Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1913-12-05


Nothing in the parchment had led as
to suspect all this, although Fecollect
the stone ''t2oddes' looking toward the
niche with the big palm tree. the spot
in the wall by which we were. to 10
cate the treasure cave.
Gomez said ut last. breaking the
silence. I'VE win have a nearer hook
at these gentry"
1T seems like the temple Of q van
ished race" breathed my lady softly,
staring about her In growing wonder.
AYE. and Of vanished Godw
said. extending my hand.
There was something weird and eerfe
about the plateau, and we felt better
for the tough Of each others hand. at
least l did. l always felt happier
when l touched her little hand, but in
this instance the feeling was some
what different In q certain sense It
seemed like PROCLAMATION for us to be
there, yet we went ON steadily, If slow
". We passed by the colonnade Of
statues around the inner platform and
deliberately mounted the stairs.
Something. l know not what. made
me bid my mistress pause before we
reached the top, and looked to my
pistol and loosened my sword in its
sheath as l did SO. although why did
so and what anticipated l cannot say.
At any rate. l mounted to the top
ilone.A There before me lay platform
which was sunk beneath me for
depth Of two feet and which was sur
rounded by low wall, on the top OF
which l stood The three images rose
from smaller platform Oh a level
with the top of this wall in the midst.
and the whole place was filed with
Horrible end frightful mass of human
ZONES. Skulls. legs, thighs and small
er bones. heaped in terrible confusion,
lay bleaching before me. and the space
between them was filed with q fine
dust. doubtless the dust of earlier
homes which had moulde4ed away
through centuries. Those that still
preserved their shape were the top
layer and were bleached perfectly
white. They lay in all directions. as
If they had been cast aside carelessly
and at random. yet there were indica-
tons that there had been path from
where l stood to the platform of the
three images. which | perceived was,
just about long enough to lay a human
body on.
l stared apprehensively. must con-
fess, at this frightful charnel house Of
the centuries. The only evidences of
humanity we had discovered were
these frightful skeletons l would
have prevented it, but my mistress
suddenly came and stood by my side.
Then l thought she would have faint
ed as the full horror of the scene burst
upon her, 49,
"Men have been here" she faltered.
Horrible. cruel men,"
Yes" said l. but centuries ago.
Look, the bones are bleached white.
You have naught to fear
Let us leave this frightful place"
she said
Presently" l answered. but you
will remember the directions of the
chart. | must stand upon that altar
and get my bearings The treasure
cave should be in line with the statues
and nick or depression in the wall on
the farther side
yes she replied Il remember"
well, them l said. will You go
down to the platform out of sight Of
tnls horrible place and wait for me?"
NO" she answered nervouslv.
Master Hampton. wherever YOU 90 ]
must go. l can never be left alone"
tried gently to dissuade her. but
as usual. she would have her way so
that at last gave in.
Well, then." said l. "at least let me
go before"
l stepped down into the great re-
ceptacle intending to clear the wav
with my feet by kicking away the
layer OF bones, and then, extending
my arm behind me with both her
hands caught in mine. she followed me
down into the Enclosure. OF course wa
mad to walk upon the broken rom.
.nants OF humanity, but 1 thrust aside
as well as l could the larger pieces
ana skulls, and she, afterward
learned. followed with her eyes tightly
closed. trusting entirely to NV euid.
ance. Indeed, she chung to my hand
WIN all the nervous strength and now.
er she possessed.
SO we finally reached the platform.
| lifted her up on it and followed nv.
sei1. led my lady carefully around
the platform until we could stand at
the rear end by the side Of the line of
statues and look across the Island
Sure enough. thera was tho ,,.,- =.