The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-16
HEARTS OF THREE
Francis Finds Deep Pit Beneath
Foot of CHA, But Priest Pre-
vents Exploration.
By JACK LONDON.

judged. as he dropped a tiny stons
fragment
Many seconds they listened ere
they heard II strike.
Even that may not be the bot
TOM" Leoncia suggested. at may
have been struck against some
projection from the side and even
lodged there"
wei, this will determine It."
Francis cried. Selling an ancient
musket from the bones on the floor
and preparing to drop II.
But the old man stopped him.
The message Of the sacred knots
is who so violates the nothingness
beneath the feet OF CHA shall
quickly and terribly die"
Far be ii from me to make q stir
in the void" Francis grinned. toss
ing the musket aside. But what
are we to do now. old Maya man?
From the mouth OF CHA to the ear
OF Hzatzl sounds eaSy-but how
and what? Run the sacred knots
with thy fingers, old top. and ind
for Us how and what
For the son of the priest. the peon
with the frayed knees, the clock
had struck All unaware. he had
seen his last sunrise. No matter
what blind efforts he might make to
escape, the day was TO be his last
day. Had he remained on guard At
the cave-entrance he would surely
have been killed by Torres and Man
cheno, who had arrived close on his
heels.
But. instead OF so remaining. Il
entered his cautious. timid soul to
make a scout out and beyond for
possible foes. Thus he missed death
in the daylight under the sky. Yet
the pace OF the hands OF the clock
was -unalterabIe. and neither nearer
nor farther was his destined end
from him.
While he secuted Alvarez Torres
and Jose Mancheno arrived at the
eave-opening. The colossal, moth
er-of-pearl eyes OF CHA on the wall
OF the cliff were too much for the
superstition-reared CARGO.
do you go in" he told TorreA
Il will wait here and watch and
guard
And Torres, with strong in him
the blood OF the ancient forbear
who stood faithfully through the
centuries in the avenue OF the
mummy dead. entered the Maya
cave as courageously as that fore
bear had entered
And the instant he was out Of
sight Jose Mancheno, unafraid to
murder treacherously any living.
breathing man, but greatly afraid
OF the unseen world behind I'M
explainable phenomena. forgot the
trust Of watch and ward and stole
through the jungle. Thus the peon.
returning treasured from his scout
and curious to learn the Maya
secrets OF his father and OF the
sacred tassel, found nobody at the
cave mouth and himself entered
into il close upon the heels OF
Torres.
The latter trod softly and eau
tiously for fear of DISCLOSING his
presence to those he trailed. Also.
his progress was still further de
layed by the spectacle Of the an
cient dead in the nall OF mummies.
Curiously he examined these men
whom history had stopped there In
the ante-chamber of the Maya gods.
Especially curious was he at sight
OF the mummy at the end OF the
line. The resemblance OF him wa
too striking for him not to see. and
he could not but believe that he was
looking upon some direct great an
cestor OF his.
A Queer Fancy.
Still gazing and specializing, ha
was warned by approaching foot
steps and glanced about for some
place to hide. A sardonic humor
seized him. Taking the helmet
from the head of his ancient kin,
he placed it on his own head. Like
wise did he drape the rotten mantle
about his form and equip himself
with the great sword and the great
fioppy boots that almost fen to
pieces as he pulled them on Next,
half tenderly, he deposited tn
nude mummy on its back In The
dark shadows behind the other
mummies. And finally, IN the Earna
spot at the end of the line, his hand
resting on the sword-hilt. he as
sumed the same posture he had
observed Of the mummy.
Only his eyes moved as he OBJ
served the peon venturing slowly
and fearfully along the avenue Of
upright corpses. At sight OF Torres
he came to an abrupt stop and with
wide eyes of dread muttered a sue
cessiOn of Maya prayers. Torres
so confronted, could only listen
with closed eyes and conjecture
when he heard the peon move on
he stole a look and saw him pause
with apprehension at the narrow
elbOw-turn of the passage which
he must venture next. Torres saw
his chance and swung the sword
COLT ,ur the blow that would split
tho poems head in twain.
Though this was the day ind the
very hour for the peon. the last
second had not yet licked Not
there. in the thoroUghfare OF the
dead. was he destined TO die under
thc hand OF Torres. For Torres
held his hand and slowly lowered
the point of the sword to the floor.
while the peon passed on into tbs
elbow.
The latter met up with his faith
er, LeOncia and Francis just as
Francis was demanding the priest
to run the knots again for fuller
information OF how and what that
would open the ear of HZatzl
Put your hand into the mouth
Of Chat and draw forth the key"
the old man commanded his re-
luctant son. who went about obey
ing him most gingefly.
''She won't bite yOu-she's stone
Francis laughed at him in Spanish.
The Maya gods are never stone.
the old man reproved him. They
seem to be stone, but they are alive
and ever alive. and under the stone.
and through the stone. and by the
stone. as always. work their ever
l.