The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-04-08
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY II. RIDER HAGGARD.
Strange Story, Taken From q Manuscript De.
queathed by an Old Mexican Indian to Els
Friend and Conlradc, an English-
man Named Jones.
Copyrighted. 1894, by Il Rider Hagsard
CHAPTER xv11.-CoNT1NuEp


The hall had been made ready for
our coming, for it was lighted with
many silver lamps, and in one part of
it rugs were laid, and on them stood
tables and seats.
For awhile we stood staring at each
other IN silence. 1t was Zibalbay who
= broke it, and his voice rang Strangely
in the vaulted place.
1T is his hour now," he said, shaking
his fists toward the stair by which Tillal
had left us, but let him pray that mine
may never come" and he suddenly
turned, and, walking to couch, flung
himself upon it and buried his face in
his hands.
Maya followed him, and, bending
down, strove to comfort him, but he
waved her away and she came back to
us.
"This is a gloomy place" said the
senor in hall whisper, for here one
scarcely dared to speak loud because of
the echoes that ran about the walls,
but dark though it is, it seems safer
than the summit of the pyramid, where
sword points are so many" and he
pointed to little cut upon his throat.
st is safe enough" Maya answered,
with bitter laugh, 'and safely will it
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 overtake us in the shadow. "
"What must be must be, answered
the senor 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, Ignatio, are mad
also. Come, let us look at 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
draught of air.
''Where do they lead?" l asked
II do not know" she answered; "per-
haps to the sanctuary by secret way.
The pyramid is full of these chambers
that in old days were used for many
things, such as the storage of corn and
weapons and the burying places of
priests, thousands of whom are at rest
within it. Now they are empty and de-
serted"
AS we walked back again I stopped
before q wooden door leading into one
of the chambers of which have spoken,
that stood ajar
''Let us go in," said Maya, pushing it
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.
Cooper and lead" said the senior,
glancing at them.
mot so," answered Maya with a
laugh, "but that which you white men
covet, 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 silver-such a weight"
I stared and my eyes grew greedy,
for here in this one room, neglected
and forgotten, was enough wealth to
carry out my purpose three times over,
stored there by the forefathers of this
strange rust-eaten race. All! if only l
could see one-half of it safe across the
mountains, how great might be my fu-
ture and that of the people which l
lived to serve!
''Perhaps you will win it after all,
lgnatio," said Maya, interpreting my
thoughts, "but obe frank, fear that
you will gain nothing except sep
ulchre 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
length we came to room, or rather a
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 chest, unlocked, that the senor
opened. 1t was packed with priestly
ornaments of gold set with great en-
eralds. Maya picked out belt from
the box and gave it to me, saying:
''Take it, Ignatio, since you love
such trinkets. 1t will set off that robe
of yours"
Itook it and put it on, not over my
robe, but beneath it.
Wearied at length by the sight Of
SO much treasure we returned toZibal-
bay, who was seated as we left him,
lost in thought.
think it must have been in the early
afternoon Of the day following that on
which we were imprisoned that Tikal
visited us, accompanied only by four
guards.
"a small band" said the senior, as he
watched them advance, 'but enough to
put us TO death who are unarmed--fo
all on, weapons had been taken from
us--l such should be their will"