Charlevoix county herald., 1918-06-14
CHAPTER III.
The End of the Search.


81 fancy your friend Wingarde made
a very interesting discovery up here,
from what Mr.. Dayton says. BY the
way, Mr.. Dayton, did the Indian
guides appear to find anything of un-
usual interest in these objects?"
Dayton shook his head.
mo, I hardly think so. They were
stoical brutes, you know. One couldn't
tell what they thought half the time
I know Wingarde showed them the
idol and the stone, and asked them IL
their people ever had anything like
them. and all they did was grunt
something about their god living
''way up in the sky Struck me they
rather looked down on the stuff"
Once more Dual addressed Laredo.
"Of course, you know the history Of
what this stone may have been. At
the time of the Mexican conquest by
Cortez, the worship of Quetzal, the
earlier Aztec god, had largely fallen
before that of Huitzil Montezuma,
the so-callsd child OF the sun, wor.
SHIPPED the war god,
cat the same time the priesthood nj
Cuetzal still existed and among the
temple ornaments was an immense
emerald worn during the religious
rites. Quetzal translated into English
means shining with green gold fire.
Quetzal himself was the god of agri-
culture rather than violence and war.
Unlike the other Aztec deities he
was said to be of totally different
physiognomy from them, and to have
long hair falling to his shoulders.
"The conquistadores looted the
various temples, but they did not find
the great Eye of Quetzal.' 1t disap-
peared. That brings us to the legend
itself. The priests have always de-
clared that Quetzal would be reestab-
lished as the national god.
"As result, when his temple jewel
disappeared, story started that not
until it was recovered could the now
enslaved Indians be freed; but should
it be brought back, then, Quetzal
would lead his children out of bond.
age.
Even yet, so great is the power
of suggestion and superstition, that !
fancy should one appear with the
jewel in his possession, he might find
a fanatical following waiting to follow
his leadership in an attempt to over
throw the present government of the
country. Now, l do not pretend to
say upon what data the professor
stumbled, but in some way he must
have learned that the great stone had
been carried into the north. Have
you ever heard of such thing, Senior
Laredo?"
IL have heard, yes. To such a
story ! give no credence," said Lare-
do. "Yet, when you named the stone
but now, it startled me at first.
You appear to be well informed con.
corning the ancient peoples, Senior
Dual"
Il have read somewhat" returned
| Semi.
We lapsed silent. A soft breeze fan,
ned along the veranda. The great
stars winked out of the night sky like
a thousand eyes. From where we sat
we could see the dark outline of the
| great gorge Of the Colorado.
Noee of us spoke for a time. Each
was busy with his own thoughts
Somewhere out there under the night
man was lying dead, IL Dual was
right. Other men went to and fro
searching for his body.
Upstairs his daughter was waiting
hoping, counting, doubtless the slow
drag of an eternity of minutes, until
she should hear of his finding. And
she did not know!
glanced at Dual. He sat silent
his face in the shadow, inscrutable
calm, apparently unmoved by the emo
tons which stirred In the breasts OF
us other, less impassive mortals. My
gaze rested lingeringly on his strong
Swallowed features; and as though he
sensed all was feeling. yet keeping
from voicing, he began to speak:
"The stars-silent monitors Of the
EARTH" His voice was low, soft