Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-02-15

two boys ever hear OF a passer OF So
jers hidin in old Nick-a-jack and new
er comm out again? I'm the last one
Of that crowd"
We've heard" said Hargreaves.
"Who are the others?'
"Injuns," said the ancient, "two or
three kinds Of 'em; been here sence the
flood, / reckon. God. how I'd like to
| get out and let the Yankees shoot me if
they want to! Pm the last one. and
cayn't fight, and them yaller devils is
roastin my little gal down yonder."
Not yet, at least" l said, peering
cautiously from the opening. "Tell us
about it and what we're to do
A dozen OF the tunic clad were cir
cling around the altar, and the chant
rose clamorous. In the dusky back
ground L saw the reflection of another
fire, kindled behind and under huge
object which proved to be monstrous
eftlsy of human figure in a sitting
posture, with the forearms extended
| While looked the eyes of the monster
began to glow. and l understood that
the figure was hollow. was trans
fixed with horror. 1t was the hideous
Chemosh, or Moloch, of the Ammon-
ties, or, rather, it's new world antitype,
the man devouring god of the Aztecs.
+; The old man quavered on.
Yes, they're goin to. She's their
queen, too, but she's my little gal. 1
| couldn't get out-none of us couldn't
get out-and l married, like you'd "a
done. Oh. yes. she was a squaw, 1
! know, but she was the plum whitest of
'em all, the old chiefs daughter. Now
she's dead, and old Yatnow's dead, and
my little Yoliva's queen. But that
don't count. The priests hate her, and
she's give way their secret, the secret
that all the rest Of 'em 'cept me was
roasted for tryin to find out, and she's
got to die
Hargreaves seized the clew. "The
secret of escape? Tell us and what two
men can do
Yes. I'm goin to. That's what she
told me for-to help you get away"
For heavens sake" circulated Har-
greaves. do they know we're here?"
SuuShI VIC reply.
They've been hearin you talk. off
and on, all along. This hell hole is
llken to big ear for them as knows it.
And you didn't tumble in, like you said
You was snaked in with rope, with a
big rock hitched to the end of it,,
Go on" said Hargreaves.
The eyes of the great idol were glow
hn oh
The old man went on brokenly, as one
whose life is at its ebb.
Yes, they said the god was hungry
and they'd give him two men to eat.
lie hain't had none sence the last of us
boys was roasted. They said that, and
1ollva, she stood up and said No. and
sWore by the sperrit of her old gram
dad that she'd turn you all loose.
| Whlie they was a-janglin, you all made
out to dodge 'em. They laid it to Yoliva
and me-and"--
The quavering voice died away in n
rattle, and Hargreaves reached for the
| flask.
THE whisky, quick! He's dyingw
We poured a few drops of the LIQUOR
down his throat, and he revived a lit
tie. Hargreaves caught quickly at the
vanishing chance of escape.
Tell us what to do and how to get
out of this he implored
I'm amin to. She made me prom
Use, if got a chance Raise me ND n
little"
We lifted him gently, and he Went on
with diminishing strength.
''She told me while they was
a-breakin in toto captul' us. It's I'M
der-that there-idol. You heave a
stone-the biggest you can h'ist-into
the-the fireplace. Then you jump in
and run for-your life-li'-
His soul went out in the midst of the
VOID. and we laid him down as tender
ly as we had lifted him.
God rest him" said Hargreaves SOL
EMMY, and peered out again while he
was composing the frail limbs and
closing the sightless eyes.
What saw sent .the hot blood tin
Cling to my finger tips. \ procession
of half naked savages was Winding
like huge snake about the altar, anil
in its forefront. borne shoulder high,
was litter with the corpselike figure
of young girl upon it, had Il fleet
ing glimpse of her face. 1t was pass
ing beautiful. with features which
might have been modelled upon the
ideal of some old Greek master and
chiseled in age old ivory.
Suddenly the dense circle Of onlook-
ers parted, and the litter was borne
to the foot of the idol A second later
the bearers We're binding the girl upon
the outstretched arms of the monster.
Hargreaves was crouching beside me.
Cod" he said through his clinched
teeth. I'D give five years of my life
for weapon"
He sprang up and stumbled over the
body of tie old man-stumbled and
fell, clutching at me to save himself.
The pit! Look outv' shouted, but
1t was too late. While the words were
yet ON my lips we were plunging down
n