The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-03-03
CHAPTER X x
THE SACRILEGE

Maya bent over the form of her father
and took the talisman from his neck.
II feel like one who robs the dead, /"
she said
Remember that it is to save the
living, and be comforted," answered
Natal as we left the chamber.
Take u lamp, each of you," he said
when we had reached the further end
If the great hall, where he unlocked
he copper gates with a key from the
bunch that hung at his girdle. We
passed through, and turning he almost
,loscd Tie gate, but not quite.
why do you leave the gates ajar?"
[ asked.
because there are none to follow
as he answered, land who knows
What may happen? Should we be
'orced to hy-the sanctuary open doors
arc easier to pass than shut ones"
What could force us to fly the sane
tuary?" asked.
Natal shrugged his shoulders and
went on. We passed down many stairs,
along passages, and through secret
doors, each of which Natal left open
behind us, till at length we came to the
sanctuary of the namelcss god and stood
on the further side of the wall huddled
together and clasping each others
hands, for the place was awesome, and
its utter silence and solemnity filed us
with fear.
The roof of the sanctuary, which
was of no great size, was vault-shaped,
in imitation of the arching sky, and in
it appeared golden sun, a silver cres-
cent moon, and the stars of heaven Its
walls were lined throughout with pol
ishcd blocks of the beautiful stone
Known as Mexican onyx, frcttcd over
10 the height of a man with a border of
hicroglyphics and effigies of the lesser
gods in attitudes of alteration, cast in
gold and set flush with the face of the
wall.
The furniture was very simple, con-
sisting only of stools cut from rich
woods. heavily gilded in quaint designs,
and II small table, whereon lay sheets
of paper made of bark, together with
brushes t'f reed fiber and pots of pig
mcnt. such as were used in the picture
writing OF this people. At that end by
which we had entered the chamber was
an altar Of black marble, written round
with letters shaped in gold, and upon
this altar lay something covered with a
sillSen cloth.
For Minute or more we stood silent,
contemplating these wonders, then with
a gesture of impatience Mattai spoke in
Let that be done which we have
come to do, for now the sacrilere is
committed, and it is too late to hest
tate"
Speaking thus, he stepped to the
altar and lifted the sillen cloth that Law
over the object which was upon it, re-
vealing the image of human heart.
fashioned in blackstone, with veins of
gold. In the center of this heart ap-
peared small and shallow hole that
had been followed in its substance.
This is the tradition" said Natal.
still speaking in a whisper, THAT when
the two halves of a certain talisman arc
placed in this hollow, the symbol will
open and reveal that which has been
set within it since it was fashioned
thousands of years ago. and there is
this in favor of the truth of this tale.
that golden hinges appear upon the
sides of the symbol.
In this matter, however, there is
something more to fear than the ven
geance of the gods, for, an ancient ira
dition tells us that if the symbol be
stirred from the place where it has lain
ior SO many years, the fioodcatc will
-rli back ard tho waters of the lake