The Dermott news., 1919-07-10

cover their escape His rage was .n l creased when he discovered that th, settling schooner was drifting and al ready was we'll out of the bay. Ours | ing he had his men get out the sweeps and all hands began long, hard fight to regain the shore.
 Sunrise found Dick and his friends making their way along mountain ridge seeking some human habitation 1 Pausing he said:
 "There is Il tradition that group l of descendants of ancient Aztecs is 1 hidden away in these mountains. If We could find them, we might buy food and horses.
 His words proved prophetic, for an hour later there appeared in valley below, settlement of curious stone houses. about which men and women could be seen.
 "Aztccs." he said Now, We will he able to get help" And he urged his companions forward. waiving aside fears expressed by Tomas.
 X young chief. surrounded by his followers. greeted the visitors in a curious but not nnfriendly spirit, and holding that he could speak Mexican, Dick said:
 ''We are travellers seeking to get to the ocean wonder. We want fNr@ and water"
 The chief was considering the re- .ftit u.b o priest. frightfully old and wrinlled, joined the group and protested stoutly against any barter with the inter leperS." 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 uf the priest.
 The chief and the priest were still wrangling when Scarface and hts out laws came in view. hot on the trail of the trcasure-huntcrs. Enraged. the priest pointed at them and cried:
 You see. q Chief. how one white man follows the other aS the day sue eeedS the night"
 But the chief interrupted:
 Peace Wonder. 1 recognize Lopez, for love of whom Naula. thy daugh- ter. farsook uS.a
 Lopez. who had married daughter of the tribe. and the others s?- preached and he spoke
 Bad white people with evil hearts have passed this way. after wreoglug ne and my friends He went on witt other lies. which stirred the indiEua tfea of the natives. and with slight urging. the chief agreed to help in taking vcngeanee on the intruders. the priest crying:
 Blood We will sacrifice to thee. Q sun God II k a long time since Quctzul has sent uS offerings for the fire
 Led hy Scarface, the outlaws and Aztee warriors had no difficulty in overtaking Dicks party, whom they evereame after a spirited fight, in which two Aztecs were killed Bound hand and foot. they were brought be ibit iIf 'bltit Nii' hap N'i N'' ''''' self into rage at the death of the trihesmen.
 "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 Gnu. 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 theu bound and placed around the camp fire whiie 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 strcakS of lowed hy the natives. in Sacrticial @urh. came from The temple and the prlSoucr~, the bonds about their feet freed were forced to march some dis fauer to where II clIG overlooked the crater of volcano, which wnS emit ting steam uud smoke
 X mat or hurdle. made of inter woven Withcs. uas then produced and horror seized Dick and the others as they realized what their death was ta he-thal they Were to be placed on The mat and plunged into the boiling lava
 They were placed side hy side on the mat and bound there hy ropes passing beneath the hurdle. which was