Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-09-03
HEART OF TIE WORLD.
BY H. RIDER HAooARD..
4 Rsnge Story, Taken From Manuscript De-
aueathed By an Old Mexican Indian to His
Friend and CoEarade, an English.
man Named Jo-es.
copyrighted. 1894. BY Il Rider Haegara
CHAPTER xyIu-CorrTyuED

Two more days passed. or so we reck-
oRed by the number of meals that were
brought to US. but neither Tikal nor
Natal returned to visit us. Other doc
torseame and saw Zibalbay. but, though
they tried many remedies, they were of
no avail. On the night of the second
day we were gathered round his couch
watching him and talking together sad
ly enough, for the solitude and dark
ness and the fear of impending death
had broken our spirits SO that even the
senior ceased to be merry, and the pres
ence of her beloved to give comfort to
Maya.
1t was just then that looked up and
saw Natal standing in the doorway,
watching the scene curiously and with
d softening face.
Greeting" he said, land forgive me
that 1 come so late, but my business is
secret, and such as is best done at
night. How does it go with Zibal-
bay?"
''He lives answered; ''Ican say no
more. for he is senseless, and, without
doubt, soon must die. But come, see
for yourself"
Natal walked to the bed and ex-
amined the old man, lifting the eyelids
and feeling his heart.
"He cannot live long, he said.
swell, death is his best friend. And
Low TO my business. There Is trouble
il the city, and strange rumOrs. pass
from mouth TO mouth among the peo-
pie, many of whom declare that Tlkal
has murdered Zibalbay, and demand
that you, lady, should be brought be-
fore them, that you may be named
cacique in his place.
Things being SO, it has been urged
upon Tikal by the chiefs of his party
10 har oil himself
the death of Zibalbay, it would be well
that he should make away with you
also, lady, and with these two stran-
gers. The matter was laid before him
at a secret council held this afternoon,
and once he issued the order for your
deaths, only to recall it before the mes
senger had left the palace"
Now he paused, and Maya asked, IN
low voice:
''Have you no plan to save us, Mat
tai?'
''Why should have n plan, lady,
VINO with my house would benefit so
greatly by Your dcath?"
~ do not know why you should have
a plan. old man." broke in the senior,
but l tell you that you viii do well to
make one. else you do not lcaEe TINS
place alive" and as he spoke with a
sudden movement he sprang between
IF we are to be murdered like birds
In 4 cage." he went on, lat least your
neck shall be twisted first. Do you
understands"
Il understand. Son of the Sea-" an
syvcrcd Natal. finching u little before
the scn0r's fierce face and hand out
stretched as though TO grip him. but
I would have you understand some
thing. also; namely, that II L do not
return presently, there are some with
out who will come to seek me, ana
then
And then they will find your carcass,
broke in the senior, ''and what will all
rour plots and schemes advantage you
trhcn you are a lump of senseless
clay?''
Little, indeed, 1 confess" he an
swercd. ''Still, my daughter, whom
love better than myself, will reap some
profit. and with that, in this sad case, l
must be content But. do not be so
should have plan, / did not say had
none"
Then if you have one. let us hear it
without more ado" said the senior.
Natal bowed as he answered.:
Your Kill is mine, but l know not
how nv plan will please the Lady
Naya Wonder, and therefore, before i
| uafold it. l would make it clear that
| there is but one alternative-the death
/ OF all of you by to-morrow's light. Your
/ lives lie in my hands; if / must do so to
save my daughter and myself, shall
! not hesitate to take them"
| ANY more than | shall hesitate to
| take YOURS, old man." said the senior
! priInly, for remember always that II
/ YOU do not make your plan such as we
/ can accept you will leave this chamber
/ feet first. with Il broken neck"
/ Again Natal bowed and continued:
/ I'm one way only has Tikal been able
/ to pGcify the people. by declaring that
/ the Lady Maya shall be produced be-
! fore the Council of the Heart. in the
sanctuary upon the night of the rising
| of waters, and afterward at dawn in the
/ eyes of the whole city.
The words of Zibalbay have taken q
| strange hold of the people, and they
| desire TO know what will happen when
| once more the severed halves OF the
symbol of the heart are laid SIDE by
| side in their place upon the altar
Zibalbay told them that he believed
| the rod would reveal his purpose and
| show what part each of you should play
In the fate that is to be, and therefore
.he people look to see some sign Oh
wonder when Day and Night are come
| together"
Now Natal thought for awhile, and
Tcnt on:
LADY. an old, and for many year:
[ have followed the worship of thu
rods. and yet never have l known thu
rods to make answer to their votaries
Or heard the voices of TIE immortal
speaking into human ears l canno
| tell, but | think were l in SO sore ;
strait as you find yourselves tonight,
should not hesitate to give 4 voice t.
these dumb gods"
WHAT is your mcaning?" asked Maya
.sWhen the severed halves of thu
heart are set in their place upon the al
tar. If there should be any gods the.
should give n sign. The ancient sym
hol on the altar is hollow, and If
were to open ii might be that writing
,vouId be found within it, an ancicn
writing of the gods prepared agains
The present time that shall be to us a
n lantern to one wandering in the dark
,-r il might be that nothing would b
found.
Now, as it happens, in searchin
through the earliest records of the ten
.,lc. / have discovered n certain writing
and it seems to me that your forum
would be great if that writing shout
lie within the symbol on the night c
.be Rising Waters. Here it is"
| And suddenly he produced SINAI
plate of dull gold covered over wit
symbols.
"Read IL" said Maya.
Then Natal read:
aTo thee it speaks, unborn daughte
81 q chief to be, whose name Is the nam
rlrNlga II