The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-05-15

ready was well out of the bay. Ours
ing, he had his men get out the
sweeps and all hands began O long
hard fight to regain the shore.
Sunrise found Dick and his friends
making their way along mountain
ridge seeking some human habitation
Pausing, he said:
There is a tradition that q group
of descendants of ancient Aztecs is
hidden away In these mountains. II
we could find them, we might buy
food and horses"
His words proved prophetic, for an
hour later there appeared in a valley
below, settlement Of curious stone
houses, about which men and women
could be seen.
"Aztecs," he said. Now, we will
be able to get help" And he urged
his companions forward, waving aside
fears expressed by Tomas.
A young chief, surrounded by his
followers, greeted the visitors in a
curious but not unfriendly spirit, and
nodding that he could speak Mexican,
Dick said:
1--WE are travellers seeking to get
to the ocean yonder We want food
and water"
The chief was considering the re-
quest In favorable spirit when a
priest, frightfully old and wrinkled,
Joined the group and protested stoutly
against any barter with the inter
lopers." The two wrangled, but the
chief won his point and the horses
and food, but no weapons, were pro-
vided, and Dick and his companions
rode away under the glowering eyes
of the priest.
The chief and the priest were still
wrangling when Scarface and his out
laws came in view, hot on the trail
Of the treasure-hunters. Enraged, the
priest pointed at them and cried:
"You see, 0 Chief, how one white
man follows the other, as the day sue
ceeds the night"
But the chief interrupted:
peace. Yonder, ! recognize Lopez,
for love Of whom Naula, thy daugh-
ter forsook u.s."
Lopez, who had married daughter
Of the tribe, and the others APP
preached and he spoke:
Bad white people with evil hearts
have passed this way, after wronging
me and my friends" He went on with
other lies, which stirred the indigna-
ton Of the natives, and with slight
urging, the chief agreed to help in
taking vengeance on the intruders, the
priest crying:
Blood. We will sacrifice to thee, 0
Sun God! 1t Is long time since
Quetzal has sent us offerings for the
fire."
Led by Scarface, the outlaws and
Aztec warriors had no difficulty in
evertaking Dicks party, whom they
overcame after a spirited fight, in
which two Aztecs were killed. Bound
hand and foot, they were brought be-
fore the chief who had worked him
self into rage at the death Of the
tribesmen.
"We treated you with kindness" he
cried, but you have shed the blood
of my people. Tomorrow, when the
light wakes you shall die"
Calling Tomas to him, the chief
said:
you are no child of Quetzal. You
shall be spared" And the same elem
ency was shown Chu, as Coming from
an ancient race across the greater
water whence our people came when
the world was very young"
Dick and the others were then
bound and placed around the camp fire
while the natives repaired to the tenn
pie to prepare for the sacrifice, spend
Ing the entire night In weird dances
and songs.
Long before the first streaks of
dawn, the chief and the priest, fol
lowed by the natives, In sacrificial
garb, came from the temple and the
prisoners, the bonds about their feet
freed, were forced to march some dis
lance to where cliff overlooked the
crater Of volcano, which was emit
ting steam and smoke.
A mat or hurdle, made of inter
woven withes, was then produced,
and horror seized Dick and the others
as they realized what their death was
to be--that they were to be placed on
the mat and plunged into the boiling
lava.
They were placed side by side on
the mat and bound there by ropes
passing beneath the hurdle, which was
held suspended over the brink Of the
cliff by thong secured to tree.
Scarface, striding out from the
midst Of the Aztecs, approached Dick
and Polly and sneered In their faces.
81 warned you time and again you
had better not cross my path any
MORE" said he. you may be very
smart, but you have learned by this
time that Won are no match for me