The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-08-30
THE WATER RISES

with gurgilngs and burblinrs and
explosive air buildings tina, advrr.
tiscd the Uressurc behind. the wster
fountItlncd high az ever into the air.
Leonlca was the first 20 notice the
rising depth OF the water on tho
chamber floor.
1T Is half way TO my knees She
drew Francis attention.
And time 20 get out" he agreed.
grnsping the situation. THE drain.
age wns cxcellentiy planned. perhaps.
But that slide Of rocks az the cliff
entrance has evidently blocked the
planned way of the water. In the
other Passages. being lower. the
Yet Is u already rising here on the
general level. And that way lies the
only way out Gomez
Thrusting Leonica 20 lead in the
race to safety. he caught tho apa-
thetic priest by the hand and
dragged him after. ~ the entrance
Of the elbow turn tho water YEAS boil
ing above their knees. n was to tho.
waists as they emerged into the
1AtANilbFT OF f4NUlfFlAtNs
And out Of the water. confronting
I.eonlca's astounded gaze. arose the
helmcted hood and ancient rnantied
body Of a mummy. Not this alone
would have astoundcd her. for ether
mummies were overlapping. falling
and being washed about In the swirl.
ing waters. But this mummy moved
and made gasping noises for breath.
and with the eyes OF life stared into
her eyes.
IL was too much for ordinary hu.
man nature 70 hcar--a four centuries.
old corpse crying the second death by
drowning. Leonica screamed. spranR
backward. and fed the way she had
come, while Francis. In his own way
equally startled. let her go past as he
drew his automatic pistol But the
mummy. andIng footing In the swift
rush Of the current. cried out:
Don't shoot 1t Is T--Torrcsi +
have just come back from the en-.
trance. Something has happened.
The entrance Is blocked The water
Is over ones head and higher than
the entrance and rocks are falllnRfr
And your way is blocked in this
directionF' Francis said. aiming the
revolver at him.
This IL no time for quarreIingr'
Torres replied. we must save all
our lives. and aftcrward, n quarrel
we must. then quarrel we wiIlr'
Francis hesitated.
what is happening 20 Leonica7"
Torres demanded. slyly. II saw her
run back. May she not be in danger
herscif?r
Letting Torres live. and dragging
the old man by the arm. Francis
waded hack 20 the chamber OF the
idols, followed by Torres. Here. at
sight OF him. Lconica screamed her
horror again.
IT'S only Torrcsr' Francis reas-
sured her. ''He gave me devil OF
fright myself when first saw
him. But he's real flesh. Hell bleed
II n knife ~ stuck into him. Come.
old mani We don't want to drown
here like rats In n trap This ls not
all Of the Maya mystery Read the
tale OF the knots and get us out OF
thisw
"The way Is not out, but in" the
priest quavered.
And we're not particular so long
as we get away. But how can we
go in?"
From the mouth OF CHA TO the
ear Of Hzatzl." was the answer
Francis was struck by a sudden
grotesque and terrible thought.
Torres" he said, there is n key
or something inside that stone ladya
m u [ h there. You're the nearest
Stick your hand In and>get IT,"
Leonica gasped with horror az she
OWNED Francis vengeance. or this
Torres took no notice, and gayly
waded toward the goddess. saying
"Only too glad to be Of service"
And then Francis sense OF fair
play betrayed him
stop he commanded. harshly
! himself wading to the IDOLS side.
And Torres. az first looking on In
puzzlement. saw what he had cs.