Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-04-22
CHAPTER XIX.
THE SACRILEGE

Maya bent over the form of her father
and took the talisman from his neck.
Il feel like one who robs the dead,
she said.
Remember that it is to save the
living. and I've comforted," answered
Natal as we left the chamber
Take u lamp, each of YOU" he said
when we had reached the further end
of the great hall, where he unlocked
the copper gates with key from the
bunch that hung AT his girdle. We
passed through, and turning he almost
closed the gate, but not quite.
Why do you leave the gates ajarP"
| asked.
because there are none to follow
US, he answered, and who knows
what may happen? Should we be
forced to fly the sanctuary open doors
are easier to pass than shut ones"
What could force us to fly the sane
tuary?" | asked.
Natal shrugged his shoulders and
went on. We passed down many stairs.
along passages, and through secret
doors, each of which Natal left omen
behind us, till at length we came to the
sanctuary of the namelcss god and stood
on the further side of the wall huddled
together and clasping each others
hands, for the place was awesomc, and
with fear
The roof of the sanctuary. which
was OF no great size. was vault-shaped.
in imitation of the arching Sky. and in
IT appeared u golden sun, "a silver crcs-
cent moon. and the stars OF heaven. It's
walls were lined throughout with pol
ished blocks of the beautiful stone
known as Mexican onyx, frctted over
TO the height of a man with border OF
hieroglyphics and effigies of the lesser
gods in attitudes of alteration. cast in
gold and set flush with the face of the
wall.
The furniture was very simple, con-
sisting only of stools cut from rich
woods, heavily gilded in quaint designs.
and small table, whereon Law sheets
of paper made of bark, together with
brushes of reed fiber and pots of pig
ment, such as were used in the picture
writing Of this people. At that end by
which we had entered the chamber was
an altar of black marble, written round
with letters shaped in gold. and upon
this altar lay something covered with a
silken cloth
For minute or more we stood silent.
contemplating these wonders, then with
a gesture Of impotence Mattai spoke in
a whisper, saying:
Let that be done which we have
come TO do, for now the sacrileUe is
committed, and IL is too late 90 hest
tate"
Speaking thus, he stepped to the
altar and lifted the silken cloth that lay
over the object which was upon IL. re-
vealing the image OF a human heart
fashioned in blOOdstOne. with veins of
gold. In the center Of this heart ap-
peared small and shallow hole that
had been followed i'm its substance.
This is the tradition said Natal.
still speaking in a whisper. chat when
the two halves Of certain talisman are
placed in this hollow, the symbol will
open and reveal that which has been
set within IL since IL was fashioned
thousands Of years ago, and there is
this in favor 81 the truth Of this tale.
WAT golden hinges appear upon the
sides Of the symbol
I'm this matter, however. there Is
something more 20 fear than the ven
Qeancc ~ the gods. for. an ancient ira
dltion tells Us that IL the symbol be
stifr'd from The place vhcrc ~ has lain
TOT 20 many years. the nODdVatc will
roll back and the waters Of tho lake
wll pour in upon the city. destroying
II and its inhabitants
Yet The hODdgate cannot roll back
When Do l~ not shut nor can the waters
now pm during The dry season when
thcy are not on level with the walls"
answered MAYA
They cannot. lady; and vet other
things may happen And now 90 our
task. stranger, give 90 the Lady Nava
your half az the ancient tali4mau. that
she may set 10 together with the half
s3e bears IN the place prepared i'm the
SYMBOL
Now with sigh seeing that Il was
too late 70 draw back ] undid the erncr.
aid from my neck and gave II 10 MAYA
who laid it side by side with its count