The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-01-04

II think that before all is done /
shall need the help that you have
sworn to give me, senior. for [ can see
well that my father will be against me
unless my wish runs with his purpose .
For two more days we rested there
by the cueva till the senior was fit to
travel, then we started on again. For
ten days we journeyed across the
wilderness On the eleventh day we
began to ascend the slope OF a lofty
range of mountains, and on the twelfth
we reached the snow line, where we
were obliged to abandon the three
mules that remained to us.
That night we slept with little to eat
in hole dug in the snow, wrapped in
our serapes.
How far must we travel up this
snow?" l asked of Zibalbay as we
stood shivering in the ashy light Of the
dawning.
"Look yonder," he answered. point
ing to where the first ray of the sun
shone upon a surface of black rock far
above US; "there is tho highest point
and we should reach it before night
faI.''
Thus encouraged, we pushed for
ward for hour after hour Fortunately
the climbing was not difficult. so that
by four in the afternoon we found our
selves beneath the shadow of the wall
of black rock.
Unjust we climb that precipice?" I
asked of Zibalbay.
"No," he answered. sit would not
be possible without wings. There is a
secret way through it,"
Are you glad to see the gateway of
your home, Alaya?' asked the senior.
No" she answered, almost fiercely,
''for here in the wilderness have been
happy, but there sorrow awaits me and
you. Oh! il indeed / am dear to you,
letus turn even now and ay together
back to the lands where your people
live and she clasped his hand and
looked earnestly into his eyes.
"What," he answered, land leave
your father and Ignatio to finish the
journey by themselves"
You are more to me than nay father,
James,"
But, Maya, having come so far l
wish to see the sacred city"
''As you will" she said, letting fall
his hand. 'See, my father has found
the place and calls u.s.
We walked on to where the old man
stood.
ALTHOUGH I trust you," said the old
man, yet | must obey the oath, to
suffer no stranger to see the entrance
daughter. and blindfold these foreign
ers.''
She obeyed. and as she tied the
handkerchief about the senor's face
heard her whisper: Fear not, will be
your eyes"
Then we were taken by the hand and
led some PAGES; then, as we Judged
from the sounds. our guides moved
something heavy. Next we were con-
Quoted down steep incline through a
narrow passage. At length, after TAX
ing many sharp turns, the passage
grew wider and the path smooth and
level
''Loose the bandages," said the voice
of Zibalbay.
Maya did so, and we looked round us
curiously to find that we stood at the
bottom of a deep cleft or volcanic rift
in the rock. This cleft was still easily
passable after centuries of diSuse, and
did not measure more than forty PAGES
from wall to wall. On either side OF it
lowered sheer black cliffs.
BY degrees the cleft narrowed until
it ended in a tunnel.
We followed through the gloom till
fore us, and in another minute we
stood on the further side of the noun
tain.
Without pausing zibalbay pushed on
down the hill, and suddenly turning to
the right stopped before the door of a
house built of hewn stone.
Enter" he said, and welcome to
the country of the People of the
Heart"
AS the door was thrown open, light
from the fire within streamed through
it, and a mans voice was heard asking:
''Who is there?"
Without answering Zibslbay walked
into the room. At a table placed be-
fore the fire sat man and
woman eating. SIS this the way
that you watch for my return?" he
asked in a stern voice. ''Haste now
and make food ready for us, for we are
starved with cold and hunger
The man, who had risen, stood hest
tating, but the woman, whose position
err, caught him by the arm, saying:
"Down to your knees, husband. 1t
is the cacique come back"
Pardon" cried the man, taking the
hint. ''but to be frank. 0 lord, it has
been SO dinned into my ears down in
the city yonder that neither you nor the
Lady of the Heart would ever return
again that / thought you must be
ghosts. Yes, and so they will think in
the city, where have heard that Tikal
rules in your place"
Peace said Zibalbay, frowning
heavily. 1--WE left robes here, did we
not9 Go, lay them out in the sleeping
cham ers, and with them others for
these my guests, while the woman
makes food ready"
When they were gone on their err
bask in the luxury of it's warmth.
Soon the Indian returned and an
nounced that our rooms were ready.
Accordingly we followed him to a small
sleeping room. Laid upon the beds
were linen robes and serapes made in :
alternate bands Of gray and black
feathers worked on to foundation OF
stout linen. Standing upon wooden
stools in corner of the room, half
filled with steaming water, were two
basins. which the senior noticed with
establishment were made of hammered
silver.
We put on the robes that had been
provided and returned to the eating
room. Presently the curtain was drawn
and the Lady Maya joined us, but SO
changed that we started in astonish-
ment.
Different indeed was she to the i'll
clad and ravel-stained girl who had
been our companion for so many weeks.
Now she was dressed in q robe OF snowy
white bordered with EN- broidery OF the