The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-03-11

swcred II thought that the want OF
water would have killed him ere now"
'He has had water, father. | de-
scended the cueva and fetched 1t, she
added after a moments pause.
The old man looked at her, amazed.
"How came it that you found cohr-
age to 90 down that place, daughter?"
he asked at length.
'sThe desire to save a friend gave me
courage" she answered, letting her
ewes fall beneath his gaze. 81 knew that
you could not be back in time, SO
went"
Zibalbay pondered awhile, then said:
II think that you would have done
better to let him die, daughter, for l
believe that this white man will bring
trouble upon us. 1t has pleased the
gods to preserve you alive. Remember
that your life belongs to them and that
you must follow the path that they
have chosen. Remember, also, that one
waits you in the city yonder who may
have word to say as to your friend
ship with this wanderer."
That same evening Maya told me
of her fathers words and said:
81 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 tit to
travel, then we started on again. For
ten days we journcyed across the
wilderness. On the eleventh day we
began to ascend the slope Of 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.
s'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 surface of black rock far
above us; "there is the highest point
and we should reach it before night
fall"
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.
''Must we climb that precipioe?"
asked of Zibalbay.
mo" he answered ''It would not
be possible without wings. There is
secret way through it."
care YOU glad to see the gateway OF
your home, Maya?" asked the senior.
"No," she answered. almost fiercely,
''for here in the wilderness have been
happy, but there sorrow awaits me and
you. Oh! if indeed am dear to you,
let us turn even now and fly 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 my father,
james"
But, Maya, having come SO far ]
, wish to see the sacred city"
NJ 'As you will" she said, letting fall
his hand. "See, my father has found
r the place and calls us"
We walked on to where the old mar
:. stood
r although l trust you," said the ole
/ man, ''yet must obey the oath, tt
q suffer no. stranger to see the entrance
q to the mountain gate. Come hither
I daughter, and blindfold these foreign
| ers."
t She obeyed, and as she tied th'
l handkerchief about the senor's face
d heard her whisper: 'Fear not, | will b
/" your eyes,"
Then we were taken by the hand ant
5, led some PAGES; then, as we judge'
p from the sounds, our guides move'
o something heavy. Next we were son
e. Quoted down steep incline through
It narrow passage. At length, after TAX
v ing many sharp turns, the pass?
,e grew wider and the path smooth
lr level.
h. "Loose the bandagcs," said
" of Zibalbay.
Il Maya did so, and we lr the
curiously to find that
h, bottom Of deep r ol;ed rom
u in the rock. Thie We stood al
!" passable after left or volcani
did not meas cleft was still c
it from wall centuries of disuse,
I'd towereo .dre moe than forty
Id BY 20 wall, On either side
Nv tUN Shcer LACK GIFTS.
Oh ,Aegrees che cleft narrowed
'u ", 1ded ID atunnel.
we 104owed through the glooi
present. spot of light appeared
aoto us, and in another minute
mo ." >od on the further side of the II
bat I ain.
thu Without pausing Zibalbay D4sh,
> down the hill, and suddenly tuft,i
lis the right stopped before the door
house built of hewn stone.
nmed Enter" he said, land welcor
ourd; the country of the People OF
and Heart"
AS the door was thrown open,
and from the fire within streamed thr
it, and mans voice was heard asl
It has ;''Who is there?"
Without answering zibalbay wa
pick into the room. At a table place
n Dy fore the fire sat man
woman eating. us this the
!. that you watch for my return?
was asked In q stern voice. Haste
that and make food ready for us, for W,
vs. no starved with cold and hunger"
Ihe man, who had risen, stood
y. l tating, but the woman, whose pos
gam. gam enabled her to see the face of the 81
Who er, caught him by the arm, saying:
Down to your knees, husband
place is the cacilue come bacI1.'
were Pardon, cried the man, talsiuo
:. uo hint, "but to be frank, O lord, 4
u u! been so dinned into my ears dow
the city yonder that neither YOU non
Lady OF the Heart would ever re
1o1I lou again that / thought You must
len ghosts. Yes, and so they will thin
the city, where have heard that I
'nor; rules in your place"
INV uoo' sa,u HDdIUays row