The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-01-20
CHAPTER XI.
ZIBALBAY TELLS HIS MISSION.

temple we ate and drank, then, know
ing that we could travel no further that
night, ] spoke, saying:
'Somc two months since, Zibalbay,
you sent a message by that man VINO
died TO save us this day, to him who,
among the Indians, is known as Lord
of the Heart. Your messenger Travelled
fast and far, by sea and by land till he
found him and delivered the message"
TO whom did he deliver it?" asked
Zibalbay
ITO me, for | am the man You seek,
and with my companion / have Jour
neyed here to find you, suffering many
dangers and evils ON the path"
Prove that you are the man." and he
asked me certain secret questions, to all
of which | returned answers.
You are instructed he said at
length, and turning to Maya said:
Come hithcr daughter, and give me
that which is hidden in your hair"
Maya put her hands to her head, and,
drawing forth some small thing from
the dense masses of her hair, passed it
to her father.
''ls this what you would see?" he
asked, holding the object in the light of
the setting sun.
| looked, and lol there before me was
the very counterpart of that which had
descended TO me from my forefathers,
and which wore about my neck.
1t would seem SO, unless my eyes
deceive me-" | answered. And is this
what You have come so far to seek, III
balbay'" and | drew forth the ancient
symbol of the Broken Heart.
Now he leaned forward and examined
first the one half and then the other,
& ~ 4 .Af ,xrtt 4. I.
Then he turned to me and said:
Now have day and night come to-
gether and soon shall the new sun
arise, the sun of glory. for already the
dawn is breaking. Take that which is
in your keeping and | will take that
which is mine, for not here must they
be joined, hut far away.
Listen, brethren, to my tale Per-
chance, my brethren, you have heard
legends OF that ancient undiscovered
city, the last home of our race, which is
by the foot of the white con-
queror."
1--WE have heard of it and greatly de-
sire to see it," | answered.
IF this be so,' went on Zilbalbav.
in us you have found those who can
guide you to that city, of which I am
the cacique and hereditary high priest.
and my only child here is the lady. You
wonder how 1T comes, then, that we,
being Of this condition, are found un
and alone, wandering like beg
CARS in the lands of the white man.
Listen:
"The City of the Heart, as it is called.
is OF all cities the most beautiful and
ancient, and once in the far past she
ruled these lands from sea to sea.
$50 1,n =. A.
days that all the cities whose ruins
may be found buried in these forests
were her tributaries; but as the wears
went by hordes of barbarians rolled
down upon her frontier towns, so that
they were lost to her. Still no enemies
came near her gates, and she remained
the richest and most powerful of the
cities of the world.
Now, the City of the Heart is built
upon an island in the center of lake.
but many thousands of her children
upon the mainland, where they cult
waited fields and dug in the earth for
gold and gems
80 she llourished and her children
with her, till twelve generations since.
when there came tidings to the king
OF that day that nation of white men
had taken possession of the empires
near the sea, putting their inhabitants
TO the sword and possessing themselves
OF their wealth. 1idings came also that
these white men, having learned the
tale of the City of the Heart and of the
treasures of gold with
which it is adorned, purposed to seek it
out and sack It.
when the cacique was sure that these
things were true, he took counsel with
hic xNicn i.
god, and issued n decree that all those
who lived upon the mainland should be
brought within the walls of the city. so
that the white men might find none to
guide them thither. This was done
then, and the spoilers sought in vain
for many years, till it was reported
among them that this legend of town
hlled with gold was but a fable.
Now, however, great sickness took
hold of those who lived in the CITY of
The Heart, because it was over full of
men; so great a sickness, indeed, that
soon there was space and to spare for
AT who remained within it's walls. The
sickness went away, but as the genera
lions passed new and worse trouble
Ieu upon our forefathers. The blood
u the people grew old, and but few
,hlldren were born to them.
lhere were none left upon the main
and to rcplenish the race, and this is
,ur law, "A law that cannot be broken
inder pain of death, that no man or
woman may leave our territories to seek
husband or wife of different blood.
THUS, then, it has come about that
'he people have grown fewer and fewer.
wasting away like snow upon q noun
ain top in summer, till at length they
ire dwindled to a few thousands. who
n hygone days could count their num-
Der by tens and twcnties of thousands.
INT an ancient prophecy has come
Town to us from our forefathers, and it
S that, when once moro the two halves
IL tne symbol of the Heart are laid side
~ siue III their place upon the altar in
ne sanctuary of the holy city, then
rom that hour she shall grow great
lgain. Over this saying brooded long.
md often did pray to that God whom
worship that ! might find that which
vas lost, and save the people from
AT length voice spoke to me In a
'ream answering my prayer. bidding
ne 10 wander forth from the country OF
ne heart and follow the ancient road
oward the sea, for there, near to the
'aStern shore, | should find that which
vas lost.
Then | summoned the Council of the
ieart and told them of my dream and
nat purposed to obey it. But they
nade mock of me and said that /
night go il wished. but that no man
II the people should accompany me
cross the mountains, for that was
galnst the ancient law.
10 be short" continued Zibalbay.
since my heart was set upon this mis-. I
ION and my daughter yonder. who is I
ylllful. won I NOT no 4