Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-01-02
CHAPTER V.
ZAEMON'S CURSE


1t appeared that for the present, at
any rate. I was to have my residence
in the royal pyra mid. The glttering
cavaicade drew mp in the great paved
square which lies before the building.
and massed itself in groups Th-
mammoth was halted before the door
way, and when "A stair had been
brought, the trumpets sounded, and
we three who had ridden in the gold
en- half-castle under the canopy of
snakes. descended to the ground.
Il was plain that We were going
apartments which lay inside the vast
stone mazes of the pyramid, and,
without thinking. the instinct of Gus
tom and reverence that had become
part OF my nature caused me TO turn
to where the towering rocks of the
Sacred Mountain frowned above the
city, and make the usual obeisance,
and offer up in silence the prescribed
prayer.
she said 20 me: Come" and. turn
ing TO the doorway, cried for en-
trance. giving the secret word APP
pointed for the day. The ponderous
stone blocks which barred the porch
swung back on their hinges. and with
stately tread she passed out of the
hot sunshine into the cool gloom he
yond. with the fan-girl following
1ecorously "a her heels. too went
" siEn ba -.
doors, with d sullen thud, closed be-
hind us.
We did not go far just then. Pho
renlce halted in the hall of waiting
low we'll | remembered the place,
with the pictures of kings on its red
walls, and the burning fountain of
-arth-broath which bla2ed from "a Jet
Of bronze in he middle of the floor
Ing and gave it light. The old
King that was gone had come this far
Of his complaisance when he bade me
farewell as | set out twenty years be-
fore for my viceroyaity in Yucatan.
I 1t the air of the hall was different
TO what it. had been in those old
days. Then it was pure and sweet
Now il was heavy with some scent,
and / found it laneuid and oppressive.
81 am told you are a pretty fight
er, said She. well. | hold some
small skin in arms rnys elf, and have
n conceit that ! am omething OF i
Judge. Tomorrow we win take a
taste of battle together. But today
| must carry through the honora bic
reception l have planned for YOU
Deucalion. The feast will be ready
soon, and you viii wish TO make
ready for the feast. There are cham
bers here selected for your use, and
stored with what is necdful. Ylga
will show you their places"
We waited, the fan-girl and ]. till
Phorenice had passed out of the glow
of the light-jet, and had left the hall
Of waiting through a doorway among
the shadows of its further angle, and
then (the girl taking lamp and lead
ing) we also threaded our way
through the narrow mazes of the pyr-
amid.
Everywhere the air was full of per
fumes, and everywhere the passage
turned and twisted and doubled
through the solid stone of the pyra-
mid, so that strangers might have
spent hours yes, or days--in search
before they came to the chamber
they desired. There was a fine cum
ningness about those forgotten build
ers who sat up this royal pyramid.
They had no mind that kings should
fall by the hand of vulgar assassins
who might come in suddenly from
outside. And il is said also that the
king Of the time, TO make doubly
sure, killed all that had built the pyr-
amid, or seen even the lay of its inner
stones.
But the fan-gifl led the way with
the lamp swinging in her hand, as
one accustomed to the ma7es. Here
she doubled, there she turned, and
here she stopped in the middle of u
blank wall to push stone, which
swung to let US pass, And once she
pressed at the corner Of a hagst one
on the floor, which reared up at the
thrust of her foot, and showed us IA
stair steep and narrow. That We de-