The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-03-25
The Great Smiler

re- l '1EhE was tUhl ldWuy-SklHHec
4 half-breed a-stalking along about
six steps ahead OF me in the moon
light" The captain had started one
of his famous yarns and every boy of
his ten listeners sat In rapt attention.
The captain rellghted his pipe. then
the story went on.
Imagine now. If you can. my sltua-
ton: Here | was In the heart Of a
tropical forest. II seemed the man
who led me either was gone crazy, or
else we were being pursued by some
Invisible spirit, native of these wild
haunts. On top of this, remember
that the man with me spoke not one
word of any language which I could
understand | was lost entirely; and
more afraid than l would have cared
at the time to admit.
1.-The plan had been that the native
was to lead me by secret path into
the rear part of the great temple
which sheltered the idol we sought.
Once inside. l was to find the idol and
also see II there was any way which
/ could let in my three comrades who
were supposedly waiting in boat on
the river bank at the front side OF the
great temple, to which spot they had
been guided by another OF the natives
earlier In the evening.
"As | stumbled on through the for
est this plan now looked like the very
widest and most foolhardy of schemes.
1T was in this frame of mind. with
a persplring brow, and a heart heavy
as stone, that l at last reached the
edge Of the great clearing In which
the temple stood.
1.-THE whole scene before me was
lighted in shadowy way by the moon
which was about one-quarter full.
Before leaving the seashore I had
put on the clothing of native.
"Since | was so well disguised, my
Indian guide found small trouble In
taking me along with himself into the
temple Once inside, ! did my best
to find out the things l had been sent
to learn. The main room of the tenn
pie was a great, square, box-like sort
of place, with pillars of hewn stone
and rows of idols on each side None
of these idols was like the one for
which | sought. The one | looked for
was said TO be the chief Idol of all the
minor ones. The Great Smiler' was
the native name for him. No white
man had ever seen him and no one
could say exactly what he was like.
p,,t huf In,
fortune in precious jewels was dis
played on his body.
AT one end Of the big room in
which stood several priests, evidently |
set there as guards. were seated with |
their backs TO the wall and all Of them
asleep aud snoring deeply. Stepping
across the very bodies Of some OF them
! made my way al last into separate
rlumber This was hung all about
with Grapes and monstrous big idol
was al the far end Of Ii. As | stood
looking about me. bell In some dis
tant part Of the temple began TO
chime. Almost nj once there followed
the sound OF sandaled feet coming to-
ward me. The best thing ! saw tn do
vas to slip behind one of the hanging
drapes.
Then | view ed one OF the strangest
sights II has ever fallen my lot to cast
eyes on. About eight or ten OF the
head priests came shutiling nro the
room. They chanted some barharic lay
which rose higher and higher in pitch.
AT The last note they threw themselves
On their faces. After they we're down
4 great lamp was placed Jehilid the
head of the Idol by the high priest
rhen this priest fused about behin'l
he IDOLS hack and must have worfed
;ome hidden spring The mouth of
he idol suddenly swung open
.aught my breath. and almost cried
loud. The. entire inside of the idol,
.reat mouth and throat was encrusteti
With precious stones.
THE priests ON the floor rose tn !
heir knees Slowly they raised their
YES to the face IF the Great S'niler.
II Il word from the high priest they
II cried out together and once more
ell prone upon the floor. The great
tone jaws of the idol were cianiped
ogefher The lamp WAS blown out
hen nj word from the high priest
II silently departed
Later ! made my way from the
lace unnoticed. II seemed the guards
-usied the Great Slnler To take good
sre Of himself When the uien who
ere waitin. heard my story they
louyht it Lest to delay until some
lans could he made 10 break opeI
~ idols musSiye stone head. W.
eni back TO our ship. AS far MS ]
now. he Idol is there. the same
lace to-day