY
where YOU are. dguplitcr"
Listen. /ibalbav. said 1ikal. ..vo--
terday before the gathering ON the
pyramid ] saw your daughter the lady
Maya. and spoke with her. telling hcr