The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-03-10
HEART OF THE WORLD.
by II. RIDER EIAOGARD.
Strange Story Bequeathed by Old
Mexican Indian to His Friend and Comrade,
Engiishman Named Jones'


of the pyramid and guarded by small
body OF soldiers, who saluted and adj
mitted us.
Entering our guides went without fall
tering, turning now to the right, now
to the left, and now seeming to retrace
their footsteps, till at length they
halted to open door covered over
with plates Of beaten gold, on the fur
ther side Of which lay the most sacred
spot, save one, in the City of the Heart,
that served the thrcefold purpose of a
Judgment hall, church wherein the
mobiles attended worship, and burial
place Of the departed caciqucs of the
city.
Here in this vast and awful vault,
each Of them set in his own niche,
stood the bodies of every l1ing-priest
who had reigncd in the holy city, in
closed in collins of solid gold fashioned
TO the shape and likeness of the corpse
within and having the name, age, date
o. birth and brief account of the good
or evil that the man had done cut in
symbols on his breast.
For Il moment Maya paused to look
upon the bodies of her parents, then
with sigh and an obeisance she passed
on, saying to me:
See. this Hall of the Dead is
full; there is no place left for
me or nay descendants. and surely
that is an evil omen. "Well," she added
with n sigh, what does it matter
where thcy set us when we are dead?'
Then we went on defling before the
silent company of the golden dead.
till passing through hall, we stood in
front of little door over which burned
great lamps. This door was guarded
by two priests with drawn swords,
which they pointed towards us sign
that we should halt. Then the priests
who had escorted us so far fell back be-
hind, and we were left alone.
Give the sign, keepers of the gate
said Maya.
Thercupon one of the men with
drawn swords did SO, and after a few
moments delay the doors opened and
we entered the sanctuary.
In front of the altar was an open
space, and beyond its circle, each wear
ing the orders of his spiritual rank. sat
the Brethren of the Heart, according
to their degree, to the mum Der of thirty
six.
Led by Maya, we advanced into the
open space before the altar, and stood
there in silence. At length one of the
brethren, lie who sat nearest to the
door. rose. and, addressing Tillal. said:
keeper of the Heart, one who claims
to be of our company stands before YOU
and with her two for whom she vouches.
BE pleased to prove them by the voice
OF their sponsor, that their mouths may
be opened and their prayers come to
the ears of the council"
At his words two of the brethren
rose and blindfoldcd the senior and my
self lest we should see the sacred signs.
with all of which, indeed, | was well
acquainted; but Maya they did not
blindfold. Then we heard Ti1al ask
ing:
How are you named who are strange
to our eyes" and the voice of Maya in
our ears cautioned us to be silent.
I'VE are named the Son of the Sea
and Ignatio the Wanderer," answered
the voice of Maya.
"Son of the Sea and Ignatio the Wan
derer, why come you here" asked
Tikal, through the gate on which is
written, Death to the Stranger?'"
Because we have prayer to utter,
an offering to make, and because, al
though we dwell in far land, we are
the servants of the Heart" answered
Maya.
Then the various signs of the ritual
were made by Maya.
Strangers" said Tilsal, your mouths
are opened in the sanctuary according
to the ancient form, and it is lawful for
the council to listen to your PRAYER
Speak then without fear" Then l
spoke, saying:
brethren, for so l will dare to call
you, seeing that also, though stran-
ger, am of the Brotherhood of the
Heart, as can prove to you if need be,
ay, and higher in rank than any pres
ent here, unless it be you, 0 Keeper of
the Heart. On my own behalf, on be-
half of my brother, who also is OF our
company, aud on behalf of MAYA. the
Lady of the Heart, daughter of him
who ruled you, and heiress to his pow
er, speak and make my prayer to You.
1T would seem that we three, to-
gether with Zibalbay, who is dead, and
therefore beyond your Judgment, have
violated the laws of this city. we by
daring to enter its gates, and Zibalbay
and the Lady Maya by lending us to
those gates. For this crime we should
have been put to death eight days ago
upon the pyramid had not the Lady
Maya claimed a right to have our cause
laid before this high tribunal. in hc:.
case, and in that of her father, this was
conceded, and l pray now that the
same clemeney may be extended to me
and to my brother"
Upon what grounds do you claim
this, stranger" asked TilSal.
Upon the ground that we are breth-
rem of the inmost circle of the Heart,
and, therefore, have committed no
crime in visiting this city, which is free
to us by the right of our rank and
office"
Now there was n murmur of true"
from the council behind me, and Tiixal
also said true" but added: IF YOU
are brethren of the inmost circle of the
Heart you are free from offense, but
first you must prove that this is SO.
which as yet you have not done. A
brother of the inmost circle knows its
mysteries, and can answer the secret
questions. Come. let us put YOU to the
test, but first let the white man be re-
moved from the sanctuary, for in this
matter each must answer for himself"
Accordingly the senior was led away,
and the doors having been closed and
the lamps shaded, the oldest and most
instructed of the councillors stood for
ward and put to me the test with many
questions, all of which | answered
readily. Then they commanded me to
stand before the altar, and, as Keeper
of the Heart, to open the Heart in the
highest degree. This / did also, though
afterward they told me that my ritual
differed in some particulars from their
own.
After that took up my parable and
questioned them till at length none
could answer me, no, not even
the hiph f,rinct or Malta; oDI tho. -.