The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-01-13

Are LI1ey near ne RASDeU.
We peeped round the corner of the
arch and saw that some fifty feet below
us the band had halted on the slippery
face of the pyramid, fearing they knew
not what, for they heard the dull sound
OF the axe blows, but could not guess
what it portended.
One OF their number was talking to
Don Pedro, apparently urging some
thing upon him to which he did not
agree, and in this way they wasted two
minutes before the order was finally
given to rush up the remaining steps
and take the temple by storm.
Two minutes, it was but a short time,
yet 1T meant much, for now only
third OF the root remained answered,
and the bark cracking and peeling
showed how great was the strain
upon it.
"Quick, whispered the senior, "they
Gomez" and as he spoke the hands of
the axe broke and its head fell on the
ground.
"Now if the root holds we are lost"
l said.
But it was not So for Molas still had
his heavy hunting knife, and with this
he hewed frantically at the wood. At
the third cut it began to part, torn
slowly asunder as though by the
strength of giant.
Come down, Molas, come DOWN.
cried the senior.
But Molas would not. He struck one
more blow, severing the root. then.
with a shout of farewell, either
through faintness or by design. he cast
himself forward with outstretched
arms against the face of the wall. His
weight was little indeed, yet it seemed
that it suff1ced to turn the balance, for
AGAIN the trembling mass moved pc. :
ceptibly.
1t slid forward faster and faster.
while sharp sounds like pistol shots
came from the heart of it, and the trees
bent like a rod beneath the rush of a
fish. Now, also, for the first time the
villains on the slope below perceived
the doom that threatened them and ut
tered such yell as 1 had never heard.
Some stood still, and some flung them
selves down the stair. One only, Don
Pedro hirre"'f rushed forward.
1t was too late; the mass VI stone
work, fifty feet long by twenty in
breadth, was falling. 1t fell, taking
Molas with it.
With roar like that of thunder it
struck upon the stairway. and, burst
ing into fragments, swept it from end
to end.
In less than a minute it was done, the
sounds had died away, and nothing was
left to tell of what had happened ex-
cept little dust and some remains that
had been men. Of all those who stood
upon the stairway only one sur
vived, Don Pedro, who had run
forward. But he was too late,
for though the mass had missed him
single stone struck him across the mid
die, breaking his bones and sweeping
him to the foot of the first fight, but
leaving him alive.
When all was finished and the dust
had fallen to the earth again, the senior
spoke, saying:
Let us go and search for the body
OF our deliverer."
So we went, the three of us, leaving
Zilbalbay in the temple, but we could
not find it; doubtless to this day it
hes buried beneath some of the larger
blocks of masonry. There were other
bodies, indeed. from which we did not
scruple to take the rifles and whatever
else was likely to he of value to us.
Better still, tied among some trees near
the loot OF the pyramid we found four
good mules, one of them laden with
ammunition and provisions, for Don
Pedro had come out determined to hunt
us down even If he must follow us for
days.
Having piclxeted the mules where
they could Craze, we returned to the
temple, bearing with us food and drink,
Of which we stood in sore need. On our
way up the steps Don Pedro called to
us from where he lay broken and bleed
ing against an uprooted tree.
Water" he cried, "give me water.n
and the senior gave him some mixed
with brandy which we had found upon
the sumpter mule.
II am dying" moaned the wretch;
my presentiment has come true, and
death finds me among ruins"
Give me absolution," he went on.
For the love of God give me absolu-
tion."
II cannot" said the senior. 81 have
no authority. Pray to heaven to shriye
you, for your time is short"
Then he turned and went, but for n
long time we were troubled with the
cries and blasphemies of this most evil
nan. Indeed, they did not cease until
sunset, when the devil came to claim his
)wn.
Continued next week.