Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-03-18
CHAPTER XIII.
I.H

CHAPTER Kill
IGSATIo's OATH
At sunrise on the following day I liz
fire 10y which to prepare soup for the
senior. who still slopt, and as 1 was en-
gagged thus saw the lady Maya walk
ing toward me and noticed that her
hands and feet were swollen.
'Senora. | said. bowling before her,
II hunbly congratulate YOU upon your
courage and Your escape from great
dangers. Last night | said words to
you in my grief that should not have
been spoken. for it is my fault that
am apt To bc un just to women Now |
crave Your pardon. and [ will add that
II IN atoncmcnt for my past in Justice |
can serve You in any way now and
afterward pray you to command me. &"
She listened, and answered.:
Il thank you for your kind words.
Don lgnatio. IL you wish to show your
self my friend it is in your power to do
so. You have guessed my secret, there
fore l am not ashamed To repeat that
the senior yonder has become every
thing to me, though as vet 1 may be
little Ia him. i ask you then to swear
upV the Heart that You will do moth
ing to separate us, that whatever NAV
he our need you will help us by all
means in your reach
ON ask me to swear Il large oath.
sonora, and one that deals with the flu
ture, of which we have no knowledge
l answered. hCSitating.
Il do, senior; but remember. were IL
not for me at this moment Your friend
who sleeps yonder like n child would
be stiff in death. Remember. also that
YOU have ends to gain in the CITY of
the Heart. where it will be well for Won
to have me as friend should we ever
live to reach il"
There II no need To threaten me,
sonora, | answered, II promise that |
will not stand between you and the
senior. But see, he awalxes, and his
soup X ready"
She took the pot off the fire, SKINNED
it. and poured the contents into gourd
Then she walked to the hammock and
said: "Senor, here is your soup
lie was but newly awakened, and
looked at her vacantly.
Tell me. Maya he said, what has
happcncd?>
Last evening"" she began. Sin pick
ing flower for me you were bitten by
snake and very nearly died"
II know, he answered. go on"
After the danger of the poison was
past you became thirsty. so thirsty that
you were dying of il, and there was no
water to give YOU"
Yes. yes. he said; 1T was agony. /
pray that may never suffer 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 cucva to- get it?
The place i unclimbable."
II went down"
'l on! he said. in amazement ..You,
1t is not possible. DO not Jest. Tell
me the truth. Quick: am tired"
II am not testing. Listen. senior
You were dying for want of water. |
could not bear it, and knew that nv
father would not be back in time: so
took the water skin and some torches
and went. without saying anything to
lgnatio. 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
they plight their troth
Remember, am but an Indian girl"
she murnurcd presently. and YOU are
one OF the white lords OF the earth. H.
II we'll that You should love me-"
1t j. we'll, he answered; for Won
are the nublcSt woman that have
known. and you have saved my life"
Iiba bay did not return until past
midday. when he appeared with the
water.
Docs lie still live" he asked Of
Maya.
''lc.. father"
lie must bc strong. then" he an
srvcrcd. II thought that the want of
water would have killed him ere now
lie has had water. father. / de-
seconded The cuCva and fetched it." she
added after Il moments pause.
The old man looked al her. amazed.
How came it that Won found cuur-
age T." =" down that place, Daughter
he asked at length.
The desire 10 save friend gave me
courage. size answcrcd. letting her eyes
faii b'ucath his gu2c. Il knew that YOU
could not he back in time 80 ! went"
/ihalbdv poudercd awhile. then said:
o.! iiiu,. that YOU would have done
better 10 LET him die daughter. for |
h"licvc that this white man will bripp
trouble upon Us. II has pleased the
H"de {" preserve Won alive. Remember
That vuur life belongs so them aud that
ven must follow the path THAT they
have cho>vn. Remember. also. that one.
waits You in the CITY yondcr who may
have q word 10 say ~ 20 your friend
slip with This wandcrcr.
That slime evening Maya told me
OF hCr fathers words and said:
II think that before all il done
shall need The help That Won have
sworn 80 give me. senior. for can see
we'll thHi my father will bc against me
unless NY wish runs with his purpose"
For two NOR" days va rested there
10y tic rucya till The ~"nor was lit to
travel. then wc started ON again For
ten day. we iourncyrd arrp-~ the
wilderness. On The eleventh dav we
hogan iu ascend the ~louc 81 q lofty
rango ~ mountains aud nu the twelfth
Hc reached the snow line. where We
were uhiigcd So abandon the three
mules bat remained 20 ~.
Nat night wc ~Icpt with 'i,fIc 20 eat
jim ct hole dug iH thc snow, wrapped in
our -r-Hpc-.
How Ear must vc travel NJ TIL,
snow asked ~ /ibal hay ~ We
stood -hiv"ring iu the I~hy ight 81 the
dawu.ug.
Took yondor.~ he answered point
ing to where tho FIRST ray pf tho sun
,rurc upou surface 81 blarl, rock far
above us: there j. the Hyhr-t point
and wr -h"uld rca .h t. before night-
fall"
Thus encouraged. we pushed for.
wnrd Tor hour after hour Fortunately
ih" climbing was not difficult 80 that
ly i"ur Boz the afternoon ,c found our
-clfo beneath the shadow Of the wall
~ b".It rol,