The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-05-23

= scrape that MAYA FASTENED TO remove,
revealing among other things an
earthcu cooking pot, copper axe OF
similar workmanship 70 the machete
with which the senior had killed Don
Jose. two curiously fashioned blow
pipes. with supply of poisoned darts,
and lastly, bags containing dried hesh,
beans aud cuca-paste.
"All Is SAFE" she said; NOW let us
eat, that we may be strong to meet
danger"
While we were filing ourselves thank
fully with the dried meat the senior
spoke TO me, saying he hoped our par-
suit had been abandoned.
.sYou can know little of these men To
speak thus" he answered. don Pedro
will certainly seek 10 avenge the blood
Of his son."
"Then what do you propose to do9"
he asked. start on again, or stop
here?"
s.Senor, we must stop here because
we cannot travel farther, unless you
would abandon the old man and his
daughter. Moreover, In the forest IL
would be easy 20 overwhelm us, but this
place is hard 10 climb, and here at least
we may die fighting. Let US make
ready fer the worst, senior"
How arc we to make ready he
asked, when we have nothing TO fight
with except machetes and Indian blow
pipes. The powder in the pistol TASKS
Is damp and the caps win miss fire,
so that IL they come our death In GER
tain"
at seems So" answered. ''nnd yet
II II pleascs God we may live. Yonder
lie stones in plenty; let us pile them up
beneath the archway; perhaps we may
kill some of our foes by rolling them
down the steps"
This we did then. while Maya watched
us. At length the task was finished.
and as we turned TO leave the heaps OF
stones we heard a dog baying down by
the river. followed by a sound OF men
and horses forcing a path through the
bush.
Look, here they come" said the
senior. and as he spoke party OF seven
or eight men. three of them riding on
mules. appeared at the foot OF the
mound. and, dismounting, picketed
their animals To trees
Now for it." said the senior, rising
and shaking himself like n dog that
leaves the water. II wonder Row many
of us will be left alive when this sun
sets?'
AS he spoke one Of the men advanced
TO the foot of the stairway holding a
great hound In leash. For n moment
the dog shifted the stones, then, lifting
his head, he bayed aloud, whereat the
band shouted, for they knew that they
had trapped us. Still for a while they
did not advance, but. gathering them
selves in knot, consulted together at
the foot OF the stairway.
"Can we bargain with them, lgna-
tio?" said the senior
impossible" l answered, what
have we TO give that they cannot talSeY
"Then there is nothing for IL except
TO die as bravcly as we can" he
answered This Is the end OF our
search for the Golden City. The quest
has not been lucky one, Ignatio."
Now the old Indian, Zibalbay, who
was crouched upon the ground beside
us, spoke for the first time, saying:
Friends, why do you not fly? Doubt
less you can find a path down the
further side of the pyramid, and in the
forest you may hide from these men"
at is too late to talk Of fight. ''said
Molas, "for look; they are coming VI
| the stair, the eight OF them, with Don
| Pedro and the Americanoa at their head.
/ looked; it was true. Already they
had climbed half the steps OF the frs
flight.
"oh, for some rinesi" groaned tn,
senior.
att Is useless to cry for what we have
not, answered.
''God can help us II He wishes, and /
He does not we must bow TO His will.
Then there was a silence, broker
only by the voice of Zibalbay, who
standing behind us, lifted his hands Il
heaven and prayed aloud TO his gods u
bring vengeance upon our foes.
Now we could see through the tree
and bushes that the men were begin
ming To climb the second flight.
Come, let us do something, said TN
senior, and, running 10 the pile of stone
which we had prepared, he called TO Vi
10 roll the heaviest upon the enemy
This we did, but without effect, for tn
tree trunks turned the stones more
over, those against whom they were di
rected, taking cover at the sides of tn
stairway, opened so sharp fire on u
with their rifles that in few minute
we were driven from the piles of stone
and forced TO retreat behind the shelte
of the arch.
Now they came on again, till present
ly they reached the foot of the thir
flight and paused TO take breath. The
Il was that Molas, seizing one of th
Indian blowpipes, ran out onto the tel
race followed by the senor-thoug
why the senior went / do not know, 10
he could not use the weapon. Befor
the men below were aware of thei
presence Molas had set the blowpipe I
his lips and discharged the poisone
dart among them. IL struclSsDon Smitl
the American, full in the throat. Watcl
ing around the corner of the arch sa'
him lift his hand 20 pull it out, then {
, sudden he fell 10 the ground, and a
, that instant storm of bullets sweI
. through the archway aimed mt Mola
: and tho senior as they fed back
shelter. saw Molas fan and the senc
stop to lift him 10 his feet, and as b
I was In the very act patch OF red al
pearcd upon his face. Another momcr
they were back under cover.
! "Are you hurt?" asked the senior.
, "No, no. he answered, my face wa
+, grazed by bullet, that was all. Loo
J 20 Molas; he Is shot In the side"