San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-01-19

Drward TO ma myself standing In 8
small recess that was placed about ten
feet above the floor of the chapel, and
IKE other places in this house, SO ar.
ranged that the abbot or monk in
authority, without being seen himself,
could see and hear all that passed be.
aeath him.
OF one thing ! am sure, that during
al the generations that are gone by no
monk watching here ever saw a stranger
sight than that which met my eyes.
The chapcel of the chapel was lit up by
shafts of brilliant moonlight that
poured through the broken window,
and by lamp which stood upon the
stone altar. Within the circle of strong
light thrown by this lamp were four
people, namely: Don Pedro, his son
Don Jose, an old Indian, and a girl.
On either side of the altar then, as
now, rose two carven pillars of sapote
wood, the tops of which were FASH
toned into the figure of angels, and to
these columns the old Indian and the
women were tied, one to each column,
their hands being joined together at
the back of the pillars in such a man.
ner as to render them absolutely help
less. My eyes first rested upon the
woman, who was nearest to me, and
seeing her, even as she was then, dis
hevelled and worn with pain and hun
ger, with her proud face distorted by
agony of mind and impotent rage, no
longer wondered that both Molas and
Don Pedro had raved about her beauty.
She was an Indian, but such an In
dian as had never known before, for
in color she was almost white, and her
dark and waving hair hung in masses
to her knee. Her face was oval and
small-featured, and in it shone a pair
of wonderful dark blue eyes, while the
clinging white robe she wore revealed
the loneliness of her tall and delicate
shape.
Bad as was the girls plight, that of
the old man, her father, who was none
other than the Zibalbay we had come
to seek, seemed even worse. He was,
as Molas had described him, thin and
very tall, with white hair and beard,
hawk-like eyes, and aquiline features,
nor had Don Pedro spoken more than
the truth when he said he looked like
q king.
"What shall we try him with nowP"
said Don Jose, addressing Don Pedro;
"hot steel or cold? Make up your mind,
for am getting tired. Well, if you
won't, Just hand me that machete, will
you? Now friend" he went on, ad-
dressing the Indian, "for the last time
/ ask you to tell us where is that tenn
pie full of gold of which you spoke to
your daughter in my fathers hearingp"
"There is no such place, white man."
he answered sullenly.
Indeed, friend. Then will you ex-
plain where you got those little ingots
which we captured from the Indian who
had been visiting you, and whence came
this machete?" and he pointed to the
weapon in his hand.
1t was sword of great beauty, as l
could see, but of hardened copper, and
having for a handle female figure
With optstretched arms fashioned in
"T6e machete was given to me by q
friend" said the Indian. 81 do not
know where he got it."
Really" answered Jose with bru-
tai laugh; perhaps you will remember
presently. Here, father, warm the
point Of the machete in the lamp, will
you, while tell our guest how we are
going to serve him and his daughter"
Don Pedro nodded, and taking the
sword held the tip of it over the flame,
while Jose, bending forward, whispered
into the Indians ear, pointing from
to time to the, girl.
"Are you White men, then, devilsP"
said the old man at length, with a
groan that seemed to burst from the
bottom of his heart, land is there no
law or justice among you?"
None OF all, friend" answered Jose;
1--WE are good fellows enough, but times
are hard, and we must live. Now, once
more, will you guide us to the place
whence that gold came, leaving your
daughter here as hostage for our
safety?"
"Neverl" cried the Indian. Better
that we two should perish hundred
times than that the ancient secrets OF
my people should pass to such as you.
$50 you have secrets after ALL Father
Is the sword hot?" asked Jose.
Zone minute more" said the old man
turning the point in the fame.
This was the scene that we witnessed
and these were the words that as
tonished our ears.
1T is time to interfere" muttereG
the senior, and, placing his hand upor
the rail, he prepared to drop into tn,
church.
Now thought struck me, and drew
him back to the passage.
Perhaps the door is open" said.
care you going in there?" asked tn,
girl Luisa.
Certainly" replied: We must res
cue these people or die with them.
"Then, senior, farewell. / have don
all l can for you, and now the saint
must be your guide, for if am seel
they will kill me, and have a child 70
whose sake / desire to live. Again
farewell" and she glided away like
shadow.
Now we crept forward and down tn
stair. At the foot of it was little door
which, as we had hoped, stood ajal
For a moment we consulted together
shen we crawled forward through -
gloom toward the ring of light aSor
The altar. Now Jose had the heate
sword in his hand.
Look up, my dear, look up" he sal
to the girl, patting her on the cheel
81 am about to baptize your exceller
father according to the rites of til
Christian religion by marking him wit
a cross upon the forehead" and he az
vanced the point of the sword towar
the Indians face.
At that instance Molas pinned hil