The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-03-03

no more days passed, or 50 we rock
'lcl by the number of meals that were
,rolgt. to us. but ncith-r I'iltal nor
.iai. ii rctuinca TO visit O.hcr do,-
or .arlr lnl saw Zibalbay. bat. tholgh
they tried may remedies. they were OF
10 avail. On the night or the second
lay sc were gathered roand his couch
watching him and talking together sad
y enough, for the solitude AMI dark
ness and the fear Of impending death
hal broken our spirits so that even the
jcnor ceased 10 be merry, and the pres
cncc 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
softcnirg face.
Greeting" he said, land forgive me
that | come so late, but my business is
secret, and such as Is best done at
night. How does it go with Zibal-
bay?'
'Ie lives" | answered.; 81 can say no
moro, for he is scnseless, and, without
doubt, soon must die. But come, see
for yourself"
Natal walked to the bed and OK
amincd the old man, lifting the eyelids
and feeling his heart.
Tic cannot live long" he said.
well, death is his best friend. And
Low to my business. There is trouble
in the city, and strange rumors pass
from mouth to mouth among the Dco-
pie, many of whom declare that Tileal
has murdered Zibalbay, and demand
that you, lady, should be brought be-
fore them, that you may be named
caciquc in his place.
Things being so, it has been urged
upon Tilsal by the chiefs of his party
that. as he will never clear himself of
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
ut secret council held this afternoon,
and once he issued the order for your
deaths, only to recall it before the mes
scnger had left the palace"
Now he paused, and Maya asked, in
a low voice:
Have you no plan to save us, Mat
tai?'
why should l have plan. lady,
who with my house would benefit SO
greatly by your dcath?'
II do not know why you should have
q plan, old man." broke in the senior,
but tell you that you will do well to
make one, else you do not leave this
place alive, and as he spoke with a
sudden movement he sprang between
Natal and the door.
If we are to be murdered like birds
in cage" he went on, ''at least your
neck shall be twisted first. Do YOU
underestimate"
II understand, Son Of the Sea-" an
swcred Natal, finching little before
the senor's fierce face and hand out
stretched as though to grip him. "But
would have You understand some
thing. also; namely, that if | do not
return presently there are some with
out who will come to seek me, and
then
And then they will find your carcass
broke in the senior, ''and whit will nil
your plots and schemes advantage Won
when YOU are lump of senseless
clay?'
Little, indeed, confess" he an
swercd. Still, my daughter, whom
love better than myself, will reap some
profit, and with that, in this sad case,
must be content. But, do not be so
hasty, white man. asked why l
should have plan, l did not say had
none"
"Thcn If you have one, let us hear it
without more ado" said the senior,
Your will is mine, but l know not
how my plan will please the Lady
Maya yonder, and therefore, before ]
unfold it, would make it clear that
there is but one alternative-thc 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
grimly, ''for remember always that if
you do not make your plan such as we
can accept you will leave this chamber
feet FIRST. with broken necll.n
Again Natal bowed and continued:
I'm one way only has Tikal been able
10 pacity 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 n
strange hold of the people, and they
desire to know what win happen when
once more tho 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 god would reveal his purpose and
show wha. part each of You should play
i'll the fate that is to be, and therefore
the people look to see some sign or
wonder when Day and Night are come
together"
Now Natal thought for awhile, and
went on:
Lady, am old, and for many wears
| have followed the worship OF thc
gods, and yet never have | known th,
gods to make answer to their votarics
or heard the voices of the immortal.
speaking into human ears. | cannot
tell, but think were | in so sore /;
strait as you rnd yourselves tonight,
should not hesitate TO give voice to
these dumb gods"
What is Your meaninC?" asked Maya
when the sevc.cd halves of III
heart are set in their place upon the a.
tar, il there should be any gods the
should give sign. The ancient svr'
Dol on the altar Is hollow. and II j
were to open it might be that q writin
would be found within K, an ancie...
writing of the gods prepared aSains.
the present time that shall be to rs a.
n lantern to one wandering in the durls
or 1t might be that nothing would b.
founl.
Now, us it happens, in searching
throu III the earliest records of the ten
pie, have discovered a certain writing
and it seems to me that your forum.
would be great if that writing should
lie within The symbol On the night o.
the Rising Waters. Here it is-p
And suddenly he produced n small
plate of dull gold covered over with
symbols.