The Washington times., 1903-01-25

watch was set upon his movements.
. But it would be OF no use 10 leave the
. town. There was only one way out
of the valley, and without doubt that
way was well guarded. The lack Of
I sentineIs assured him that his captors
+ considered escape absolutely impossf-
BILE
He found q pile Of robes at one side
+ of the room, and after arranging this
! bed lay down and slept soundIy till
morning He was awakened just be
/ fore light by a terrible cIangor on the
/ plaza, and springlng from his couch
{ ran to the window. - great crowd Of
+ Indians were gathered before the
/ temple, but il was still so dark that
/ he could not see what was going on.
+ So. after a moments hesitation, he
+ opened his door and slipped out.
The sky in the east was aglow with
( the rising sun, but as yet it had not
appeared above the rugged cliffs
which shut in the valley Here Il
was still dark He could see the peo-
pie thronging into the open court be-
fore the temple There must have
been nearly a thousand Of them-men,
women and children. The noise which
had awakened him was made by two
white robed priests. standing at either
end of the porch. beating great gongs
which they held in their hands.
Soon procession appeared at the
entrance Of the temple, and the gongs
ceased. But the priests leading the
procession had small cymbals which
the continued to clash most noisiIy;
but these tiny cymbaIs gave out
high. shriH note not at all displeasing
to the ear.
The priests marched slowly out
upon the porch, two by two. Those
who had no cymbals swung metal
dishes of burning incense which filed
the whole place with its pungent odor.
The priests fled down the steps and
arranged themselves about the altar;
and then the old man appeared. An
attendant led forward a kid. and it
was seized and thrown upon the altar,
on which a pile of fuel had already
been laid.
The high priest held the struggling
animal down with his left hand. rails
ing a huge bronze knife aIoft in his
other. The people chanted in their
musical tongue, while the light in
creased in the sky and the shadows
stole away from the valley.
Suddenly the sun appeared. It shot
up from behind a peak of the noun
tain and its first beam rested full
upon the face and figure OF the high
priest. The chant changed TO a shout
and the knife was plunged into the
throat of the sacrifice Another at
tendant ran with blazing torch. and
in a moment the flames from the pile
on the altar were flashing skyward.
The voice OF the concourse of Indians
rose like the deep. full notes of an
organ. The chant was the most sol
enn thing to which the American had
ever HsteHed.
Then they dispersed, and Keeth
went back to his place. wondering ex-
ceedingIy.
After his breakfast had been
brought him and he had eaten it. he
started out to find Ford KfnsaIe and
Bob Fitch. Nobody molested him and
he easily discovered the house in
which they were lodged. He saw that
the door was open and looked within.
His friends were still at breakfast.
sitting crossIegged on the floor and
evidently enjoying their meal ex-
tremely.
There's one thing about it, Fitch"
Ford was saying, these bareIeggsd
heathens don't intend 10 starve US"
"Afebbe they're fattening US hup for
to sacrifice us responded the Cock
ney. gIoomiIy.
''NonsenseL''
'Ye can't tell, sir. Hi 'ad a cousin
"a sailor zee was-an' ZEE was wreck
ed among The South Sea cannibaIs.
'Ee said ZEE was never treated better
in is life, as regarded eating"
oh, get out! These people aren't
oannibaIs. Hullo! here's one of EN-
now"
Ford glanced up sideways at Keeth
standing in the doorway. He didn't
recognize him until his eyes reached
his face. and then he sat stock stiu.
with a bowl Of something in one hand
and cake in the other. and stared in
round eyed amazement. Fitch's at
tention was attracted also by his com
panion's long silence.
wy. Him blest if it hafn't Mr..
keeth"' exclaimed the trader.
OF course it -" responded Keerb.
in some disgust What's the matter
with YOU. Ford2 Don't be an IDIOT"
But Ford dropped his eatables and
fairly rolled on the ground in the ex-
cess of his hilarity.
ooh, Oh. OH he shouted. Just
look at him. Fitch, The White Chief
OF the Incas" On, this Is rich. Keeth.
Won't YOU be burnt a deep. rich brick
red if YOU 80 dancing around IN those
togse You look Ike a Scotch broad
sword dancer. you do. What you GO
inS 10 do Marry PUcah-1tas and set
? "a