Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-12-14
CHAPTER XIII.
IGNATIo'S OATH.

IGNATIo's OATH
At sunrise on the following day lit
a fire by which to prepare soup for the
senior. who still slept, and as l was en-
gagged thus / saw the lady Maya walk
ing toward me and noticed that her
hands and feet were swollen.
'Senora," said, bowling before her,
81 humbly congratulate you upon your
courage and your escape from great
dangers. Last night l said words to
you in my grief that should not have
been spoken, for it is my fault that I
am apt to be unjust to women. Now I
crave your pardon, and will add that
if in atonement for my past injustice l
can serve you in any way now and
afterward pray you to command me-"
She listened, and answered.:
II thank you for your kind words,
Don Ignatio If you wish to show your
self my friend it is in your power to do
SO. You have guessed my secret, there
fore | am not ashamed to repeat that
the senior yonder has become every
thing to me, though as yet l may be
little to him. / ask you then to swear
upon the Heart that you will do moth
ing to separate us, that whatever may
be our need you will help us by all
means in your reach"
sYou ask me to swear a large oath,
sonora, and one that deals with the flu
ture, of which we have no knowledge"
answered, hesitating.
II do, senior; but remember, were 1t
not for me at this moment your friend
who sleeps yonder like child would
be stiff in death. Remember, also, that
YOU have ends to gain in the CITY of
the Heart, where it will be well for you
to have me as friend should we ever
live to reach it,"
'There is no need to threaten me.
sonora" answered, II promise that 1
will not stand between YOU and the
senior. But see, he awakes, and his
soup is ready"
She took the pot off the fire, SKINNED
it, and poured the contents into gourd.
Then she walked to the hammock and
said: 'Senor, here is your soup"
He was but newly awakened, and
looked at her vacantly.
"Tell me, Maya" he said, what has
happened?"
''Last evening" she began, sin pick
ing flower for me YOU were bitten by
snake and very nearly died."
~ know" he answered. "Go on"
after the danger of the poison was
past you became thirsty, so thirsty that
you were dying of it, and there was no
water to give YOU"
Eyes, YES" he said; sit was agony. !
pray that may never suffer so again.
But / drank water and lived. Who
brought it to me?"
sit came from the cueya. that place
which we examined before You were
bitten"
"Who went down the oueva to get It?
The place is unclimbable.
81 went down"
"You!" he said. in amazement. ssYoul
It is not possible. Do not Jest. Tell
me the truth. Quick; I am tired"
II am not testing. Listen, senior.
You were diving for want of water, !
could not bear it, and knew that nv
father would not be back in time; so
took the water skin and some torches
and went, without saving ANYTHING to
Ipnatio. The place was hard to climb
and the adventure strange; but came
through it safely."
The senior heard, but made no answer.
he only stretched out his arms toward
her, and there in the wilderness did
thew plight their troth.
"Remember, 1 am but an Indian girl, >
she murrnured presently, 'sand you are
one Of the white lords Of the earth. Is
| It We'll that Vol SlOnld love meY'
est is we'll - he answered.: "for Won
are the noblest woman that / have
known. and Won have saved INV life. :"
Zibalbay did not return until past
midday, when he appeared with the
water.
Does he still live?" he asked o.
Maya.
Yes, father"
SHE mnSt ha STRONG then ~ ha an
swered. II thought that the want O.
water would have killed him ere now.
He has had water, father. de
| seended the cueva and fetched 1t" shs
added after moments pause.
| The old man looked at her, amazed.
"How came it that you found cour
age to go down that place, daughter?
he asked at length.
1.-The desire to save a friend gave m,
courage" she answered, letting her eye!
fall beneath his gaze. 81 knew that yol
could not be back in time, SO went"
Zibalbay pondered awhile, then said
II think that you would have don
better to let him die, daughter, for
believe that this white man will brinl
trouble upon us. 1t has pleased tn
gods to preserve you alive. Remembe
that your life belongs to them and tina
you must follow the path that the.
have chosen. Remember, also, that on
waitsyou In the city yonder who ma
have word to say as to your friend
ship with this.wanderer."
That same evening Maya told M
| of her fathers words and said:
81 think that before all is done
shall need the help that YOU hav
sworn to give me. senior. for I can se
well that my father viii be against m
unless nv wish runs with his purpose,
| For two more DAYS we rested ther
by the cueva till the senior was it t
{. travel. then we started on again. Fo