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diff --git a/783-0.txt b/783-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..acef492 --- /dev/null +++ b/783-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7470 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lost City, by Joseph E. Badger, Jr. + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lost City + +Author: Joseph E. Badger, Jr. + +Posting Date: July 27, 2008 [EBook #783] +Release Date: January 1997 +Last Updated: March 14, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOST CITY *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Keller + + + + + +THE LOST CITY + +By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. + + + +CONTENTS. + + CHAPTER + I. NATURE IN TRAVAIL + II. PROFESSOR FEATHERWIT TAKING NOTES + III. RIDING THE TORNADO + IV. THE PROFESSOR'S LITTLE EXPERIMENT + V. THE PROFESSOR'S UNKNOWN LAND + VI. A BRACE OF UNWELCOME VISITORS + VII. THE PROFESSOR'S GREAT ANTICIPATIONS + VIII. A DUEL TO THE DEATH + IX. GRAPPLING A QUEER FISH + X. RESCUED AND RESCUERS + XI. ANOTHER SURPRISE FOR THE PROFESSOR + XII. THE STORY OF A BROKEN LIFE + XIII. THE LOST CITY OF THE AZTECS + XIV. A MARVELLOUS VISION + XV. ASTOUNDING, YET TRUE + XVI. CAN IT BE TRUE? + XVII. AN ENIGMA FOR THE BROTHERS + XVIII. SOMETHING LIKE A WHITE ELEPHANT + XIX. THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN GOD + XX. THE PROFESSOR AND THE AZTEC + XXI. DISCUSSING WAYS AND MEANS + XXII. A DARING UNDERTAKING + XXIII. A FLIGHT UNDERGROUND + XXIV. THE SUN CHILDREN'S PERIL + XXV. WALDO GOES FISHING + XXVI. DOWN AMONG THE DEAD + XXVII. PENETRATING GRIM SECRETS + XXVIII. BROUGHT BEFORE THE GODS + XXIX. BENEATH THE SACRIFICIAL STONE + XXX. AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS + XXXI. DEFENDING THE SUN CHILDREN + XXXII. ADIEU TO THE LOST CITY + + + + + +THE LOST CITY. + + + +CHAPTER I. NATURE IN TRAVAIL. + +“I say, professor?” + +“Very well, Waldo; proceed.” + +“Wonder if this isn't a portion of the glorious climate, broken loose +from its native California, and drifting up this way on a lark?” + +“If so, said lark must be roasted to a turn,” declared the third (and +last) member of that little party, drawing a curved forefinger across +his forehead, then flirting aside sundry drops of moisture. “I can't +recall such another muggy afternoon, and if we were only back in what +the scientists term the cyclone belt--” + +“We would be all at sea,” quickly interposed the professor, the fingers +of one hand vigorously stirring his gray pompadour, while the other +was lifted in a deprecatory manner. “At sea, literally as well as +metaphorically, my dear Bruno; for, correctly speaking, the ocean alone +can give birth to the cyclone.” + +“Why can't you remember anything, boy?” sternly cut in the roguish-eyed +youngster, with admonitory forefinger, coming to the front. “How many +times have I told you never to say blue when you mean green? Why don't +you say Kansas zephyr? Or windy-auger? Or twister? Or whirly-gust on a +corkscrew wiggle-waggle? Or--well, almost any other old thing that you +can't think of at the right time? W-h-e-w! Who mentioned sitting on a +snowdrift, and sucking at an icicle? Hot? Well, now, if this isn't a +genuine old cyclone breeder, then I wouldn't ask a cent!” + +Waldo Gillespie let his feet slip from beneath him, sitting down with +greater force than grace, back supported against a gnarled juniper, +loosening the clothes at his neck while using his other hand to ply his +crumpled hat as a fan. + +Bruno laughed outright at this characteristic anticlimax, while +Professor Featherwit was obliged to smile, even while compelled to +correct. + +“Tornado, please, nephew; not cyclone.” + +“Well, uncle Phaeton, have it your own way. Under either name, I +fancy the thing-a-ma-jig would kick up a high old bobbery with a man's +political economy should it chance to go bu'st right there! And, +besides, when I was a weenty little fellow I was taught never to call +a man a fool or a liar--” + +“Waldo!” sharply warned his brother, turning again. + +“So long as I knew myself to be in the wrong,” coolly finished the +youngster, face grave, but eyes twinkling, as they turned towards his +mistaken mentor. “What is it, my dear Bruno?” + +“There is one thing neither cyclone nor tornado could ever deprive you +of, Kid, and that is--” + +“My beauty, wit, and good sense,--thanks, awfully! Nor you, my dear +Bruno, although my inbred politeness forbids my explaining just why.” + +There was a queer-sounding chuckle as Professor Featherwit turned away, +busying himself about that rude-built shed and shanty which sheltered +the pride of his brain and the pet of his heart, while Bruno smiled +indulgently as he took a few steps away from those stunted trees in +order to gain a fairer view of the stormy heavens. + +Far away towards the northeast, rising above the distant hill, now +showed an ugly-looking cloud-bank which almost certainly portended a +storm of no ordinary dimensions. + +Had it first appeared in the opposite quarter of the horizon, Bruno +would have felt a stronger interest in the clouds, knowing as he did +that the miscalled “cyclone” almost invariably finds birth in +the southwest. Then, too, nearly all the other symptoms were +noticeable,--the close, “muggy” atmosphere; the deathlike stillness; the +lack of oxygen in the air, causing one to breathe more rapidly, yet with +far less satisfying results than usual. + +Even as Bruno gazed, those heavy cloud-banks changed, both in shape +and in colour, taking on a peculiar greenish lustre which only too +accurately forebodes hail of no ordinary force. + +His cry to this effect brought the professor forth from the shed-like +shanty, while Waldo roused up sufficiently to speak: + +“To say nothing of yonder formation way out over the salty drink, my +worthy friends, who intimated that a cyclone was born at sea?” + +Professor Featherwit frowned a bit as his keen little rat-like eyes +turned towards that quarter of the heavens; but the frown was not for +Waldo, nor for his slightly irreverent speech. + +Where but a few minutes before there had been only a few light clouds +in sight, was now a heavy bank of remarkable shape, its crest a straight +line as though marked by an enormous ruler, while the lower edge was +broken into sharp points and irregular sections, the whole seeming to +float upon a low sea of grayish copper. + +“Well, well, that looks ugly, decidedly ugly, I must confess,” the wiry +little professor spoke, after that keen scrutiny. + +“Really, now?” drawled Waldo, who was nothing if not contrary on the +surface. “Barring a certain little topsy-turvyness which is something +out of the ordinary, I'd call that a charming bit of--Great guns and +little cannon-balls!” + +For just then there came a shrieking blast of wind from out the +northeast, bringing upon its wings a brief shower of hail, intermingled +with great drops of rain which pelted all things with scarcely less +force than did those frozen particles. + +“Hurrah!” shrilly screamed Waldo, as he dashed out into the storm, +fairly revelling in the sudden change. “Who says this isn't 'way up in +G?' Who says--out of the way, Bruno! Shut that trap-door in your face, +so another fellow may get at least a share of the good things coming +straight down from--ow--wow!” + +Through the now driving rain came flashing larger particles, and one +of more than ordinary size rebounded from that curly pate, sending its +owner hurriedly to shelter beneath the scrubby trees, one hand ruefully +rubbing the injured part. + +Faster fell the drops, both of rain and of ice, clattering against the +shanty and its adjoining shed with an uproar audible even above the +sullenly rolling peals of heavy thunder. + +The rain descended in perfect sheets for a few minutes, while the +hailstones fell thicker and faster, growing in size as the storm raged, +already beginning to lend those red sands a pearly tinge with their +dancing particles. Now and then an aerial monster would fall, to draw +a wondering cry from the brothers, and on more than one occasion Waldo +risked a cracked crown by dashing forth from shelter to snatch up a +remarkable specimen. + +“Talk about your California fruit! what's the matter with good old +Washington Territory?” he cried, tightly clenching one fist and holding +a hailstone alongside by way of comparison. “Look at that, will you? +Isn't it a beauty? See the different shaded rings of white and clear +ice. See--brother, it is as large as my fist!” + +But for once Professor Phaeton Featherwit was fairly deaf to the claims +of this, in some respects his favourite nephew, having scuttled back +beneath the shed, where he was busily stowing away sundry articles of +importance into a queerly shaped machine which those rough planks fairly +shielded from the driving storm. + +Having performed this duty to his own satisfaction, the professor came +back to where the brothers were standing, viewing with them such of the +storm as could be itemised. That was but little, thanks to the driving +rain, which cut one's vision short at but a few rods, while the +deafening peals of thunder prevented any connected conversation during +those first few minutes. + +“Good thing we've got a shelter!” cried Waldo, involuntarily shrinking +as the plank roof was hammered by several mammoth stones of ice. “One of +those chunks of ice would crack a fellow's skull just as easy!” + +Yet the next instant he was out in the driving storm, eagerly snatching +at a brace of those frozen marvels, heedless of his own risk or of the +warning shouts sent after him by those cooler-brained comrades. + +Thunder crashed in wildest unison with almost blinding sheets of +lightning, the rain and hail falling thicker and heavier than ever for a +few moments; but then, as suddenly as it had come, the storm passed on, +leaving but a few scattered drops to fetch up the rear. + +“Isn't that pretty nearly what people call a cloudburst, uncle Phaeton?” + asked Bruno, curiously watching that receding mass of what from their +present standpoint looked like vapour. + +“Those wholly ignorant of meteorological phenomena might so pronounce, +perhaps, but never one who has given the matter either thought or +study,” promptly responded the professor, in no wise loth to give a free +lecture, no matter how brief it might be, perforce. “It is merely nature +seeking to restore a disturbed equilibrium; a current of colder air, in +search of a temporary vacuum, caused by--” + +“But isn't that just what produces cy--tornadoes, though?” interrupted +Waldo, with scant politeness. + +“Precisely, my dear boy,” blandly agreed their mentor, rubbing his +hands briskly, while peering through rain-dampened glasses, after that +departing storm. “And I have scarcely a doubt but that a tornado of no +ordinary magnitude will be the final outcome of this remarkable display. +For, as the record will amply prove, the most destructive windstorms are +invariably heralded by a fall of hail, heavy in proportion to the--” + +“Then I'd rather be excused, thank you, sir!” again interrupted the +younger of the brothers, shrugging his shoulders as he stepped forth +from shelter to win a fairer view of the space stretching away towards +the south and the west. “I always laughed at tales of hailstones large +as hen's eggs, but now I know better. If I was a hen, and had to match +such a pattern as these, I'd petition the legislature to change my name +to that of ostrich,--I just would, now!” + +Bruno proved to be a little more amenable to the law of politeness, and +to him Professor Featherwit confined his sapient remarks for the time +being, giving no slight amount of valuable information anent these +strange phenomena of nature in travail. + +He spoke of the different varieties of land-storms, showing how a +tornado varied from a hurricane or a gale, then again brought to the +front the vital difference between a cyclone, as such, and the miscalled +“twister,” which has wrought such dire destruction throughout a large +portion of our own land during more recent years. + +While that little lecture would make interesting reading for those who +take an interest in such matters, it need scarcely be reproduced in this +connection, more particularly as, just when the professor was getting +fairly warmed up to his work, an interruption came in the shape of a +sharp, eager shout from the lips of Waldo Gillespie. + +“Look--look yonder! What a funny looking cloud that is!” + +A small clump of trees growing upon a rising bit of ground interfered +with the view of his brother and uncle, for Waldo was pointing almost +due southeast; yet his excitement was so pronounced that both the +professor and Bruno hastened in that direction, stopping short as they +caught a fair sight of the object indicated. + +A mighty mass of wildly disturbed clouds, black and green and white and +yellow all blending together and constantly shifting positions, out of +which was suddenly formed a still more ominous shape. + +A mass of lurid vapour shot downwards, taking on the general semblance +of a balloon, as it swayed madly back and forth, an elongating trunk or +tongue reaching still nearer the earth, with fierce gyrations, as though +seeking to fasten upon some support. + +Not one of that trio had ever before gazed upon just such another +creation, yet one and all recognised the truth,--this was a veritable +tornado, just such as they had read in awed wonder about, time and time +again. + +Neither one of the brothers Gillespie were cravens, in any sense of the +word, but now their cheeks grew paler, and they seemed to shrink from +yonder airy monster, even while watching it grow into shape and awful +power. + +Professor Featherwit was no less absorbed in this wondrous spectacle, +but his was the interest of a scientist, and his pulse beat as ordinary, +his brain remaining as clear and calm as ever. + +“I hardly believe we have anything to fear from this tornado, my lads,” + he said, taking note of their uneasiness. “According to both rule and +precedent, yonder tornado will pass to the east of our present position, +and we will be as safe right here as though we were a thousand miles +away.” + +“But,--do they always move towards the northeast, uncle Phaeton?” + +“As a rule, yes; but there are exceptions, of course. And unless this +should prove to be one of those rare ex--er--” + +“Look!” cried Waldo, with swift gesticulation. “It's coming this way, or +I never--ISN'T it coming this way?” + +“Unless this should prove to be one of those rare exceptions, my dear +boy, I can promise you that--Upon my soul!” with an abrupt change of +both tone and manner, “I really believe it IS coming this way!” + +“It is--it is coming! Get a move on, or we'll never know--hunt a hole +and pull it in after you!” fairly screamed Waldo, turning in flight. + + + +CHAPTER II. PROFESSOR FEATHERWIT TAKING NOTES. + +“To the house!” cried the professor, raising his voice to overcome +yonder sullen roar, which was now beginning to come their way. “Trust +all to the aeromotor, and 'twill be well with us!” + +The wiry little man of science himself fell to work with an energy which +told how serious he regarded the emergency, and, acting under his lead, +the brothers manfully played their part. + +Just as had been done many times before this day, a queer-looking +machine was shoved out from the shed, gliding along the wooden ways +prepared for that express purpose, while Professor Featherwit hurried +aboard a few articles which past experience warned him might prove of +service in the hours to come, then sharply cried to his nephews: + +“Get aboard, lads! Time enough, yet none to spare in idle motions. See! +The storm is drifting our way in deadly earnest!” + +And so it seemed, in good sooth. + +Now fairly at its dread work of destruction, tearing up the rain +dampened dirt and playing with mighty boulders, tossing them here and +there, as a giant of olden tales might play with jackstones, snapping +off sturdy trees and whipping them to splinters even while hurling them +as a farmer sows his grain. + +Just the one brief look at that aerial monster, then both lads hung fast +to the hand-rail of rope, while the professor put that cunning machinery +in motion, causing the air-ship to rise from its ways with a sudden +swooping movement, then soaring upward and onward, in a fair curve, as +graceful and steady as a bird on wing. + +All this took some little time, even while the trio were working as men +only can when dear life is at stake; but the flying-machine was +afloat and fairly off upon the most marvellous journey mortals ever +accomplished, and that ere yonder death-balloon could cover half the +distance between. + +“Grand! Glorious! Magnificent!” fairly exploded the professor, when he +could risk a more comprehensive look, right hand tightly gripping the +polished lever through which he controlled that admirable mechanism. “I +have longed for just such an opportunity, and now--the camera, Bruno! We +must never neglect to improve such a marvellous chance for--get out the +camera, lad!” + +“Get out of the road, rather!” bluntly shouted Waldo, face unusually +pale, as he stared at yonder awful force in action. “Of course I'm not +scared, or anything like that, uncle Phaeton, but--I want to rack out o' +this just about the quickest the law allows! Yes, I DO, now!” + +“Wonderful! Marvellous! Incredible! That rara avis, an exception to all +exceptions!” declared the professor, more deeply stirred than either of +his nephews had ever seen him before. “A genuine tornado which has +no eastern drift; which heads as directly as possible towards the +northwest, and at the same time--incredible!” + +Only ears of his own caught these sentences in their entirety, for now +the storm was fairly bellowing in its might, formed of a variety of +sounds which baffles all description, but which, in itself, was more +than sufficient to chill the blood of even a brave man. Yet, almost as +though magnetised by that frightful force, the professor was holding his +air-ship steady, loitering there in its direct path, rather than fleeing +from what surely would prove utter destruction to man and machine alike. + +For a few moments Bruno withstood the temptation, but then leaned far +enough to grasp both hand and tiller, forcing them in the requisite +direction, causing the aeromotor to swing easily around and dart away +almost at right angles to the track of the tornado. + +That roar was now as of a thousand heavily laden trains rumbling over +hollow bridges, and the professor could only nod his approval when thus +aroused from the dangerous fascination. Another minute, and the air-ship +was floating towards the rear of the balloon-shaped cloud itself, each +second granting the passengers a varying view of the wonder. + +True to the firm hand which set its machinery in motion, the +flying-machine maintained that gentle curve until it swung around well +to the rear of the cloud, where again Professor Featherwit broke out in +ecstatic praises of their marvellous good fortune. + +“'Tis worth a life's ransom, for never until now hath mortal being been +blessed with such a magnificent opportunity for taking notes and drawing +deductions which--” + +The professor nimbly ducked his head to dodge a ragged splinter of +freshly torn wood which came whistling past, cast far away from the +tornado proper by those erratic winds. And at the same instant the +machine itself recoiled, shivering and creaking in all its cunning +joints under a gust of wind which seemed composed of both ice and fire. + +“Oh, I say!” gasped Waldo, when he could rally from the sudden blow. +“Turn the old thing the other way, uncle Phaeton, and let's go look +for--well, almost anything's better than this old cyclone!” + +“Tornado, lad,” swiftly corrected the man of precision, leaning far +forward, and gazing enthralled upon the vision which fairly thrilled +his heart to its very centre. “Never again may we have such another +opportunity for making--” + +They were now directly in the rear of the storm, and as the air-ship +headed across that track of destruction, it gave a drunken stagger, +casting down its inmates, from whose parching lips burst cries of +varying import. + +“Air! I'm choking!” gasped Bruno, tearing open his shirt-collar with a +spasmodic motion. + +“Hold me fast!” echoed Waldo, clinging desperately to the life-line. +“It's drawing me--into the--ah!” + +Even the professor gave certain symptoms of alarm for that moment, +but then the danger seemed past as the ship darted fairly across the +storm-trail, hovering to the east of that aerial phantom. + +There was no difficulty in filling their lungs now, and once more +Professor Featherwit headed the flying-machine directly for the +balloon-shaped cloud, modulating its pace so as to maintain their +relative position fairly well. + +“Take note how it progresses,--by fits and starts, as it were,” observed +Featherwit, now in his glory, eyes asparkle and muscles aquiver, hair +bristling as though full of electricity, face glowing with almost +painful interest, as those shifting scenes were for ever imprinted upon +his brain. + +“Sort of a hop, step, and jump, and that's a fact,” agreed Waldo, now a +bit more at his ease since that awful sense of suffocation was lacking. +“I thought all cyclones--” + +“Tornado, my DEAR boy!” expostulated the professor. + +“I thought they all went in holy hurry, like they were sent for and +had mighty little time in which to get there. But this one,--see how it +stops to dance a jig and bore holes in the earth!” + +“Another exception to the general rule, which is as you say,” admitted +the professor. “Different tornadoes have been timed as moving from +twelve to seventy miles an hour, one passing a given point in half a +score of seconds, at another time being registered as fully half an hour +in clearing a single section. + +“Take the destructive storm at Mount Carmel, Illinois, in June of '77. +That made progress at the rate of thirty-four miles an hour, yet its +force was so mighty that it tore away the spire, vane, and heavy gilded +ball of the Methodist church, and kept it in air over a distance of +fifteen miles. + +“Still later was the Texas tornado, doing its awful work at the rate of +more than sixty miles an hour; while that which swept through Frankfort, +Kansas, on May 17, 1896, was fully a half-hour in crossing a half-mile +stretch of bottom-land adjoining the Vermillion River, pausing in its +dizzy waltz upon a single spot for long minutes at a time.” + +“Couldn't have been much left when it got through dancing, if that +storm was anything like this one,” declared Waldo, shivering a bit as +he watched the awful destruction being wrought right before their +fascinated eyes. + +Trees were twisted off and doubled up like blades of dry grass. Mighty +rocks were torn apart from the rugged hills, and huge boulders were +tossed into air as though composed of paper. And over all ascended +the horrid roar of ruin beyond description, while from that misshapen +balloon-cloud, with its flattened top, the electric fluid shone and +flashed, now in great sheets as of flame, then in vicious spurts and +darts as though innumerable snakes of fire had been turned loose by the +winds. + +Still the aerial demon bored its almost sluggish course straight towards +the northwest, in this, as in all else, seemingly bent on proving itself +the exception to all exceptions as Professor Featherwit declared. + +The savant himself was now in his glory, holding the tiller between arm +and side, the better to manipulate his hand-camera, with which he was +taking repeated snap-shots for future development and reference. + +Truly, as he more than once declared, mortal man never had, nor mortal +man ever would have, such a glorious opportunity for recording the +varying phases of nature in travail as was now vouchsafed themselves. + +“Just think of it, lads!” he cried, almost beside himself with +enthusiasm. “This alone will be sufficient to carry our names ringing +through all time down the corridors of undying fame! This alone would be +more than enough to--Look pleasant, please!” + +In spite of that awful vision so perilously close before them, and the +natural uncertainty which attended such a reckless venture, Waldo could +not repress a chuckle at that comical conclusion, so frequently used +towards himself when their uncle was coaxing them to pose before his pet +camera. + +“Is it--surely this is not safe, uncle Phaeton?” ventured Bruno, as +another retrograde gust of air smote their apparently frail conveyance +with sudden force. + +“Let's call it a day's work, and knock off,” chimed in Waldo. “If +the blamed thing should take a notion to balk, and rear back on its +haunches, where'd we come out at?” + +Professor Featherwit made an impatient gesture by way of answer. Speech +just then would have been worse than useless, for that tremendous +roaring, crashing, thundering of all sounds, seemed to fall back and +envelop the air-ship as with a pall. + +A shower of sand and fine debris poured over and around them, filling +ears and mouths, and blinding eyes for the moment, forcing the brothers +closer to the floor of the aerostat, and even compelling the eager +professor to remit his taking of notes for future generations. + +Then, thin and reed-like, yet serving to pierce that temporary obscurity +and horrible jangle of outer sounds, came the voice of their relative: + +“Fear not, my children! The Lord is our shield, and so long as he +willeth, just so long shall we--Ha! didn't I tell ye so?” + +For the blinding veil was torn away, and once again the trio of +adventurers might watch yonder grandly awesome march of devastation. + +“Heading direct for the Olympics!” declared Professor Featherwit, +digging the sand out of his eyes and striving to clean his glasses +without removing them, clinging to tiller and camera through all. “What +a grand and glorious guide 'twould be for us!” + +“If we could only hitch on--like a tin can to the tail of a dog!” + suggested Waldo, with boyish sarcasm. “Not any of that in mine, thank +you! I can wait. No such mighty rush. No,--SIR!” + +There came no answer to his words, for just then that swooping air-demon +turned to vivid fire, lightning playing back and forth, from side +to side, in every conceivable direction, until in spite of the broad +daylight its glory pained those watching eyes. + +“Did you ever witness the like!” awesomely cried Bruno, gazing like one +fascinated. “Who could or would ever believe all that, even if tongue +were able to portray its wondrous beauty?” + +“What a place that would be for popping corn!” contributed Waldo, +practical or nothing, even under such peculiar circumstances. “If I had +to play poppy, though, I'd want a precious long handle to the concern!” + +More intensely interested than ever, Professor Featherwit plied his +shutter, taking shot after shot at yonder aerial phenomena, feeling that +future generations would surely rise up to call him blessed when the +results of his experiments were once fairly spread before the world. + +And hence it came to pass that still more thrilling experiences came +unto these daring navigators of space, and that almost before one or the +other of them could fairly realise that greater danger really menaced +both their air-ship and their lives. + +Another whirly-gust of sand and other debris assailed the +flying-machine, and while sight was thus rendered almost useless for +the time being, the aerostat began to sway and reel from side to side, +shivering as though caught by an irresistible power, yet against which +it battled as though instinct with life and brain-power. + +Once again the adventurers found it difficult to breathe, while an +unseen power seemed pressing them to that floor as though--Thank heaven! + +Just as before, that cloud was swept away, and again air came to fill +those painfully oppressed lungs. Once again the trio cleared their eyes +and stared about, only to utter simultaneous cries of alarm. + +For, brief though that period of blindness had been, 'twas amply +sufficient to carry the aeromotor perilously near yonder storm-centre, +and though Professor Featherwit gripped hard his tiller, trying all he +knew to turn the air-ship for a safer quarter,-'twas all in vain! + +“Haste,--make haste, uncle Phaeton!” hoarsely panted Bruno, leaning to +aid the professor. “We will be sucked in and--hasten, for life!” + +“I can't,--we're already--in the--suction!” + + + +CHAPTER III. RIDING THE TORNADO. + +Whether it was that the air-ship itself had increased its speed during +those few moments of dense obscurity, or whether the madly whirling +winds had taken a retrograde movement at that precise time, could only +be a matter of conjecture; but the ominous fact remained. + +The aerostat was fairly over the danger-line, and, despite all efforts +being made to the contrary, was being drawn directly towards that +howling, crashing, thundering mass of destructive energy. + +Already the inmates felt themselves being sucked from the +flying-machine, and instinctively tightened their grip upon hand-rail +and floor, gasping and oppressed, breath failing, and ribs apparently +being crushed in by that horrible pressure. + +“Hold fast--for life!” pantingly screamed Professor Featherwit, as he +strove in vain to check or change the course of his aeromotor, now for +the first time beyond control of that master-hand. + +A few seconds of soul-trying suspense, during which the flying-machine +shivered from stem to stern, almost like a human creature in its +death-agony, creaking and groaning, with shrill sounds coming from those +expanded, curved wings, as the suction increased; then-- + +A merciful darkness fell over those sorely imperilled beings, and the +vessel itself seemed about to be overwhelmed by an avalanche of sand and +dirt and mixed debris. Then came a dizzy, rocking lurch, followed by a +shock which nearly cast uncle and nephews from their frantic holds, and +the air-ship appeared to be whirled end for end, cast hither and yon, +wrenched and twisted as though all must go to ruin together. + +A blast as of superheated air smote upon them one moment, while in the +next they were whirled through an icy atmosphere, then tossed dizzily to +and fro, as their too-frail vehicle spun upward as though on a journey +to the far-away stars. + +A shrieking blast of wind served to briefly clear away the choking dust, +affording the trio a fleeting glimpse of their immediate surroundings: +hurtling sticks and stones, splintered tops of trees, shrubs with wildly +lashing roots freshly torn from the bed of years, all madly spinning +through a blinding, scorching, freezing mass of crazily battling winds, +the different currents twining and weaving in and out, as so many +hideous serpents at play. + +A moment thus, then that horrid uproar grew still more deafening, +and the air-ship was whirled high and higher, in a dizzy dance, those +luckless creatures clinging fast to whatever their frenzied hands might +clutch, feeling that this was the end of all. + +Further sight was denied them. They were powerless to move a limb, save +as jerked painfully by those shrieking currents. Breath was taken away, +and an enormous weight bore down upon them, threatening to produce a +fatal collapse through their ribs giving way. + +Upward whirled the flying-machine, powerless now as those wretched +beings within its cunning shape, smitten sharply here and there by some +of those ascending missiles, yet without receiving material injury; +until a last shivering lurch came, ending in a sudden fall. + +A dizzying swoop downward, but not to death and destruction, for the +aerostat alighted easily upon what appeared to be a sort of air-cushion, +and, though unsteady for a brief space, then settled upon an even keel. + +“Cling fast--for life!” huskily gasped the professor, unwittingly +repeating the caution which had last crossed his lips, which he had +ever since been striving to enunciate, faithful to his guardianship over +these, his sole surviving relatives. + +“I don't--where are we?” + +Waldo lifted his head to peer with half-blind eyes about them, in which +action he was imitated by both brother and uncle; but, for a brief +space, they were none the wiser. + +All around the aeromotor rose a wall of whirling winds, seemingly +impenetrable, apparently within reach of an extended arm, changing +colour with each fraction of a second, hideously beautiful, yet never +twice the same in blend or mixture. + +A hollow, strangely sounding roar was perceptible; one instant coming as +from the far distance, then from nigh at hand, causing the air-ship +to quiver and tremble, as a sentient being might in the presence of a +torturing death. + +“Look--upward!” panted Bruno, a few seconds later, his face as pale as +that of a corpse, in spite of the dirt and blotches of sticky mud with +which he had been peppered during that dizzy whirl. + +Mechanically his companions in peril obeyed, catching breath sharply, as +they saw a clear sky and yellow sunshine far above,--so awfully far +they were, that it seemed like looking upward from the bottom of an +enormously deep well. + +And then the marvellous truth flashed upon the brain of Phaeton +Featherwit, almost robbing him of all power of speech. Still he managed +to jerkily ejaculate: + +“We're inside,--riding the--tornado--itself!” + +Then those whirling winds closed quickly above them, shutting out the +sunlight, hiding the heavens from their view, enclosing that vehicle and +its occupants, as they were borne away into unknown regions, within the +very heart of the tornado itself! + +Yet, incredible as it surely seems, no actual harm came to the trio +or to their flying-machine as it swayed gently upon its airy cushion, +although from every side came the horrid roar of destruction, while ever +and anon they could glimpse a wrestling tree or torn mass of shrubbery +whizzing upward and outward, to be flung far away beyond the vortex of +electrical winds. + +Once more came that awful sense of suffocation. That painted pall closed +down upon them, robbing their lungs of air, one instant fairly crisping +their hair with a touch of fire, only to send an icy chill to their +veins a moment later. + +In vain they struggled, fighting for breath, as a fish gasps when swung +from its native element. While that horrid pressure endured, man, youth, +and boy alike were powerless. + +Again the pall lifted, folding back and blending with those madly +circling currents, once again affording a glimpse of yonder far-away +heavens, so marvellously clear, and bright, and peaceful in seeming! + +Weakened by those terrible moments, Bruno and Waldo lay gasping, +trembling, faint of heart and ill of body, yet filling their lungs with +comparatively pure air,--pity there was so little of it to win! + +Professor Featherwit still had thought and care for his nephews rather +than himself alone, and pantingly spoke, as he dragged himself to the +snug locker, where many important articles had been stowed away: + +“Here--suck life--compressed air!” + +With husky cries the brothers caught at the tubes offered, the method of +working which had so often been explained by their relative. + +Once more the tube became a chamber, and that horrid force threatened +to flatten their bodies; but the worst had passed, for that precious +cylinder now gave them air to inhale, and they were enabled to wait for +the lifting of the cloud once more. + +Thanks to this important agency, strength and energy both of body and +of mind now came back to the air-voyagers, and after a little they could +lift their heads to peer around them with growing wonder and curiosity. + +There was little room left for doubting the wondrous truth, and yet +belief was past their powers during those first few minutes. + +All around them whirled and sped those maddened winds, curling and +twisting, rising and falling, mixing in and out as though some unknown +power might be weaving the web of destiny. + +Now dull, now brilliant, never twice the same, but ever changing in +colour as in shape, while stripes and zigzags of lightning played here +and there with terrifying menace, those walls of wind held an awfully +fascinating power for uncle and nephews. + +From every side came deadened sounds which could bear but a single +interpretation: the tornado was still in rapid motion, was still tearing +and rending, crushing and battering, leaving dire destruction and ruin +to mark its advance, and these were the sounds that recorded its ugly +work. + +In goodly measure revived by the compressed air, which was regulated +in flow to suit his requirements by a device of his own, Professor +Featherwit now looked around with something of his wonted animation, +heedless of his own peril for the moment, so great was his interest in +this marvellous happening. + +So utterly incredible was it all that, during those first few minutes +of rallying powers, he dared not express the belief which was shaping +itself, gazing around in quest of still further confirmation. + +He took note of the windy walls about their vessel, rising upward +for many yards, irregular in shape and curvature here and there, but +retaining the general semblance of a tube with flaring top. He peered +over the edge of the basket, to draw back dizzily as he saw naught but +yeasty, boiling, seething clouds below,--a veritable air-cushion which +had served to save the pet of his brain from utter destruction at the +time of falling within-- + +Yes, there was no longer room for doubt,--they were actually inside the +distorted balloon, so dreaded by all residents of the tornado belt! + +“What is it, uncle?” huskily asked Bruno, likewise rallying under that +beneficial influence. “Where are we now?” + +“Where I'm wishing mighty hard we wasn't, anyhow!” contributed Waldo, +with something of his usual energy, although, judging from his face +and eyes, the youngster had suffered more severely than either of his +comrades in peril. + +Professor Featherwit broke into a queerly sounding laugh, as he waved +his free hand in exultation before speaking: + +“Where no living being ever was before us, my lads,--riding the tornado +like a--ugh!” + +The air-ship gave an awkward lurch just then, and down went the little +professor to thump his head heavily against one corner of the locker. +Swaying drunkenly from side to side, then tossing up and down, turning +in unison with those fiercely whirling clouds, the aeromotor seemed at +the point of wreck and ruin. + +Desperately the trio clung to the life-lines, clenching teeth upon the +life-giving tubes as that terrible pressure increased so much that it +seemed impossible for the human frame to longer resist. + +Fortunately that ordeal did not long endure, and again relief came to +those so sorely oppressed. A brief gasping, sighing, stretching as the +aerostat resumed its level position, merely rocking easily within that +partial vacuum, and then Waldo huskily suggested: + +“Looks like the blame thing was sick at the stomach!” + +No doubt this was meant for a feeble attempt at joking, but Professor +Featherwit took it for earnest, and made quick reply: + +“That is precisely the case, my dear lad, and I am greatly joyed to +find that you are not so badly frightened but that you can assist me in +taking notes of this wondrous happening. To think that we are the ones +selected for--” + +“I say, uncle Phaeton.” + +“Well, my lad?” + +“If this thing is really sick at the stomach, when will it erupt? I'd +give a dollar and a half to just get out o' this, science or no science, +notes or no notes at all!” + +“Patience, my dear boy,” gravely spoke the little man of science, busily +studying those eddying currents like one seeking a fairly safe method of +extrication from peril. “It may come far sooner than you think, and +with results more disastrous than feeble words can tell. We surely are +a burden such as a tornado must be wholly unaccustomed to, and I really +believe these alternations are spasmodic efforts of the cloud itself to +vomit us forth; hence you were nearer right than you thought in making +use of that expression.” + +Just then came a rush of icy air, and Bruno pantingly cried: + +“I'm swelling up--like Aesop's--bullfrog!” + + + +CHAPTER IV. THE PROFESSOR'S LITTLE EXPERIMENT. + +Again those involuntary riders of the tornado were tossed violently to +and fro in their seemingly frail ship, while the balloon itself appeared +threatened with instant dissolution, those eddying currents growing +broken and far less regular in action, while the fierce tumult grew in +sound and volume a thousandfold. + +All around the air-ship now showed ugly debris, limbs and boughs and +even whole trunks of giant trees being whirled upward and outward, each +moment menacing the vessel with total destruction, yet as frequently +vanishing without infringing seriously upon their curious prison. + +Sand and dirt and fragments of shattered rock whistled by in an +apparently unending shower, only with reversed motion, flying upward in +place of shooting downward to earth itself. + +Speech was utterly impossible under the circumstances, and the +fate-tossed voyagers could only cling fast to the hand-rail, and hold +those precious air-tubes in readiness for the worst. + +Never before had either of the trio heard such a deafening crash and +uproar, and little wonder if they thought this surely must herald the +crack of doom! + +The tornado seemed to reel backward, as though repulsed by an immovable +obstacle, and then, while the din was a bit less deafening, Professor +Featherwit contrived to make himself heard, through screaming at the top +of his voice: + +“The mountain range, I fancy! It's a battle to the--” + +That sentence was perforce left incomplete, since the storm-demon gave +another mad plunge to renew the battle, bringing on a repetition of that +drunken swaying so upsetting to both mind and body. + +A few seconds thus, then the tornado conquered, or else rose higher in +partial defeat, for their progress was resumed, and comparative quiet +reigned again. + +The higher clouds curved backward, affording a wider view of the heavens +far above, and, as all eyes turned instinctively in that direction, +Bruno involuntarily exclaimed: + +“Still daylight! I thought--how long has this lasted?” + +“It's the middle o' next week; no less!” positively affirmed his +brother. “Don't tell me! We've been in here a solid month, by my watch!” + +Instead of making reply such as might have been expected from one of his +mathematical exactness, Professor Featherwit gave a cry of dismay, while +hurriedly moving to and fro in their contracted quarters, for the time +being forgetful of all other than this, his great loss. + +“What is it, uncle Phaeton?” asked Bruno, rising to his knees in natural +anxiety. “Surely nothing worse than has already happened to us?” + +“Worse? What could be worse than losing for ever--the camera, boys; +where is the camera, I ask you?” + +Certainly not where the professor was looking, and even as he roared +forth that query, his heart told him the sad truth; past doubting, +the instrument upon whose aid he relied to place upon record these +marvellous facts, so that all mankind might see and have full faith, was +lost,--thrown from the aerostat, to meet with certain destruction, when +the vessel first came within the tornado's terrible clutch. + +“Gone,--lost,--and now who will believe that we ever--oh, this is enough +to crush one's very soul!” mourned the professor, throwing up his +hands, and sinking back to the floor of the flying-machine in a limp and +disheartened heap for the time being. + +Neither Bruno nor Waldo could fully appreciate that grief, since +thoughts and care for self were still the ruling passion with both; but +once more they were called upon to do battle with the swaying of the +winds, and once again were they saved only through that life-giving +cylinder of compressed air. + +Presently, the heart-broken professor rallied, as was his nature, and, +with a visible effort putting his great loss behind him, endeavoured to +cheer up his comrades in peril. + +“So far we have passed through all danger without receiving material +injury,--to ourselves, I mean,--and surely it is not too much to hope +for eventual escape?” he said, earnestly, pressing the hands of his +nephews, by way of additional encouragement. + +“Yes,” hesitated Bruno, with an involuntary shiver, as he glanced around +them upon those furiously boiling clouds, then cast an eye upward, +towards yonder clear sky. “Yes, but--in what manner?” + +“What'll we do when the cyclone goes bu'st?” cut in Waldo, with +disagreeable bluntness. “It can't go on for ever, and when it splits +up,--where will we be then?” + +“I wish it lay within my power to give you full assurance on all points, +my dear boys,” the professor made reply. “I only wish I could ensure +your perfect safety by giving my own poor remnant of life--” + +“No, no, uncle Phaeton!” cried the brothers, in a single breath. + +“How cheerfully, if I only might!” insisted the professor, his homely +face wearing an expression of blended regret and unbounded affection. +“But for me you would never have encountered these perils, nor ever--” + +Again he was interrupted by the brothers, and forced to leave that +regret unspoken to the end. + +“Only for you, uncle Phaeton, what would have become of us when we were +left without parents, home, fortune? Only for you, taking us in and +treating us as though of your own flesh and blood--” + +“As you are, my good lads! Let it pass, then, but I must say that I do +wish--well, well, let it pass, then!” + +A brief silence, which was spent in gripping hands and with eyes giving +pledges of love and undying confidence; then Professor Featherwit spoke +again, in an entirely different vein. + +“If nothing else, we have exploded one fallacy which has never met with +contradiction, so far as my poor knowledge goes.” + +“And that is--what, uncle Phaeton?” + +“Observe, my lads,” with a wave of his hand towards those whirling +walls, and then making a downward motion. “You see that we are floating +in a partial vacuum, yet where there is air sufficient to preserve life +under difficulties. And by looking downward--careful that you don't fall +overboard through dizziness, though!” + +“Looks as though we were floating just above a bed of ugly wind!” + declared Waldo, after taking a look below. + +“Precisely; the aerostat rests upon an air-cushion amply solid enough +to sustain far more than our combined weight. But what is the generally +accepted view, my dear boys?” + +“You tell, for we don't know how,” frankly acknowledged Waldo. + +“Thanks. Yet you are now far wiser than all of the scientists who have +written and published whole libraries concerning these storm formations, +but whose fallacies we are now fully prepared to explode, once for all, +through knowledge won by personal investigation--ahem!” + +Strange though it may appear, the professor forgot the mutual danger +by which they were surrounded, and trotted off on his hobby-horse in +blissful pride, paying no attention to the hideous uproar going on, only +raising his voice higher to make it heard by his youthful auditors. + +“The common belief is that, while these tornadoes are hollow, even +through the trunk or tongue down to its contact with the earth, that +hollow is caused by a constant suction, through which a steady stream of +debris is flowing, to be sown broadcast for miles around after emerging +from the open top of the so-called balloon.” + +“But it isn't at all like that,” eagerly cried Waldo, pointing to where +the fragments were flowing upward through those walls themselves, yet +far enough from that hollow interior to be but indistinctly seen save on +rare occasions. “Look at 'em scoot, will ye? Oh, if we could only climb +up like that!” + +Professor Featherwit was keenly watching and closely studying that very +phenomena through all, and now he gave a queer little chuckle, as he +nodded his head with vigour, before dryly speaking. + +“Well, it might be done; yes, it might be done, and that with no very +serious difficulty, my lad.” + +“How? Why not try it on, then?” + +“To meet with instant death outside?” sharply queried Bruno. “It would +be suicidal to make the attempt, even if we could; which I doubt.” + +Waldo gave a sudden cry, pointing upward where, far above that +destructive storm, could be seen a brace of buzzards floating on +motionless wings, wholly undisturbed by the tumult below. + +“If we were only like that!” the lad cried, longingly. “If a +flying-machine could be built like those turkey-buzzards! I wish--well, +I do suppose they're about the nastiest varmints ever hatched, but just +now I'd be willing to swap, and wouldn't ask any boot, either!” + +Apparently the professor paid no attention to this boyish plaint, for +he was fumbling in the locker, then withdrew his hand and uncoiled an +ordinary fish-line, with painted float attached. + +Before either brother could ask a question, or even give a guess at +his purpose, Professor Phaeton flung hook and cork into those circling +currents, only to have the whole jerked violently out of his grip, the +line flying upward, to vanish from the sight of all. + +That jerk was powerful enough to cut through the skin of his hand, but +the professor chuckled like one delighted, as he sucked away the few +drops of blood before adding: + +“I knew it! It CAN be done, and if the worst should come to pass, why +should it not be done?” + +Before an answer could be vouchsafed by either of the brothers, the pall +swooped down upon them once more, and again the supply of natural air +was shut off, while their vessel was rocked and swayed crazily, just as +though the delayed end was at last upon them. + +For several minutes this torture endured, each second of which appeared +to be an hour to those imperilled beings, who surely must have perished, +as they lay pinned fast to the floor of the aerostat by that pitiless +weight, only for the precious air-tubes in connection with that cylinder +of compressed air. + +After a seeming age of torment the awful pressure was relaxed, leaving +the trio gasping and shivering, as they lay side by side, barely +conscious that life lingered, for the moment unable to lift hand or head +to aid either self or another. + +In spite of his far greater age, Professor Featherwit was first to +rally, and his voice was about the first thing distinguished by the +brothers, as their powers began to rally. + +“Shall we take our chances, dear boys?” the professor was saying, +in earnest tones. “I believe there is a method of escaping from this +hell-chamber, although of what may lie beyond--” + +“It can't well be worse than this!” huskily gasped Bruno. + +“Anything--everything--just to get out o' here!” supplemented Waldo, for +once all spirits subdued. + +“It may be death for us all, even if we do get outside,” gravely warned +the professor. “Bear that in mind, dear boys. It may be that not one of +us will escape with life, after--” + +“How much better to remain here?” interrupted Bruno. “I felt death would +be a mercy--then! And I'd risk anything, everything, rather than go +through such another ordeal! I say,--escape!” + +“Me too, all over!” vigorously decided Waldo, lifting himself to both +knees as he added: “Tell us what to do, and here I am, on deck, uncle.” + +Even now Professor Phaeton hesitated, his eyes growing dimmer than usual +as they rested upon one face after the other, for right well he knew how +deadly would be the peril thus invited. + +But, as the brothers repeated their cry, he turned away to swiftly +knot a strong trail-rope to a heavy iron grapnel, leaving the other end +firmly attached to a stanchion built for that express purpose. + +“Hold fast, if you value life at all, dear boys!” he warned, then added: +“Heaven be kind to you, even if my life pays the forfeit! Now!” + +Without further delay, he cast the heavy grapnel into that mass of +boiling vapour, then fell flat, as an awful jerk was given the aerostat. + + + +CHAPTER V. THE PROFESSOR'S UNKNOWN LAND. + +There was neither time nor opportunity for taking notes, for that +long rope straightened out in the fraction of a second, throwing all +prostrate as the flying-machine was jerked upward with awful force. + +All around them raged and roared the mighty winds, while missiles of +almost every description pelted and pounded both machine and inmates +during those few seconds of extraordinary peril. + +Fortunately neither the professor nor his nephews could fairly realise +just what was taking place, else their brains would hardly have stood +the test; and fortunately, too, that ordeal was not protracted. + +A hideous experience while it lasted, those vicious currents dragging +the aerostat upward out of the air-chamber by means of grapnel and rope, +then casting all far away in company with wrecked trees and bushes, +and even solider materials, all shrouded for a time in dust and debris, +which hindered the eyesight of both uncle and nephews. + +Through it all the brothers were dimly aware of one fact uncle Phaeton +was shrilly bidding them cling fast and have courage. + +All at once they felt as though vomited forth from a volcano which +alternately breathed fire and ice, the clear light of evening bursting +upon their aching, smarting eyes with actual pain, while that horrid +roar of warring elements seemed to pass away in the distance, leaving +them--where, and how? + +“We're falling to--merciful heavens! Hold fast, all!” screamed the +professor, desperately striving to regain full command of their +air-ship. “The tiller is jammed, but--” + +To all seeming, the aerostat had sustained some fatal damage during that +brief eruption caused by the professor's little experiment, for it +was pitching drunkenly end for end, refusing to obey the hand of its +builder, bearing all to certain death upon the earth far below. + +Half stupefied with fear, the brothers clung fast to the life-line and +glared downward, noting, in spite of themselves, how swiftly yonder dark +tree-tops and gray crags were shooting heavenward to meet them and claim +the sacrifice. + +With fierce energy Professor Featherwit jerked and wrenched at the +steering-gear, uttering words such as had long been foreign to his lips, +but then--just when destruction appeared inevitable--a wild cry burst +from his lungs, as a broken bit of native wood came away in his left +hand, leaving the lever free as of old! + +And then, with a dizzying swoop and rapid recovery, the gallant air-ship +came back to an even keel, sailing along with old-time grace and ease, +barely in time to avoid worse mishap as the crest of a tall tree was +brushed in their passage. + +“Saved,--saved, my lads!” screamed the professor, as his heart-pet +soared upward once more until well past the danger-line. “Safe and sound +through all,--praises be unto the Lord, our Father!” + +Neither brother spoke just then, for they lay there in half stupor, +barely able to realise the wondrous truth: that their lives had surely +been spared them, even as by a miracle! + +That swooping turn now brought their faces towards the tornado, which +was at least a couple of miles distant, rapidly making that distance +greater even while continuing its work of destruction. + +“And we--were in it!” huskily muttered Bruno, his lids closing with a +shiver, as he averted his face, unwilling to see more. + +“Heap sight worse than being in the soup, too, if anybody asks you,” + declared Waldo, beginning to rally both in strength and in spirit. +“But--what's the matter with the old ship, uncle Phaeton?” + +For the aerostat was indulging itself in sundry distressing gyrations, +pretty much as a boy's kite swoops from side to side, when lacking in +tail-ballast, while the professor seemed unable to keep the machine +under complete control. + +“Nothing serious, only--hold fast, all! I believe 'twould be as well to +make our descent, for fear something--steady!” + +Just ahead there appeared a more than usually open space in the forest, +and, quite as much by good luck as through actual skill, Professor +Featherwit succeeded in making a landing with no more serious mishap +than sundry bruises and a little extra teeth-jarring. + +As quickly as possible, both Bruno and Waldo pitched themselves out of +the partially disabled aeromotor, the elder brother grasping the grapnel +and taking a couple of turns of the strong rope around a convenient +tree-trunk, lest the ship escape them altogether. + +“No need, my gallant boy!” assured the professor, an instant later. “All +is well,--all IS well, thanks to an over-ruling Providence!” + +In spite of this expressed confidence, he hurriedly looked over his pet +machine, taking note of such injuries as had been received during that +remarkable journey, only giving over when fairly satisfied that all +damage might be readily made good, after which the aerostat would be as +trustworthy as upon its first voyage on high. + +Then, grasping the brothers each by a hand, he smiled genially, then +lifted eyes heavenward, to a moment later sink upon his knees with bowed +head and hands folded across his bosom. + +Bruno and Waldo imitated his action, and, though no audible words +were spoken, never were more heartfelt prayers sent upward, never more +grateful thanks given unto the Most High. + +Boy, youth, and man alike seemed fairly awed into silence for the next +few minutes, unable to so soon cast off the spell which had fallen upon +them, one and each, when realising how mercifully their lives had been +spared, even after all earthly hope had been abandoned. + +As usual, however, Waldo was first to rally, and, after silently moving +around the aerostat, upon which the professor was already busily at work +by the last gleams of the vanished sun, he paused, legs separated, and +hands thrust deep into pockets, head perking on one side as he spoke, +drawlingly: + +“I say, uncle Phaeton?” + +“What is it, Waldo?” + +“It'll never do to breathe even a hint of all this, will it?” + +“Why so, pray?” + +“Whoever heard it would swear we were bald-headed liars right from +Storytown! And yet,--did it really happen, or have I been dreaming all +the way through?” + +Professor Featherwit gave a brief, dry chuckle at this, rising erect to +cast a deliberate glance around their present location, then speaking: + +“Without I am greatly mistaken, my dear boy, you will have still other +marvellous happenings to relate ere we return to what is, rightfully or +wrongfully, called civilisation.” + +“Is that so? Then you really reckon--” + +“For one thing, my lad, we are now fairly entered upon a terra +incognita, so far as our own race is concerned. In other words,--behold, +the Olympics!” + +Both Bruno and Waldo cast their eyes around, but only a circumscribed +view was theirs. The shades of evening were settling fast, and on all +sides they could see but mighty trees, rugged rocks, a mountain stream +from whose pebbly bed came a soothing murmur. + +“Nothing so mighty much to brag of, anyway,” irreverently quoth Waldo, +after that short-lived scrutiny. “It wouldn't fetch a dollar an acre at +auction, and for my part,--wonder when the gong will sound for supper?” + +That blunt hint was effective, and, letting the subject drop for the +time being, even the professor joined in the hurry for an evening meal, +to which one and all felt able to do full justice. + +Although some rain had fallen at this point as well, no serious +difficulty was experienced in kindling a fire, while Waldo had little +trouble in heaping up a bounteous supply of fuel. + +Through countless ages the forest monarchs had been shedding their +superfluous boughs, while here and there lay an entire tree, overthrown +by some unknown power, and upon which the brothers made heavy +requisition. + +Professor Featherwit took from the locker a supply of tinned goods, +together with a patent coffee-pot and frying-pan, so convenient where +space is scarce and stowage-room precious. + +With water from the little river, it took but a few minutes more to +scent the evening with grateful fumes, after which the adventurous trio +squatted there in the ruddy glow, eating, sipping, chatting, now and +again forced to give thanks for their really miraculous preservation +after all human hopes had been exhausted. + +Although Professor Featherwit was but little less thankful for the +wondrous leniency shown them, he could not altogether refrain from +mourning the loss of his camera, with its many snap-shots at the tornado +itself, to say nothing of what he might have secured in addition, while +riding the storm so marvellously. + +More to take his thoughts away from that loss than through actual +curiosity in the subject offered by way of substitute, Bruno asked for +further light upon the so-called terra incognita. + +“Of course it isn't really an unknown land, though, uncle Phaeton?” he +added, almost apologetically. “In this age, and upon our own continent, +such a thing is among the impossibilities.” + +“Indeed? And, pray, how long since has it been that you would, with at +least equal positivity, have declared it impossible to enter a tornado +while in wildest career, yet emerge from it with life and limb intact?” + +“Yes, uncle, but--this is different, by far.” + +“In one sense, yes; in another, no,” affirmed the professor, with +emphatic nod, brushing the tips of his fingers together, as he moved +back to assume a more comfortable position inside the air-ship, then +quickly preparing a pipe and tobacco for his regular after-meal smoke. + +A brief silence, then the professor spoke, clearly, distinctly: + +“Washington has her great unknown land, quite as much as has the +interior of Darkest Africa, my boys, besides enjoying this peculiar +advantage: while adventurous white men have traversed those benighted +regions in every direction, even though little permanent good may +have been accomplished, this terra incognita remains virgin in that +particular sense of the word.” + +“You mean, uncle?” + +“That here in the Olympic region you see what is literally an unknown, +unexplored scope of country, as foreign to the foot of mankind as it was +countless ages gone by. So far as history reads, neither white man nor +red has ever ventured fairly within these limits; a mountainous waste +which rises from the level country, within ten or fifteen miles of the +Straits of San Juan de Fuca, in the north, the Pacific Ocean in the +west, Hood's Canal in the east, and the barren sand-hills lying to the +far south. + +“This irregular range is known upon the map as the Olympics, and, +rising to the height of from six to eight thousand feet, shut in a vast +unexplored area. + +“The Indians have never penetrated it, so far as can be ascertained, +for their traditions say that it is inhabited by a very fierce tribe of +warriors, before whose might and strange weapons not one of the coast +tribes can stand.” + +“One of the Lost Tribes of Israel, shouldn't wonder,” drawlingly +volunteered Waldo, stifling a yawn, and forced to rub his inflamed eyes +with a surreptitious paw. + +Professor Featherwit, though plainly absorbed in his curious theory, was +yet quick to detect this evidence of weariness, and laughed a bit, with +change of both tone and manner, as he spoke further: + +“That forms but a partial introductory to my lecture, dear lads, but +perhaps it might be as well to postpone the rest for a more propitious +occasion. You have undergone sore trials, both of--Hark!” + +Some sound came to his keen ears, which the brothers failed to catch, +but as they bent their heads in listening, another noise came, which +proved startling enough, in all conscience,--a shrill, maniacal screech, +which sent cold chills running races up each spine. + + + +CHAPTER VI. A BRACE OF UNWELCOME VISITORS. + +Instinctively the brothers drew nearer each other, as though for mutual +protection, each one letting hand drop to belt where a revolver was +habitually carried, but which was lacking now, thanks to the great haste +with which they had taken wing at the approach of the tornado. + +“What is it? What can it mean?” asked Bruno and Waldo, almost in the +same breath, as those fierce echoes died away in the distance. + +Professor Featherwit made no immediate reply, but by the glow of yonder +camp-fire he fumbled inside the magic locker, fetching forth firearms, +then speaking in hushed tones: + +“Wait. Listen for--I knew it!” + +From the opposite quarter came what might easily have been an echo of +that first wild screech, only louder, longer, more savage, if such a +thing be possible. + +Prepared though they now were, neither brother could refrain from +shrinking and shuddering, so hideously that cry sounded in their ears. +But their uncle spoke in cool, clear tones: + +“There is nothing supernatural about that, my lads. A panther or +mountain lion, I dare say, scenting the fumes of our cookery, and coming +to claim a share.” + +“Then it isn't--Nothing spookish, uncle Phaeton?” ventured Waldo, in +slightly unsteady tones. + +The professor gave swift assurance upon that point, and, rallying as +few youngsters would have done under like circumstances, the brothers +grasped the weapons supplied their hands, waiting and watching for what +was to come. + +Once, twice, thrice those savage calls echoed far and wide, but with +each repetition losing a portion of their terrors; and knowing now +that prowling beasts surely were drawing nigh the camp-fire, the flying +machine was abandoned by the trio, all drawing closer to the fire, which +might prove no slight protection against attack. + +Then followed a period of utter silence, during which their eyes roved +restlessly around, striving to sight the four-footed enemy ere an actual +attack could be made. + +Professor Featherwit was first to glimpse a pair of greenish eyes in +silent motion, and, giving a low hiss of warning to his nephews, that +same sound serving to check further progress on the part of the wild +beast, his short rifle came to a level, then emitted a peculiar sound. + +Only the keenest of ears could have noted that, for only the fraction of +an instant later followed a sharp explosion, the darkness beyond being +briefly lit up by a yellowish glare. + +“That's enough,--beware its mate!” cried the professor, keenly alert for +whatever might ensue; but the words were barely across his lips when, +with a vicious snarl, a furry shape came flying through the air, +knocking Featherwit over as he instinctively ducked his head with arm +flying up as additional guard. + +Both man and beast came very near falling into the fire itself, and +there ensued a wild, confused scramble, out of which the brothers +singled their enemy, Waldo opening fire with a revolver, at close range, +each shot causing the lion to yell and snarl most ferociously. + +A cat-like recovery, then the fatal leap might have followed, for the +confused professor was rising to his feet again, fairly in front of the +enraged brute; but ere worse came, Waldo and Bruno were to the rescue, +one firing as rapidly as possible, his brother driving a keen-bladed +knife to the very hilt just back of that quivering forearm. + +One mad wrestle, in which both lads were overthrown, then the gaunt +and muscular brute stretched its length in a shivering throe, dead even +while it strove to slay. + +Just as the professor hurried to the front, beseeching his boys to +keep out of peril if they loved him; at which Waldo laughed outright, +although never had he felt a warmer love for the same odd-speaking, +queer-acting personage than right at that moment. + +“I'm all right; how's it with you, sir? And--Bruno?” + +“Without a scratch to remember it by,” promptly asserted the elder +brother, likewise regaining his feet and taking hasty account of stock. +“No fault of his, though!” giving that carcass a kick as he spoke. “My +gracious! I caught just one glimpse of them, and I was ready to make +affidavit that each fang would measure a foot, while his claws--” + +“Would pass through an elephant and clinch on the other side,” declared +Waldo, stooping far enough to lift one of those armed paws. “But, I say, +Bruno, how awfully they have shrunk, since then!” + +Whether so intended or not, this characteristic break caused a mutual +laugh, and, as there was neither sound nor sign of further danger +from like source, one and all satisfied their curiosity by minutely +inspecting the huge brute, stirring up the fire for that purpose. + +“An ugly customer, indeed, if we had given him anything like a fair +show,” gravely uttered the professor. “Only for your prompt assistance, +my dear boys, what would have become of poor me?” + +“We acted on our own account, as well, please remember, uncle. And even +so, after all you have done for us since--” + +“What was it you shot at, uncle Phaeton?” interrupted Waldo, who was +constitutionally averse to aught which savoured of sentiment. “Another +one of these--little squirrels, was it?” + +Snatching up a blazing brand, the lad moved off in that direction, +whirling the torch around his head until it burst into clear flame, then +lowering it closer to a bloody heap of fur and powerful limbs, to give a +short ejaculation of wondering awe. + +It was a headless body upon which he gazed, ragged fragments of skin and +a few splinters of bone alone remaining to tell that a solid skull had +so recently been thereon. + +Professor Phaeton gave another of his peculiar little chuckles, as +he drew near, then patted the compact little rifle with which he had +wrought such extraordinary work: a weapon of his own invention, as were +the dynamite-filled shells to match. + +“Although I am rather puny myself, boys, with this neat little +contrivance I could fairly well hold my own against man or beast,” he +modestly averred. + +“A modern David,” gravely added Bruno, while Waldo chimed in with: + +“What a dandy Jack the Giant-killer you would have been, uncle Phaeton, +if you had only lived in the good old days! I wish--and yet I don't, +either! Of course, it might have been jolly old sport right then, but +now,--where'd I be, to-day?” + +“A day on which has happened a miracle far more marvellous than all that +has been set down in fairyland romance, my dear son,” earnestly spoke +the professor. “And when the astounding truth shall have been published, +broadcast, throughout all Christendom, what praises--” + +“How thoroughly we shall be branded liars, and falsificationers from +'way up the crick'!” exploded the youngster, making a wry grimace and +moving on to view the headless lion from a different standpoint. + +“He means well, uncle Phaeton,” assured Bruno, in lowered tones. “He +would not knowingly hurt your feelings, sir, but--may I speak out?” + +“Why not?” quickly. “Surely I am not one to stand in awe of, lad?” + +“One to be loved and reverenced, rather,” with poorly hidden emotion; +then rallying, to add, “But when one finds it impossible to realise all +that has happened this afternoon, when one feels afraid to even make an +effort at such belief, how can the boy be blamed for feeling that all +others would pronounce us mad or--wilful liars?” + +Professor Phaeton saw the point, and made a wry grimace while roughing +up his pompadour and brushing his closely trimmed beard with doubtful +hand. After all, was the whole truth to be ever spoken? + +“Well, well, we can determine more clearly after fully weighing the +subject,” he said, turning back towards the flying-machine. “And, after +all, what has happened to us thus far may not seem so utterly incredible +after our explorations are completed.” + +“Of this region, do you mean, sir?” + +“Of the Olympic mountains, and all their mountainous chain may +encompass,--yes,” curtly spoke the man of hopes, stepping inside the +aerostat to perfect his arrangements for the night. + +Waldo took greater pleasure in viewing the mountain lion towards whose +destruction he had so liberally contributed, but when he spoke of +removing the skin, Bruno objected. + +“Why take so much trouble for nothing, Waldo? Even if we could stow the +pelts away on board, they would make a far from agreeable burden. And +if what I fancy lies before us is to come true, the more lightly we +are weighted, the more likely we are to come safely to--well, call it +civilisation, just for a change.” + +“Then you believe that uncle Phaeton is really in earnest about +exploring this region, Bruno?” + +“He most assuredly is. Did you ever know him to speak idly, or to be +otherwise than in earnest, Waldo?” + +“Well, of course uncle is all right, but--sometimes--” + +A friendly palm slipped over those lips, cutting short the speech which +might perchance have left a sting behind. And yet the worthy professor +had no more enthusiastic acolyte than this same reckless speaking +youngster, when the truth was all told. + +Leaving the animals where they had fallen, for the time being, the +brothers passed over to where rested the aeromotor, finding the +professor busily engaged in rigging up a series of fine wires, +completely surrounding the flying-machine, save for one narrow, +gate-like arrangement. + +“Beginning to feel as though you could turn in for all night, eh, my +boys?” came his cheery greeting. + +“Well, somehow I do feel as though 'the sandman' had been making +his rounds rather earlier than customary,” dryly said Waldo, winking +rapidly. “I believe there must have been a bit more wind astir to-day +than common, although neither of you may have noticed the fact.” + +Professor Featherwit chuckled softly while at work, but neither he nor +Bruno made reply in words. And then, his arrangements perfected save +for closing the circuit, which could only be done after all hands had +entered the air-ship, he spoke to the point: + +“Come, boys. You've had a rough bit of experience this day, and there +may be still further trouble in store, here in this unknown land. Better +make sure of a full night's rest, and thus have a reserve fund to draw +upon in case of need.” + +There was plenty of sound common sense in this adjuration, and, only +taking time to procure a can of fresh water from yonder stream, the two +youngsters stepped within that charmed circle, permitting their uncle to +close the circuit, and then test the queer contrivance to make sure all +was working nicely. + +A confused sound broke forth, resembling the faraway tooting of tin +horns, which blended inharmoniously with the ringing of nearer bells, +all producing a noise which was warranted to arouse the heaviest sleeper +from his soundest slumber. + +“That will give fair warning in case any intruder drifts this way,” + declared the professor, chucklingly, then sinking down and wrapping +himself up in a close-woven blanket, similar to those employed by the +boys. + +“Even a ghost, or a goblin, do you reckon, uncle Phaeton?” + +“Should such attempt to intrude, yes. Go to sleep, you young rascal!” + +But that proved to be far more readily spoken than lived up to. Not but +that the brothers were weary, jaded, and sore of muscle enough to make +even the thought of slumber agreeable; but their recent experience had +been so thrilling, so nerve-straining, so far apart from the ordinary +routine of life, that hours passed ere either lad could fairly lose +himself in sleep. + +Still, when unconsciousness did steal over their weary brains, it proved +to be all the more complete, and after that neither Bruno nor Waldo +stirred hand or foot until, well after the dawn of a new day, Professor +Featherwit shook first one and then the other, crying shrilly: + +“Turn out, youngsters! A new day, and plenty of work to be done!” + + + +CHAPTER VII. THE PROFESSOR'S GREAT ANTICIPATIONS. + +A stretch and a yawn, which in Waldo's case ended in a prolonged howl, +which would not have disgraced either of their four-footed visitors +of the past evening, then the brothers Gillespie sprung forth from the +flying-machine, entering upon a race for the brawling mountain stream, +“shedding” their garments as they ran. + +“First man in!” cried Bruno, whose clothes seemed to slip off the more +readily; but Waldo was not to be outdone so easily, and, reckless of the +consequences, he plunged into the eddying pool, with fully half of his +daylight rig still in place. + +The water proved to be considerably deeper than either brother had +anticipated, and Waldo vanished from sight for a few seconds, then +reappearing with lusty puff and splutter, shaking the pearly drops from +his close-clipped curls, while ranting: + +“Another vile fabrication nailed to the standard of truth, and clinched +by the hammer of--ouch!” + +A wild flounder, then the youngster fairly doubled himself up, acting +so strangely that Bruno gave a little cry of alarm; but ere the elder +brother could take further action, Waldo swung his right arm upward and +outward, sending a goodly sized trout flashing through the air to the +shore, crying in boyish enthusiasm: + +“Glory in great chunks! I want to camp right here for a year to come! +Will ye look at that now?” + +Bruno had to dodge that writhing missile, and, before he could fairly +recover himself, Waldo had floundered ashore, leaving a yeasty turmoil +in his wake, but then throwing up a dripping hand, and speaking in an +exaggerated whisper: + +“Whist, boy! On your life, not so much as the ghost of a whimper! The +hole's ramjammed chuck full of trout, and we'll have a meal fit for the +gods if--where's my fishing tackle?” + +Bruno picked up the trout, so queerly brought to light, really +surprised, but feigning still further, as he made his examination. + +“It really IS a trout, and--how long have you carried this about in your +clothes, Waldo Gillespie?” + +“Not long enough for you to build a decent joke over it, brother mine. +Just happened so. Tried to ram its nose in one of my pockets, and of +course I had to take him in out of the wet. Pool's just full of them, +too, and I wouldn't wonder if--oh, quit your talking, and do something, +can't you, boy?” + +Vigorously though he spoke, Waldo wound up with a shiver and sharp +chatter of teeth as the fresh morning air struck through his dripping +garments. He gave a coltish prance, as he turned to seek his fishing +tackle; but, unfortunately for his hopes of speedy sport, the professor +was nigh enough to both see and hear, and at once took charge of the +reckless youngster. + +“Wet to the hide, and upon an empty stomach, too! You foolish child! +Come, strip to the buff, and put on some of these garments until--here +by the fire, Waldo.” + +And thus taken in tow, the lad was forced to slowly but thoroughly +toast his person beside the freshly started fire, ruefully watching his +brother deftly handle rod and line, in a remarkably short space of time +killing trout enough to furnish all with a bounteous meal. + +“And I was the discoverer, while you reap all the credit, have all the +fun!” dolefully lamented Waldo, when the catch was displayed with an +ostentation which may have covered just a tiny bit of malice. “I'll put +a tin ear on you, Amerigo Vespucius!” + +“All right; we'll have a merry go together, after you've cleaned the +trout for cooking, lad,” laughed his elder. + +Waldo gazed reproachfully into that bright face for a brief space, then +bowed head in joined hands, to sob in heartfelt fashion, his sturdy +frame shaking with poorly suppressed grief--or mirth? + +Bruno passed an arm caressingly over those shoulders, murmuring words of +comfort, earnestly promising to never sin again in like manner, provided +he could find forgiveness now. And then, with deft touch, that same hand +held his garment far enough for its mate to let slip a wriggling trout +adown his brother's back. + +Waldo howled and jumped wildly, as the cold morsel slipped along his +spine, and ducking out of reach, the elder jester called back: + +“Land him, boy, and you've caught another fish!” + +Although laughing heartily himself, Professor Featherwit deemed it a +part of wisdom to interfere now, and, ere long, matters quieted down, +all hands engaged in preparing the morning meal, for which all teeth +were now fairly on edge. + +If good nature had been at all disturbed, long before that breakfast was +despatched it was fully restored, and of the trio, Waldo appeared to be +the most enthusiastic over present prospects. + +“Why, just think of it, will you?” he declaimed, as well as might be +with mouth full of crisply fried mountain trout, “where the game comes +begging for you to bowl it over, and the very fish try to jump into your +pockets--” + +“Or down your back, Amerigo,” interjected Bruno, with a grin. + +“Button up, or you'll turn to be a Sorry-cus--tomer, old man,” came the +swift retort, with a portentous frown. “But, joking aside, why not? With +such hunting and fishing, I'd be willing to sign a contract for a round +year in this region.” + +“To say nothing of exploration, and such discoveries as naturally attend +upon--” + +“Then you really mean it all, uncle Phaeton?” + +Leaning back far enough to pluck a handful of green leaves, which fairly +well served the purpose of a napkin, Professor Featherwit brought forth +pipe and pouch, maintaining silence until the fragrant tobacco was well +alight. Then he gave a vigorous nod of his head, to utter: + +“It has been the dearest dream of my life for more years gone by than +you would readily credit, my lads; or, in fact, than I would be wholly +willing to confess. And it was with an eye single to this very adventure +that I laboured to devise and perfect yonder machine.” + +“A marvel in itself, uncle Phaeton. Only for that, where would we have +been, yesterday?” seriously spoke the elder Gillespie. + +“I know where we wouldn't have been: inside that blessed cy-nado!” + +“Nor here, where you can catch brook trout in your clothes without the +trouble of taking them off, youngster.” + +“And where you'll catch a precious hiding, without you let up harping on +that old string; it's way out of tune already, old man.” + +“Tit for tat. Excuse us, please, uncle Phaeton. We're like colts in +fresh pasture, this morning,” brightly apologised Bruno, for both. + +Apparently the professor paid no attention to that bit of sparring +between his nephews, staring into the glowing camp-fire with eyes which +surely saw more than yellow coals or ruddy flames could picture; eyes +which burned and sparkled with all the fires of distant youth. + +“The dearest dream of all my life!” he repeated, in half dreamy tones, +only to rouse himself, with a a start and shoulder shake, an instant +later, forcing a bright smile as he glanced from face to face. “And why +not? How better could my last years be employed than in piercing the +clouds of mystery, and doubt, and superstition, with which this vast +tract has been enveloped for uncounted ages?” + +“Is it really so unknown, then, uncle Phaeton?” hesitatingly asked +Bruno, touched, in spite of himself, by that intensely earnest tone and +expression. “Of course, I know what the Indians say; they are full of a +rude sort of superstitious awe, which--” + +“Which is one of the surest proofs that truth forms a foundation for +that very superstition,” quickly interjected the professor. “It is an +undisputed fact that there are hundreds upon hundreds of square miles of +terra incognita, lying in this corner of Washington Territory. No white +man ever fairly penetrated these wilds, even so far as we may have been +carried while riding the tornado. Or, if so, he assuredly has never +returned, or made known his discoveries.” + +“Provided there was anything beyond the ordinary to see or experience, +shouldn't we add, uncle?” suggested Waldo, modestly. + +“There is,--there must be! No matter how wildly improbable their +traditions may seem in our judgment, it only takes calm investigation +to bring a fair foundation to light. In regard to this vast scope of +country, go where you will among the natives, question whom you see +fit, as to its secrets, and you will meet with the same results: a +deep-seated awe, a belief which cannot be shaken, that here strange +monsters breed and flourish, matched in magnitude and power by an armed +race of human beings, before whose awful might other tribes are but as +ants in the pathway of an elephant.” + +Waldo let escape a low, prolonged whistle of mingled wonder and +incredulity, but Bruno gave him a covert kick, himself too deeply +interested to bear with a careless interruption just then. + +“Of course there may be something of exaggeration in all this,” admitted +the enthusiastic professor. “Undoubtedly, there is at least a fair spice +of that; but, even so, enough remains to both waken and hold our keenest +interest. Listen, and take heed, my good lads. + +“You have often enough, of late days, noticed these mountains, and if +you remark their altitude, the vast scope of country they dominate, the +position they fill, you must likewise realise one other fact: that an +immense quantity of snow in winter, rain in spring and autumn, surely +must fall throughout the Olympics. Understand?” + +“Certainly; why not, uncle Phaeton?” + +“Then tell me this: where does all the moisture go to? What becomes of +the surplus waters? For it is an acknowledged fact that, though rivers +and brooks surely exist in the Olympics, not one of either flows away +from this wide tract of country!” + +The professor paused for a minute, to let his words take full effect, +then even more positively proceeded: + +“You may say, what I have had others offer by way of solution, that all +is drained into a mighty inland sea or enormous lake. Granting so much, +which I really believe to be the truth as far as it goes, why does that +lake never overflow? Of all that surely must drain into its basin, +be that enormously wide and deep as it may, how much could ordinary +evaporation dispose of? Only an infinitesimal portion; scarcely worth +mentioning in such connection. Then,--what becomes of the surplusage?” + +Another pause, during which neither Gillespie ventured a solution; then +the professor offered his own suggestion: + +“It must flow off in some manner, and what other manner can that be +than--through a subterranean connection with the Pacific Ocean?” + +Bruno gave a short ejaculation at this, while Waldo broke forth in +words, after his own particular fashion: + +“Jules Verne redivivus! Why can't WE take a trip through the centre of +the earth, or--or--any other little old thing like that?” + +“With the tank of compressed air as a life-preserver?” laughed Bruno, in +turn. “That might serve, but; unfortunately, we have only the one, and +we are three in number, boy.” + +“Only two, now; I'm squelched!” sighed the jester, faintly. + +If the professor heard, he heeded not. Still staring with vacant gaze +into the fire, his face bearing a rapt expression curious to see, he +broke into almost unconscious speech: + +“An enormous inland sea! Where float the mighty ichthyosaurus, the +megalosaurus, in company with the gigantic plesiosaurus! Upon whose +sloping shores disport the enormous mastodon, the stately megatherium, +the tremendous--eh?” + +For Waldo was now afoot, brandishing a great branch broken from a dead +tree, uttering valiant war-whoops, and dealing tremendous blows upon +an imaginary enemy, spouting at the top of his voice a frenzied jargon, +which neither his auditors nor himself could possibly make sense out of. + +Bruno, ever sensitive through his affectionate reverence for their +uncle, caught the youngster, and cast him to earth, whereupon Waldo +pantingly cried: + +“Go on, please, uncle Phaeton. It's next thing to a museum and menagerie +combined, just to hear--” + +“Will you hush, boy?” demanded Bruno, yet unable to wholly smother a +laugh, so ridiculous did it all sound and seem. + +But Professor Featherwit declined, his foxy face wrinkling in a bashful +laugh. Whether so intended or not, he had been brought down to earth +from that dizzy flight, and now was fairly himself again. + +“Well, my dear boys, I dare say it seems all a matter of jest and sport +to you; yet, after our riding in the centre of a tornado for uncounted +miles, coming forth with hardly a scratch or a bruise to show for it +all, who dare say such things may not be, even yet?” + +“But,--those strange creatures are gone; the last one perished thousands +upon thousands of years ago, uncle Phaeton.” + +“So it is said, and so follows the almost universal belief. Yet I have +seen, felt, cooked, tasted, and ate to its last morsel a steak from a +mammoth. True, the creature was dead; had been preserved for ages, no +doubt, within the glacier which finally cast it forth to human view; yet +who would have credited such a discovery, only fifty years ago? He who +dared to even hint at such a thing would have been derided and laughed +at, pronounced either fool or lunatic. And so,--if we should happen to +discover one or all of those supposedly extinct creatures here in this +terra incognita, I would be overjoyed rather than astounded.” + +Bruno looked grave at this conclusion, but Waldo was not so readily +impressed, and, with shrugging shoulders, he made answer: + +“Well, uncle, I'm not quite so ambitious as all that comes to. May I +give you my idea of it all?” + + + +CHAPTER VIII. A DUEL TO THE DEATH. + +Professor Featherwit nodded assent, and, after a brief chuckle, Waldo +resumed: + +“You can take all those big fellows with the jaw-breaking names, but as +for me, smaller game will do. Maybe a fellow couldn't fill his bag quite +so full, nor quite so suddenly, but there would be a great deal more +sport, and a mighty sight less danger, I take it!” + +It was by no means difficult to divine that the professor had not yet +spoken all that busied his brain, but the thread was broken, his pipe +was out, and, emptying the ashes by tapping pipe-bowl against the heel +of his shoe, he rose erect, once more the man of action. + +“You will have to clear up, lads, for I must make such few repairs as +are necessary to restore the aerostat to a state of efficiency. So long +as that remains in serviceable condition, we will always have a method +of advance or retreat. Without it--well, I'd rather not think of the +alternative.” + +That dry tone and quiet sentence did more than all else to impress +the brothers with a sense of their unique position. Back came the +remembrance of all they had gathered concerning this strange scope +of country since first settling down fairly within the shadows of the +Olympics, there to put that strange machine together, preparing for what +was to prove a wonder-tour through many marvellous happenings. + +Times beyond counting they had been assured by the natives that no +mortal could fairly penetrate that vast wilderness. Natural obstacles +were too great for any man to surmount, without saying aught of what lay +beyond; of the enormous animals, such as the civilised world never knew +or fought with; of the terrible natives, taller than the pines, larger +than the hills, more powerful by far than the gods themselves, eager to +slay and to devour,--so eager that, at times, living flesh and blood was +more grateful than all to their depraved tastes! + +“Do you really reckon there is anything in it all, Bruno?” asked the +younger brother in lowered tones, glancing across to where their uncle +was busily engaged in those comparatively trifling repairs. + +“It hardly seems possible, and yet--would the members of four different +tribes tell a story so nearly alike, without they had at least a +foundation of truth to go upon?” + +“That's right. And yet--the inland sea sounds natural enough. We know, +too, that there are such things as underground rivers, outside of Jules +Verne's yarns. But those animals,--or reptiles,--which?” + +“Both, I believe,” answered Bruno, with a subdued laugh. + +“That's all right, old man. I never was worth a continental when it came +to such things. I prefer to live in the present, and so--well, now, will +you just look at that old cow!” + +In surprise Waldo pointed across to where a bovine shape showed not far +beyond the pool at the base of the miniature waterfall; but his brother +had a fairer view, and, instantly divining the truth, grasped an arm and +hastily whispered: + +“Hush, boy; can't you see? It's a buffalo, a hill buffalo, and--” + +“Quick! the guns are in the machine! Down, Bruno, and maybe we can get a +shot and--” + +His eager whisper was cut short, though not by grip of arm or act by +his brother. A rumbling roar broke forth from the further side of that +mountain stream, and as the dense bushes beyond were violently agitated, +the hill buffalo wheeled that way with marvellous rapidity. + +Just as a long head and mighty shoulders spread the shrubbery wide +apart, jaws opening and lips curling back to lay great teeth bare, while +another angry sound, half growl, half snort, only too clearly proclaimed +that monster of the mountains, a grizzly bear. + +“Smoke o' sacrifice!” gasped Waldo, as the grizzly suddenly upreared its +mighty bulk, head wagging, paws waving in queer fashion, lolling tongue +lending the semblance of drollery rather than viciousness. + +“This way; to your guns, boys!” cautiously called out the professor, +whose notice had likewise been caught by those unusual sounds, and who +had already armed himself with his pet dynamite gun. + +“Careful! He'll make a break for us at first sight, unless--down close, +and crawl for it, brother!” + +Bruno set the good example, and Waldo was not too proud of spirit to +humble himself in like manner. Although this was their first glimpse +of “Old Eph” in his native wilds, both brothers entertained a very +respectful opinion of his prowess. + +Under different circumstances their expectations might have been more +fully met, but just now the grizzly seemed wholly occupied with the +buffalo bull, whose sturdy bulk and armed front so resolutely opposed +his further progress towards that common goal, the pool of water. + +The boys quickly reached the flying-machine and gripped the Winchester +rifles which Professor Featherwit had drawn forth from the locker at +first sight of the dangerous game. Thus armed, they felt ready for +whatever might come, and stood watching yonder rivals with growing +interest. + +“Will you look at that, now?” excitedly breathed Waldo, eyes aglow, as +he saw the bull cock its tail on high and tear up the soft soil with one +fierce sweep of its cloven hoof, shaking head and giving vent to a low +but determined bellow. + +“It means a fight unto the death, I think,” whispered the professor. + +“It's dollars to doughnuts on the bear,” predicted Waldo. “Scat, you +bull-headed idiot! Don't you know that you're not deuce high to his ace? +Can't you see that he can chew you up like--” + +“Are you mighty sure of all that, boy?” laughingly cut in Bruno; for at +that moment the buffalo made a sudden charge at his upright adversary, +knocking the grizzly backward in spite of its viciously flying paws. + +“Great Peter on a bender! If I ever--no, I never!” + +Even the professor was growing excited, holding the dynamite gun under +one arm while gently tapping palms together as an encore. + +Naturally enough, their sympathies were with the buffalo, since the odds +seemed so immensely against him; but their delight was short-lived, for, +instead of following up the advantage so bravely won, the bull fell back +to paw and bellow and shake his shaggy front. + +With marvellous activity for a brute of his enormous bulk and weight, +the grizzly recovered its feet, then lumbered forward with clashing +teeth and resounding growls. + +Nothing loath, the buffalo met that charge, and for a short space of +time the struggle was veiled by showers of leaf-mould and damp dirt cast +upon the air as the rivals fought for supremacy--and for life. + +For that this was destined to be a duel to the very death not one of +those spectators could really doubt. That encounter may have been purely +accidental, but the creatures fought like enemies of long standing. + +As their relative positions changed, the buffalo contrived to get in +another vigorous butt, sending bruin end for end down that gentle slope +to souse into the pool of water, that cool element cutting short a +savage roar of mad fury. + +Then the trio of spectators could take notes, and with something of +sorrow they saw that the buffalo had already suffered severely, bleeding +from numerous great gashes torn by the grizzly's long talons, while one +bloody eye dangled below its socket, held only by a thread of sinew. + +Nor had bruin escaped without hurt, as all could see when he floundered +out of the water, bent upon renewing the duel; but there was little room +left for doubting what the ultimate result would be were the animals +left to their own devices. + +Like all bold, free-hearted lads, Waldo ever sympathised with the +weaker, and now, unable to hold his feelings in check, he gave a short +cry, levelling his Winchester and opening fire upon the grizzly, just as +it won fairly clear of the water. + +Stung to fury by those pellets, the brute reared up with a horrid roar, +turning as though to charge this new enemy; but ere he could do more, +the professor's gun spoke, and as the dynamite shell exploded, bruin +fell back a writhing mass, his head literally smashed to pieces. + +Heedless of all else, the wounded buffalo charged with lusty bellow, +goring that quivering mass with unabated fury, though its life was +clearly leaking out through those ghastly cuts and slashes. + +A brief pause, then Professor Featherwit swiftly reloaded his gun, +sending another shell across the stream, this time more as a boon than +as punishment. + +Smitten fairly in the forehead, the bull dropped as though beneath a +bolt of lightning, life going out without so much as a single struggle +or a single pang. + +“Twas better thus,” declared the professor, as Waldo gave a little +ejaculation of dismay. “He must have bled to death in a short time, and +this was true mercy. Besides, buffalo meat is very good eating, and the +day may come when we shall need all we can get. Who knows?” + +After the animals were inspected, and due comment made upon the awfully +sure work wrought by the dynamite gun, the professor suggested that, +while he was completing repairs upon the aeromotor, the brothers should +secure a supply of fish and of flesh, cooking sufficient to provide for +several meals, for there was no telling just when they would have an +equal chance. + +“Just as soon as we can put all in readiness,” he continued, “I am going +to leave this spot. My first wish is to thoroughly test the aerostat, +to make certain it has received no serious injury. Then, if all promises +well, I mean to begin our tour of exploration, hoping that we may, at +least, find something well worthy the strange reputation given these +Olympics by the natives.” + +Without raising any objections, the brothers fell to work, Bruno looking +after the flesh, while Waldo undertook to supply the fish. That was but +fair, since he had been cheated out of catching the first mess. + +Not a little to his delight, the professor found that the flying-machine +would promptly answer his touch and will, rising easily off the ground, +then descending at call, evidently having passed through the ordeal of +the bygone evening without serious harm. + +Still, all this consumed time, and it was after a late dinner that +everything was pronounced in readiness for an ascension: the meat and +fish nicely cooked and packed for carriage, a pot of strong coffee made +and stowed beyond risk of leakage, the flying-machine itself quivering +in that gentle breeze as though eager to find itself once more afloat +far above the earth and its obstructions to easy navigation. + +Waldo expressed some grief at leaving a spot where game came in such +plentitude to find the hunter, and trout simply longed to be caught; but +upon being assured of other opportunities, perhaps even more delightful, +he sighed and gave consent to mount into space. + +“Only--don't ask me to tackle any of those big dictionary fellows such +as you talked about this morning, uncle Phaeton, for I simply can't; +they'd get away with my baggage while I was trying to spell their names +and title--and all that!” + +Without any difficulty the aeromotor was sent out of and above the +forest, heading towards the northwest; that is, direct for the heart of +the Olympics, of whose marvels Professor Featherwit held such exalted +hopes and expectations. + +Grim and forbidding those mountains looked as the air-ship sailed +swiftly over them, opening up a wider view when the bare, rugged crest +was once left fairly to the rear. Save for those bald crowns, all below +appeared a solid carpet of tree-tops, now lower, there higher, yet ever +the same: seemingly impenetrable to man, should such an effort be made. + +Once fairly within the charmed circle, leaving the rocky ridge behind, +Professor Featherwit slackened speed, permitting the ship to drift +onward at a moderate pace, one hand touching the steering-gear, while +its fellow held a pair of field-glasses to his eager eyes. + +All at once he gave a half-stifled cry, partly rising in his excitement, +then crying aloud in thrilling tones: + +“The sea,--an inland sea!” + + + +CHAPTER IX. GRAPPLING A QUEER FISH. + +At nearly the same moment both Bruno and Waldo caught a glimpse of +water, shining clear and distinct amidst that sombre setting; but as yet +a tree-crested elevation interfered with the prospect, and it was not +until after the course of the air-ship had been materially changed, and +some little time had elapsed, that aught definite could be determined as +to the actual spread of that body of water. + +This proved to be considerable, although it needed but a single look +into the professor's face to learn that his eager hopes and exalted +anticipations fell far short of realisation. + +“Well, it's a sea all right,” generously declared Waldo, giving a +vigorous sniff by way of strengthening his words. “I can smell the salt +clear from this. A sea, even if it isn't quite so large as others,--what +one might term a lower-case c!” + +If nothing else, that generous effort brought its reward in the dry +little chuckle which escaped the professor's lips, and a kindly glow +showed through his glasses as he turned towards Waldo with a nod of +acknowledgment. + +“Barring the salty scent, my dear boy, which probably finds birth in +your kindly imagination. So, on the whole, perhaps 'twould be just as +well to term it a lake.” + +“One of no mean dimensions, at any rate, uncle Phaeton.” + +“True, Bruno,” with a nod of agreement, yet with forehead contracting +into a network of troubled lines. “Naturally so, and yet--surely this +must be merely a portion? Unless--yet I fail to see aught which might be +interpreted as being--” + +Promptly responding to each touch of hand upon steering-gear, the +aeromotor swung smoothly around, sailing on even keel right into the +teeth of the gentle wind, by this time near enough to that body of water +for the air-voyagers to scan its surface: a considerable expanse, all +told, yet by no means of such magnitude as Professor Featherwit had +anticipated. + +Too deeply absorbed in his own thoughts to notice the little cries and +ejaculations which came from the brothers, he caused the aerostat to +rise higher, slowly sweeping that extended field with his glasses. + +He could see where several streams entered the body of water, coming +from opposite points of the compass, and thus confirming at least one +portion of his explained theory; but, so far as his visual powers went, +there was no other considerable body of water to be discovered. + +“Yet, how can that contracted basin contain all the drainage from this +vast scope of country? How can we explain the stubborn fact of--What +now, lads?” + +An abrupt break, but one caused by the eager cry and loud speech from +the lips of the younger Gillespie. + +“Looky yonder! Isn't that one o' those sour-us dictionary fellows on a +bender? Isn't that--but I don't--no, it's only--” + +“Only a partly decayed tree gone afloat!” volunteered Bruno, with a +merry laugh, as his eager brother drew back in evident chagrin. + +“Well, that's all right. It ought to've been one, even if it isn't. +What's the use in coming all this way, if we're not going to discover +something beyond the common? And my sour-us is worth more than one of +the other kind, after all; get it ashore and you might cook dinner for a +solid month by it; now there!” + +It was easily to be seen that Waldo had been giving free rein to his +expectations ever since the professor's little lecture, but his natural +chagrin was quickly forgotten in a matter of far greater interest. + +Professor Featherwit had resumed his scrutiny of yonder body of water, +slowly turning his glasses while holding the air-ship on a true course +and even keel. + +For a brief space nothing interfered with the steady motion of +the field-glasses, but then something called for a more thorough +examination, and little by little the savant leaned farther forward, +breath coming more rapidly, face beginning to flush with deepening +interest. + +Bruno took note of all this, and, failing to see aught to account for +the symptoms with unaided eyes, at length ventured to speak. + +“What is it, uncle Phaeton? Something of interest, or your looks--” + +Professor Featherwit gave a start, then lowered the glasses and reached +them towards his nephew, speaking hurriedly: + +“You try them, Bruno; your eyes are younger, and ought to be keener than +mine. Yonder; towards the lower end of the--the lake, please.” + +Nothing loath, Gillespie complied, quickly finding the correct point +upon which the professor's interest had centred, holding the glasses +motionless for a brief space, then giving vent to an eager ejaculation. + +“What is it all about, bless you, boy?” demanded Waldo, unable longer to +curb his hot impatience. “Another drifting tree, eh?” + +“No, but,--did you see it, uncle?” + +“I saw something which--what do YOU see, first?” + +“A great big suck,--a monster whirlpool which is hollowed like--” + +“I knew it! I felt that must be the true solution of it all!” cried +uncle Phaeton, squirming about pretty much as one might into whose veins +had been injected quicksilver in place of ordinary blood. “The outlet! +Where the surplus waters drain off to the Pacific Ocean!” + +“I say, give me a chance, can't you?” interrupted Waldo, grasping the +glasses and shifting his station for one more favourable as a lookout. + +He had seen sufficient to catch the right angle, and then gave a +suppressed snort as he took in the view. Half a minute thus, then a wild +cry escaped his lips, closely followed by the words: + +“Now I DO see something! And it isn't a drifting tree, either! Or, that +is, something else which--shove her closer, uncle Phaeton! True as you +live, there's something caught in yonder big suck which is--closer, for +love of glory!” + +“If this is another joke, Waldo--” + +“No, no, I tell you, Bruno! Shove her over, uncle, for, without this +glass is hoodooed, we're needed right yonder,--and needed mighty bad, +too!” + +Little need of so much urging, by the way, since Professor Featherwit +was but slightly less excited by their double discovery, and even before +the glasses were clapped to Waldo's eyes the aerostat swung around to +move at full speed towards that precise quarter of the compass. + +“What is it you see, then, boy?” demanded Bruno, itching to take the +glasses, yet straining his own vision towards that as yet far-distant +spot. + +“Something like--oh, see how the water is running out,--just like +emptying a bathtub through a hole at the bottom! And see what--a man +caught in the whirl, true's you're a foot high, uncle!” + +“A man? Here? Impossible,--incredible, boy!” fairly exploded the +professor, not yet ready to relinquish his cherished belief in a terra +incognita. + +The air-voyagers were swiftly nearing that point of interest, and now +keen-eyed Bruno caught a glimpse of a drifting object which had been +drawn within the influence of yonder whirlpool, but which was just as +certainly a derelict from the forest. + +“Another floating tree-trunk for Waldo!” he cried, with a short laugh, +feeling far from unpleased that the intense strain upon his nerves +should be thus lessened. “Try it again, lad, and perhaps--” + +“Try your great-grandmother's cotton nightcap! Don't you suppose I can +tell the difference between a tree and a--” + +“Ranting, prancing, cavorting 'sour-us' right out of Webster's +Unabridged, eh, laddy-buck?” + +“That's all right, if you can only keep on thinking that way, old man; +but if yonder isn't a fellow being in a mighty nasty pickle, then I +wouldn't even begin to say so! And--you look, uncle Phaeton, please.” + +Nothing loath, the professor took the proffered glasses, and but an +instant later he, too, gave a sharp cry of amazement, for he saw, +clinging to the trunk of a floating tree, swiftly moving with those +circling waters, a living being! + +And but a few seconds later, Bruno made the same discovery, greatly to +the delight of his younger brother. + +“A man! And living, too!” + +“Of course; reckon I'd make such a howl about a floater?” bluntly +interjected Waldo. “But I'll do my crowing later on. For now we've got +to get the poor fellow out of that,--just got to yank him out!” + +Through all this hasty interchange of words, the aeromotor was swiftly +progressing, and now swung almost directly above the whirlpool, giving +all a fair, unobstructed view of everything below. + +The suction was so great that a sloping basin was formed, more than one +hundred yards in diameter, while the actual centre lay a number of feet +lower than the surrounding level. + +Half-way down that perilous slope a great tree was revolving, and to +this, as his forlorn hope, clung a half-clad man, plainly alive, since +he was looking upward, and--yes, waving a hand and uttering a cry for +aid and succour. + +“Help! For love of God, save me!” + +“White,--an American, too!” exploded Waldo, taking action as by +brilliant inspiration. “Hang over him, uncle, for I'm going--to go +fishing--for a man!” + +Waldo was tugging at the grapnel and long drag-rope. Bruno was quick +to divine his intention, and lent a deft hand, while the professor +manipulated the helm so adroitly as to keep the flying-machine hovering +directly above yonder imperilled stranger, leaning far over the +hand-rail to shout downward: + +“Have courage, sir, and stand ready to help yourself! We will rescue you +if it lies within the possibilities of--we WILL save you!” + +“You bet we just will, and right--like this,” spluttered Waldo, as he +cast the grapnel over the rail and swiftly lowered it by the rope. “Play +you're a fish, stranger, and when you bite, hang on like grim death to +a--steady, now!” + +Fortunately nothing occurred to mar the programme so hastily arranged, +for the drift was drawing nearer the centre of the whirl, and if once +fairly caught by that, nothing human could preserve the stranger from +death. + +“Make a jump and grab it, if you can't do better!” cried Waldo, +intensely excited now that the crisis was at hand. + +The long rope with its iron weight swayed awkwardly in spite of all he +could do to steady it, and as each one of the three prongs was meant for +catching and holding fast to whatever they touched, there was no slight +risk of impaling the man, thus giving him the choice of another and +still more painful death. + +Then, with a desperate grasp, a death-clutch, he caught one arm of the +grapnel, holding fast as the shock came. He was carried clear of the +tree, and partly submerged in the water as his added weight brought the +flying-machine so much lower. + +“Up, up, uncle Phaeton!” fairly howled Waldo, at the same time tugging +at the now taut rope, in which he was ably seconded by his brother. “For +love of--higher, uncle!” + +Then the noble machine responded to the touch of its builder, lifting +the dripping stranger clear of the whirling currents, swinging him away +towards yonder higher level, where a fall would not prove so quickly +fatal. And then the eager professor gave a shrill cheer as he saw the +man, by a vigorous effort, draw his body upward sufficiently far to +throw one leg over an arm of the grapnel itself. + +Knowing now that the rescued was in no especial peril, uncle Phaeton +left the air-ship to steer itself long enough for his nimble hands to +take several turns of the drag-rope around the cleat provided for +that express purpose, thus relieving both Bruno and Waldo of the heavy +strain, which might soon begin to tell upon them. + +“Hurrah for we, us, and company!” cried Waldo, relieving his lungs of +a portion of their pent-up energy, then leaning perilously far over the +edge of the machine to encourage the queer fish he had hooked. + + + +CHAPTER X. RESCUED AND RESCUERS. + +Despite their very natural excitement, caused by this peril and its +foiling, Professor Featherwit retained nearly all his customary coolness +and presence of mind. + +Readily realising that after such a grim ordeal would almost certainly +come a powerful revulsion, his first aim was to swing the stranger far +enough away from the whirlpool to give him a fair chance for life, in +case he should fall, through dizziness or physical collapse, from the +end of the drag-rope. + +This took but a few seconds, comparatively speaking, though, doubtless, +each moment seemed an age to the rescued stranger. Then the professor +slowed his ship, looking around in order to determine upon the wisest +route to take. + +For one thing, it would be severe work to draw the stranger bodily +up and into the aerostat. For another, unless he should grow weak, or +suffer from vertigo, both time and labour would be saved by taking him +direct to the shore of this broad lake. + +As soon as the rope was made fast, and the strain taken off their +muscles as well as their minds, Bruno flashed a look around, naturally +turning his eyes in the direction of the whirlpool. + +Although less than a couple of minutes had elapsed since the man was +lifted off the circling drift, even thus quickly had the end drawn nigh; +for, even as he looked that way, Gillespie saw the great trunk sucked +into the hidden sink, the top rising with a shiver clear out of the +water as the butt lowered, a hollow, rumbling sound coming to all ears +as-- + +“Gone!” cried Bruno, in awed tones, as the whole drift vanished from +sight for ever. + +“Sucked in by Jonah's whale, for ducats!” screamed Waldo, excitedly. +“Fetch on your blessed 'sour-us' of both the male and female sect! Trot +'em to the fore, and if my little old suck don't take the starch out of +their backbones,--they DID have backbones, didn't they, uncle Phaeton?” + +Professor Featherwit frowned, and shook his head in silent reproof. +More nearly, perhaps, than either of the boys, he realised what an awful +peril this stranger had so narrowly escaped. It was far too early to +turn that escape into jest, even for one naturally light of heart. + +He leaned over the hand-rail, peering downward. He could see the rescued +man sitting firmly in the bend of the grapnel, one hand tightly gripping +the rope, its mate shading his eyes, as he stared fixedly towards +the whirling death-pool, from whose jaws he had so miraculously been +plucked. + +There was naught of debility, either of body or of mind, to be read in +that figure, and with his fears on that particular point set at rest, +for the time being, Professor Featherwit called out, distinctly: + +“Is it all well with you, my good friend? Can you hold fast until the +shore is reached, think?” + +“Heaven bless you,--yes!” came the reply, in half-choked tones. “If I +fail in giving thanks--” + +“Never mention it, friend; it cost us nothing,” cheerily interrupted the +professor, then adding, “Hold fast, please, and we'll put on a wee bit +more steam.” + +The flying-machine was now fairly headed for a strip of shore which +offered an excellent opportunity for making a safe landing, and as that +accelerated motion did not appear to materially affect the stranger, it +took but a few minutes to clear the lake. + +“Stand ready to let go when we come low enough, please,” warned the +professor, deftly managing his pet machine for that purpose. + +The stranger easily landed, then watched the flying-machine with +painfully eager gaze, hands clasped almost as though in prayer. A more +remarkable sight than this half-naked shape, burned brown by the sun, +poorly protected by light skins, with sinew fastenings, could scarcely +be imagined; and there was something close akin to tears in more eyes +than one when he came running in chase, arms outstretched, and voice +wildly appealing: + +“Oh, come back! Take me,--don't leave me,--for love of God and humanity, +don't leave me to this living death!” + +Professor Featherwit called back a hasty assurance, and brought the +air-ship to a landing with greater haste than was exactly prudent, all +things considered; but who could keep cool blood and unmoved heart, with +yonder piteous object before their eyes? + +When he saw that the flying-machine had fairly landed, and beheld its +inmates stepping forth upon the sands with friendly salutations, the +rescued stranger staggered, hands clasping his temples for a moment of +drunken reeling, then he fell forward like one smitten by the hand of +sudden death. + +Professor Featherwit called out a few curt directions, which were +promptly obeyed by his nephews, and after a few minutes' well-directed +work consciousness was restored, and the stranger feebly strove to give +them thanks. + +In vain these were set aside. He seemed like one half-insane from joy, +and none who saw and heard could think that all this emotion arose from +the simple rescue from the whirlpool. Nor did it. + +Wildly, far from coherently, the poor fellow spoke, yet something of +the awful truth was to be gleaned even from those broken, disjointed +sentences. + +For ten years an exile in these horrible wilds. For ten years not a +single glimpse of white face or figure. For ten ages no intelligible +voice, save his own; and that, through long disuse, had threatened to +desert him! + +“Ten years!” echoed Waldo, in amazement. “Why didn't you rack out o' +this, then? I know I would; even if the woods were full of--'sour-us' +and the like o' that! Yes, SIR!” + +A low, husky laugh came through those heavily bearded lips, and the +stranger flung out his hands in a sweeping gesture, sunken eyes glowing +with an almost savage light as he spoke with more coherence: + +“Why is it, young gentleman? Why did I not leave, do you ask? Look! +All about you it stretches: a cell,--a death-cell, from which escape is +impossible! Here I have fought for what is ever more precious than bare +life: for liberty; but though ten awful years have rolled by, here I +remain, in worse than prison! Escape? Ah, how often have I attempted +to escape, only to fail, because escape from these wilds is beyond the +power of any person not gifted with wings!” + +“Ten years, you say, good friend? And all that time you have lived here +alone?” asked the professor, curiously. + +“Ten years,--ten thousand years, I could almost swear, only for keeping +the record so carefully, so religiously. And--pitiful Lord! How gladly +would I have given my good right arm, just for one faraway glimpse +of civilisation! How often--but I am wearying you, gentlemen, and you +may--pray don't think that I am crazy; you will not?” + +Both the professor and Bruno assured him to the contrary, but Waldo was +less affected, and his curiosity could no longer be kept within bounds. +Gently tapping one hairy arm, he spoke: + +“I say, friend, what were you doing out yonder in the big suck? Didn't +you know the fun was hardly equal to the risk, sir?” + +“Easy, lad,” reproved the professor; but with a a smile, which strangely +softened that haggard, weather-worn visage, the stranger spoke: + +“Nay, kind sir, do not check the young gentleman. If you could only +realise how sweet it is to my poor ears,--the sound of a friendly voice! +For so many weary years I have never heard one word from human lips +which I could understand or make answer to. And now,--what is it you +wish to know, my dear boy?” + +“Well, since you've lived here so long, surely you hadn't ought to get +caught in such a nasty pickle; unless it was through accident?” + +“It was partly accidental. One that would have cost me dearly had not +you come to my aid so opportunely. And yet,--only for one thing, I could +scarcely have regretted vanishing for ever down that suck!” + +His voice choked, his head bowed, his hands came together in a nervous +grip, all betokening unusual agitation. Even Waldo was just a bit awed, +and the stranger was first to break that silence with words. + +“How did the mishap come about, is it, young gentleman?” he said, a wan +smile creeping into his face, and relaxing those tensely drawn muscles +once more. “While I was trying to replenish my stock of provisions, and +after this fashion, good friends. + +“I was fishing from a small canoe, and as the bait was not taken well, +I must have fallen into a day dream, thinking of--no matter, now. And +during that dreaming, the breeze must have blown me well out into the +lake, for when I was roused up by a sharp jerk at my line, I found +myself near its middle, without knowing just how I came there. + +“I have no idea what sort of fish had taken my bait,--there are many +enormous ones in the lake,--but it proved far too powerful for me +to manage, and dragged the canoe swiftly through the water, heading +directly for the outlet, yonder.” + +“Why didn't you let it go free, then?” + +“The line was fastened to the prow, and I could not loosen it in time. I +drew my knife,--one of flint, but keen enough to serve,--only to have +it jerked out of my hand and into the water. Then, just as the fish must +have plunged into the suck, I abandoned my canoe, jumping overboard.” + +“That's just what I was wondering about,” declared Waldo, with a +vigorous nod of his head. “Yet we found you--there?” + +“Because I am a wretchedly poor swimmer. I managed to reach a drift +which had not yet fairly entered the whirl, but I could do nothing more +towards saving myself. Then--you can guess the rest, gentlemen.” + +“And the canoe?” demanded Waldo, content only when all points were made +manifest. + +“I saw it dragged down the centre of the suck,” with an involuntary +shiver. “The fish must have plunged into the underground river, whether +willingly or not I can only surmise. But all the while I was drifting +yonder, around and around, with each circuit drawing closer to the +awful end, I could not help picturing to myself how the canoe must have +plunged down, and down, and--burr-r-r!” + +A shuddering shiver which was more eloquent than words; but Waldo was +not yet wholly content, finding an absorbing interest in that particular +subject. + +“You call it a river: how do you know it's a river?” + +“Of course, I can only guess at the facts, my dear boy,” the stranger +made reply, smiling once more, and, with an almost timid gesture, +extending one hairy paw to lightly touch and gently stroke the arm +nearest him. + +Bruno turned away abruptly, for that gesture, so simple in itself, yet +so full of pathos to one who bore in mind those long years of solitary +exile, brought a moisture to his big brown eyes of which, boy-like, he +felt ashamed. + +Professor Featherwit likewise took note, and with greater presence of +mind came to the rescue, lightly resting a hand upon the stranger's +half-bare shoulder while addressing his words to the youngster. + +A tremulous sigh escaped those bearded lips, and their owner drew closer +to the wiry little aeronaut, plainly drawing great comfort from that +mere contact. And with like ease uncle Phaeton lifted one of those hairy +arms to rest it over his own shoulders, speaking briskly the while. + +“There is only one way of demonstrating the truth more clearly, +my youthful inquisitor, and that is by sending you on a voyage of +exploration. Are you willing to make the attempt, Waldo?” + +“Not this evening; some other evening,--maybe!” drawing back a bit, with +a shake of his curly pate to match. “But, I say, uncle Phaeton--” + +“Allow me to complete my say, first, dear boy,” with a bland smile. +“That is easily done, though, for it merely consists of this: yonder +sink, or whirlpool, is certainly the method this lake has of relieving +itself of all surplus water. Everything points to a subterranean river +which connects this lake with the Pacific Ocean.” + +“Wonder how long I'd have to hold my breath to make the trip?” + + + +CHAPTER XI. ANOTHER SURPRISE FOR THE PROFESSOR. + +The stranger laughed aloud at this, then seemed surprised that aught +of mirth could be awakened where grief and despair had so long reigned +supreme. + +“You will come with me to--to my den, gentlemen?” he asked, still +nervous, and plainly loath to do aught which indicated a return to his +recent dreary method of living. + +“Is the distance great?” asked Professor Featherwit, with a glance +towards the aeromotor, then flashing his gaze further, as though to +guard against possible harm coming to that valuable piece of property. + +More than ever to be guarded now, since the words spoken by this +exile. Better death in yonder mighty whirlpool than a half-score years' +imprisonment here! + +Not so very far, he was assured, while it would be comparatively easy to +float the air-ship above the trees, there of no extraordinary growth. + +At the same time this assurance was given, the stranger could not mask +his uneasiness of mind, and it was really pitiful to see one so strong +in body and limb, so weak otherwise. + +But uncle Phaeton was a fairly keen judge of human nature, and possessed +no small degree of tact. Divining the real cause of that dread, he took +the easiest method of allaying it, speaking briskly as he moved across +to the aerostat. + +“Bear the gentleman company, my lads, while I manage the ship. You will +know what signals to make, and I can contrive the rest.” + +Again the recluse laughed, but now it was through pure joy, such as he +had not experienced for long years gone by. He was not to be deserted +by his rescuers from the whirlpool, and that was comfort enough for the +moment. + +Thanks to that guidance, but little time was cut to waste, Professor +Featherwit taking the flying-machine away from the shore of the lake, +floating slowly above the tree-tops, guiding his movements by those +below, finally effecting a safe landing in a miniature glade, at no +great distance from the “den” alluded to by their new-found friend. + +“It will be perfectly safe here,” the exile hastened to give assurance, +as that landing was made. “Then, too, this is the only spot nigh at +hand from which a hasty ascent could well be made, even with such an +admirable machine as yours. Ah, me!” with a long breath which lacked but +little of being a sigh, as he keenly, eagerly examined the aerostat. “A +marvel! Who would have dared predict such another, only a dozen years +ago? I thought we had drawn very close to perfection while I was in the +profession, but this,--marvellous!” + +Both words and manner gave the keen-witted professor a clew to one +mystery, and he quickly spoke: + +“Then you were familiar with aerostatics, sir? Your name is--” + +“Edgecombe,--Cooper Edgecombe.” + +“What?” with undisguised surprise in face as in voice. “Professor +Edgecombe, the celebrated balloonist who was lost so long ago?” + +“Ay! lost here in this thrice accursed wilderness!” passionately cried +the exile; then, as though abashed by his own outburst, he turned away, +pausing again only when at the entrance to his dreary refuge of many +years. + +“Give the poor fellow his own way until he has had time to rally, boys,” + muttered uncle Phaeton, in lowered tones, before following that lead. “I +can understand it better, now, and this is--still is the terra incognita +of which I have dreamed so long!” + +That refuge proved to be a large, fairly dry cavern, the entrance to +which was admirably masked by vines and creepers, while the stony soil +just there retained no trace of footprints to tell dangerous tales. + +Mr. Edgecombe vanished, but not for long. Then, showing a light, formed +of fat and twisted wick in a hollowed bit of hardwood, he begged his +rescuers to enter. + +No second invitation was needed, for even the professor felt a powerful +curiosity to learn what method had been followed by this enforced exile; +how he had managed to live for so many weary years. + +With only that smoky lamp to shed light around the place, critical +investigation was a matter of time and painstaking, although a general +idea of the cavern was readily formed. + +High overhead arched the rocky roof, blackened by smoke, and looking +more gloomy than nature had intended. The side walls were likewise +irregular, now showing tiny niches and nooks, then jutting out to form +awkward points and elbows, which were but partially disguised by such +articles of wear and daily use as the exile had collected during the +years gone by, or since his occupancy first began. + +So much the professor took in with his initial glances, but then he left +Waldo and his brother to look more closely, himself giving thought to +the being whom they had so happily saved from the whirlpool. + +“Professor Edgecombe!” he again exclaimed, grasping those roughened +hands to press them cordially. “I ought to have recognised you at sight, +no doubt, since I have watched your ascents time and time again.” + +The exile smiled faintly, shaking his head and giving another sigh. + +“Ah, me! 'twas vastly different, then. I only marvel that you should +give me credit when I lay claim to that name, so long--it has long faded +from the public's memory, sir.” + +But uncle Phaeton shook his head, decidedly. + +“No, no, I assure you, my friend; far from it. Whenever the topic is +brought to the front; whenever aerostatics are discussed, your name and +fame are sure to play a prominent part. And yet,--you disappeared so +long ago, never being heard of after--” + +“After sailing away upon the storm for which I had waited and prayed, +for so many weary, heart-sick months!” + +“So the rumour ran, but we all believed that must be an exaggeration, +and not for a long time was all hope abandoned. Then, more hearts than +one felt sore and sad at thoughts of your untimely fate.” + +“A fate infinitely worse than ordinary death such as was credited me,” + huskily muttered the exile. “Ten years,--and ever since I have been +here, helpless to extricate myself, doomed to a living death, which none +other can ever fully realise! Doomed to--to--” + +His voice choked, and he turned away to hide his emotions. + +Professor Featherwit thoroughly appreciated the interruption which came +through Waldo's lips just at that moment. + +“Oh, I say,--uncle Phaeton!” + +“What is it, lad? Don't meddle with what doesn't--” + +“Looking can't hurt, can it? And to think people ever got along with +such things as these!” + +Waldo was squared before sundry articles depending from the side +wall, and as the professor drew closer, he, too, displayed a degree of +interest which was really remarkable. + +A gaily colored tunic of thickly quilted cotton was hanging beside an +oddly shaped war club, the heavier end of which was armed with blades of +stone which gleamed and sparkled even in that dim light. And attached to +this weapon was another, hardly less curious: a knife formed of copper, +with heft and blade all from one piece of metal. + +“Here is the rest of the outfit,” said Edgecombe, holding forth a bow +and several feathered arrows with obsidian heads. + +Professor Featherwit gave a low, eager cry as he handled the various +articles, both face and manner betraying intense delight, which found +partial vent in words a little later. + +“Wonderful! Marvellous! Superb! I envy you, sir; I can't help but envy +your possession of so magnificent--and so well-preserved, too! That is +the marvel of marvels!” + +“Well, to be sure, I haven't used them very much. The bow and arrows I +could manage fairly well, after busy practice. They have saved me from +more than one hungry night. But as for the rest--” + +“You might have worn the--Is it a ghost-dance shirt, though?” + hesitatingly asked Waldo, gingerly fingering the wadded tunic. + +“Waldo, I'm ashamed of you, boy!” almost harshly reproved the professor. +“Ghost-dance shirt, indeed! And this one of the most complete--the only +perfectly preserved specimen of the ancient Aztec--pray, my good friend, +where did you discover them? Surely there can be no burial mounds so far +above the latitude where that unfortunate race lived and died?” + +Mr. Edgecombe shook his head, with a puzzled look, then made reply: + +“No, sir. I took these all from an Indian I was forced to kill in order +to save my own life. I never thought--You are ill, sir?” + +“Bless my soul!” ejaculated the professor, falling back a pace or two, +then sitting down with greater force than grace, all the while gazing +upon those weapons like one in a daze. “Found them--Indian--killed him +in order to--bless my soul!” + +Then, with marvellous activity for one of his age, the professor +recovered his footing, mumbling something about tripping a heel, then +resumed his examination of the curiosities as though he had care for +naught beside. + +Cooper Edgecombe turned away, and the professor improved the opportunity +by muttering to the brothers: + +“Careful, lads. Give the poor fellow his own way in all things, for he +is--he surely must be--eh?” + +Forefinger covertly tapped forehead, for there was no time granted for +further explanations. Edgecombe turned again, speaking in hard, even +strained tones: + +“Fifteen years ago this month, on the 27th, to be exact, a balloon with +two passengers was carried away on a terrific gale of wind which blew +from the southeast. This happened in Washington Territory. Can you tell +me--has anything ever been heard of either balloon or its inmates?” + +Professor Featherwit shook his head in negation before saying: + +“Not to my knowledge, though doubtless the prints of the day--” + +Cooper Edgecombe shook both head and hand with strange impatience. + +“No, no. I know they were never heard from up to ten years ago, but +since then--I am a fool to even dream of such a thing, and yet,--only +for that faint hope I would have gone mad long ago!” + +Indeed, he looked little less than insane as it was. + + + +CHAPTER XII. THE STORY OF A BROKEN LIFE. + +This was the idea that occurred to both uncle and nephews, but they had +seen and heard enough to excuse all that, and Professor Featherwit spoke +again, in mildly curious tones: + +“Sorry I am unable to give you better tidings, my good friend, but, so +far as my knowledge extends, nothing has come to light of recent years. +And--if not a leading question--were those passengers friends of your +own?” + +“Only--merely my--my wife and little daughter,” came the totally +unexpected reply, followed by a forced laugh which sounded anything but +mirthful. + +Uncle Phaeton, intensely chagrined, hastened to apologise for his +luckless break, but Cooper Edgecombe cut him short, asking that the +matter be let drop for the time being. + +“I will talk; I feel that I must tell you all, or lose what few wits +I have left,” he declared, huskily. “But not right now. It is growing +late. You must be hungry. I have no very extensive larder, but with my +little will go the gratitude of a man who--” + +His voice choked, and he left the sentence unfinished, hurrying away to +prepare such a meal as his limited means would permit. + +While Edgecombe was kindling a fire in one corner of the cavern, opening +a pile of ashes to extract the few carefully cherished coals by means +of which the wood was to be fired, uncle and one nephew left the den to +look after the flying-machine and contents. + +Bruno remained behind, in obedience to a hint from the professor, lest +the exile should dread desertion, after all. + +“Take these in and open them, Waldo,” said the professor, selecting +several cans from the stock in the locker. “Poor fellow! 'Twill be like +a foretaste of civilisation, just to see and smell, much less taste, the +fruit.” + +“Even if he has turned looney, eh, uncle Phaeton?” + +“Careful, boy! I hardly think he is just that far gone; but, even if +so, what marvel? Think of all he must have suffered during so many +long, dreary years! and--his wife and child! I wonder--I do wonder if he +really killed--but that is incredible, simply and utterly incredible! An +Aztec--here--alive!” + +“Dead, uncle Phaeton,” corrected Waldo. “Killed the redskin, he said, +and I really reckon he meant it. Why not, pray?” + +“But--an Aztec, boy!” exclaimed the bewildered savant, unable to pass +that point. “The tunic of quilted cotton, the escaupil! The maquahuitl, +with its blades of grass! The bow and arrows which--all, all surely of +Aztecan manufacture, yet seemingly fresh and serviceable as though in +use but a month ago! And the race extinct for centuries!” + +“Well, unless he's a howling liar from 'way up the crick, he extincted +one of 'em,” cheerfully commented Waldo, bearing his canned fruit to the +cavern. + +Professor Featherwit followed shortly after, finding the exile busy +preparing food, looking and acting far more naturally than he had since +his rescue from the whirlpool. And then, until the evening meal was +announced, uncle Phaeton hovered near those amazing curiosities, now +gazing like one in a waking dream, then gingerly fingering each article +in turn, as though hoping to find a solution for his enigma through the +sense of touch. + +Taken all in all, that was far from a pleasant or enjoyable meal. A +sense of restraint rested upon each one of that little company, and not +one succeeded in fairly breaking it away, though each tried in turn. + +Despite the struggle made by the exile to hold all emotions well under +subjection, Cooper Edgecombe failed to hide his almost childish delight +at sight and taste of those canned goods, and it did not require much +urging on the part of his rescuers to ensure his partaking freely. + +But the cap-sheaf came when uncle Phaeton, true to his habit of long +years, after eating, produced pipe and pouch, the fragrant tobacco +catching the exile's nostrils and drawing a low, tremulous cry from his +lips. + +No need to ask what was the matter, for that eager gaze, those quivering +fingers, were enough. And just as though this had been his express +purpose, the professor passed the pipe over, quietly speaking: + +“Perhaps you would like a little smoke after your supper, my good +friend? Oblige me by--” + +“May I? Oh, sir, may I--really taste--oh, oh, oh!” + +Bruno struck a match and steadied the pipe until the tobacco was fairly +ignited, then drew back and left the exile to himself for the time +being. And, as covert glances told them, never before had their eyes +rested upon mortal being so intensely happy as was the long-lost +aeronaut then and there. + +At a sign from the professor, Bruno and Waldo silently arose and left +the cavern, bearing their guardian company to where the air-ship was +resting. And there they busied themselves with making preparations for +the night, which was just settling over that portion of the earth. + +Presently Cooper Edgecombe appeared, the empty pipe in hand, held as +one might caress an inestimable treasure, a dreamy, almost blissful +expression upon his sun-browned face. + +“I thank you, sir, more than tongue can tell,” he said, quietly, as he +restored the pipe to its owner. “If you could only realise what I have +suffered through this deprivation! I, an inveterate smoker; yet suddenly +deprived of it, and so kept for ten long years! If I had had a pipe and +tobacco, I believe--but enough.” + +“I can sympathise with you, at least in part, my friend. Will you have +another smoke, by the way?” + +“No, no, not now; I feel blessed for the moment, and more might be worse +than none, after so long deprivation. And--may I talk openly to you, +dear, kind friends? May I tell you--am I selfish in wishing to trouble +you thus? Ten years, remember, and not a soul to speak with!” + +He laughed, but it was a sorry mirth; and not caring to trust his tongue +just then, uncle Phaeton nodded his head emphatically while filling his +pipe for himself. But Waldo never lacked for words, and spoke out: + +“That's all right, sir; we can listen as long as you can chin-chin. Tell +us all about--well, what's the matter with that big Injun?” + +“Quiet, Waldo. Say what best pleases you, my friend. You can be sure of +one thing,--sympathetic listeners, if nothing better.” + +With a curious shiver, as though afflicted with a sudden chill, +Edgecombe turned partly away, figure drawn rigidly erect, hands tightly +clasped behind his back. A brief silence, then he spoke in tones of +forced composure. + +“A balloon was the best, in my day, and I was proud of my profession, +although even then I was dreaming of better things--of something akin +to this marvellous creation of yours, sir,” casting a fleeting glance +at the air-ship, then at the face of its builder, afterward resuming his +former attitude. + +“Let that pass, though. I wanted to tell you how I met with my awful +loss; how I came to be out here in this modern hell! + +“I had a wife, a daughter, each of whom felt almost as powerful an +interest in aerostatics as I did myself. And one day--but, wait! + +“I had an enemy, too; one who had, years before, sought to win my +love for his own; in vain, the cur! And that day--we were out here in +Washington Territory, living in comparative solitude that I might the +better study out the theory I was slowly shaping in my brain. + +“The day was beautiful, but almost oppressively warm, and, as they +so frequently wished, I let my dear ones up in the balloon, securely +fastening it below. And then--God forgive me!--I went back to town for +something; I forget just what, now. + +“A sudden storm came up. I hurried homeward; home to me was wherever +my dear ones chanced to be; but I was just too late! That devil of all +devils was ahead of me, and I saw him--merciful God! I saw him--cut the +ropes and let the balloon dart away upon that awful gale!” + +His voice choked, and for a few minutes silence reigned. Knowing how +vain must be any attempt to offer consolation, the trio of air-voyagers +said nothing, and presently Cooper Edgecombe spoke. + +“I killed the demon. I nearly tore him limb from limb; I would have done +just that, only for those who came hurrying after me from town, knowing +that I might need help in bringing my balloon to earth in safety. They +dragged me away, but 'twas too late to cheat my miserable vengeance. +That hound was dead, but--my darlings were gone, for ever!” + +Another pause, then quieter, more coherent speech. + +“God alone knows whither my wife and child were taken. The general drift +was in this direction, but how far they were carried, or how long they +may have lived, I can only guess; enough that, despite all my inquiries, +made far and wide in every direction, I never heard aught of either +balloon or passengers! + +“After that, I had but one object in life: to follow along the track of +that storm, and either find my loved ones, or--or some clew which should +for ever solve my awful doubts! And for two long years or more I fought +to pierce these horrid fastnesses,--all in vain. No mortal man could +succeed, even when urged on by such a motive as mine. + +“Then I determined upon another course. I worked and slaved until I +could procure another balloon, as nearly like the one I lost as might +be constructed. Then I watched and waited for just such another storm +as the one upon whose wings my darlings were borne away, meaning to take +the same course, and so find--” + +“Why, man, dear, you must have been insane!” impulsively cried the +professor, unable longer to control his tongue. + +“Perhaps I was; little wonder if so,” admitted Edgecombe, turning that +way, with a wan smile lighting up his visage. “I could no longer reason. +I could only act. I had but that one grim hope, to eventually discover +what time and exposure to the weather might have left of my lost loves. + +“Then, after so long waiting, the storm came, blowing in the same +direction as that other. I cut my balloon loose, and let it drift. I +looked and waited, hoping, longing, yet--failing! I was wrecked, here in +this wilderness. My balloon was carried away. I failed to find--aught!” + +Cooper Edgecombe turned towards the air-ship, with a sigh of regret. + +“If one had something like this then, I might have found them,--even +alive! But now--too late--eternally too late!” + + + +CHAPTER XIII. THE LOST CITY OF THE AZTECS. + +Uncle Phaeton was more than willing to do the honours of his pet +invention, and this afforded a most happy diversion, although the +deepening twilight hindered any very extensive examination. + +Cooper Edgecombe showed himself in a vastly different light while thus +engaged, his shrewd questions, his apt comments, quite effectually +removing the far from agreeable doubts born of his earlier words and +demeanour. + +“Well, if he's looney, it's only on some points, not as the whole +porker, anyway,” confidentially asserted Waldo, when an opportunity +offered. “Coax him to tell how he knocked the redskin out, uncle +Phaeton.” + +Little need of recalling that perplexing incident to the worthy savant, +for, try as he might, Featherwit could not keep from brooding over that +wondrous collection of relics pertaining to a long-since extinct people. +Of course, the last one had perished ages ago; and yet--and yet-- + +Through his half-bewildered brain flashed the accounts given by +the coast tribes, members of which he had so frequently interviewed +concerning this unknown land, one and all of whom had more or less to +say in regard to a strange people, terrible fighters, mighty hunters, +one burning glance from whose eyes carried death and decay unto all who +were foolhardy enough even to attempt to pass those mighty barriers, +built up by a beneficent nature. Only for that nearly impassable wall, +the entire earth would be overrun and dominated by these monsters in +human guise. + +Then, after the air-ship was cared for to the best of his ability, and +the night-guard set in place so that an alarm might give warning of any +illegal intrusion, the little party returned to the cavern home of the +exile where, after another refusal on his part, the professor filled and +lighted his beloved pipe. + +Almost in spite of himself Featherwit was drawn towards those marvellous +articles depending from the wall, and, as he gazed in silent marvel, +Cooper Edgecombe drew nigh, with still other articles to complete the +collection. + +“You may possibly find something of interest in these, too, dear sir, +although I have given them rather rough usage. This formed a rather +comfortable cap, and--” + +“A helmet! And sandals! A sash which is--yes! worn about the waist, +mainly to support weapons, and termed a maxtlatl, which--and +all sufficiently well preserved to be readily recognised as +genuine--unless--Surely I am dreaming!” + +If not precisely that, the worthy professor assuredly was almost beside +himself while examining these articles of warrior's wear, one by one, +knowing that neither eyes nor memory were at fault, yet still unable to +believe those very senses. + +Up to this, Cooper Edgecombe had felt but a passing interest in +the matter, forming as it did but a single incident in a more than +ordinarily eventful life; but now he began to divine at least a portion +of the truth, and his face was lighted up with unusual animation, when +Phaeton Featherwit turned that way, to almost sharply demand: + +“Where did you gain possession of these weapons and garments, sir? And +how,--from whom?” + +“I took them from an Indian, nearly two years ago. He caught me off my +guard, and, when I saw that I could neither hide nor flee, I fought for +my life,” explained the exile; then giving a short, bitter laugh, to +add: “Strange, is it not? Although I had long since grown weary of +existence such as this, I fought for it; I turned wild beast, as it +were! Then, after all was over, I took these things, more because I +feared his comrades might suspect--” + +“His comrades?” echoed the professor. “More than the one, then? You +killed him, but--there were others, still?” + +“Many of them; far too many for any one man to withstand,” earnestly +declared the exile. “I made all haste in bearing the redskin here, +obliterating all signs as quickly as possible; yet for days and nights I +cowered here in utter darkness, each minute expecting an attack from too +powerful a force for standing against.” + +Uncle Phaeton rubbed his hands briskly, shifting his weight hurriedly +from one foot to its mate, then back again, the very personification of +eager interest and growing conviction. + +“More of them? A strong force? Armed,--and garbed as of old? The +clothing, the footwear, and, above all else, the weapons, purely +Aztecan? And here, only two short years ago?” + +“Sadly long and hideously dreary years I have found them, sir,” the +exile said, in dejected tones. + +The professor burst into a shrill, excited laugh, which sounded almost +hysterical, and, not a little to the amazement of his nephews, broke +into a regular dance, jigging it right merrily, hands on hips, head +perked, and chin in air, at the same time striving to carry the tune in +his far from melodious voice. + +After all, perhaps no better method could have been taken to work off +his almost hysterical excitement, and presently he paused, panting and +heated, chuckling after an abashed fashion as he encountered the eyes of +his nephews. + +“Not a word, my dear boys,” he hastened to plead. “I had to do something +or--or explode! I feel better, now. I can behave myself, I hope. I am +calm, cool, and composed as--the genuine Aztecs! And we are the ones to +discover that--oh, I forgot!” + +For Waldo was fairly exploding with mirth, while Bruno smiled, and even +the exile appeared to be amused to a certain extent at his expense. + +Little by little, the worthy savant calmed down, and then, almost +forcing the exile to indulge in another delicious smoke, he led up to +the subject in which his interest was fairly intense. + +Cooper Edgecombe was willing enough to tell all that lay in his power, +although he was only beginning to realise how much that might mean to +the world at large, judging by the actions of the professor. + +According to his account, the great lake, or drainage reservoir of the +Olympics, was a sort of semi-yearly rendezvous for a warlike tribe of +red men, where they congregated for the purpose of catching and drying +vast quantities of fish, doubtless to be used during the winter. + +“As a general thing they pitch their camp on the other side, over +towards the northeast; but small parties are pretty sure to rove far and +wide, coming around this way quite as often as not.” + +“And their garb,--the weapons they bore?” asked the professor. + +Edgecombe motioned towards those articles in which such a lively +interest had been awakened, then said that, while few of the red men who +had come beneath his near observation had been so elaborately equipped, +he had taken notice of similar weapons and garments, with additions +which he strove hard to describe with accuracy. + +Nearly every sentence which crossed his lips served to confirm the +marvellous truth which had so dazzlingly burst upon the professor's +eager brain, and with a glib tongue he named each weapon, each garment, +as accurately as ever set down in ancient history, not a little to the +wide-eyed amazement of Waldo Gillespie. + +“Worse than those blessed 'sour-us' and cousins,” he confided to his +brother, in a whisper. “Reckon it's all right, Bruno? Uncle isn't--eh?” + +But uncle Phaeton paid them no attention, so deeply was he stirred +by this wondrous revelation. He felt that he was upon the verge of a +discovery which would startle the wide world as no recent announcement +had been able to do, unless--but it surely must be correct! + +And then, when Cooper Edgecombe finished all he could tell concerning +those queerly armed and gaudily garbed red men, the professor let loose +his tongue, telling what glorious hopes and dazzling anticipations were +now within him. + +“For hundreds upon hundreds of years there have been wild, weird legends +about the Lost City, but that merely meant a mass of wondrous ruins, +long since overwhelmed by shifting sands, somewhere in the heart of the +great American desert, so-called. + +“By some it was claimed that this ancient city owed its primal existence +to a fragment of the Aztecs, driven from their native quarters in Old +Mexico. By others 'twas attributed unto one of the fabulous 'Lost Tribes +of Israel,' but even the most enthusiastic never for one moment dreamed +of--this!” + +“Except yourself, uncle Phaeton,” cut in Waldo, with a subdued grin. +“This must be one of the marvels you calculated on discovering, thanks +to the flying-machine, eh?” + +“Nay, my boy; I never let my imagination soar half so high as all that,” + quickly answered the professor. “But now--now I feel confident that just +such a discovery lies before us, and with the dawn of a new day we will +ascend and look for the glorious 'Lost City of the Aztecs!'” + +Again the savant sprang to his feet, wildly gesticulating as he strode +to and fro, striving to thus work off some of the intense excitement +which had taken full possession. And words fell rapidly from his lips +the while, only a portion of which need be placed upon record in this +connection, however. + +“A fico for the paltry lost cities of musty tradition, now! They may +sleep beneath the sand-storms of countless years, but this--I would +gladly give one of my eyes for the certainty that its mate might gaze +upon such a wondrous spectacle as--Oh, if it might only prove true! If +I might only discover such a stupendous treasure! Aztecs! And in the +present day! Alive--armed and garbed as of yore! Amazing! Incredible! +Astounding beyond the wildest dreams of a confirmed--” + +With startling swiftness uncle Phaeton wheeled to confront the exile, +gripping his arm with fierce vigour, as he shrilly demanded: + +“Opium--are you an eater of drugs, Cooper Edgecombe?” + +Even as the words crossed his lips, the professor realised how +preposterous they must sound, but the exile shook his head, earnestly. + +“I never ate drugs in that shape, sir. Even if I had been addicted to +morphine and the like, how could I indulge the appetite here, in these +gloomy, lonely wilds?” + +“I beg your pardon, sir; most humbly I implore your forgiveness. I have +but one excuse--this wondrous--Good night! I'm going to bed before I add +to my new reputation as--a blessed idiot, no less!” + + + +CHAPTER XIV. A MARVELLOUS VISION. + +But the night was considerably older ere any one of that quartette lost +himself in slumber, for all had been too thoroughly wrought up by the +exciting events of the past day for sleep to claim an easy subject. + +By common consent, however, that one particular subject was barred for +the present, and then, sitting in a cosy group about the glowing fire +there in the cavern, the recently formed friends talked and chatted, +asking and answering questions almost past counting. + +Little wonder that such should be the case, so far as Cooper Edgecombe +was concerned, since he had been lost to the busy world and its many +changes for a long decade. + +Then, too, his own dreary existence held a strange charm for the +air-voyagers, and the exile grew wonderfully cheerful and bright-eyed +as he in part depicted his struggles to sustain life against such heavy +odds, and still strove to keep alive that one hope,--that even yet he +might be able to discover a clew to his loved and lost ones. + +“Not alive; I have long since abandoned that faint hope. But if I might +only find something to make sure, something that I could pray over, then +bury where my heart could hover above--” + +“You are still alive, good friend, yet you have spent long years out +here in the wilderness,” gently suggested the professor. + +Edgecombe flinched, as one might when a rude hand touches a still raw +wound. + +“But they, my wife, my baby girl,--they could never have lived as I have +existed. They surely must have perished; if not at once, then when the +first cruel storms of hideous winter came howling down from the far +north!” + +“Unless they were found and rescued by--who knows, my good sir?” forcing +a cheerful smile, which, unfortunately, was only surface-born, as the +exile lifted his head with a start and a gasping ejaculation. “Since it +seems fairly well proven that this supposedly unknown land is actually +inhabited, why may your loved ones not have been rescued?” + +“The Indians? You mean by the Aztecs, sir?” + +“If Aztecans they should really prove; why not?” + +“But, surely I have heard--sacrifices?” huskily breathed the greatly +agitated man, while the professor, realising how he was making a bad +matter worse, brazenly falsified the records, declaring that no human +sacrifices had ever stained the record of that noble, honourable, +gallant race; and then changed the subject as quickly as might be. + +Nevertheless, there was one good effect following that talk. Cooper +Edgecombe had dreaded nothing so much as the fear of being left behind +by these, the first white people he had seen for what seemed more than +an ordinary lifetime; but now, when the professor hinted at a longing to +take a spin through ether, for the purpose of winning a wider view, +he eagerly seconded that idea, even while realising that it would be +difficult to take him along with the rest. + +Still, nothing was definitely settled that evening, and at a fairly +respectable hour before the turn of night, the air-voyagers were wrapped +in their blankets and soundly slumbering. + +Not so the exile. Sleep was far from his brain, and while he really +knew that danger could hardly menace that wondrous bit of ingenious +mechanism, he watched it throughout that long night, ready to risk his +own life in its defence should the occasion arise. + +Why not, since his whole future depended upon the aeromotor? By its aid +he hoped to reach civilization once more; and in spite of the great +loss which had wrecked his life, he was thrilled to the centre by that +glorious prospect. Here he was dead while breathing; there he would at +least be in touch with his fellow men once more! + +An early meal was prepared by the exile, and in readiness when his trio +of guests awakened to the new day; and then, while busily discussing +the really appetising viands placed before them, the next move was fully +determined upon. + +Not a little to his secret delight, the professor heard Edgecombe broach +the subject of further explorations, and seeing that his excitement had +passed away in goodly measure during the silent watches of the night, he +talked with greater freedom. + +“Of course we'll keep in touch with you, here, friend, and take no +decisive move without your knowledge and consent. Our fate shall be +yours, and your fate shall be ours. Only--I would dearly love to catch a +glimpse of--If there should actually be a Lost City in existence!” + +“If there is, as there surely must be one of some description, judging +from the number of red men I have seen collecting here at the lake,” + observed the exile, “you certainly ought to make the discovery with the +aid of your air-ship. You can ascend at will, of course, sir?” + +Nothing loath, the professor spoke of his pet and its wondrous +capabilities, and then all hands left the cavern for the outer air, to +prepare for action. + +As a further assurance, uncle Phaeton begged Edgecombe to enter the +aerostat, then skilfully caused the vessel to float upward into clear +space, sailing out over the lake even to the whirlpool itself before +turning, his passenger eagerly watching every move and touch of hand, +asking questions which proved him both shrewd and ingenious, from a +mechanical point of view. + +Returning to their starting-point, Edgecombe sprang lightly to earth to +make way for the brothers, face ruddy and eyes aglow as he again begged +them all to keep watch for aught which might solve the mystery yet +surrounding the fate of his loved ones. + +The promise was given, together with an earnest assurance that they +would soon return; then the parting was cut as short as might be, all +feeling that such a course was wisest and kindest, after all. + +For an hour or more the air-ship sped on, high in air, its inmates +viewing the various and varying landmarks beneath and beyond them, all +marvelling at the fact that such an immense scope of country should for +so long be left in its native virginity, especially where all are so +land-hungry. + +Then, as nothing of especial interest was brought to their notice, uncle +Phaeton quite naturally reverted to that suit of Aztecan armour, and +the glorious possibilities which the words of the exile had opened up to +them as explorers. + +Bruno listened with unfeigned interest, but not so his more mercurial +brother, who took advantage of an opening left by the professor, to +bluntly interject: + +“What mighty good, even if you should find it all, uncle Phaeton? You +couldn't pick it up and tote it away, to start a dime museum with. And, +as for my part,--I'll tell you what! If we could only find something +like Aladdin's cave, now!” + +“Growing miserly in your old age, are you, lad?” mocked his uncle. + +“No; I don't mean just that. His trees were hung with riches, but mine +should be--crammed and crowded full of plum pudding, fruit cake, angel +food, mince pies, and the like! Yes, and there should be fountains of +lemonade! And mountains of ice-cream! And sandbars of caramels, and +chocolate drops, and trilbies, and--well, now, what's the matter with +you fellows, anyway?” + +He spoke with boyish indignation at that laughing outbreak, but the +kindly professor quickly managed to smooth the matter over, although not +before Waldo had promised Bruno a sound thumping the first time they set +foot upon land. + +Until past the noon hour that pleasant voyage lasted, without any +remarkable discovery being made, the trio munching a cold lunch at their +ease, rather than take the trouble to effect a landing. + +But then, not very long after the sun had begun his downward course, +there came a change which caused Featherwit's blood to leap through his +veins far more rapidly than usual, for yonder, still a number of miles +away, there was gradually opening to view a hill-surrounded valley of +considerable dimension, certain portions of which betrayed signs +of cultivation, or at least of vegetation different from aught the +explorers had as yet come across since entering that land of wonders. + +Almost unwittingly Professor Featherwit sent the air-ship higher, even +as it sped onward at quickened pace, his face as pale as his eyes were +glittering, intense anticipation holding him spellbound for the time +being. And then--the wondrous truth! + +“Behold!” he cried, shrilly, pointing as he spoke. + +“Houses yonder! Cultivated fields, and--see! human beings in motion, who +are--” + +“Kicking up a great old bobbery, just as though they'd sighted us, and +wanted to know--I say, uncle Phaeton, how would it feel to get punched +full of holes by a parcel of bow-arrows?” + +With a quick motion the air-ship was turned, darting lower and off at +a sharp angle to its former course, for the professor likewise saw what +had attracted the notice of his younger nephew. + +Scattered here and there throughout that secluded valley were human +beings, nearly all of whom had sprung into sudden motion, doubtless +amazed or frightened by the appearance of that oddly shaped air-demon. + +Brief though that view had been, it was sufficiently long to show the +professor houses of solid and substantial shape, cultivated plots, human +beings, and a little river whose clear waters sparkled and flashed in +the sunlight. + +It was very hard to cut that view so short, but the professor had not +lost all prudence, and he knew that danger to both vessel and passengers +might follow a nearer intrusion upon the privacy of yonder armed people. +Yet his face was fairly glowing with glad exultation as he brought the +aerostat to a lower strata of air, shutting off all view from yonder +valley, as it lay amid its encircling hills. + +“Hurrah!” he cried, snatching off his cap and waving it +enthusiastically, as the air-ship floated onward at ease. “At last! +Found--we've discovered it at last! And all is true,--all is true!” + +“Found what, uncle Phaeton?” asked Waldo, a bit doubtfully. + +“The Lost City of the Aztecs, of course! Oh, glad day, glad day!” + +“Unless--what if it should prove to be only a--a mirage, uncle Phaeton?” + almost timidly ventured Bruno, a moment later. + + + +CHAPTER XV. ASTOUNDING, YET TRUE. + +The professor gave a great start at this almost reluctant suggestion, +shrinking back with a look which fell not far short of being horrified. +But then he rallied, forcing a laugh before speaking. + +“No, no, Bruno. All conditions are lacking to form the mirage of the +desert. And, too; everything was so distinct and clearly outlined that +one could--” + +“Fairly feel those blessed bow-arrows tickling a fellow in the short +ribs,” vigorously declared the younger Gillespie. “Not but that--I say, +uncle Phaeton?” + +“What is it now, Waldo?” + +“Reckon they're like any other people? Got boys and--and girls among +'em, I wonder?” + +“I daresay, yes, why not?” answered Featherwit, scarcely realising +what words were being shaped by his lips, while Bruno broke into a +brief-lived laugh, more at that half-sheepish expression than at the +query itself. + +“Both boys and girls galore, I expect, Kid; but you needn't borrow +trouble on either score. You can outrun the lads, while as for the +fairer sex,--well, they'll take precious good care to keep well beyond +your reach,--especially if you wear such another fascinating grin as--” + +“Oh, you go to thunder, Bruno Gillespie!” + +Through all this interchange the air-ship was maintaining a wide sweep, +drawing nearer the forest beneath, if only to keep hidden from the eyes +of the strange people in yonder deep valley. Yet the gaze of Phaeton +Featherwit as a rule kept turned towards that particular point, his eyes +on fire, his lips twitching, his whole demeanour that of one who feels a +discovery of tremendous importance lies just before him. + +“Are we going to land, uncle Phaeton?” queried Bruno, taking note of +that preoccupation, which might easily prove dangerous under existing +circumstances. + +That question served to recall the professor to more material points, +and, after a keen, sweeping look around, he nodded assent. + +“Yes, as soon as I can discover or secure a fair chance. I wish to see +more--I must secure a fairer view of the--of yonder place.” + +“Will it not be too dangerous, though? Not for us, especially, uncle, +but for the aerostat? Even if these be not the people you imagine--” + +“They are past all doubt a remnant of the ancient Aztecs. Yonder lies +the true Lost City, and we are--oh, try to comprehend all that statement +means, my lads! Picture to yourselves what boundless fame and unlimited +credit awaits our report to the outer world! The benighted world! The +besotted world! The--the--” + +“While we'll form the upsotted world, or a portion of it, without +something is done,--and that in a howling hurry, too!” fairly spluttered +Waldo, as the again neglected air-ship sped swiftly towards a more +elevated portion of that earth, part of the tall hill-crest which acted +as nature's barricade to yonder by nature depressed valley. + +“Time enough, lad, time enough, since we are going to land,” coolly +assured the professor, deftly manipulating the steering-gear and still +curying around those tree-crowned hills. “If we are really hunted after, +'twill naturally be in the quarter of our vanishment, while by alighting +around yonder, nearly at right angles with our initial approach, we will +have naught to fear from the--the Aztecan clans!” + +Clearly the professor had settled in his own mind just what lay before +them, and nothing short of the Lost City of the Aztecs would come +anywhere near satisfying that exalted ideal. And, taking all points into +full consideration, was there anything so very absurd in his method of +reasoning, or of drawing a deduction? + +Still, that exaltation did not prevent uncle Phaeton from taking +all essential precautions, and it was only when an especially secure +landing-place was sighted that he really attempted to touch the earth. + +Fully one-half of that wide circuit had been made, and as nothing could +be detected to give birth to fears for either self or air-ship, the +aeronauts skilfully landed their vessel with only the slightest of +jars. It was a well-screened location, where naught could be seen of the +flying-machine until close at hand, yet so arranged as to make a hasty +flight a very easy matter should the occasion ever arise. + +Not until the landing was effected and all made secure, did Professor +Featherwit speak again. Then it was with gravely earnest speech which +suitably affected his nephews. + +“Above all things, my dear lads, bear ever in mind this one fact,--we +are not here to fight. We do not come as conquerors, weapons in hand, +hearts filled with lust of blood. To the contrary, we are on a peaceful +mission, hoping to learn, trusting to enlighten, with malice towards +none, but honest love for all those who may wear the human shape, be +they of our own colour or--or--otherwise.” + +“That's what's the matter with Hannah's cat!” cheerfully chipped in the +irrepressible Waldo. “I say, uncle Phaeton, is it just a lie-low here +until yonder fellows grow tired of looking for what they can't find, +then a flight on our part; or will we--” + +“Have we voyaged so far and seen so much, to rest content with so very +little?” exclaimed the professor, hardly as precise of speech as +under ordinary conditions. “No, no, my lads! Yonder lies the greatest +discovery of the nineteenth century, and we are--Get a hustle on, boys! +The day is waning, and with so much to see, to study, to--Come, I say!” + +In spite of his initial attempt to impress his nephews with a due sense +of the heavy responsibilities which rested upon them, Phaeton Featherwit +was far more excited than either one of the brothers. Doubtless he more +nearly appreciated the importance of this wondrous discovery, provided +his now firm belief was correct,--that yonder stood a solid, substantial +city, erected by the hands of a people whom common consent had agreed +were long since wiped out of existence. + +The story told by Cooper Edgecombe, backed up by the articles taken from +the person of the warrior whom he had slain in self-defence, certainly +had its weight; while the brief and imperfect glimpse which he had won +of yonder valley helped to bear out that astounding belief. And yet, how +could it be true? + +Really believing, yet forced by more sober reason to doubt, the poor +professor was literally “in a sweat” long ere another view could be won +of the depressed valley, although the landing of the air-ship was so +well chosen as to make that trip of the briefest duration consistent +with prudence. + +The natural obstacles were considerable, however, and as they picked +their way along, the brothers for the first time began to gain a fairly +accurate idea of what was meant by the term, a virgin forest. + +To all seeming, the human foot had never ventured here, nor were any +marks or spoor of wild beasts perceptible on either side. + +Although the aerostat had landed not far below the crest of those hills, +the adventurers had to climb higher, before winning the coveted view, +partly because the most practicable route led down into and along a +winding gulch, where the footing was far less treacherous than upon the +higher ground, cumbered, as that was, with the leaf-mould of centuries. + +Still, half an hour's steady labour brought the little squad to the +coveted point, and once again Professor Featherwit was almost literally +stricken speechless,--for there, far below their present location, +spread out in level expanse, lay the secret valley with all its marvels. + +Far more extensive than it had appeared by that initial glimpse, the +valley itself seemed composed of fertile soil, yet, by aid of the river +which cut through, near its centre, irrigating ditches conveyed water to +every acre, thus ensuring bounteous crops of grain and of fruit as well. + +Numerous buildings stood in irregular array, for the most part of no +great height, nor with many pretensions towards architectural beauty or +grace of outline; but in the centre of the valley upreared its head a +massive structure, pyramidal in shape, consisting of five comparatively +narrow terraces, connected one with another only at each of the four +corners, where stood a wide-stepped flight of stones. + +“Behold!” huskily gasped the professor, intensely excited, yet still +able to control the field-glass through which he was eagerly scanning +yonder marvels. “The temple of the gods! And, yonder, the temple of +sacrifice, unless my memory is--and look! The people are--they wear +just such garb as--Oh, marvellous! Amazing! Astounding! Incredible--yet +true!” + +Although their uncle could thus take in the various details to better +advantage, still the intervening distance was not so great as to +entirely debar the brothers from finding no little to interest them, as +was readily proven by their various exclamations. + +“Just look at the people, will ye, now? Flopping around like they hadn't +any bigger business than to--Reckon they're looking for us to come back, +Bruno?” + +“Or watching for the monster bird of prey, rather,” suggested the elder +Gillespie. “Of course they couldn't distinguish our faces, and our +bodies were fairly well hidden. And, even more, of course, they must be +totally ignorant of all such things as flying-machines and the like.” + +“Poor, ignorant devils!” sympathetically sighed the youngster. “Well, +we'll have to do a little missionary work in this quarter, before taking +our departure, eh, uncle Phaeton?” + +With a start, Featherwit descended out of the clouds in which he had +been lost ever since winning a fair view of the secret city; and +now, rallying his wits and fairly aglow with eager interest in this +marvellous discovery, he began pointing out the various objects of +special importance, naming them with glib assurance, then reminding the +boys how wonderfully similar all was to what had existed in Old Mexico +before the conquest. + +Bruno listened with greater interest than his brother could summon at +will. For one thing, he had long been a lover of the genial Prescott, +and, now that his memory was freshened in part, was able to closely +follow the course of that little lecture, noting each strong point made +by the professor in bolstering up his delightful theory. + +That monologue, however, was abruptly broken in upon by Waldo, who gave +an eager exclamation, as he reached forth a pointing finger: + +“Look! There's a white woman yonder,--two of 'em, in fact!” + + + +CHAPTER XVI. CAN IT BE TRUE? + +That announcement came with all the force of a bolt from the blue, and +even the professor dropped his glasses with a gasp of amazement, while +Bruno would have leaped to his feet, only for the hasty grab which his +brother made at the tail of his coat. + +“White--where? Surely it cannot be that--Edgecombe--” + +“Augh, take a tumble, boy!” ejaculated Waldo, giving a jerk that +rendered compliance nearly literal, though scarcely full of grace. “Want +to have the whole gang make a howling break this way? Want to--They're +white all right, though!” + +“Where? Which direction? Point them out, and--I fail to see anything +which would bear out your--” + +The professor was sweeping yonder field with his glass, searching for +the primal cause of that latest excitement, but without success. No sign +of a white face, male or female, rewarded his efforts, and he turned an +inquiring gaze upon the youngster. + +Waldo was peering from beneath the shade of his hand, but now drew back +with a long breath, to slowly shake his head. + +“They've gone now, but I did see them, and they were white, just as +white as--as anything!” + +Bruno frowned a bit at that unsatisfactory conclusion, but the professor +was of more equable temper, for a wonder. He smilingly shook his head, +while gazing kindly, then spoke: + +“I myself might have made the same error, Waldo, but you surely were in +error, for once.” + +“What! You mean I never saw those white women, uncle Phaeton?” + +“No, no, I am not so seriously faulting your eyesight, my dear boy,” + came the swift assurance. “But even the best of us are open to errors, +and there were in olden times not a few Aztecs with fair skins; not +exactly white, yet comparatively fair when their race was considered. +And, no doubt, Waldo, you saw just such another a bit ago.” + +But the youngster was not so easily shaken in his own opinion. + +“There were a couple of 'em, not just such another, uncle. And they were +white,--pure white as ever the Lord made a woman! And--why, didn't I see +their hair, long and floating loose? And wasn't that yellow as--as gold, +or the sunshine itself?” + +“Yellow hair?” + +“Yes, indeedy! Yellow hair, white skins,--faces, anyway. Blondes, the +couple of 'em; and to that I'll make my davy!” + +And so the youngster maintained with even more than usual sturdiness, +when questioned more closely, pointing out the very spot upon which the +strange beings were standing, the top of a large, tall building, clearly +one of the series of temples. + +In vain the field-glass was fixed upon that particular point. The partly +roofed azotea was wholly devoid of human life, and though watch was +maintained in that direction for many minutes thereafter, by one or +other of the air-voyagers, naught was seen to confirm the assertion made +by the younger Gillespie. + +For the moment that fact or fancy dominated all other interests, for, +granting that Waldo had not been misled by a naturally fair Indian face, +there was room for a truly startling inference. + +“Could it actually be they?” muttered Bruno, face pale and eyes +glittering with intense interest. “Could they have escaped with life +from the balloon, and been here ever since?” + +“You mean--” + +“The wife and child of Cooper Edgecombe,--yes! Who else could they be, +unless--I'd give a pretty penny for one fair squint at them, right now! +If there was only some method of--It would hardly do to venture down +yonder, uncle Phaeton?” + +The professor gave a stern gesture of denial, frowning as though he +anticipated an actual break for yonder town, in spite of the odds +against them. + +“That would be madness, Bruno! Worse than madness, by far! Look at +yonder warriors, all thoroughly armed, and eager to drink blood as ever +they were in centuries gone by! They are hundreds, if not thousands, +while we are but three! Madness, my boy!” + +“Four, with Mr. Edgecombe, uncle.” + +“And that means a complete host so long as we are backed up by the +air-ship,” declared Waldo, in his turn. “Those fellows!” with a sniff of +true boyish scorn for aught that was not fully up to date. “What could +they do, if we were to open fire on them just once?” + +“Prove our equals, man for man, armed as they assuredly are,” just +as vigorously affirmed the professor, inclined rather to magnify than +diminish the importance of these, his so recently discovered people. +“You forget how the Aztecans fought Cortez and his mailed hosts. Yet +these are one and identical, so far as valour and training and blood can +go.” + +“Huh! Scared of a runty horse so badly that they prayed to 'em as they +did to their own gods!” sniffed Waldo, betraying a lore for which he did +not ordinarily receive fair credit. “Why, uncle Phaeton, let you just +slam one o' those dynamite shells inside a chief--” + +“Nay, Waldo, must I repeat, we are not here for the purpose of conquest, +unless by purely amicable methods. There must be no fighting, for or +against. Savages though most people would be inclined to pronounce +yonder race, they are human, with souls and--” + +“But I always thought they were heathens, uncle Phaeton?” + +The professor subsided at that, giving over as worse than useless the +attempt to enlighten the irrepressible youngster, at least for the time +being. + +Silence ruled for some little time, during which each one of the trio +kept keen watch over the valley, the field-glass changing hands at +intervals in order to put all upon an equal footing. + +One thing was clear enough unto all: the Indians had been greatly +wrought up by the brief appearance of some queerly shaped monster of the +air, and while a goodly number of their best warriors had hastened out +of the valley and up the difficult passes, in hopes of learning more, +still others were astir, weapons in hand, evidently determined to defend +their lives or their property from any assault, should such be made, +whether by known or foreign adversaries. + +This busy stir and bustle, combined with the novel architecture and so +many varying points of interest, would have been a mental and visual +feast for the trio of air-voyagers, only for that one doubt: were +white captives actually in yonder temple? And, if white, were they the +long-lost relatives of the aeronaut, Cooper Edgecombe? + +Quite naturally the interest displayed by the Indians centred in the +quarter of the heavens where that air-demon had been sighted, hence our +friends saw very little cause for apprehension on their own parts. + +Thus they were given a better opportunity for thinking of and then +discussing the new marvel. + +Again did Waldo vow that his eyes had not befooled him. Again he +positively asserted that he had seen two white women, wearing blonde +hair in loose waves far adown their backs. And once again Bruno, in +half-awed tones, wondered whether or no they were the mother and child +borne away upon the wings of a mighty storm, fifteen long years gone by. + +“It is possible, though scarcely credible,” admitted uncle Phaeton, in +grave tones, as he wrinkled his brows after his peculiar fashion when +ill at ease in his mind. “Edgecombe lived through just such another +experience; though, to be sure, he was a man of iron constitution, while +they were far more delicate, as a matter of course.” + +“Still, it may have happened so?” persisted Bruno, taking a strong +interest in the matter. “You would not call it too far-fetched, uncle?” + +“No. It may have happened. I would rather call it marvellous, yet still +possible. And if so--” + +“There is but a single answer to that supposition, uncle; they must be +rescued from captivity!” forcibly declared Bruno. + +“That's right,” confirmed Waldo. “Of course all women and girls--I mean +other people's kin--are a tremendous sight of bother and worry, and all +that; but we're white, and so are they.” + +“We must rescue them; there's nothing else to do,” again emphasised the +elder Gillespie. + +“That is no doubt the proper caper, speaking from your boyish point of +view, my generous-hearted nephews; but--just how?” dryly queried the +professor. “Have you arranged all that, as well, Bruno?” + +“You surely would not abandon them, uncle Phaeton?” asked the young +man, something abashed by that veiled reproof. “To such a horrible fate, +too?” + +“A fate which they must have endured for fifteen years, provided your +theory is correct, Bruno,” with a fleeting smile. “Don't mistake me, +lads. I am ready and willing to do all that a man of my powers may, +provided I see just and sufficient cause for taking decisive action. +That is yet lacking. We are not certain that there are white women +yonder. Or, if white women, that they are captives. Or, if captives, +that they would thank us for aiding them to escape.” + +“Why, uncle Phaeton! Think of Mr. Edgecombe, and how--” + +“I am thinking of him, and I wish to think yet a little longer,” quietly +spoke the professor, “keep a lookout, lads, and if you see aught of +Waldo's fair women, pray notify me.” + +For the better part of an hour comparative silence reigned, the boys +feasting eyes upon yonder spectacle, their uncle deeply in reverie; but +then he roused up, his final decision arrived at. + +“I will do it!” were his first words. “Yes, I will do it!” + +“Do what, uncle Phaeton?” asked Waldo, with poorly suppressed eagerness, +as he turned towards his relative. + +“Go after Cooper Edgecombe,--bringing him here in order that he may, +sooner or later, solve this perplexing enigma. Come, boys, we may as +well start back towards the aerostat.” + +But both youngsters objected in a decided manner, Waldo saying: + +“No, no, uncle Phaeton! Why should we go along? You'll be coming right +back, and will be less crowded in the ship if we don't go.” + +“And we can better wait right here; don't you see, uncle?” + +“To keep the Lost City safely found, don't you know? What if it should +take a sudden notion to lose itself again?” added Waldo, innocently. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. AN ENIGMA FOR THE BROTHERS. + +In place of the indulgent smile for which he was playing, Waldo received +a frown, and directly thereafter the professor spoke in tones which +could by no possibility be mistaken. + +“Come with me, both of you. I am going back to the aerostat, and I dare +not leave you boys behind. Come!” + +Kind of heart and generally complaisant though uncle Phaeton was, +neither Bruno nor Waldo cared to cross his will when made known in such +tones, and without further remonstrance they followed his lead, slipping +away from the snug little observatory without drawing attention to +themselves from any of yonder busy horde. + +Not until the trio was fairly within the gulch did the professor speak +again, and then but a brief sentence or two. + +“Give me time to weigh the matter, lads. Possibly I may agree, but don't +try to hurry my cooler judgment, please.” + +Waldo gave his brother an eager nudge at this, gestures and grimaces +being made to supply the lack of words. But when, the better to express +his confidence that all was coming their way, the youngster attempted a +caper of delight, his foot slipped from a leaf-hidden stone, and he took +an awkward tumble at full length. + +“Never touched me!” he cried, scrambling to his feet ere a hand could +come to his aid. “Who says I don't know how to stand on both ends at the +same time?” + +Barring this little caper, naught took place on their way to the +air-ship; and once there, the professor heaved a mighty sigh, wiping his +heated face as one might who has just won a worthy race. But he betrayed +no especial haste in setting the flying-machine afloat and Waldo finally +ventured: + +“Can we help you off, uncle Phaeton?” + +But he was assured there existed no necessity for such great haste. + +“In fact, it might be dangerous to start while so many of the Aztecs are +upon the lookout,” came the unexpected addition. “I believe it would be +vastly better not to leave here until shortly before dawn, to-morrow.” + +It took but a few words further to convince the brothers that this idea +was wisest, and while the young fellows felt sorry to have their view +cut so short, neither ventured to actually rebel. + +After all, the day was well-nigh spent, and, besides preparing their +evening meal, it was essential that their plans for the immediate future +should be shaped as thoroughly as possible. + +Professor Featherwit had resolved to fetch Cooper Edgecombe to the scene +of interest, in order to give him at least a fair chance to solve the +enigma which was perplexing them all. Even so, he felt that no small +degree of physical danger would attend that presence, particularly if +it should really prove, as they could but suspect, that both wife and +daughter of the involuntary exile were yonder, among the Aztecans. + +Much of this the professor made known to his nephews during that +evening, the trio thoroughly discussing the matter in all its bearings, +but before the air-ship was prepared for the night's rest, uncle Phaeton +made the youngsters happy by consenting to their remaining behind as +guardians to the Lost City, while he went in quest of the balloonist. + +“But bear ever in mind the conditions, lads,” was his earnest +conclusion. “I place you upon your honour to take all possible +precautions against being discovered, or even running the least +unnecessary risk during my absence.” + +“Don't let that bother you, uncle Phaeton,” Waldo hastened to give +assurance. “We'll be wise as pigeons, and cautious as any old snake you +ever caught up a tree; eh, Bruno, old man?” + +“We promise all you ask, uncle, but does that mean we must stay right +here, without even stealing a weenty peep at the Lost City?” + +Professor Featherwit felt sorely tempted to say yes, but then, knowing +boyish nature (although Bruno had just passed his majority, while Waldo +was “turned seventeen”) so well, he feared to draw the reins too tightly +lest they give way entirely. + +“No; I do not expect quite that much, my lads; but I do count on your +taking no unnecessary risks, and in case of discovery that you +rather trust to flight, and my finding you later on, than to actually +fighting.” + +So it was decided, and at a fairly early hour the trio lay down to +sleep. Although so unusually excited by the marvellous discoveries of +the day just spent, their open-air life tended to calm their brains, +and, far sooner than might have been expected, sleep crept over them, +one and all, lasting until nearly dawn. + +Perhaps it was just as well that the wakening was not more early, for +the professor was beginning to regret his weakness of the past evening, +and had there been more time for drawing lugubrious pictures of probable +mishaps, he might even yet have insisted on taking the youngsters with +him. + +Knowing that it was rather more than probable some of the Indians would +be stationed upon the hills to watch for the queerly shaped air-demon, +the professor felt obliged to lose no further time, and so the +separation was effected, just as the eastern sky was beginning to show +streaks and veins of a new day. + +“Touch and go!” cried Waldo, with a vast inhalation as he watched the +aeromotor sail away with the swiftness of a bird on wing. “And for a +weenty bit I reckoned 'twas you and me as part of the go, too!” + +In company the lads enjoyed a more leisurely meal than their relative +had dared wait for, knowing that, at the very least, they would have the +whole of that day to themselves, so far as uncle Phaeton was concerned. +As a matter of course, he would not attempt to return except under cover +of night, or in the early dawn of another day. + +All that had been thoroughly discussed and provided for the evening +before, and was barely touched upon by the brothers now. Their first and +most natural thought was of yonder Lost City, with its inhabitants, red, +white, and yellow, as Waldo put it; but being still under the foreboding +fears of the professor, they finally agreed to remain where he left them +until after the sun crossed its meridian. + +It was a rather early meal which the brothers prepared, if the whole +truth must be told; and the last fragments were bolted rather than +chewed, feet keeping time with jaws, as they hastened towards the +observatory. + +There was pretty much the same sort of view as on the day before, the +main difference being that many of the Indians were labouring in the +fields, instead of watching for the air-demon. + +Using the glass by turns, the lads kept eager watch for the white women +whom Waldo stubbornly persisted were within the town; but hour after +hour passed without the desired reward, and Bruno began to doubt whether +there was any such vision to be won. + +“The sun was in your eyes, and you let mad fancy run away with your +better judgment, boy,” he decided, at length. “If not, why--what now?” + +For Waldo gave a low, eager exclamation, gripping the field-glass as +though he would crush in the reinforced leather case. A few moments +thus, then he laughed in almost fierce glee, thrusting the glass towards +his brother, speaking excitedly: + +“A crazy fool lunatic, am I? Well, now, you just take a squint at the +old house for yourself and see if--biting you, now, is it?” + +For Bruno showed even more intense interest as he caught the right line, +there taking note of--yes, they surely were white women! Faces, hair, +all went to proclaim that fact. And more than that, even. + +“Fair--lovely as a painter's dream!” almost painfully breathed the elder +Gillespie. “I never saw such a lovely--” + +“Injun squaw, of course. Couple of 'em. Nobody but a fool would ever +think different. The idea of finding white women--” + +“They are ladies, Waldo! I never saw such--and I feel that they must be +the ones lost by poor Edgecombe when that storm--” + +“That's all right enough, old fellow,” interrupted Waldo, claiming the +glass once more. “No need of your playing the porker on legs, though, as +I see. Give another fellow a chance to squint. But aren't they regular +jo-dandies, though, for a fact?” + +The two women in question, clad in flowing robes of white, lit up here +and there by a dash of colour, were slowly pacing to and fro upon the +temple where first discovered by the keen-eyed youngster. Thanks to the +excellent glass, it was possible to view them clearly in spite of the +distance, and there could be no dispute upon that one point: both mother +and daughter (granting that such was their relationship) were more than +ordinarily fair and comely of both face and person. + +For the better part of an hour that slow promenade lasted, and until +the women finally passed beyond their range of vision, the brothers took +eager and copious notes. Then, in spite of the fact that scores of other +figures still came within their field of vision, curiosity lagged. + +“It's like watching a street medicine show, after hearing Patti or +seeing Irving,” muttered Bruno, drawing back and stretching his wearied +limbs beyond possible discovery. + +“Or the A B C class playing two-old-cat, after a league game of extra +innings; right you are, my hearty!” coincided Waldo, feeling pretty much +the same way, “only with a difference.” + +Shortly after this, Bruno suggested a retreat to the rendezvous, and for +a wonder his brother agreed without amendment. + +The brothers passed down to the gulch, which formed the easiest route +to their refuge, saying very little, and that in lowered tones. The +confirmation so recently won served to stir their hearts deeply, and +neither boy could as yet see a way out of the labyrinth that discovery +most assuredly opened up before them. + +“Of course we can't leave them there to drag on such a wretched +existence,” declared Bruno. “We couldn't do that, even though we learned +they held no relationship to Mr. Edgecombe. But--how?” + +“I reckon it's--what?” abruptly spoke Waldo, gripping an arm and +stopping short for a few seconds, but then impulsively springing onward +again as wild sounds arose from no great distance. + +A score of seconds later they caught sight of a huge grizzly bear in +the act of falling upon a slender stripling, whose bronze hue as surely +proclaimed one of the Aztec children from yonder Lost City. + +What was to be done? Disobey their uncle, or leave this lad to perish? + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. SOMETHING LIKE A WHITE ELEPHANT. + +Only a lad, slight-limbed and slenderly framed to the eye, yet for all +that gifted with a gallant heart, else he surely must have been cowed to +terror by the huge bulk of such a dire adversary at close quarters. + +Instead of trying to find safety in headlong flight, the Indian stood +at bay, with both hands firmly gripping the shaft of his copper-bladed +spear, at far too close quarters for employing bow and arrows, while the +copper knife in his sash was held in reserve for still closer work. + +Snarling, growling, displaying its great teeth while clumsily waving +enormous paws which bore talons of more than a finger-length, the +bear was balanced upon its hindquarters, evidently just ready to lurch +forward with striking paws and gnashing teeth. + +Its enormous weight would prove more than sufficient to end the contest +ere it fairly began, while a slight stroke from those taloned paws would +both slay and mutilate. + +No one was better aware of all this than the Indian lad himself, yet he +took the initiative, swiftly darting his spear forward, lending to +its keen point all the power of both arms and body. A suicidal act it +certainly appeared, yet one which could scarcely make his position more +perilous. + +An awful roar burst from bruin as he felt that thrust, the blade sinking +deep and biting shrewdly; but then he plunged forward, striking savagely +as he dropped. + +The Indian strove to leap backward an instant after delivering his +stroke, but still clung to the spear-shaft. This hampered his action +to a certain degree, yet in all probability that stout ashen shaft +preserved his life, which that wound would otherwise have forfeited. + +The stroke but brushed a shoulder, nor did a claw take fair effect, yet +the stripling was felled to earth as though smitten by a thunderbolt. + +All this before the brothers could solve the enigma thus offered them so +unexpectedly; but that fall, and the awful rage displayed by the wounded +grizzly as he briefly reared erect to grind asunder the spearshaft, +decided the white lads, and, temporarily forgetting how dangerously nigh +were yonder Aztecan hosts, both Bruno and Waldo opened fire with their +Winchester rifles, sending shot after shot in swift succession into the +bulky brute, fairly beating him backward under their storm of lead. + +Victory came right speedily, but its finale was thrilling, if not fatal, +the huge beast toppling forward to drop heavily upon the young savage, +just as he was recovering sufficiently from shock and surprise to begin +a struggle for his footing. + +Firing another couple of shots while rifle-muzzle almost touched an ear, +the brothers quickly turned attention towards the fallen Indian, +more than half believing him a corpse, crushed out of shape upon the +underlying rocks by that enormous carcass. + +Fortunately for all concerned, the young Aztec was lying in a natural +depression between two firm rocks, and while his extrication proved +to be a matter of both time and difficulty, saying nothing of main +strength, success finally rewarded the efforts of our young Samaritans. + +The grizzly was stone-dead. The Indian seemed but a trifle better, +though that came through compression rather than any actual wounds from +tooth or talon. And the brothers themselves were fairly dismayed. + +Not until that rescue was finally accomplished did either lad +give thought to what might follow; but now they drew back a bit, +interchanging looks of puzzled doubt and worry. + +“Right in it, up to our necks, old man! And we can't very well kill the +critter, can we?” + +“Of course not; but it may cause us sore trouble if--” + +Just then the young Aztec rallied sufficiently to move, drawing a step +nearer the brothers, right hand coming out in greeting, while left palm +was pressed close above his heart. And--still greater marvel! + +“Much obliged--me, you, brother!” + +If yonder bleeding grizzly had risen erect and made just such a +salutation as this, it could scarcely have caused greater surprise to +either Bruno or Waldo, looking upon this being, as they quite naturally +did, in the light of a genuine “heathen,” hence incapable of speaking +any known tongue, much less the glorious Americanese. + +True, there was a certain odd accent, a curious dwelling upon each +syllable, but the words themselves were distinctly pronounced and beyond +misapprehension. + +“Why, I took you for a howling Injun!” fairly exploded Waldo, then +stepping forward to clasp the proffered member, giving it a regular +“pump-handle shake” by way of emphasis. “And here you are, slinging the +pure United States around just as though it didn't cost a cent, and you +held a mortgage on the whole dictionary! Why, I can't--well, well, now!” + +For once in a way the glib-tongued lad was at a loss just what to say +and how to say it. For, after all, this surely was a redskin, and the +professor had explicitly warned them against--oh, dear! + +Was it all a dizzy dream? For the Aztec drew back, speaking rapidly in +an unknown tongue, then sinking to earth like one overpowered by sudden +physical weakness. + +Bruno Gillespie, too, was recalling his uncle's earnest cautions, and +now took prompt action. He quickly secured the weapons which had been +scattered as the Indian fell before the grizzly's paw, then the brothers +drew a little apart to consult together. + +“What'll we do about it?” whisperingly demanded Waldo, keeping a wary +eye upon yonder redskin. “You tell, for blamed if I know how!” + +“We daren't let him go free, else he might fetch the whole tribe upon +our track,” said Bruno, in the same low tones, no whit less sorely +perplexed as to their wisest course. + +“No, and yet we can't very well kill him, either! If we hadn't come +along just as we did, or if--but he's a man, after all! Who could stand +by and see that ugly brute make a meal off even an Injun?” + +Bruno cast an uneasy look around, at the same time deftly refilling the +partly exhausted magazine of his Winchester. + +“Load up, Waldo. Burning powder reaches mighty far, even here in the +hills; and who knows,--the whole tribe may come helter-skelter this way, +to see what has broken loose! And we can't fight 'em all!” + +“Not unless we just have to,” agreed the younger Gillespie, placing a +few shells where they would be handiest in case of another emergency. +“But what's the use of running, if we're to leave this fellow behind to +blaze our trail? If he is our enemy--” + +“No en'my; Ixtli friend,--heart-brother,” eagerly vowed the young +Aztec, once again startling the lads by his strange command of a foreign +tongue. + +He rose to his feet, though plainly suffering in some slight degree from +that brief collision with the huge beast, and smiling frankly into first +one face, then the other, took Bruno's hand, touched it with his lips, +then bowed his head and placed the whiter palm upon his now uncovered +crown. + +In like manner he saluted Waldo, after which he drew back a bit, still +smiling genially, to add, in slowly spoken words: + +“You save Ixtli. Bear kill--no; you kill--yes! Ixtli glad. Sun Children +great--big heart full of love. So--Ixtli never do hurt, never do wrong; +die for white brother--so!” + +More through gesticulation than by speech, the young Indian brave made +his sentiments clearly understood, and if they could have placed full +dependence in that pledge, the brothers would have felt vastly relieved +in mind. + +But they only too clearly recalled numerous instances of cunning +ill-faith, and, in despite of all, they could not well avoid thinking +that this was really something like a white elephant thrown upon their +hands. + +“All right. Play we swallow it all, but keep your best eye peeled, old +man,” guardedly whispered Waldo. “Fetch him along, yes or no, for it may +be growing worse than dangerous right here, after so much shooting.” + +“You mean for us to--” + +“Take the fellow along, and keep him with us, until uncle Phaeton comes +back to finally decide upon his case,” promptly explained Waldo. “Of +course we ought to've let him die; ought, but didn't! We couldn't then, +wouldn't now, if it was all to do over. So watch him so closely that he +can't play tricks even if he wishes.” + +There was nothing better to propose, and though the job promised to be +an awkward one to manage, Ixtli himself rendered it more easy. + +Past all doubt he could understand, as well as speak, the English +language, for he took a step in evident submission, speaking gently: + +“Ixtli ready; heart-brother say where go, now.” + +Again the brothers felt startled by that quaintly correct accent, and +almost involuntarily Bruno spoke in turn: + +“You can talk English? When did you learn? And from whom?” + +A still brighter smile irradiated the Aztec's face, and turning his +eyes towards the secluded valley, he bowed his head as though in deep +reverence, then softly, lovingly, almost adoringly, responded: + +“SHE tell me how. Victo,--Glady, too. Ixtli know little, not much; +his heart feel big for Sun Children, all time. So YOU, too, for kill +bear,--like dat!” + +Bruno turned a bit paler than usual, catching his breath sharply, as he +repeated those names: + +“Victo,--Glady,--Wasn't it by those names, Victoria, Gladys, that Mr. +Edgecombe called his lost ones, Waldo?” + +“I can't remember; but get a move on, old man. The sooner we're back +where uncle Phaeton left us, where we can see a bit more of what may be +coming, the safer my precious scalp will feel. This Injun--” + +“No scalp,” quickly interposed the Aztec, with a deprecatory gesture to +match his words. “You save Ixtli. Ixtli say no hurt white brothers. Dat +so,--dat sure for truth!” + +Only partially satisfied by this earnest disclaimer of evil intentions, +Waldo gripped an arm and hurried the Aztec along, leaving the bear where +it had fallen, intent solely upon reaching a comparatively safe outlook +ere worse could follow upon the heels of their latest adventure. + +And Bruno brought up the rear as guard, eyes and rifle ready. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN GOD. + +No difficulty whatever was experienced in reaching that retreat, and +milder prisoner never knew a guard than Ixtli proved himself to be, +silently yielding to each impulse lent his arm by Waldo, smiling when, +as sometimes happened, he was brought more nearly face to face with that +armed rear-guard. + +Nor were the Gillespie brothers worried by sound, sign, or token of more +serious trouble from others of that strangely surviving race. And it +was not long after reaching the rendezvous from which the professor had +sailed in the early dawn, that the youngsters agreed the echoes of +their Winchesters could not have reached the ears of the Lost City +inhabitants. + +“That's plenty good luck for one soup-bunch,” quoth Waldo, yet adding a +dubious shake of the head as he gazed upon their bronzed companion. “And +if it wasn't for this gentleman in masquerade costume--” + +“Ixtli friend. Ixtli feel like heart-brother,” came in low, mellow +accents from those smiling lips. + +There certainly was naught of guile or of evil craft to be read in +either eyes or visage, just then; but the brothers could not feel +entirely at ease, even yet. How many times had warriors of his colour +played a cunning part, only to end all by blow of tomahawk, thrust of +knife, or bolt from the bended bow? + +At a barely perceptible sign from Bruno, his brother drew apart, leaving +their “white elephant” by himself, yet none the less under a vigilant +guard. + +“He seems all right, in his way,” muttered the elder Gillespie, “but how +far ought we to trust him, after what we promised uncle Phaeton?” + +“Not quite as far as we can see him, anyway. Still, a fellow can't +find the stomach to bowl him over like a hare,--without a weenty bit of +excuse, at least.” + +“That's it! If he'd try to bolt, or would even jump on one of us, it +would come far more easy. Look at him smile, now! And I hate to think of +clapping such a bright-seeming lad in bonds!” + +“Time enough for all that when he shows us cause,” quickly decided +Waldo, with a vigorous nod of his curly pow. “Pity if a couple of us +can't keep him out of mischief without going that far. And we want to +pump the kid dry before uncle Phaeton gets back; understand?” + +Bruno gave a slight start at these words, but his eye-glow and +face-flush bore witness that the idea thus suggested had not been +unthought of in his own case. + +“Then you really think--” + +“That there's more ways than one of skinning a cat,” oracularly observed +Waldo. “Without showing it too mighty plainly, one or the other of us +can always be ready and prepared to dump the laddy-buck, in case he +tries to come any of his didoes. And, at the same time, we can be +hugging up to him just as sweetly as though we knew he was on the dead +level. Understand?” + +Possibly the programme might have been a little more elegantly +expressed, but Waldo, as a rule, cared more for substance than form, and +his speech possessed one merit, that of perspicuity. + +Having reached this fair understanding, the brothers dropped their +aside, and moved nearer the young Aztec. + +Ixtli gazed keenly into first one face, then the other, plainly enough +endeavouring to read the truth as might be expressed therein, as related +to himself. What he saw must have proved fairly satisfactory, since he +gave another bright smile, then spoke in really musical tones: + +“Good,--brother, now! That more good, too!” + +In spite of the suspicions, which seem inborn where people of the +red race are concerned, both Bruno and Waldo felt more and more drawn +towards this remarkable specimen of a still more remarkable tribe; and +not many more minutes had sped by ere the younger couple were chatting +together in amicable fashion, although finding some little difficulty in +Ixtli's rather limited vocabulary. + +Not a little to his elder brother's impatience, Waldo apparently took +a deeper interest in the recent adventure than in the subject which +claimed his own busiest thoughts, but he hardly cared to crowd the +youngster, lest he make matters even worse. + +Aided by the sort of freemasonry which naturally exists between lads +of an adventurous nature, Waldo readily succeeded in picking up +considerable information from the Aztec, even before broaching that +all-important matter. + +Ixtli was the only son of a famed warrior and chieftain of the Aztecan +clans, by name Aztotl, or the Red Heron. He, in common with so many +of his people, had witnessed the approach and abrupt departure of the +strange bird in the air, and had hastened forth in quest of the monster. + +He failed to see aught more of the strange creature, but, disliking to +return home without something to show for the trip, remained out over +night, then chanced to fairly stumble into the way of a mighty grizzly. + +There were a few moments during which he might possibly have escaped +through headlong flight, but he was too proud for that, and but for the +timely arrival and prompt action on the part of his white brothers would +almost certainly have paid the penalty with his life. + +Then followed more thanks and broken expressions of gratitude, all of +which Waldo magnanimously waved aside as wholly unnecessary. + +“Don't work up a sweat for a little thing like that, old man. Of course +we saw you were an Injun and--ahem! I mean, how in time did you happen +to catch hold of our lingo so mighty pat, laddy-buck?” + +“My brother means to ask who taught you to speak as we do, Ixtli?” + amended Bruno, catching at the wished-for opportunity now it offered. + +“And who was that nice little gal with the yellow hair? Is she--what did +you call her? Gladys--And the rest of it Edgecombe?” + +Waldo was eager enough now that the ice was fairly broken, but his +very volubility served to complicate matters rather than to hasten the +desired information. + +Ixtli apparently thought in English pretty much as he spoke it,--slowly, +and with care. When hurried, his brain and tongue naturally fell back +upon his native language. + +Sounds issued through his lips, but, despite all their animation, these +proved to be but empty sounds to the eager brothers. And, divining the +truth, Bruno checked his brother, himself acting as questioner, pretty +soon striking the right chord, after which Ixtli fared very well. + +Still, thanks to his difficulty in finding the right words with which to +express his full meaning, it took both time and patience for even Bruno +to learn all he desired; and even if such a course would be desirable, +lack of space forbids giving a literal record of questions and answers, +since the general result of that cross-examination may be put so much +more compactly before the generous reader. + +The first point made clear was that the young Aztec owed his imperfect +knowledge of the English language to certain Children of the Sun, whom +he named as if christened Victo and Glady. With this as starting-point, +the rest formed a mere question of time and perseverance. + +Growing in animation as he proceeded, Ixtli told of the coming to their +city of those glorious children; riding upon the wings of an awful +storm, yet issuing unharmed, unawed, bright of face, as the mighty orb +the sons of Anahuac worshipped. + +He told how an envious few held to the contrary: that these fair-skins +had come as evil emissaries from the still more evil Mictlanteuctli, +mighty Lord of Death-land, who had laden them with pestilence and +brain-sorrow and eye-darkness, with orders to devastate this, the last +fair city of the ancient race. + +With low, sternly suppressed tones, the young warrior went on to tell of +what followed: of the wicked attempt made by those malcontents to punish +the bearers of death and misery; then, his voice rising and growing more +clear, he told how, from a clearing-sky, there came a single shaft flung +by the mighty hand of the great god, Quetzalcoatl, before which the +impious dog went down in everlasting death. + +“Struck by lightning, eh?” interpreted Waldo, who seemed born without +the influence of poetry. “Served him mighty right, too!” + +Bowing submissively, although it could be seen he scarcely comprehended +just what those blunt words were meant to convey, Ixtli spoke on, +seemingly with perfect willingness, so long as the adored “Sun Children” + formed the subject-matter. + +From his laboured statement, Bruno gathered that the sudden death of one +who had dared to lift an armed hand against the woman so mysteriously +placed there in their very midst awed all opposition to the general +belief in the divine origin of mother and child; and ere long Victo +was installed as a sort of high priestess of the temple more especially +devoted to the Sun God. + +That was long ago, and when Ixtli was but a child. As he grew older, +and his father, Red Heron, was appointed as chief of guards to the Sun +Children, Victo took more notice of the lad, and ended in teaching him +both the English tongue and its Christian creed, so far as lay in his +power to comprehend. + +Then came less pleasing information concerning the Children of the Sun, +which went far to prove that the death of one evil-minded dog had +not entirely purged the Lost City, and it was with harsher tones and +frowning brows that Ixtli spoke of the head priest, or paba, Tlacopa the +evil-minded, who had built up a powerful and dangerous sentiment against +both Victo and Glady, even going so far as to declare before the holy +stone of sacrifice that the Mother of Gods demanded these falsely titled +Children of the Sun. + +“The fair-faced God must come soon, or too late!” sighed the Aztec, +bowing his head in joined palms the better to conceal his evident grief. +“He has promised to come, but hurry! They die--they die!” + +This was hardly an acceptable stopping-point, but questioning was of +little avail just then. Satisfied of so much, the brothers drew apart +a short distance, yet keeping where they could guard their more or less +dangerous charge, conversing in low tones over the information so far +gleaned from the Aztec's talk. + +“Well, we'll hold a tight grip on him, anyway, until uncle Phaeton gets +back,” finally decided Waldo, speaking for his brother as well. + + + +CHAPTER XX. THE PROFESSOR AND THE AZTEC. + +Fortunately for all concerned, there proved to be no serious difficulty +attached to that same holding. So far as outward semblance went, +Ixtli was very well content with both present quarters and present +companionship. + +He likewise enjoyed the supper that, aided by a small fire kindled in +a depression so low that the light could by no means attract any +unfriendly eye, Bruno prepared for them all. And just prior to taking +his first taste, the young warrior bowed his head to murmur a few +sentences which, past all doubt, had first come to his mind through the +wonderful Victo: a simple little blessing, which certainly did not add +to the dislike or uneasiness with which the brothers regarded their +guest. + +“He's white, even if he is red!” confidentially declared Waldo, at his +first opportunity. “More danger of our spoiling him than his doing us +dirt; and that's an honest fact for a quarter, old man!” + +Bruno felt pretty much the same, yet his added years gave him greater +discretion, and, in spite of that growing liking, he kept a fairly keen +watch and ward over the Aztec. + +After supper there came further questioning and answers, Waldo as a +rule playing inquisitor, eager to learn more anent the strange existence +which these people must live, so completely hemmed in from all the rest +of the world as they surely were in yonder valley. + +Without at all betraying the exile, Gillespie spoke of the lake and its +mighty whirlpool, then learned that the Indians really made semi-annual +trips thither for the purpose of laying in a supply of dried fish for +the winter's consumption. + +As the night waned, preparations were made for sleeping, although it was +agreed between the brothers that one or the other should stand guard in +regular order. + +“Not that I really believe the fellow would play us dirt, even with +every chance laid open,” Waldo admitted. “Still, it's what uncle Phaeton +would advise, and we can't well do less than follow his will, Bruno.” + +“Since we broke it so completely by tackling the grizzly,” with a brief +laugh. + +“That's all right, too. Of course we'd ought to've skulked away like a +couple of egg-sucking curs, but we didn't, and I'm mightily glad of +it, too. For Ixtli--what a name that is to go to bed with every night, +though!--for Ixtli is just about as white as they make 'em, nowadays; +you hear me blow my bazoo?” + +And so the long night wore its length along, the brothers taking turns +at keeping watch and ward, but the Aztec slumbering peacefully through +all, looking the least dangerous of all possible captives. And after +this light even the cautious Bruno began to regard him ere the first +stroke of coming dawn could be seen above the eastern hills. + +Not being positive just where the air-ship would put in an appearance, +since Professor Featherwit had, perforce, left that question open, to be +decided by circumstances over which he might have no control, each guard +in turn devoted considerable attention to the upper regions, hoping to +glimpse the aerostat, and holding matches in readiness to raise a flare +by way of alighting signal. But it was not until the early dawn that +Bruno caught sight of the air-ship, just skimming the tree-tops, the +better to escape observation by any Indian lookout. + +After that the rest came easily enough. A couple of blazing matches held +aloft proved sufficient cue to the professor, and soon thereafter the +flying-machine was safely brought to land, so gently that the slumbers +of the young Aztec were undisturbed. + +Bruno gave a hasty word of warning and explanation combined, even +before he extended a welcoming hand towards Mr. Edgecombe, who certainly +appeared all the better for his encounter with people of his own race. + +Professor Featherwit took a keen, eager look at the slumbering redskin, +then drew silently back, to whisper in Bruno's ear: + +“Guard well your tongue, lad. I have told him nothing, as yet, and we +must consult together before breaking the news. For now we have had no +rest, so I believe we would better lie down for an hour or two.” + +Mr. Edgecombe appeared to be perfectly willing to do this, and soon the +wearied men were wrapped in blankets and sleeping peacefully. + +Long before their lids unclosed, Bruno had an appetising meal in +readiness, although the others had broken fast long before, and Ixtli, +his hands tightly clasped behind his back, as a child is wont to resist +temptation, was inspecting the air-ship in awed silence. + +Taking advantage of this preoccupation, Bruno quickly yet clearly +explained to his uncle all that had happened, showing that by playing a +more prudent part the young warrior must inevitably have perished. + +Then, making sure Cooper Edgecombe was not near enough to catch his +words, Bruno told in brief the information gleaned from Ixtli concerning +the Children of the Sun, whom he and Waldo more than suspected must be +the long-lost wife and daughter of the exiled aeronaut. + +As might have been expected, Professor Featherwit was deeply stirred by +all this, fidgeting nervously while keeping alert ears, with difficulty +smothering the ejaculations which fought for exit through his lips. + +After satisfying his craving for food, the professor led the young Aztec +apart from the rest of the party, speaking kindly and sympathetically +until he had won a fair share of liking for his own, then broaching the +subject of the Sun Children. + +After this it was by no means a difficult matter to get at the seat of +trouble, and little by little Featherwit satisfied himself that Ixtli +would do all, dare all, for the sake of benefiting the woman and maiden +who had treated him so kindly. + +At a covert sign from the professor, Bruno came to join in the talk, +and his sympathy made the young Aztec even more communicative. And Ixtli +spoke more at length concerning Tlacopa, the paba, and another enemy +whom the Children of the Sun had nearly equal cause to fear, one +Huatzin, or Prince Hua, chiefest among the mighty warriors of the +Aztecan clans. + +This evil prince had for years past sought Victo for his bride, while +his son, Iocetl, tried in vain to win the heart-smiles of the fair +Glady, Victo's daughter. And, through revenge for having their suit +frowned upon, these wicked knaves had joined hands with the priest in +trying to drag the Sun Children down from their lofty pedestal. + +It did not take long questioning, or shrewd, to convince the professor +that in Ixtli they could count upon a true and daring supporter in +case they should conclude to interfere in behalf of his patroness and +teacher, adored Victo. + +The professor led the way over to the air-ship, there producing the +clothing and arms once worn by another Aztec warrior, which he had +carefully stowed away in the locker, loath to lose sight of such +valuable relics; truly unique, as he assured himself at the moment. + +Bruno gave a little exclamation at sight of the articles, then in eager +tones he made known the daring idea which then flashed across his busy +brain. + +“We ought to make sure before taking action, uncle Phaeton. Then why not +let me don these clothes and steal down into the valley, under cover of +darkness, to see the ladies and--” + +“No, no, my lad,” quickly interrupted the professor, gripping an arm +as though fearful of an instant runaway. “That would be too risky; that +would be almost suicidal! And--no use talking,” with an obstinate shake +of his head, as Bruno attempted to edge in an expostulation. “I will +never give my consent; never!” + +“Or hardly ever,” supplied Waldo, coming that way like one who feels the +proprieties have been more than sufficiently outraged. “Give some other +person a chance to wag his chin a bit, can't ye, gentlemen? Not that _I_ +care to chatter merely for sake of hearing my own voice; but--eh?” + +“We were considering whether or no 'twould be advisable to take a walk +over to the observatory,” coolly explained the professor. “Of course, if +you would rather remain here to watch the aerostat--” + +“Let Bruno do that, uncle. He grew thoroughly disgusted with what he saw +over yonder, yesterday,” placidly observed the youngster. + +“Waldo, you villain!” + +“Well, didn't you vow and declare that you could recognise grace +and beauty and all other varieties of attractiveness only in--dark +brunettes, old man?” + +Professor Featherwit hastily interposed, lest words be let fall through +which Mr. Edgecombe might catch a premature idea of the possible +surprise held in store; and shortly afterwards the start was made for +the snug covert from whence the Lost City had been viewed on prior +occasions. + +Naturally their route led them directly past the scene of the bear +fight, where the huge carcass lay as yet undisturbed, and calling forth +sundry words of wonder and even admiration, through its very ponderosity +and now harmless ferocity. + +Professor Featherwit deemed it his duty to gravely reprove his wards +for their rash conduct, yet something in his twinkling eyes and in the +kindly touch of his bony hand told a far different tale. His anger took +the shape of pride and of heart-love. + +In due course of time the lookout was won, and without delay the savant +turned his field-glass upon the temple which appeared to appertain to +the so-called Sun Children; but, not a little to his chagrin, the azotea +was utterly devoid of human life. + +But that disappointment was of brief existence, for, almost as though +his action was the signal for which they had been waiting, mother and +daughter came slowly into view, arm in arm, clad in robes of snowy +white, with their luxuriant locks flowing loose as upon former +occasions. + +Both lads--three of them, to be more exact--gave low exclamations +of eager interest as those shapes came in sight, while even Cooper +Edgecombe gazed with growing interest upon the scene, wholly +unsuspecting though he was as yet. + +A slight nod from the professor warned the brothers to stand ready +in case of need, then he offered the exile the glass, begging him to +inspect yonder fair women upon the teocalli. + +The glass was levelled and held firmly for a half minute, then the exile +gave a choking cry, gasping, ere he fell as one smitten by death: + +“Merciful heavens! My wife--my child!” + + + +CHAPTER XXI. DISCUSSING WAYS AND MEANS. + +In good measure prepared for some such result, in case their +expectations should prove true, friendly hands at once closed upon the +exile, hurrying him back, and still more completely under cover, as +quickly as might be. + +Cooper Edgecombe seemed as wax in their hands, not utterly deprived +of consciousness, but rather like one dazed by some totally unexpected +blow. He made not the slightest resistance, yielding to each impulse +given, shivering and weak as one just rallying from an almost mortal +illness. + +Yet there came an occasional flash to his eyes which warned the wary +professor of impending trouble, and as quickly as might be the stunned +aeronaut was removed from the point of observation, taken by short +stages back to the spot where rested the flying-machine. + +Ixtli seemed something awed by this (to him) inexplicable conduct on +the part of the gaunt-limbed stranger, but gave his new-found friends +neither trouble nor cause for worry, bearing them company and even +lending a hand whenever he thought it might be needed. + +The Gillespie brothers were far more deeply stirred, as was natural, +but even Waldo contrived to keep a fair guard over his at times unruly +member, speaking but little during that retreat. + +With each minute that elapsed Cooper Edgecombe gained in bodily powers, +and while his mental strength was slower to respond, that proved to be a +blessing rather than otherwise. + +The rendezvous was barely gained ere he gave a hoarse cry of reviving +memory, then strove to break away from that friendly care, calling +wildly for his wife, his daughter, fancying them in some dire peril from +which alone his arms could preserve them. + +It was a painful scene as well as a trying one, that which followed +closely, and respite only came after bonds had been applied to the limbs +of the madman,--for such Cooper Edgecombe assuredly was, just then. + +There were tears in the professor's eyes, as he strove hardest to soothe +the sufferer, assuring him that his loved ones should be restored to his +arms, yet repeatedly reminding him that any rash action taken then must +almost certainly work against their better interests. + +The exile grew less violent, but that was more through physical +exhaustion than aught else, and what had, from the very first, appeared +a difficult enigma, now looked far worse. + +Only when fairly well assured that the sufferer would not attract +unwelcome attention their way through too boisterous shouting, did the +professor draw far enough away for quiet consultation with his nephews. + +Mr. Edgecombe was deposited within the air-ship, secured in such a +manner that it would be well-nigh impossible for him to do either +himself or the machine material injury, no matter how violent he might +become; and hence, in case of threatened trouble from the inmates of +the Lost City, flight would not be seriously hindered through caring for +him. + +Professor Featherwit now gleaned from his nephews pretty much all they +could tell him concerning sights and events since his departure in quest +of the exile. That proved to be very little more than he had already +learned, and contained still less which seemed of especial benefit to +that particular enigma awaiting solution. + +True, Waldo suggested that Ixtli be employed as a medium of +communication between the Sun Children and themselves; but, possibly +because, as a rule, this irrepressible youngster's ideas were generally +the wildest and most far-fetched imaginable, uncle Phaeton frowned upon +the plan. + +No; the young Aztec might prove true at heart, even as indications went, +but the risk of so trusting him would prove far too great. + +“That's just because you haven't known and slept with him, like we +have,” declared Waldo. “He's red on the outside, but he's got just as +white a soul as the best of us,--bar none.” + +Bruno likewise appeared to think well of the young brave, and suggested +an amendment to Waldo's motion,--that he accompany Ixtli into the +sunken valley, covered by the friendly shades of night, there to open +communication with the Sun Children. + +“By so doing, we could make certain of their identity,” the young man +argued, earnestly. “That, it appears to me, is the first step to be +taken. For, in spite of the apparent recognition by Mr. Edgecombe, it is +possible that no actual relationship exists.” + +“What of that?” bluntly cut in the younger Gillespie. “Don't you reckon +strangers'd like to take a little walk, just as well as any other +people?” + +“Patience, my lad,” interposed the professor. “While we seem in duty +bound to lend aid and assistance to women in actual distress, we can +only serve them with their own free will and accord. Granting that the +women we saw upon the teocalli were other than those believed by our +afflicted friend--” + +“But, uncle, look at their names! And don't Ixtli say--tell 'em all over +again, pardner, won't ye?” urged Waldo, taking a burning interest in the +matter, as was his custom when fairly involved. + +The young Aztec complied as well as lay within his power, giving it as +his fixed opinion that sore trouble, if not actual peril, awaited the +Children of the Sun, unless assisted by powerful friends. He spoke of +the mighty chieftain, Prince Hua, and of the high priest, Tlacopa, who +was, to all seeming, playing directly into the hands of the 'Tzin. + +“He say Mother of Gods call--loud! He say sacrifice, and dat--no, no! +Quetzal' send--Quetzal' save--MUST save Victo, Glady!” + +Further questioning resulted in but little more information, though, as +Ixtli grew calmer, he emphasised such statements as he had already made, +elaborating them a trifle. And, by this, his questioners learned that, +humanly speaking, the fate of the Sun God's Children depended almost +entirely upon the whim or fancy of the chief paba of the teocalli. + +Through Tlacopa issued the awesome oracles, and when his voice thundered +forth the dread fiat, who dared to openly rebel? + +Further questioning brought forth one more important fact,--that there +was absolutely no hope of either Victo or Glady coming forth from the +valley, either by night or by day. While ostensibly free of will as they +were of limb, neither woman was permitted to leave yonder temple, save +under armed escort; and guards were on duty each hour of the day and +night. + +“But we could get to see and speak with them, Ixtli?” asked Bruno, eager +to reach some fair understanding as to the future course of action. + +“Yes, white brother, go with Ixtli,” came the hesitating reply; but then +the Aztec caught one of Gillespie's hands, holding it in close contrast +to his own brown paw, shaking his head doubtingly. + +“No like. Keen eye, dem people. Watch close. Find 'nother white +skin--bad!” + +“You hear that, Bruno?” asked the professor, really relieved at such +positive evidence in conflict with the rash proposition made by the +young man. + +“Of course I thought of going under cover of the night, uncle, and +surely it would not be such a difficult matter to darken my face and +hands? With dirt, if nothing better can be found. And if I wore the +clothes you brought from the cavern, uncle Phaeton?” + +“That's the ticket!” broke in Waldo, eagerly. “Why, in a rig like that, +I could turn the trick my own self!” + +The consultation was broken off at this juncture by a faint summons +from Cooper Edgecombe, and Professor Featherwit was only too glad of the +excuse, hurrying over to the flying-machine, finding to his great joy +that the exile was now far more like his old-time self. + +Still, great caution was used in revealing all, and it was not until +considerably later in the day that Mr. Edgecombe felt capable of taking +part in the discussion of ways and means. + +He declared that his recognition had been complete, in spite of the +long years which had elapsed since losing sight of his dear ones; and he +earnestly vowed to never give over until their rescue was effected, or +he had lost his life while making the attempt. + +While the two air-voyagers were thus engaged in talk, Bruno silently +stole away with Ixtli, taking a bundle along, and leaving Waldo to throw +their uncle off the track in case his suspicions should be prematurely +awakened. Then, side by side, two Indian braves silently approached +the aerostat, causing Professor Featherwit to make a hasty dive for his +dynamite gun to repel a fancied onslaught. + +“Sold again, and who comes next?” merrily exploded Waldo, dancing about +in high glee as the supposed redskin slowly turned around for inspection +before speaking, in familiar tones: + +“Would there be such an enormous risk of discovery, uncle Phaeton, +provided I put lock and seal upon my lips, save for the ladies?” + +That experiment proved to be a complete success, and after Cooper +Edgecombe added his pathetic pleadings to the young man's own arguments, +Professor Featherwit gradually gave way, though still with reluctance. + +“I could never find forgiveness should harm come to your mother's son, +boy,” he huskily murmured, his arm stealing about Bruno's middle. “I'd +far rather venture myself, and--why not, pray?” as Waldo burst into an +involuntary laugh. + +Then he turned upon Ixtli, a hand resting upon each shoulder while he +gazed keenly into those lustrous dark orbs for a full minute in perfect +silence. Then he spoke, slowly, gravely: + +“Can we trust you, friend? Would you sell the boy to whose arm you +owe your own life, unto his enemies? Would you lead him blindly to his +death, Ixtli, son of Aztotl?” + +A wondering gaze, then the Indian appeared to flush hotly. He shook off +those far from steady hands, drawing his knife and with free fingers +tearing open his dress above the heart. Thrusting the weapon into +Bruno's hand, he spoke in clear, distinct accents: + +“Strike hard, white brother! Open heart; see if all black!” + +Eye to eye the two youths stood for a brief space in silence, then the +weapon was let fall, and Bruno gripped the Indian's hand and shook it +most cordially. + +“Strike you, Ixtli? I'd just as soon smite my brother by birth!” + +“And that's mighty right, too!” cried Waldo, impetuously. + +“I really begin to believe that you are all in the right, while I alone +am left in the wrong,” frankly admitted the professor. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. A DARING UNDERTAKING. + +Still, that point was of too vital importance to justify hasty decision, +and the professor did not make his surrender complete until the shades +of another night were beginning to gather over the land. + +Meantime, partly for the purpose of keeping the youngsters employed and +thus out of the way of less harmless things, the professor suggested +that the huge grizzly be flayed. If the proposed scheme should really be +undertaken, that mighty pelt, if uncomfortable to convey, would serve as +a fair excuse for the young brave's as yet unexplained absence from the +Lost City. + +As a matter of course, Cooper Edgecombe felt intense anxiety through +all, but he contrived to keep fair mastery over his emotions, readily +admitting that he himself could do naught towards visiting the Lost +City. + +“I know that my loved ones are yonder. I would joyfully suffer ten +thousand deaths by torture for the chance to speak one word to--to them. +And yet I know any such attempt would prove fatal to us all. The mere +sight of--I would go crazy with joy!” + +There is no necessity for repeating the various arguments used, pro and +con, before the final agreement was reached. Enough has already been put +upon record, and the result must suffice: Professor Featherwit yielded +the vital point, and, having once fairly expressed his fears and doubts, +flung his whole heart into perfecting the disguise which was now counted +upon to carry Bruno safely into and out of yonder city. + +He was carefully trigged out in the warlike uniform secured by Cooper +Edgecombe at the cost of a human life, and, with fresh stain applied +to his face and hands, the slight moustache he wore was not dangerously +perceptible. + +“'Twould take a strong light and mighty keen eyes to see it at all, and +even if a body should happen to notice it, he'd reckon 'twas a bit of +smut, or the like,” generously declared Waldo. + +Under less trying circumstances, Bruno might have answered in kind, but +now he merely smiled at the jester, then turned again to receive the +earnest cautions let fall for his benefit by the professor. + +Above all else, he was to steer clear of fighting, and, without he saw +a fair chance of winning speech with the white women, he was to keep in +such hiding as Ixtli might furnish, trusting the young Aztec to post the +Children of the Sun as to what was in the wind. + +Tremulous, almost incapable of coherent speech, so intense was his +agitation, Cooper Edgecombe sent many messages to his loved ones, +begging for one word in return. And if nothing less would serve-- + +His voice choked, and only his feverishly burning eyes could say the +rest. + +It was well past sunset ere the youngsters set forth from the +rendezvous, accompanied a short distance by both Waldo and the +professor; but the parting came in good time. It would be worse than +folly to add to the existent perils that of possible discovery by some +prowling Aztec who might work serious injury to them one and all. + +That great bear-hide proved a tax upon their strength, even though the +bullet-riddled head-piece had been carefully cut off and buried, lest +those queer holes tell a risky tale on close examination; but Ixtli, as +well as Bruno, was upborne by an exaltation such as neither had known +before this hour. + +There was nothing worse than the natural obstacles in the way to be +overcome, and, knowing every square yard of ground so thoroughly, Ixtli +chose the most practicable route to that hill-encircled town. + +The stony pass was followed to the lower level, and the young +adventurers had drawn fairly near the first buildings ere encountering a +living being; and then ample time was given them for meeting the danger. + +A low-voiced call sounded upon the night air, and Ixtli responded in +much the same tone. Bruno, of course, was utterly in the dark as to +what was being said, but he still held perfect faith in his copper-hued +guide, and left all to the son of Aztotl. + +The Aztec brave appeared to be explaining his unusually protracted +absence, for he proudly displayed the great grizzly pelt, then exhibited +the spear-head from which protruded the tooth-marked wood. + +Like one who was already familiar with the details, Bruno slowly lounged +forward a pace or two, then in silence awaited the pleasure of his +companion on that night jaunt. + +Ixtli was not many minutes in shaking off the Indian, and, almost +staggering beneath his shaggy burden, moved away as though in haste to +rejoin his family circle. + +Fortunately for the venture, the Aztecans appeared to believe in the +maxim of going to bed early, for there were very few individuals astir +at that hour, young though the evening still was. And by the clear +moonlight which fell athwart the valley, it was no difficult task to +catch sight before being seen, where eyes so busy as those of the two +young men were concerned. + +Only once were they forced to make a brief detour in order to escape +meeting another redskin, and then a guarded whisper from the lips of +the Aztec warned Bruno that they were almost at the teocalli wherein the +Children of the Sun made their home and abiding-place. + +Leaving the grizzly pelt at a corner, for the time being, Ixtli led his +white friend up and into the Temple of the Sun, pressing a hand by way +of added caution. + +Although he had declared that an armed guard was kept night and day over +the Sun Children, and that he hoped to pass Bruno as well as himself +without any serious difficulty, since he had long been a favoured +visitor, and ever welcomed by Victo and Glady, the temple was seemingly +without such protection upon the present occasion. + +Ixtli expressed great surprise when this fact became evident, and he +showed uneasiness as to the welfare of his beloved patroness and kindly +teacher. + +Surely something evil was impending! His father, Aztotl, was chieftain +of the guards, and wholly devoted to the Sun Children, ready at all +times to risk life in their behalf. Now, if the usual guards were +lacking, surely it portended evil,--treachery, no doubt, at the bottom +of which the paba and the 'Tzin almost certainly lurked. + +All this Ixtli contrived to convey to Bruno, who fairly well shared that +anxiety, but who was more for going ahead with a bold rush, to learn the +worst as quickly as might be. + +Still, unfamiliar with the construction of the temple as he was, Bruno +felt helpless without his guide, and so timed his progress by that of +Ixtli, right hand tightly gripping the handle of his “hand-wood,” or +maquahuitl, resolved to give a good account of either of those rascally +varlets in case trouble lay ahead. + +The unwonted desolation which appeared to reign on all sides was plainly +troubling the Aztec brave, and he seemed to suspect a cunning ambuscade, +judging from his slow advance, pausing at nearly every step to bend ear +in keen listening. + +Still, nothing was actually seen or heard until after the young men +reached the upper elevation, upon a portion of which the Sun Children +had been first sighted by the air-voyagers. + +Here the first sound of human voices was heard, and Bruno stopped short +in obedience to the almost fierce grip which Ixtli closed upon his +nearest arm, listening for a brief space, then breathing, lowly: + +“We see, first. Dat good! Him see first, dat bad! Eye, ear, two both. +You know, brother?” + +“You mean that we are to listen and play spy, first, Ixtli?” asked +Bruno, scarcely catching the real meaning of those hurried words. + +“Yes. Dat best. Come; step like snow falls, brother.” + +“Who is it, first?” + +“Victo, she one. Odder man, not know sure, but think Huatzin. He bad; +all bad! Kill him, some day. Dat good; plenty good all over!” + +This grim vow appeared to do the Aztec good from a mental point of view, +and then he led his white friend silently towards the covered part of +the teocalli, from whence those sounds emanated. + +Curtains of thick stuff served to shut in the light and to partly +smother the sound of voices, but Ixtli cautiously formed a couple of +peepholes of which they quickly made good use. + +A portion of the sacred fire was burning upon its special altar, while a +large lamp, formed of baked clay, was suspended from the roof, shedding +a fair light around, as well as perfuming the enclosure quite agreeably. + +Almost directly beneath this hanging-lamp stood the two Children of +the Sun, one tall, stately, almost queenly of stature, and now looking +unusually impressive, as she seemed to act as shield for her daughter, +slighter, more yielding, but ah, how lovely of face and comely of +person! + +Even then Bruno could not help realising those facts, although his +ears were tingling sharply with the harsh accents falling from a far +different pair of lips, those of a tall, muscular warrior whose form was +gorgeously arrayed in featherwork and cunning weaving, rich-hued dyes +having been called to aid the other arts as well. + +If this was actually the Prince Hua, then he was a most brutal sample of +Aztecan aristocracy, and at first sight Gillespie felt a fierce hatred +for the harsh-toned chieftain. + +As a matter of course, Bruno was unable to comprehend just what was +being said, thanks to his complete ignorance of the language employed; +but he felt morally certain that ugly threats were passing through those +thin lips, and even so soon his hands began to itch and his blood to +glow, both urging him to the rescue. + +Swiftly fell the reply made by Victo, and her words must have stung the +prince to the quick, since he uttered a savage cry, drawing back an arm +as though to smite that proudly beautiful face with his hard-clenched +fist. + +That proved to be the cap-sheaf, for Bruno could stand no more. He +dashed aside the heavy curtain as he leaped forward, giving a stern cry +as he came, swinging the war club over his shoulder to strike with all +vengeance at the startled and recoiling Aztecan. + +Only the young man's unfamiliarity with the weapon preserved Prince Hua +from certain death. As it was, he reeled, to fall in a nerveless heap +upon the floor, while, with a startled cry, another Aztec broke away in +flight. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. A FLIGHT UNDERGROUND. + +That sudden appearance and flight of another man took Ixtli even more +by surprise than it did Bruno, for he never even suspected such a +possibility, knowing Prince Hua so well. Still, the young brave was +swift to rally, swift to pursue, sending a menace of certain death in +case the fleeing cur should not yield himself. + +Just then Bruno had eyes and thoughts for the Sun Children alone, +who quite naturally shrunk back in mingled surprise and alarm at his +unceremonious entrance. He forgot his disguise, forgot everything save +that before him stood the fair beings whom he had vowed to save at all +hazards from what appeared to him worse by far than actual death. + +Gillespie never knew just what words crossed his lips during those first +few seconds, but he saw that the women, in place of eagerly accepting +his aid, were visibly shrinking, apparently more alarmed than delighted +with the opportunity thus offered. + +Doubtless this was caused mainly by that odd blending of Aztec and +paleface, the colour and garb of the one joined to the tongue of the +other; but the result might have been even worse, had not Ixtli hastened +back to clear up more matters than one. + +In spite of his utmost efforts, the second Indian had escaped with life, +although he received a glancing wound from an arrow, as he plunged down +towards the lower level; and nothing seemed more certain than that an +alarm would right speedily spread throughout the town, if only for the +purpose of hurrying succour to the Lord Hua. + +All this rolled in swift words over Ixtli's lips, his warning finding +completion before either of the women could fairly interrupt the young +brave. But then the one whom Ixtli termed Victo spoke rapidly in his +musical tongue, one strong white hand waving towards the now somewhat +embarrassed Gillespie. + +“He friend; come save you, like save Ixtli,” the Aztec hurriedly made +reply, with generous tact speaking so that Bruno could comprehend as +well as the women. “He good; all good! Paba bad; 'Tzin more bad; be +worse bad if stay here, Victo--Glady.” + +Thus given the proper cue, Bruno took fresh courage and, in as few +words as might be, explained his mission. He spoke the name of Cooper +Edgecombe, and for the first time that queenly woman showed signs of +weakness, staggering back with a faint, choking gasp, one hand clasped +spasmodically above her madly throbbing heart, the other rising to her +temples as though in fear of coming insanity. + +“He is well; he is safe and longing for his loved ones,” Bruno swiftly +added, producing the brief note which the exiled aeronaut had pressed +into his hand at almost the last moment. “He wrote you that--here it is, +and--” + +“Make hurry, quick!” sharply interposed Ixtli, as ominous sounds began +to arise without the Temple of the Sun God. “Dog git 'way, howl for +more. Come here--kill like gods be glad.” + +With an evident effort Victo rallied, tones far from steady as she +begged both young men to save themselves without thought of them. + +“I thank you; heaven alone knows how overjoyed I am to hear from my dear +husband,--my poor child's own father! And he is near, to--But go, go! +Guide and protect him, Ixtli, for--Go, I implore you, sir!” + +“But how--we haven't arranged how you are to be rescued, and I must +understand--” + +“Later, then; another time, through Ixtli,” interrupted Mrs. Edgecombe, +since there could no longer be a doubt as to her identity. “If found +here 'twill be our ruin as well as your own. Go, and at once I fear that +Lord Hua may--” + +“He 'live yet,” pronounced Ixtli, rising from a hasty examination o f +the fallen chieftain. “Dat bad; much more worse bad! He dog; all over +dog!” + +“And I greatly fear he must have recognised you as one of a foreign +race, in spite of your disguise,” added the elder woman, trouble in her +face even as it showed in her voice. “He will be wild for revenge, and I +fear--Go, and directly, Ixtli!” + +Bruno Gillespie was only too well assured that this latest fear had +foundation on truth. Swiftly though he had wielded the awkward (to +him) hand-wood, Huatzin had sufficient time to sight his assailant, and +almost certainly had divined at least a portion of the truth. + +Doubtless it would have been the more prudent course to repeat that blow +with greater precision; but Bruno could not bring himself to do just +that, even though the ugly cries were growing in volume on the ground +level; and he felt that capture would be but the initial step to death, +in all likelihood upon the great stone of sacrifice. + +Imminent though their peril surely was, Bruno could not betake himself +to flight without at least partially performing the duty for which he +had volunteered; and so he took time to hurriedly utter: + +“Watch from the top of the tower for the air-ship, and be ready to leave +at any moment, I implore you--both!” + +For even now his admiring gaze could with difficulty be torn away from +yonder younger, even more lovely, visage; although as yet the maiden had +spoken no word, even shrinking away from this strangely speaking Aztec +as though in affright. + +“Come, brother, or too late,” urged Ixtli, almost sternly. “Save you, or +Glass-eyes call Ixtli dog-liar. Come; must run, no fight; too big many +for that.” + +And so it seemed, when the young men rushed away from the lighted +interior and gained the uncovered space beyond. Loud cries came soaring +through the night from different directions, and dim, phantom-like +shapes could be glimpsed in hurrying confusion. + +Apparently the majority only knew that trouble of some description +was brewing, and that the centre of interest was either in or near the +Temple of the Sun God; yet that was more than sufficient to place the +white intruder in great peril, despite the elaborate disguise he wore. + +Then with awful abruptness there came a sound which could only be +likened to rolling thunder by one uninitiated, but which caused Ixtli to +shrink and almost cower, ere gasping: + +“The great war-drum! Now MUST go! Sacrifice if caught; come, white +brother! See, dat more bad now!” + +Those mighty throbs rolled and reverberated from the hills, filling the +night air with waves of thunder, none the less awe-inspiring now that +their true import was realised. + +The entire population was aroused, and each building seemed to cast +forth an armed host, while, as through some magic touch, a circle of +fires sprung up on all sides, beginning to illumine both valley and +barrier. + +Bruno stood like one appalled, really fascinated by this transformation +scene for which he had been so poorly prepared; but Ixtli better +comprehended their situation, and gripping an arm he muttered, hastily: + +“Come, brother; stop more, make too late. Must hide, now. Dat stop go +back way came. Come!” + +Bruno roused himself with an effort, then yielded to the Aztec's +guidance, crouching low as the brief bit of clear moonlight had to be +traversed. + +Instead of making for the steps which, as customary, reached from +terrace to terrace at each corner, Ixtli crept to the centre, where the +temple-side was cast into deepest shadow, then lowered himself by his +arms, to drop silently to the broad path below. + +A whispered word urged Bruno to imitate this action, and those friendly +hands caught and steadied Gillespie as he took the drop. And so, one +after another, the mighty steps were passed, both young men reaching the +ground at the same instant, having succeeded in leaving the Temple of +the Sun God without being glimpsed by an Indian of all those whom the +sonorous drum-throbs had brought forth In arms. + +“Whither now?” asked Bruno, in guarded tones, as he looked forth +from shadow into moonlight, seeing scores upon scores of armed shapes +flitting to and fro, all looking for the enemy, yet none able to +precisely locate the trouble. + +Just then a savage yell broke from the top of the temple, followed by a +few fierce-sounding sentences, which Ixtli declared came from the Lord +Hua, then adding: + +“He say kill if catch, but dat--no! Come, white brother. Ixtli show how +play fool dat dog; yes!” + +“All right, my hearty. Is it a break for the hills? I reckon I can break +through. If not--well, I'll leave some marks behind me, anyway!” + +“No, no, dat bad! Can't go to hills; must hide,” positively declared the +young Aztec. “Come, now. Me show good place; all dead but we.” + +Evidently trusting to pass undetected where so many others were rushing +back and forth in seeming confusion, Ixtli broke away from the shadow of +the temple, closely followed by Gillespie, heading as directly as might +be for the strange refuge which he now had in mind. + +That proved to be a low, unpretending structure which was of no great +extent, so far as Bruno's hasty look could ascertain. Still, that was +not the time for doubting the wisdom of his guide, nor a moment in +which to discuss either methods or means; and as Ixtli passed through a +massive entrance, the paleface followed, giving a little shiver as the +barrier swung to behind them. + +“What sort of a place is it, anyway, Ixtli?” he demanded, but the Aztec +was too hurried for words, just then, save enough to warn his companion +in peril that they must descend deeper into the earth. + +It was more of a scramble than a deliberate descent, for the gloom was +complete, and Bruno had no time in which to feel for steps or stairs. +Only for the aiding touch of his guide, he must have taken more than one +awkward tumble ere that lower level was attained. + +Then a breathing-spell was granted him, and, while Ixtli bent ear in +listening to discover if pursuit was being made, Bruno drew a match +from the liberal supply he had taken the precaution to fetch along, +and, striking it, held aloft the tiny torch to view their present +surroundings. + +Only to give an involuntary start and cry as he caught indistinct +glimpses of fleshless bones and grinning skulls, those grim relics of +mortality showing upon every side as his wild eyes roved around. + +Then a hand struck down the match, and a swift voice breathed: + +“Dey come dis way. See us hide--come hunt, now, to kill!” + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. THE SUN CHILDREN'S PERIL. + +Not until the two young men passed beneath those heavy curtains did +either one of the Sun Children really give thought to their own possible +peril, but stood close together, arm of mother about daughter as they +listened to the ominous sounds without, so rapidly growing in force and +number. + +Then, just as the deep tones of the war-drum boomed forth upon the night +air, the fallen Aztec betrayed signs of rallying wits, giving a low +sound which might have been groan of pain or curse of baffled rage. Be +that as it may, the sound served one purpose: Victoria Edgecombe (to +append her correct name for the first time) drew her child farther away, +her right hand reaching forth to pluck a light yet effective spear from +where it lay against the wall. + +“Mother, mother!” faintly panted the maiden, plainly at a loss to +comprehend all that had so recently transpired. “What is it? What does +it all mean? Surely that was Ixtli; and--the other?” + +“A messenger from your father, child, and--” + +“My father? I thought--he is not--not dead?” + +“Thanks be to heaven, not dead!” with hysterical joy in face as in +voice. “Alive, and seeking us, Gladys! Coming to rescue us from this +death in life, and now--to your knees, my daughter; to thy knees, and +lift thanks unto the good Father who has at last listened to my moans!” + +Again the war-drum boomed forth in an awesome roll, but all unheeding +that ominous sound, paying no attention to the stirring of yonder +savage, whose lacerated scalp was painting his face a deeper red than +even nature intended, mother and daughter sank to their knees, lifting +hands and hearts towards the All-Powerful, even as their gratitude +floated towards the Throne of Grace. + +Then arose the hoarse tones of Huatzin, bidding his allies find and slay +without mercy; cursing the treacherous Aztec who had thus guided one of +a strange tribe into the very heart of their beloved city. + +With a short, fierce ejaculation, Victo sprang to her feet, right hand +once again grasping shaft of javelin, its copper point gleaming ruddily +in the rays of lamp as though already moistened by the heart-blood of +yonder villain. + +Far differently acted the maiden, her figure trembling with fear and +wonder commingled, her lips slightly blanched as she clung closer to her +mother. Yet through all ran a touch of girlish curiosity which helped +shape the words now crossing her lips. + +“Who was it, mother? Who could the stranger be? And whither has he +gone?” + +“With Ixtli, my child, and may the good God of our own people grant +them both life and liberty! If I thought--your father, Gladys! Alive +and looking for his beloved ones! See! from his own dear hand, and he +says--Hold! who comes there?” + +But the alarm appeared to be without actual foundation, for the sounds +came no closer, remaining beyond the drapery past which Lord Hua had +staggered only a few brief seconds before. + +Gladys rallied more speedily than one might have expected, and she spoke +with even greater interest than at first. + +“My dear father, and alive? Oh, mother, why is he not here to--why +should he send another? And that one--he spoke our dear language, +mother; surely he is not--not as Ixtli?” + +“No; he was of our own people, child, and I can hardly conceive how he +came hither, save that Ixtli must have acted as guide.” + +“And those awful warriors!” shivering as the war-cries followed the +muffled roar of the great drum. “If found, he will be slain! Do you +think there is any hope for him, mother? And he seemed so--so--” + +“He is gone with Ixtli, and Ixtli is true to the very core,” Victo +hastened to give assurance. “I would rather trust him than many another +of thrice his years and warlike experience. Ixtli is true; ay, as true +and tried as his father, Aztotl!” + +“Who loves you, mother, and would win--” + +“Hush, child!” just a bit sharply interposed the elder woman, yet at the +same time tightening that loving clasp. “Merely as the daughter of his +Sun God, Quetzalcoatl, and--ha!” + +Once again there came the echoes of rapid foot-falls beyond the heavy +draperies, and again this Amazonian mother drew her superb form in front +of her shrinking child, poising the javelin in readiness for stroke or +casting, as might serve best. + +A strong arm brushed the curtains aside sufficiently to admit its +owner's passage, but the armed warrior stopped short at sighting the Sun +Children, his proud head lowering, hands crossing over his broad bosom +in token of adoration,--for it surely was more than mere submission to +one held his superior. + +With a low cry, Victo drew back a bit, weapon lowering as she recognised +friend in place of enemy. + +“It is you, Aztotl?” she spoke, in mellow tones. “I thought--did you +remove the usual guards, this evening?” + +“The blame falls to my share, Sun Child,” the Red Heron made answer, +with a meekness strange in one of his build and general appearance, that +of a king among ordinary warriors. + +“Not justly, nor through fault of your own, my good and true friend,” + the elder woman made haste to give assurance. “Not even thy lips shall +speak slander of Aztotl the True-heart, my brother.” + +With a swift advance the Red Heron caught the unarmed hand, to bend over +it until his lips barely brushed the soft, perfumed skin. Then he sank +to one knee, bowing his head until his brow touched the floor beneath +her sandalled feet. + +Swiftly, gracefully, these movements were made, and where they would +have appeared fulsome or degraded in some, with this warrior the effect +was far from disagreeable to see or to experience. + +Victo flushed warmly and drew back a little farther, for the memory of +those words let fall by Gladys came back with unpleasant distinctness. +And was she so certain that Aztotl looked upon her as merely a +god-descended priestess? + +The Red Heron arose easily, head rising proudly above his shapely +shoulders as he met those great blue eyes,--eyes as pure and as +fathomless as the cloudless sky in midsummer. + +And then, more like one giving a bare statement of facts than one +offering a defence for himself, Aztotl spoke of a faithless subordinate, +who was guilty of either careless neglect, or worse. + +“It may be that Tezcatl lost his wits through strong waters, Sun Child, +or even that he took evil pay from still more vile hands. You have seen +the last of him, though, Child of Quetzal'l.” + +“You surely do not mean that--” + +Aztotl lightly tapped the knife-hilt showing above his maxtlatl, coldly +adding words to that significant gesture: + +“There is no place for fool or traitor upon the body-guard of the Sun +Children. Tezcatl sinned; he has paid full forfeit. And just so shall +all others perish who dare cast an evil glance towards--ha!” + +Another outcry arose from the other side of the curtained recess, and +the Red Heron instantly sprang away in that direction, hands gripping +weapons in readiness for instant use in case of need. + +Almost as swiftly, Victo and the maiden followed, one through fear, the +other through utter lack of fear, for herself. + +Those savage cries came from the lips of none other than the chieftain +whose now bare head bore significant traces of Bruno Gillespie's +handiwork, and he seemed bent on rushing directly into the presence of +the Sun Children, until Red Heron interposed, stern and icy-toned: + +“Stand back, my Lord Hua!” he ordered, left hand advanced with open +palm, but its dexter mate armed and ready for hot work if that must +come. “Venture no closer, on thy peril, chief!” + +Huatzin recoiled a bit, though that might have been more through +surprise than because he feared this proud warrior. He gripped his +knife-hilt, and partly drew the blade from its supporting sash. A +hissing oath escaped his lips, and he crouched a trifle, as a wild beast +gathers its deadliest force prior to making a death leap. + +“Darest thou bar my path, Aztotl?” he cried, hoarsely. “Make way, I bid +thee; make way, for I will see the Sun Children and--” + +“Not so, my Lord Hua,” coldly interrupted the master of guards, that +warning palm still turned to the front. “You are here without law or +leave, and know what the edict says: from the going to the return of +the sun, these stones are sacred from all feet save those of the Sun +Children and their regular body-guard.” + +“What care I for laws? Or for such as thou, Red Heron? I will that such +a thing shall be, and it comes to pass. And--thou dare to bar my way, +Aztotl?” + +“Ay. By words if they prove sufficient. By force if called for. By death +if worst must come; even the death of a mighty chieftain like Lord Hua +would not be too great a feat.” + +For a brief space it seemed as though Huatzin would make a leap to which +there could be but one termination, death to one or to both. But Aztotl +coldly spoke on: + +“I have given you fair and friendly warning, Lord Hua. Go, now, while +the path of peace lies open. Go, else I sound the call, and my +guard will take you in charge, just as they would any other rascally +intruder.” + +“Your precious son, for instance?” retorted the 'Tzin, viciously. “He +came with one whom--one of a different race from our own, Aztotl! A +traitor in thy own family, yet thou darest hint at--” + +Aztotl lifted a bent finger to his lips, sounding a shrill, +far-penetrating whistle. The response was prompt indeed, an armed force +advancing with weapons held ready, awaiting only word from commander to +punish that rash intruder by hurling him to death over the terraces. + +Although nearly beside himself with fury, Huatzin glared defiance at +both guard and its commander, then turned more directly upon the Sun +Children, speaking in savage tones: + +“Unto you, proud Victo, I'll either win you as my--” + +“Go on, Lord Hua,” coldly spoke the woman, as his voice choked. + +“I'll win and wear you as my squaw, or else give you to the stone of +sacrifice!” he snarled, then turned away as Aztotl motioned his guards +to clear the temple of all intruders, then see that none other dared +enter. + + + +CHAPTER XXV. WALDO GOES FISHING. + +It was with stronger forebodings than he dared acknowledge even to +himself, that Professor Featherwit watched the two young men out of +sight in the early gloom, and scarcely had his nephew passed beyond +hearing than uncle Phaeton would gladly have recalled Bruno. + +Waldo made light of all fears, prophesying complete success, and even +going so far as to predict Bruno's return accompanied by the Children of +the Sun; enthusiastic words which set the exile to trembling with excess +of joy and anticipation. + +What, then, was the blank dismay of all when, floating through the +night, came the hollow throbbing of yonder mighty war-drum, fetching +each person to his feet and holding him spellbound for the first few +seconds. + +Cooper Edgecombe turned sick at heart, even while ignorant as to the +method of sending forth that alarm, his hollow groan being the first +sound to follow the simultaneous exclamation which burst from three +pairs of lips as the surprise came. And but a breath later Waldo broke +forth with the excited query: + +“What is it? What's broken loose now? Surely--thunder?” + +Only Professor Phaeton at once recognised the sound, through +description, and each one of those swiftly succeeding strokes seemed +falling upon his heart, bidding him mourn for his beloved nephew, upon +whom his aged eyes had surely looked their last in this life! + +Yet it was the professor who took prompt action, speaking sharply as he +darted across to where the air-ship rested: + +“Come; get aboard, and let us do what lies in our power. It was criminal +to send the poor lad into the jaws of death, but now--hasten, there may +be a chance, even yet!” + +The call was still hot upon his lips when his two companions entered the +aerostat, gripping tight the hand-rail as Professor Featherwit sent the +vessel afloat with reckless haste. As by a miracle they escaped disaster +through rushing into a bushy treetop, and that fact served to steady the +aeronaut's nerves. + +“On guard, uncle Phaeton!” cried Waldo, making a lucky snatch at his +cap, which one of the stiff boughs brushed off his head. + +“Ay, ay, lad,” responded the man at the guiding-gear, as the air-ship +shot onward and upward, now heading, as directly as was practicable, for +the Lost City of the Aztecs. “That was the very lesson I needed. I am +steady of nerve, now, and will show no lack,--heaven grant that we may +not be for ever too late, though!” + +“What do you reckon could have kicked up such a bobbery, uncle? And +what--ugh!” as the wardrum's throbbings again swelled forth in grim +alarm. “What in time is that, anyway?” + +As briefly as might be, the professor explained, and almost for the +first time Waldo felt a thrill of dread. + +“If they've got Bruno, what will they do with him?” + +That very dread was worrying uncle Phaeton, and already through his +busy brain were flashing horrid pictures of punishment and sacrifice, +of hideous scenes of torture, wherein the eldest son of his dead sister +played a prominent role, perforce. + +He dared not trust his tongue to make answer, just then, and sent the +aeromotor onward at top speed, leaning far forward to win the earliest +glimpse of--what? + +He caught sight of blazing beacons fairly encircling the Lost City, +forming a cordon through which no stranger could hope to pass unseen. He +beheld hundreds of armed shapes rushing to and fro, plainly looking for +some intruder or other enemy, yet almost as certainly failing as yet to +make the longed-for discovery. + +Not until that moment had uncle Phaeton dared indulge in even the shadow +of a hope. The awful alarm seemed proof conclusive that poor Bruno had +been taken, through the treachery of Ixtli. + +Naturally enough, that was his first belief, but now, as the air-ship +slackened pace to circle more deliberately above the valley, all eyes +on the eager watch for either Bruno or something to hint at his fate, +Professor Featherwit lost a portion of that conviction. + +If Bruno had indeed fallen victim to misplaced confidence, and had +been craftily lured into this den of ravening wild beasts, why all this +confusion and mad skurry? Why had not the traitor first made sure of his +victim? Why such a general alarm? + +Although such haste in getting afloat had been made, some little time +had been thus consumed, and, before the aerostat was fairly above the +Lost City, Bruno and Ixtli had dropped by stages down the shadowed side +of the Temple of the Sun God, to burrow underneath the ground as their +surest method of eluding pursuit. + +Only for that, the end might have been different, for, once sighted, +Gillespie would have been rescued by his friends, or those friends would +surely have shared death with him. + +And so it came to pass that, circle though they might, calling ears +to supplement their eyes, swooping perilously low down in their fierce +eagerness to sight their imperilled one, never a glimpse of the young +man could they obtain, nor even a definite hint as to where next to look +for him. + +“Surely they cannot have captured Bruno, as yet?” huskily muttered uncle +Phaeton, hungrily straining his eyes without reward. “If the poor boy +had actually fallen into such evil hands, why such crazy confusion? +Why--oh, why did I permit his coaxings to overpower my better judgment? +Why did I send him into--” + +The words stuck in his throat and refused to issue. Phaeton Featherwit +just then felt himself little less than a cold-blooded assassin. + +Mr. Edgecombe was but little less deeply stirred, although his feelings +were more of a mixture. He grieved for Bruno, and would willingly risk +his life in hopes of doing the young man a service, yet his gaze was +drawn far more frequently towards yonder temple, on the top of which he +had--surely he HAD caught sight of his wife, his daughter! + +“Let me down and try to find him,” he eagerly begged, as one might plead +for a great boon. “I promise to save him if yet alive, and--let me +try, professor; I beg of you, give me this chance to show my heartfelt +gratitude.” + +But Professor Featherwit shook his head in negation. + +“That would only add to our trouble, friend. Knowing nothing of the +dialect, you would be wholly at a loss. And, looking so entirely +different in every respect, how could you hope to pass inspection?” + +“All seems so confused, that I might--surely it is worth trying.” + +“It would be suicidal, so say no more on that score,” almost harshly +spoke the usually mild-mannered aeronaut, sending his vessel upon +another circuit, only with stern vigilance choking back the appealing +shout to his lost nephew. + +This time the aerostat was brought directly above the Temple of the Sun, +where there appeared to be some unusual disturbance, a number of armed +guards fairly driving a gaily arrayed Indian down to the lower levels, +and that greatly against his inclinations, judging from the harsh cries +and ringing threats which burst from his lips. + +Recognising the building, and unable to hold his intense emotions longer +under stern control, Cooper Edgecombe called aloud the names of his wife +and daughter, begging that they might come to him; but then the air-ship +was sent onward and upward, with a dizzying swoop, and Professor +Featherwit gripped an arm, sternly speaking: + +“Quiet, sir! Another outbreak like that and I'll lock your lips, if I +have to send a bullet through your mad brain!” + +“I forgot. I could not wait longer, knowing that my loved ones--” + +“You forgot that the lives of all depend upon our remaining at liberty,” + coldly interrupted Featherwit. “Without this means of conveyance, how +can your loved ones escape? Now, your solemn pledge to maintain utter +silence, or I will take you back to yonder wilderness, leaving you to +shift for yourself as best you can. Promise, sir!” + +“I will,--I do. Forgive me, for I was carried away by--'twas there I +saw--after so many horrible years!” huskily muttered the exile, fairly +cowering there, before his saviour from the whirlpool. + +“Enough; bear in mind that the rescue of your loved ones depend on our +efforts. If discovered by yonder snarling beasts, and the machine is +injured,--farewell, all hopes! Now, quiet, and look for Bruno!” + +Again the air-ship circled over the valley, in spite of the moonlight +passing wholly unseen and unsuspected by the Aztecs, whose energies were +bent on ferreting out mortal foes, not demons of the upper world. + +Waldo leaned farther over the hand-rail as they floated closer to an +excited group of warriors, the central figure being Lord Hua himself, +fiercely denouncing Aztotl and his son, Ixtli, as traitors to the common +welfare, and calling upon all honest braves to mete forth befitting +punishment. + +Professor Featherwit caught one name indistinctly; that of the young +Aztec in whose company Bruno had set forth on his ill-starred venture; +and hoping to learn more of importance, he caused the aerostat to hover +directly above that particular group of redskins. + +Waldo, never stopping to count the risk he might thus fetch upon them +all, silently lowered the grapnel, by means of the drag-rope, giving +a boyish chuckle as the three-pronged hook descended amidst that +gathering, the sight causing more than one superstitious brave to leap +aside, with cries of amazed affright. + +The air-ship gave a sudden swoop, and the grapnel caught Huatzin by +his girdle, jerking him fairly off his feet, and swinging him into air, +pretty much as a youngster might land a writhing fish. But no fish ever +sent forth so wild a screech of mingled rage and terror as split the air +just then. + +Although hardly realising what was happening, Professor Featherwit sent +the aeromotor upward with a mighty jerk. The shock proving too much +for that sash, Lord Hua fell back to earth, literally biting the dust, +although he met with no bodily harm beyond sundry bruises. + +“Caught a sucker, and--I'll never do it again, uncle!” exploded Waldo, +as he swiftly hauled in his novel fish-line; but he had to take a severe +lecture from the professor before the subject was finally dropped. + +And, worse than all else, the air-demon was now the target for both eyes +and arrows, and, perforce, sailed swiftly away into the night. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. DOWN AMONG THE DEAD. + +Ixtli spoke with a degree of earnestness which left no room for doubt, +even if the young man's own keen sense of hearing had not given warning +but an instant later. + +Ominous sounds came from the entrance, which had served them but so +brief a time gone by, and Bruno knew that, even if they had escaped +being seen while thus attempting to win such a gruesome refuge, the +possibility of their having elected just such a line of flight had +occurred to some of the redskins. + +Gillespie heard the heavy doors open, then clang to again. He was fairly +confident that some of the Aztecs had entered, although as yet the utter +darkness hindered further recognition. + +“What next, Ixtli?” he whispered, lips almost touching the face of his +young guide, as they stood close together in the mirk. “They can't take +me alive! Is it fight, or--” + +“No fight yet,” gently breathed the Aztec in turn. “Dey look, dat not +make sure find. Dey try see; we try not see all time. Dey come, we +go,--like dis!” + +Catching a hand within his own clasp, Ixtli led Bruno away in that utter +darkness, seemingly well acquainted with the lay of the ground, although +it quickly became evident that there must be more than one direct +passage. Bruno felt convinced that there were other chambers turning at +right angles to their present course, though it might have bothered the +young man to give entirely satisfactory reasons for such belief. + +Ixtli did not flee fast nor far, in that first spurt, pausing shortly +to turn face towards the rear, a low, musical chuckle coming through his +lips. + +“Dey come look, got no eyes for see in dark,” he explained, barely loud +enough for Bruno to catch his meaning. “We play fool dem all; dat be +fun; heap fun all time over!” + +Ixtli was scarcely as precise of speech while under the influence of +excitement as when he had ample time in which to pick and choose his +words; but there was little room for mistaking his meaning, which, after +all, is fairly sufficient. + +But this time the young brave was in error, for only a few moments later +both fugitives caught sight of a dim light in hurried motion far towards +the entrance to these underground crypts. That warned them of added +peril, and Ixtli's chuckle died abruptly away. + +“They'll fetch us now,” grimly muttered Bruno, shaking his fairly +athletic shoulders and fingering the knife at his belt as though making +preparations for an inevitable struggle. “All right. They may kill, but +I'll furnish some red paint for my tombstone, anyway!” + +It may be doubted whether Ixtli fully appreciated this conclusion, yet +he divined something of what was spoken, and made swift response: + +“No kill yet. Dey look, we hide. Mebbe not find. Mebbe play fool all +over--yes!” + +“Where can we hide that lights won't ferret us out, though? If a fellow +might only have the same advantage; here in this darkness I'm not worth +a sick kitten!” + +Just a bit disgustedly came the words, but Bruno was not giving over +in weak despair. No matter how vast the odds might show against him, he +would put up a gallant fight as long as he could lift his hand or strike +a blow. + +Still, he was by no means anxious for the crisis to arrive. He would far +rather run than fight, under existing circumstances; but whither, and +how? + +Ixtli took it upon himself to solve the perplexing enigma, in a whisper +bidding his white brother follow with as little sound as might be, once +more hurrying away through the gloomy blackness, which was by no means +rendered more agreeable to Bruno by that fleeting glimpse of the dead +men's bones. + +There was little room left for doubting the truth. Their presence in the +death-cells surely was more than suspected, judging from the actions +of yonder redskins, who flashed the light over and into each angle and +corner, each niche and jog, where a human being might possibly seek +concealment. + +They were not so many in number, but still a larger force than could +well be met with success by two youths, even granting that Ixtli would +turn lethal weapons against his own people, which Bruno felt was by no +means a settled fact. + +For some little time the young men kept without that limited circle of +light, watching each movement made by the searchers, and at the same +time taking care that none of the little party stole a dangerous march +upon them by hastening in advance of the lights. + +Ixtli apparently enjoyed the affair, much as a child might a successful +game of I-spy, for he emitted occasional chuckles, and let fall soft +whispers which, if caught by other ears, certainly would not have deeply +benefited the fugitives when captured. + +Thanks to that slow progress, rendered thus by the care and minuteness +of the search, Bruno began to marvel at the extent of the catacombs, and +almost involuntarily calculate how many centuries it must have taken to +accumulate such enormous quantities of remains. For, thanks to yonder +prying light, he could see how high those grim relics of perishing +mortality were piled up in tiers, with here and there upright skeletons +in position of greater prominence. + +Perhaps Gillespie might have been better able to appreciate Ixtli's +amusement had he even an inkling as to how this game of hide-and-go-seek +was fated to end. That an end must come, eventually, was a foregone +conclusion. And then? + +He ventured to ask Ixtli how they were to escape detection when they +could retreat no farther, but before an answer could be fairly shaped, +that end seemed actually upon them. + +Without sound or warning of any sort, another bright light showed at a +considerable distance in the opposite direction, and, as Bruno stared +that way, he made out several armed warriors who appeared to be engaged +in that same occupation: searching that city of the dead for the living! + +Thus caught between two fires, there seemed only one course to pursue, +and, with the courage of his fathers, Bruno spoke in low, grim tones to +his young guide: + +“No use for you to join in the mix, Ixtli. I'll do the best I know how, +but if I can't make the riffle, if I go down for good and all, I ask you +to convey the news to my friends. You will?” + +But Ixtli was not at the end of his resources, and gripping a wrist, he +urged Bruno towards yonder second light, speaking hastily as they moved +along towards the edge of that wide passage. “No fight, yet. Best +hide; mebbe no find; dat best try first. Den Ixtli fight like white +brother,--fast!” + +There was time for scant speech, for just then the two parties seemed, +for the first time, to catch sight of each other, and while the brave +bearing the rude lantern still maintained his slow movements, searching +well as he came, the other Indians came in advance, giving the fugitives +barely time in which to crouch down under temporary cover. + +The moment these enemies had passed them by, Ixtli urged Bruno on, then, +in swift whispers, instructed him how to perfect his hiding, even +aiding the young paleface into one of the upright crypts, back of a grim +skeleton, the mouldering blankets assisting in covering the one of flesh +and blood. + +After like fashion, the Aztec sought cover on the opposite side of the +passage. None too quickly, either; for now the single searcher drew +dangerously nigh, peering into every practicable hiding-place on either +side, before moving onward. + +Little by little he drew closer, while the other band of searchers +apparently turned off into a side passage, or large chamber, since +nothing could be seen or heard of them by the fugitives. + +In all probability, Ixtli's bold ruse would have proved a complete +success, for the Aztec warrior showed no suspicion as he drew nearer; +but it was not to be thus. + +Fairly holding his breath, lest he disturb some of the dry bones +immediately in front of himself, Bruno waited and hoped, only to feel +his blood chill, and his heart fail him, as a sickening horror crept +over his brain; nor was that the only creeping thing,--worse luck! + +Past all room for doubting, his entrance into that crypt had disturbed +the repose of a snake of some description; for now he could feel the +loathsome reptile crawling slowly up his back, turning the skin beneath +to scorching ice in its horrid passage. + +One horrible nightmare minute that lasted, then the serpent paused upon +his shoulder and biceps, touching his cheek with nose, then drawing back +its ugly head to give an ominous hiss. + +Human flesh and blood could endure no more, and Bruno flung the snake +violently off, striking forcibly against that mass of dry bones as he +did so. With a rattling clatter, the skeleton lost its frail coherence +and tumbled outward, leaving Bruno fairly exposed within the niche. + +With a cry the Aztec warrior turned in that direction, but ere he could +fetch his light to bear upon the right spot, Ixtli sprung forth to the +rescue, hooting like a frightened owl, as he dashed the light to earth, +and, at the same time, deftly tripping the Indian headlong. + +Swift as thought itself he followed up the advantage thus won, smiting +the fallen brave heavily upon the crown with a clubbed thighbone, +depriving him of sensibility for the time being at least. And then +snatching up the still burning light, he called, in guarded tones, to +his white friend: + +“Come, brother, play hunt, now! Fast--not stop here; dat bad for you see +by dem so soon. Dat good you go--like dis way!” + +Scarcely realising just what fresh ruse the Aztec had in mind, but far +from recovered from that horrible fear of death from poisonous fangs, +Gillespie submitted, Ixtli hurrying him away, turning off into what +appeared to be a side passage, less spacious than that to which they had +until then confined their retreat. + +The young Aztec hastily explained his present scheme, which was to play +the role of searchers as well; and scarcely had he made that project +known, than another difficult test was offered their courage. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. PENETRATING GRIM SECRETS. + +Bruno caught an imperfect view of moving figures at no great distance +ahead, but ere he could fairly decide just what they might be, his +red-skinned guide swiftly whispered: + +“More come look. You don't say. Ixtli fool 'em--easy!” + +Making not the slightest attempt to avoid the issue, the young Aztec +stepped a little in advance of Gillespie, thus casting him into partial +eclipse, speaking briskly, as he met the two Indians, only one of whom +bore a light: + +“It is trouble for nothing, brothers. There is no sign here. If he saw +aught, 'twas in a dream, I think. And now--hark!” + +Even there in the subterranean recesses something of the wildly excited +uproar which followed Waldo's rash attempt to go a-fishing after his +fellow men, and the sighting of that awful air-demon by the Indians, +could be heard, and, without divining its actual import, Ixtli adroitly +turned it to his own advantage. + +“They have found the strange dog without!” he cried, sharply. “Come, my +brothers, else we will be too late for--hasten, all!” + +But only one-half of the present group obeyed, the two Indians dashing +at full speed towards the main entrance to the city of the dead, leaving +Bruno behind, wholly unsuspected, and Ixtli chuckling gleefully over the +favourable change in the situation. + +“Dey go--we come. Dis way, brother,” the Aztec spoke, moving in the +opposite direction, followed willingly enough by the now pretty well +bewildered paleface. + +“Whither are we going?” Bruno felt impelled to ask, after a few +moments more of blind obedience. “How are we going to get out? And my +friends,--they must have been alarmed by that great drum!” + +Ixtli made response by touch rather than in words, and, giving his +companion barely time sufficient to read aright that look of warning, he +extinguished the light, leaving themselves in complete darkness. + +Naturally anticipating fresh danger, Bruno strained his ears to catch +at least an inkling of its precise nature ere the trouble could fairly +close in; but only silence surrounded them,--silence, and an almost +palpable gloom. + +“Not cat,” assured Ixtli, in a soft-toned whisper, as he divined the +expectations entertained by his comrade in peril. “Nobody come, now. All +gone see what noise 'bout, yonder. You, me, all right. Best mek no big +talk, dough. Come--see!” + +Apparently the young Aztec found it no easy matter to elect words which +should fairly convey his desired meaning, and, abruptly giving over the +effort, he moved on, one hand lightly closed upon Bruno's wrist to guard +against possible separation in that utter darkness. + +Nothing further was said until Ixtli again came to a halt, Gillespie +giving a low exclamation as he felt what appeared to be a blank wall +before them. Was this no thoroughfare? Were they blocked in, to perish +of starvation, unless earlier discovered by the red-skinned searchers? + +Far from agreeable thoughts, yet such swiftly flashed across the young +man's brain, lending an echo of harshness to his voice as he spoke. + +“Where are we now, Ixtli? How are we going to get out of this? If you +have led me into a trap--” + +Finger-tips lightly brushed his lips, then the Aztec explained as well +he was able, thanks to his limited vocabulary. + +Escape from the catacomb by the same route they had taken in seeking +refuge there was entirely out of the question. Even though the redskins +might have abandoned the search in that precise quarter for the time +being, thanks to the sudden alarm which had broken forth in the valley, +almost certainly there would be an armed guard so stationed as to +intercept any or all persons who might so attempt to emerge. + +This much Bruno gathered, then took his turn at the verbal oars. + +“But we can't stay here, man, dear. Nothing to eat or to drink, and my +friends worrying over us, outside. We've got to get out; I have, at any +rate. The only question is, just how, and where?” + +“Dere one way go,” Ixtli made reply, even his lowered tones betraying +more than ordinary impressiveness, Bruno fancied. “Mebbe easy, mebbe +hard. Find dat, when try. We go dis way. Best be still, dough!” + +Bruno was ready enough to promise all that, just so action was being +taken, his uneasiness being by far too deep for rest or repose. More on +account of his uncle and his brother, though, than for his own safety. +He had not yet lost hope of extrication from the perils which surely +surrounded them, not quite abandoned hope of rescuing the Children of +the Sun as well. + +Turning abruptly to the left, Ixtli led the way into what appeared +(through the senses of touch and hearing) to be a narrow, winding +tunnel, which presently took an upward incline, then broadened into a +chamber of greater or lesser dimensions; the faint echoes told Gillespie +there was an enlargement of some description, but the utter darkness +veiled all else. + +Barely had the two adventurous youths come to a pause, than dull, +uncertain sounds came from almost directly above their heads; and, after +listening for a brief space, Ixtli disappointedly breathed a fear that +they would have to wait for the time being. + +“Why? What's going on up yonder? And where are we, anyway?” + +Beneath the great teocalli, Ixtli made answer in his disjointed way +of speaking. There the evil-minded paba, Tlacopa, reigned supreme. And +there, almost directly above their heads, stood the sacrificial stone, +upon whose flat surface the Sun Children would be doomed to suffer the +last penalty, provided Tlacopa won his wicked will. + +Bruno thrilled to his centre with fierce indignation as he, little by +little, gathered this information. Perish by such hideous methods? Give +up her fair young life-- + +For, rather queerly, considering that Ixtli spoke of both Victo and +Glady, he now had thought of--could see but that one lovely face and +shrinking figure,--face and form of the daughter alone. + +Discovery might have come all too soon, but for Ixtli's slipping a palm +over those indignant lips and thus smothering the outbreak which the +young man could not avoid; then, recalled to ordinary prudence, Bruno +talked and listened by turns. + +Ixtli contrived to make his white brother understand just how they were +situated at the time: in a secret channel of communication with the +great war temple, through which sanctuary he had hoped to lead his +friend, thence to escape from the valley itself, if a favourable chance +should offer. Now their way was barred, and they could only wait. +Unless--would Bruno keep close guard over his tongue? + +Yes. Anything, rather than remain wholly idle, like this. + +Adding a few minor cautions, Ixtli took Gillespie by a wrist, and stole +noiselessly forward, climbing upward, over and into a contrivance which +Bruno vainly sought to recognise by the sense of touch, but giving a +thrill of amazement when his guide paused long enough to whisper in his +nearest ear: + +“Dis war-god body. Stand up in teocalli, look on kill-stone. Wait; you +see, hear, all dat, now!” + +Thanks to the close association of that night, with all its attendant +perils, Bruno was growing fairly skilful in interpreting the broken +sentences of his copper-hued chum, and he now knew they were moving +about within the hollow image of the Aztecan war-god, Huitzilopochtli, +while-- + +He caught sight of several small apertures, through which yellow light +came dimly, and, almost without thinking, applied his eyes to the one +most convenient, peering forth upon the broad sacrificial stone, with +its foul, blood-stained surface, the little channels intended to drain +off the superfluous hemorrhage, together with the gloomy, repulsive +surroundings. And, too, a most abominable stench appeared to rise from +the altar of death, and Bruno shrunk back with a shiver of disgust. + +“No talk loud!” softly breathed Ixtli, gripping an arm with force. “Dey +kill, if find now. Look, dat one Tlacopa; big priest, you call. DEM help +paba fool all people; so!” + +Although his meaning was not fully apparent, Bruno caught renewed +interest, and once more peered forth upon the scene, weird and +impressive enough, even from a Christian point of view. + +Headed by Tlacopa, a ceremony of some description was taking place, +lesser priests and other acolytes performing their various parts, the +incantations rising now loudly, now sinking to a hollow monotone, the +whole affair being none the less absorbing when Bruno remembered that, +perhaps, it might have some connection with the vile plots against the +Sun Children, if not endangering life itself. + +Gillespie likewise took note of various other graven images; among them +one of the not less hideous war-goddess, Teoyaomiqui, or “divine war +death,” fitting consort for the mighty “humming-bird” himself. + +Meanwhile, Ixtli, who appeared to look upon the whole affair as a more +or less jolly good jest at the expense of his superstitious people, took +occasion to give his white brother a few pointers, letting him see how +easy it was for false oracles to be manufactured to order; how certain +the lightest wishes of the head priest were to find speedy fulfilment at +all times. + +While thus divulging part of the mysteries of the temple, that ceremony +reached a finale, and the little crowd slowly melted away, leaving but +Tlacopa and a select few of his trusted henchman. And Ixtli certainly +caught enough of their talk to alter his manner most materially. + +“Come, quick!” he fiercely whispered in Bruno's ear, gripping an arm, +and fairly forcing the young man to accompany his retreat. + +Not another word was spoken before the lower level was reached, and then +Gillespie broke the ice, asking what was the matter. + +Dark though it was all around them, Bruno could tell by sense of touch +that his guide was powerfully agitated, and, though Ixtli clearly +hesitated before imparting the asked-for information, persistence won +the point; and then-- + +Imperfectly though that discovery was set forth, Gillespie contrived +to gather this much: Tlacopa decreed that the Sun Children should be +brought to trial, if not to actual execution, when the morning sun +arose! + +“Never!” fiercely vowed Bruno, all on fire, as he recalled that more +than fair face. “Never,--while I live and draw breath!” + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. BROUGHT BEFORE THE GODS. + +Once again Aztotl, the Red Heron, was bowing humbly before the Children +of the Sun God, but now there was stern grief impressed upon his visage, +rather than pure devotion, such as one might feel at the feet of a +divinity. + +And the face of Victo was unusually pale, her lips tightly compressed to +keep them from trembling too visibly, while her arm clasped Gladys with +almost fierce love in its warm strength. + +Aztotl glanced upwards for a moment, then slowly spoke: + +“Such are the commands laid upon thy captain of guards, Daughter of +Quetzal', the Fair God. He hath been commanded to fetch Victo and Glady +to the teocalli, there to be--no!” with an outbreak of fierce rebellion, +drawing his superb figure erect, and gripping javelin until the springy +ash quivered, as though suddenly winning life for itself. “The gods lie! +They are speaking falsely, or--or the paba lies, when trying to thus +interpret the oracle!” + +Gladys shrunk away, but her mother stood firm, seeming to gain in +coolness and nerve what this ardent servant was losing. + +“It must be thus, my good friend,” she spoke, in low, even tones. “The +word hath come to a soldier, and obedience is his first duty.” + +“Not when obedience means leading to sacrifice--” + +“That may never come, good Aztotl. We have committed no sin, in deed or +in thought. The Mother of Gods will not lay claim to an innocent victim. +Or, even then, the right shall triumph! Tlacopa is powerful, but hath +Victo no influence? Lord Hua may throw HIS influence to the wrong side, +but hath truth no answer?” + +“If not truth, then death!” sternly vowed the captain of the body-guard. +“If Tonatiuh fails to punish the enemies of his daughter, then this +right arm shall hurl the false prince down to Mictlanteuctli, grim lord +of the under-world!” + +“What is it all about, mother?” murmured Gladys, clinging in sore +affright to the side of her Amazonian relative. “Surely the people will +not--surely we need not go forth to--” + +A mother's kiss closed those quivering lips, and then, with far more +assurance than she really could find in her heart, Victoria bade her +child fear nothing; that all would come aright in a brief while. + +Little by little, the maiden's terrors were calmed, and then she took +position by her parent's side with a greater display of nerve than might +have been anticipated. + +Through all, Aztotl waited, fiercely silent, held from open rebellion +only by the influence of the woman whose very life was now menaced. And +as the Sun Children stood before him, in readiness to comply with the +commands issued by those in high authority, the Red Heron broke bonds. + +“Say but one word, Daughter of Quetzal', and all this shall never come +to pass! Give me but permission to--” + +“What wouldst thou do, good Aztotl?” + +“Surround the Sun Children with their loyal body-guard and defend them, +while one brave might strike blow, or hold shield in front of their +sacred charge,” slowly yet fiercely declared the captain, eyes telling +how dearly he longed to receive that permission. + +But Victo shook her head in slow negation. She was still cool of brain +enough to realise how fatal such course would be in the end. If one +deadly blow should be dealt, the end could be but one,--annihilation to +both defended and defenders. + +Then, too, she recalled the wondrous tidings brought the evening before +by Ixtli and his comrade. Friends were seeking to rescue them, and if +only time might be won--it must be played for, then! + +And so, his petition finally denied, with no other course left open to +take, the Red Heron summoned his picked band and, with the Sun Children +in their midst, left the temple, crossed the plain, and slowly marched +into the War God's teocalli. + +In awed silence a vast number of Aztecs followed that little procession, +silent as they, yet clearly anticipating events of far more than +ordinary importance. And thus the foredoomed women were taken before the +great stone of sacrifice, whereupon lay a snow-white lamb, bound past +the possibility of struggling. + +Close beside the prepared sacrifice stood the head priest, Tlacopa, +robed for the awesome ceremony, sacrificial knife in hand, temples +crowned as customs dictated, eyes blazing as vividly as they might if +backed by living fire. + +Not far distant stood Huatzin, head bandaged and face none the better +looking for his floundering fall when his sash gave way the evening +before. And as he caught the passing gaze of the woman whom he had +so basely persecuted, a repulsive smile showed itself, the grin of a +veritable fiend in human guise. + +Sternly cold, and outwardly unmoved, the captain of guards performed +his sworn duty, then in grim silence awaited the end. And in like manner +each man of that carefully selected band rested upon his arms. + +A brief pause, during which the utter silence grew actually oppressive, +then the head priest lifted a hand as though commanding full attention +before he should speak. + +Then, in tones which were by no means loud, yet which were modulated +so as to fill that expanse most perfectly, Tlacopa recited the grave +accusations brought against the false children of the mighty Sun God. + +To their evil influence he attributed the comparative failure of crops +which had now cursed their fair people throughout the past years. Unto +them, he claimed, belonged the evil credit of many untimely deaths +which had covered so many proud heads with the ashes of mourning and of +despair. To their door might be traced all of misfortune with which the +favourite children of the mighty gods had been so sorely afflicted. + +In proud silence Victo listened to this deliberate arraignment, not +deigning to interpose denial, or offer plea in self-defence, until the +paba was clearly at an end. And even then she gazed upon Tlacopa with +eyes of scorn, and lips which curled with contempt. + +A low murmur from the eager crowd told how anxious they were to hear +more, and, taking her cue from that, Victo made a graceful motion with +her white hand, following it by words that sounded rarely sweet in their +deep mellowness, after the harsh, dry notes of the paba. + +“Who dares to bring such base charges against the Daughters of Quetzal'? +Who are our accusers, head priest?” + +Did Tlacopa shrink from that queenly presence? If so, 'twas but another +cunning device intended to pave the way to complete success; to catch +the fickle fancy of his audience by rendering his retort all the more +effective. + +“Who dares accuse us of wrong-doing?” again demanded the Amazonian +mother, speaking for her child as well, around whose waist her left arm +was clinging as a needed support. + +“The Mother of all the gods!” forcibly replied the priest, now casting +aside all presence of timidity, and gazing into that proud face +with eyes which were filled with fire of hatred and jealousy. “The +all-powerful Centeotl hath made known the awful truth through the lips +of the infallible oracle, my children! She hath declared that no +smiles shall be turned towards the children of Anahuac so long as false +prophets disgrace this great city! She hath demanded the sacrifice--” + +“Who can bear witness to any such demand?” sternly interposed the +captain of the body-guard, unable to listen longer in silence. + +Tlacopa flashed an evil look his way, but from the audience issued +another murmur, rising louder until it took upon itself the shape of +words, demanding indubitable proof that the oracle had indeed spoken +thus. And, no longer daring to rely upon his own authority, Tlacopa +turned to the sacrificial stone whereupon lay the helpless lamb, bowing +knee and lifting face as he volubly repeated the customary invocation; +just then it appeared far more nearly an incantation. + +Having thus complied with all the requirements of his office, the paba +first kissed his blade of sacrifice, then seized the lamb and turned +it upon its back, one hand holding it helpless while with the other he +ripped the poor beast wide from throat to tail, then, making a swift +cross-slash, laid bare the cavity and exposed the quivering heart. + +Dropping his knife, Tlacopa grasped this vital organ, fiercely tearing +it away, drawing back where all might see as he lifted the heart on high +for inspection. + +One brief look appeared to satisfy his needs, for he gave a fierce shout +as he hurled the bleeding heart towards the accused, then cried: + +“An omen! An omen! The Mother of the Gods claims her victims!” + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. BENEATH THE SACRIFICIAL STONE. + +Contrary to the expectations of Ixtli escape by way of the War God's +temple was barred throughout the remainder of that eventful night. +Tlacopa, the head priest, together with a number of his acolytes, +varying as to force, yet ever too powerful for any two men to force a +passage contrary to the will of their leader, remained on duty each and +every hour. And hence it came to pass that those early hours found +our fugitives still beneath the temple, worn through loss of sleep +and stress of anxiety, yet firmly resolved not to permit that intended +outrage without at least striking one fair blow for the Children of the +Sun. + +Slowly enough the time passed, yet it could hardly be called monotonous. +Whenever wearied of their darksome waiting, the young men would steal +again into the hollow image of Huitzil', there to utilise the cunningly +arranged peepholes, now looking out upon the priests, or listening to +catch such words as fell from the lips of those nearest the stone of +sacrifice. + +In this manner Ixtli contrived to pick up quite a little fund of +information, mainly through the confidences reposed in a certain +favoured few of the brotherhood by the chief paba. And this, in turn, +filtered through his lips after the chums once again retreated to the +lower regions for both safety and comfort. + +And then Bruno learned how the adventurous young Aztec, far less +superstitious than the vast majority of his people, thanks to the kindly +teaching of Victo, Child of Quetzal', had in his explorations discovered +so many secrets of the temple and priesthood, secrets which he now had +no scruple in communicating to another of a different race. + +Ixtli told how, on various occasions, he had lurked behind the scenes +while the miraculous “oracle” was delivering fiat or prophecy, and then +he told his white brother how Tlacopa meant to completely confound the +Children of the Sun when once brought before the gods. + +“He tell slave what say. Slave come dis way. Hide in War God. Wait for +time, den tell Tlacopa's words!” + +A most infernal scheme, yet the danger of which Bruno could readily +recognise, together with the serious difficulty of refuting any such +supernatural evidence. + +“Surely your people will not suffer a few dirty curs to do such horrible +wrong to ladies like--Why, Ixtli, even the gods you fellows bow the knee +to in worship, ought to rise up in their defence!” + +But Ixtli merely sighed, then spoke in sad tones, explaining how he +alone had been taken wholly into the confidence of the Sun Children. +Even the captain of their guards knew Victo and Glady as but descendants +of the great Fair God whom the audacious trickery of a rival sent far +away from the land of his favoured people, to find an abiding-place in +the sun itself. + +“He good brave. He die for dem,--easy! But he not know all. He think +drop from sun, to lead people back to light. If think not so, dat make +face turn black; dat make mad come--great big!” + +As was ever the case when his feeling seemed deeply stirred, Ixtli found +it difficult to fully or fairly explain his sentiments; but Bruno caught +sufficient of his meaning to give a fair guess at the rest. + +He found a ray of hope in the belief that Aztotl at least would defend +the Children of the Sun, and Ixtli predicted with apparent confidence +that the members of the body-guard would stand firm under the Red +Heron's leadership. + +Keeping thus upon the alert throughout the remainder of that night, the +young men were able to take prompt action when the crisis drew nigh. + +Ixtli caught the first inkling of what was coming, and hastily sent +Bruno away from the peepholes, dropping a word in his ear as they both +prepared for clean work. + +Through a secret entrance, shaped amidst the drapery which surrounded +the pedestal of the mighty Huitzil', a slave of the temple crept to play +the part of echo to Tlacopa's evil will; and scarcely had he secured +what was to be a place of waiting and watching than the attack was made +from out the darkness. + +Ixtli flung his tunic over the slave's head, twisting both ends tightly +about his throat, effectually smothering all attempt at crying aloud for +aid, while Bruno clasped arms about his middle, holding hands powerless +to strike or to draw weapon. + +A brief struggle, which produced scarcely any noise, certainly not +sufficient to reach the ears of priest or helper, then the trembling, +unnerved slave was bundled down that narrow passage, to be dumped in a +remote corner, and there effectually bound and gagged by the young men. + +All this was performed without hitch or mishap, and then, nerved +to fighting pitch, Ixtli and Bruno went back beneath the stone of +sacrifice, resolved to play their part to the end in manful fashion. + +There was no further fear of intrusion, for, of course, Tlacopa would +never think of endangering his own evil scheme by risking an exposure +such as would follow discovery of his slave-oracle. As Ixtli truly +said, such discovery would end in the paba's being slain by his befooled +people. + +Their patience was sorely tried, even then, though a goodly portion of +the blame belonged to their fears for the Sun Children, rather than to +the actual length of waiting. But then, amidst the solemn invocations +led by the high priest, the body-guard marched into the Hall of +Sacrifice, and Bruno caught his breath sharply as he beheld--Gladys! Not +her mother, just then. For the first minute, only,--Gladys! + +Then came the bitter denunciation by Tlacopa, followed by the coldly +dignified words of Victo, after which the innocent lamb yielded up +its life in order that the future might be predicted through the still +quivering heart. + +With a fiercely exultant cry Tlacopa hurled the vital organ towards the +accused, it striking the mother upon an arm, then glancing further to +leave an ugly smear upon the daughter's shoulder ere falling among the +eager multitude, who fought and struggled to secure at least a morsel of +the hideous thing. + +“Behold! the gods hath marked their own!” cried the high priest, his +harsh tones fairly filling the Hall of Sacrifice. “They are guilty of +all crimes laid at their door. They merit death, a thousandfold. The +Mother of Gods hath spoken!” + +“To whom but thou, Tlacopa?” sternly cried the captain of the guards, as +he stood firm in spite of the ominous sounds which were rising from the +rear, as well as from either side. + +“She hath spoken unto me, as her worthy representative on earth.” + +“And there are those who say much religion hath turned thy brain, good +Tlacopa,” retorted Aztotl, holding his temper fairly well under control, +yet with blazing eyes and stiffening sinews. “Are thy ears alone to +receive such important communications as--” + +“Silence, thou scoffer!” fiercely cried the high priest, lifting +quivering hands on high as though about to call down the thunders of +an outraged deity upon that impious head. “She who hath spoken once may +deign to speak again. Harken,--hear the oracle!” + +Doubtless this was cue for the slave of the temple to repeat the words +placed within its mouth, but that slave was literally unable to speak +a word for himself, let alone others. Yet,--the oracle was not wholly +silenced! + +“Talk out, or I will!” fiercely muttered Bruno, giving Ixtli a violent +punch in the side, “talk out for the Sun Children!” + +The young Aztec needed no further prompting, loving Victo and Glady as +he did, hating and despising the high priest. And in shrill, clear tones +came the wondrous oracle: + +“Tlacopa lies! Tlacopa is an evil dog! The Mother of the Gods loves and +will defend her friends, the Children of the great and good Quetzal'.” + +How much more Ixtli might have said, had he been granted further grace, +will never be known. Tlacopa shrank away from the speaking statue as +from a living death, but then he rallied, savagely thundering: + +“'Tis a lying oracle! 'Tis an evil impostor who has--An omen! A true +omen, my children! The evil ones hath been branded for the knife! Seize +them! To the sacrifice!” + +That vicious cry was swiftly taken up, but the body-guard closed in +around the menaced women, presenting arms to all that maddened horde, +while their captain sternly warned all good people to fall aside and +make way for the Children of the Sun. + +Then that secret entrance was flung wide, permitting two excited young +men to issue, Tlacopa reeling aside from a blow dealt him by Bruno's +clenched fist, as that worthy hastened to join forces with the +body-guard. + + + +CHAPTER XXX. AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS. + +This double appearance--for Ixtli kept fair pace with his hot-headed +white brother--caused no little stir, and added considerable to the +partial bewilderment which had fallen over that audience. + +Prince Hua shouted forth savage threats, but he, as well as the paba, +was fairly demoralised for the moment by the totally unexpected failure +of their carefully laid schemes. + +Seeing his chance, Aztotl bade his men escort the Sun Children from the +Hall of Sacrifice back to their own abiding-place, barely noticing his +son, and paying no heed at all to the disguised paleface. + +With spears ready for stroke or parry as occasion might demand, +the guard faced about and slowly moved away from the great stone of +sacrifice, rigid of face, cool of nerve, ready to die if must be, yet +never once thinking of disobedience to orders, or of playing cur to save +life. + +Almost involuntarily the crowd parted before that measured advance, +giving way until a fair pathway lay open, along which the body-guard +moved with neither haste nor hesitation, outwardly ignorant of the fact +that ugly cries and dangerous gestures were coming thicker and faster +their way. + +Scores of other voices caught up the fierce cry given by the head +priest, and now the temple was ringing throughout with demands that +the false Sun Children should pay full penalty, should be haled to the +sacrificial stone, there to purge themselves without further delay! + +Others showed an inclination to favour the descendants of Quetzal', and +thus the widely conflicting shouts and cries formed a medley which was +fairly deafening. + +For one of his fierce temper the Red Heron showed a marvellous coolness +throughout that perilous retreat, and never more than during the first +few seconds. Then a single injudicious word or too hasty movement might +easily have precipitated a fight, where the vast audience would surely +have brought disaster, whether the majority so willed or not. + +Holding his men well in hand, moving only as rapidly as prudence +justified, yet losing neither time nor ground, where both were of +such vital importance; Aztotl forced a passage from the great Hall of +Sacrifice down to the level, then out into the open air, where one could +see and fight if needs be. + +Through all this, Bruno Gillespie held the position he had taken, one +hand gripping tightly his maquahuitl, but placing his main dependence +upon the revolver which nestled conveniently within the folds of his +sash, one nervous forefinger touching the curved trigger. + +He could not help seeing that the danger was great. He felt certain that +they could not retreat much farther without coming to blows, when the +odds would be overwhelmingly against them. Yet never for an instant did +he regret having taken such a decided step; not for one moment did he +give thought to himself. + +Almost within reach of his hand, if extended at the length of his arm, +moved the fair maiden whose face and form had made so deep an impression +upon his mind and his heart. She was in peril. She needed aid. That was +enough! + +Then the briefly stunned Tlacopa rushed forth from his desecrated +temple, wildly flourishing his arms, furiously denouncing both the Sun +Children and their body-guard, thundering forth the curses of all the +gods upon the heads of those who refrained from arresting the evil ones. + +“The mighty Mother of Gods calls for her own! Seize them! Strike down +the impious dogs who dare attempt to defraud our Mother! Seize them! To +the sacrifice--to the sacrifice!” + +Equally loud of voice, the Prince Hua came leaping down to the sandy +level, urging his people to the assault, offering almost fabulous sums +as reward for the brave Aztec whose arm should lay yonder traitorous Red +Heron prone in the dust. + +The crisis came, and the dogs of war were let loose. + +An arrow whizzed narrowly past the feathered helmet worn by the captain +of the guards. A stone came humming out of sling, to be deftly dashed +aside by Aztotl's shield ere it could fairly smite that gold-crowned +head as, outwardly calm and composed, Victo aided her trembling daughter +on towards the Temple of the Sun God, where alone they might look for +safety. + +But would it be found even there? + +No! For, at savage howl from lips of the high priest, a strong force of +armed redskins took up position at the teocalli, blocking each one of +the four flights of stone steps in order to intercept the body-guard, +while still closer pressed the yelling, screeching, frantic heathen of +both sexes and all ages. + +Aztotl saw how he had been flanked, but made no sign, even while +slightly turning course for another temple at less distance, a single +word being sufficient to post his true-hearts. + +So far not a single blow had been struck by the retreating party, +although great provocation had been given them. More than one of their +number was bleeding, yet all were afoot, and still capable of holding +ranks. Then-- + +Bravest of the brave, a man among men in spite of his tender years, +Ixtli laid down his life in defence of his idolised Victo. + +From one of that maddened rabble came a heavy stone, flung with all the +power of a sinewy arm and great sling. Smitten fairly between the +eyes, the poor lad's skull was crushed, as a giant hand might mash an +eggshell. + +One gasping sigh, then the lad sunk to earth, dead ere he could fairly +measure his length thereupon. + +For a single instant Aztotl seemed as one stupefied, but then an awful +uproar burst from his labouring lungs, and he hurled his heavy javelin +full at yonder murderer, winging it with a father's curses. + +Swift flew the dart, but fully as quickly sank that varlet, the head of +the spear scraping his skull, to pass on and smite with death one even +more evil, if that might be. + +Full in the throat Tlacopa was stricken, the broad blade of copper +tearing a passage through, and the shaft following after for the greater +portion of its length. Unable to scream, though his visage was hideously +distorted by mingled fear and agony, the high priest caught the wood in +both hands, even as he reeled to partly turn, then fall upon his face, +dead,--thrice dead! + +With a wild thrill of grief and horror, Bruno Gillespie saw his red +brother reel in cruel death, and, for the moment heedless of his own +peril, which surely was doubled thereby, he sprang that way, to stoop +and catch that quivering shape in his eager hands. + +Too late, save to show his comradeship. That heavy stone had only too +surely performed its grim mission. Dead! Poor lad: dead, while seeking +to save another! + +With a fierce cry of angry mourning, Bruno lifted the mutilated corpse +in his arms, trying to toss it over a shoulder, to bear away from risk +of trampling under the heedless feet of the yelling heathen; but it was +not to be. Another stone smote his arm near the elbow, breaking no bone, +yet so benumbing the member as to temporarily disable it, causing that +precious burden to drop to earth once more. + +Then came an awful outcry from the people, whom the sight of their +high-priest reeling in death had, for a few fleeting seconds, fairly +stupefied. Cries which meant much to the living, and before which even +that band of true-hearts receded with slightly quickened pace. + +With the others fell back Bruno, leaving his hand-wood lying beside the +lifeless corpse of his redskinned brother-at-heart, but drawing forth +the weapon which he knew so much better how to use. + +The fierce lust of vengeance now seized upon him, heart and brain. He +shouted forth grim defiance to that howling crew, and as the deadly +missiles came in thickening clouds, carrying death and wounds to the +bodyguard of the Sun Children, he opened fire, shooting to kill. + +Entirely without firearms themselves, and in all probability ignorant of +such an instrument of destruction, this might have produced a far more +beneficial result under other circumstances. As it was now, few, if any, +took heed of what they could not hear above that awful tumult, and those +who felt the boring lead never rose up to give their testimony. + +Closer crowded the superstition-ridden heathen, showering missiles of +all descriptions upon the body-guard, confounding all with the one to +whose javelin their head priest owed his death,--only to recoil once +more, in fierce awe, as another victim of high rank paid forfeit his +life for the death of Ixtli, sole offspring of Aztotl, the Red Heron. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. DEFENDING THE SUN CHILDREN. + +Louder than ever rose the voice of Lord Hua, after witnessing the fall +of his ally, the high priest. In spite of the great odds against the +body-guards, he began to fear lest his intended prey should even yet +slip through his evil clutches. + +Fiercer than ever rang forth his curses and imprecations upon the head +of the Aztec who thus dared the vengeance of all the gods by lifting +hand in arms against the anointed. + +And then, his own nerve strung by those very efforts to inspire others, +Lord Hua forged nearer the front, eager to behold all his hated enemies +crushed to earth as by a single stroke. And then-- + +With vicious force he hurled his javelin straight for the white throat +of the Sun Child who had scorned his fawning advances, and only the ever +ready eye, the true hand, the strong arm of Aztotl again warded off grim +death from the Fair God's Child. + +Caught upon that trusty shield one instant, the next turned towards +its original owner, to quiver for the barest fraction of time in that +vengeful grip, then, gloriously true to the hero's will and intent, sped +that javelin home. + +Home to the false heart of false prince; grinding through skin and flesh +and bones, cleaving that hot organ with broad blade of tempered copper, +forcing one vicious screech from those tortured lungs, then causing that +bulk to measure its length upon the blood-sprinkled sands. + +Once again the heathen involuntarily recoiled, as death claimed a high +victim. Once more the band of true-hearts slightly quickened their pace +towards the temple, now nigh at hand. Yet those lessened numbers never +once betrayed fear, or doubt, or faltering. Grimly true to their trust, +they fell back in the best of order, fighting as they moved, beating +back the heathen hosts, as though each man was a god, and their strong +arms a wall of steel. + +Here and there a true-heart sank to earth with the hand of death veiling +his eyes, but he died in silence; no cry of fear, no moan of pain, no +pitiful appeal for mercy at the hands of his maddened people. They knew +their sworn duty, and like true hearts they trod that narrow path unto +the very end. + +Although with gradually lessening numbers, the body-guard remained +practically the same. Still in a hollow square, with the Children of the +Sun God in the centre, they slowly, doggedly fell back, ever facing the +ravening foe, ever moving shoulder to shoulder as a single man. + +Then, just as Bruno Gillespie was refilling his emptied revolver, the +base of the tall pyramidal temple was won, and still protecting their +fair-haired charge, the body-guard ascended to the second terrace, +beating back such of the wild rabble as pressed them too closely. + +Again that wonderful barking-death came into play, and Bruno felt +a strangely savage joy gnawing at his heart as he saw more than one +stalwart warrior reel dizzily back from his hot hail. + +“For Ixtli, you curs! That for Ixtli! Down,--and eat dirt, dogs!” + +Scarcely could his own ears catch those sounds, although he shouted with +the full power of his strong young lungs, so indescribably horrid was +the din and tumult. + +Up another flight of steps, then yet another, although the crazed +rabble was not pressing them so very hard, just now. Still, their +number forbade a fourfold division as yet, and Aztotl feared lest the +blood-ravening mob attempt to head off their flight by taking possession +of the other stairs, thus being first to occupy yonder flat arena high +above the earth, whereupon he hoped to still protect the Sun Children, +even though he must lay down his life to maintain their lease. + +Lacking an acknowledged leader, the furious mass thought only of +crushing the faithful band by mere weight of numbers, taking no thought +in advance, else the end might well have been precipitated. + +Arrows, spears, javelins, stones from slings, poured upon the body-guard +in almost countless numbers, now and then claiming a true-heart as +victim, whereupon the rabble howled afresh in drunken triumph; but where +a single man died in the performance of his oath-bound duty, half a +score heathen bit the dust and grovelled out his remnant of life yonder +where most viciously trampled the feet of his fellow brutes. + +Pausing barely long enough to beat back the crazed rush which came +so close upon their retreat, the band of brothers would then slowly, +doggedly fall back another of those mighty steps, with bared teeth and +blazing eyes, longing to end all by one joyous plunge into the thick of +their assailants, dying with their chosen dead! + +Five separate times that upward flight, and five times the grim pause +to give death another portion of his red feast. Five times the +blood-lapping mob dashed against the band of brothers. Five times they +were hurled back, leaving more dead and dying there to mark the savage +struggle. + +And then, sadly decimated at each halt, less in numbers as they passed +farther from earth to climb nearer the blue sky, the survivors won +the crest of the teocalli, still fighting, still beating back such as +followed their steps more closely. + +Ere that brilliant retreat began, 'twould have taken close ranks for the +body-guard to find standing-room upon the temple-top; but now--Aztotl +called for a division of his force, since there were four separate +avenues of approach, of which the enemy was prompt to avail itself. + +“For the Sun Children, my brothers!” he cried, his voice rising even +above that awful tumult and turmoil. “Guard them with your lives!” + +Little need to waste breath in so adjuring. Of all thus enlisted, not +one of the true-hearts but proved worthy the trust. + +Not one brave who took care for his own life. Not one but was ready to +die in order to save; and thus far not a single wound had won so far as +either Child of the Fair God. + +Even now while the heathen were raging more viciously than ever, +crowding each terrace and jamming each flight of steps to the verge of +suffocation, strong arms were shielding them, true hearts were thinking +how best they might be served. + +Time and again Aztotl warded away winged death as it sought to claim +Victo for its prey. And Bruno Gillespie, no whit less brave if somewhat +lacking in warlike experience, made Gladys his especial care, sending +shot or dealing knife-thrust in her defence, barely giving thought to +his own safety as a side issue. + +Those broad terraces bore ugly pools and irregular patches of red blood. +The various flights of stone steps grew slippery and uncertain as they +likewise began to steam. Yet forward and upward pressed the howling mob, +and desperately fought the doomed body-guard above. + +Faster fly the deadly missiles, too many by far for even the keenest eye +to guard against them all. One and another of those gallant defenders +drop away; only because death had claimed them, not because of fear or +of bodily anguish. + +Aztotl staggers,--an arrow is quivering in his broad bosom,--but +still he fights on, dealing death with each blow of his blood-dripping +hand-wood. A stone lays open his brow,--but heavier and faster plays his +terrible weapon. A javelin flashes briefly, then the red copper vanishes +from sight, while the ashen shaft slowly dyes crimson, as the hot +life-blood issues. + +A last, dying stroke, and the Red Heron sinks at the feet of his +adoration, faithful unto the last, his brave soul going forth to join +with that of Ixtli; the last of a gallant family. + +Victo gives a wild cry of vengeance, then snatches up bow and quiver +where let fall by a death-smitten warrior, and wings swift death to the +slayer of her captain of the guard. + +An awful melee, where the odds were momentarily increasing; where one +man was forced to do the work of a score; where death inevitable awaited +all, unless a miracle should intervene. And that miracle-- + +Shrilly rang forth the voice of Victoria Edgecombe as, amidst the fury +of battle, she caught sight of the air-ship swiftly darting that way +through the clear atmosphere, bent on saving, if saving might be. + +The peculiar sound which attended the exploding of a dynamite cartridge +heralded the death of more than one Aztec, and, as the swift rattle of +revolvers added to the uproar, there was an involuntary recoiling, a +terrified shrinking, which was employed to the best advantage by the +air-voyagers. + +The aerostat barely landed upon the top of the temple, before Cooper +Edgecombe, with a wild scream of ecstatic joy, caught his wife in his +arms and hurried her into the car, while Waldo and uncle Phaeton aided +Bruno. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. ADIEU TO THE LOST CITY. + +And Bruno clung fast to the half-swooning maiden, so that two in place +of one had to be assisted by uncle and nephew! + +Barely a score of seconds thus employed, then the gallant air-ship +responded to the touch of master-hand, and floated away from the bloody +temple-top with its increased burden, even as the last survivor of the +Sun Children's body-guard sank down in death. + +A brief stupor came over the amazed heathen at sight of this awful +air-devil from whose sides spat forth invisible death; but then, as they +divined at least a portion of the truth, as they saw their longed-for +victims thus borne bodily away, a revulsion came, and, amid the most +hideous howls and screeches, missiles flew towards the air-ship, +menacing sudden death to all therein. + +But fate would not have it thus, and, under the guidance of that +master-hand, the aeromotor flew higher and farther, quickly leaving +behind all peril from javelins, darts, arrows, or stones from slings. +And but one of their number had suffered aught: Bruno lay as one dead, +blood flowing from a stone-gash over an eye, but with one hand still +gripping the butt of an empty pistol; his other arm was--around the Sun +Daughter's waist! + +And Gladys? First she shrunk back with a gasping cry of mingled fear and +grief; only to quickly recover and--did she kiss that curiously spotted, +streaked face? + +Waldo afterwards declared she certainly did, for that a moment later he +saw some of that moistened stain upon her quivering lips; but Waldo was +ever extravagantly fond of a jest, and it may be--never mind! + +Not until the air-ship was safely past peril from yonder howling, raving +lunatics in bronze did Professor Featherwit give heed to aught else, +and by that time Victoria had left the ardent embrace of her husband, to +care for the elder Gillespie, whose single-hearted devotion all through +that bloody retreat and bloodier struggle upon the temple had not wholly +escaped her notice. + +Under such tender ministrations, Bruno quickly revived, and, after +assuring himself that the Children of the Sun were alive and unharmed, +while the Lost City was now left far behind them, he huskily begged +uncle Phaeton to descend to earth, where he might find water enough to +remove what remained of that loathsome disguise! + +But Professor Featherwit was far too shrewd a general to take any +unnecessary risks. His last glimpse of yonder valley showed him hundreds +of armed redskins rushing at top speed for the various passes by which +that circle of hills could be over-passed, and he knew that chase would +be made as long as the faintest ray of hope lured the Aztecs on. + +Thus it came that no halt was made until the inland reservoir was +reached, where there could be no possible danger in making a temporary +landing. And then Bruno stole away in hot haste, both to wash his person +and to reclothe it in garments not quite so ridiculous as he now felt +that savage rig must appear. + +“Just as though the little woman wasn't used to see fit-outs like that, +old man,” mocked Waldo, the irrepressible. “She'll go scare at you in +this rig; see if she doesn't, now!” + +Whether or no Gladys was actually frightened as Bruno made his +appearance, need not be decided here; but one fact remains: she acted a +vast deal shyer than when she saw her gallant defender lying as if dead, +with the red blood flowing over his face. + +Naturally enough, Cooper Edgecombe seemed fairly crazed by his joy. +After so many long years of hopeless grief and wistful longing, to find +his loved ones, safe and sound, far more beautiful than of yore! Surely +enough to turn the gravest of men into a laughing, jesting, voluble lad! + +But throughout it all ran a vein of sadness and of mourning. Neither +Aztotl the noble, nor Ixtli the gallant, could so soon be forgotten. And +more than one pair of eyes grew dim, more than one voice turned husky, +as mention was made of both life and death,--peace to their ashes! + + +Heavily burdened as the air-ship now was, it would be unwise to add +more, and so but a few minor articles were removed from the cavern, +which had for so long sheltered the exiled aeronaut, then the lever +was touched, and the vessel rose slowly into air, making one leisurely +circuit of the lake, in order to show the Children of the Sun where +their husband and father came so perilously nigh to entering upon +a subterranean voyage to the far-away Pacific. And, luckily as it +appeared, they were just in time to see that “big suck” drag another +huge tree down into its ever hungry maw. + +Not until the shades of night again began to settle over the earth did +the professor permit another halt, but then many miles lay between that +Lost City of the Aztecs and their present position, and, after selecting +a pleasant spot for alighting, preparations for their first al-fresco +meal in company were begun. + +That proved to be a pleasant meal, and yet a more pleasant evening +there in the wilderness,--the first, but by no means the last, partaken +of,--for, now they need no longer fear the heathen, Professor Featherwit +was eager to more thoroughly explore that strange land. + +Still, the air-ship was inconveniently crowded, and that helped to cut +explorations short. Then, too, Cooper Edgecombe was naturally eager to +return to civilisation once more, especially as he now had his heart's +dearest desire, wife and daughter, each peerless in her peculiar way. + +Thus it came to pass that the terra incognita was abandoned for the time +being, Professor Featherwit striking that wide path of ruin which marked +the course of the tornado, then sailing leisurely towards the point +of their initial departure, improving the opportunity by giving a +neat little lecture concerning tornadoes in general, and that one in +particular. + +“Which totally exploded so many absurd theories held up to date,” was +his proud assertion; and then he went on to explain just how, and why, +and wherefore-- + + +Why dwell longer? The tale I set out to narrate is finished. The unknown +land has been penetrated, and at least a portion of its marvels has +been inspected; imperfectly, no doubt, but that may be attributed to +circumstances which were past control. + +And should the still curious reader ask, “Is it all true? Is there +actually such a place as the Lost City? And are the people who live +in that town really and truly the same race as once inhabited Old +Mexico?”--to all such, I can hardly do better than this: there was a +Territory of Washington. There is now a State of Washington. Within that +State may be found a range, or system of mountains, known to the +world as the Olympics. And within the wide scope of country which lies +nestling inside of that mountain system may to this day be found-- + +But, after all, a little parable which Waldo Gillespie read to a certain +doubting Thomas, on the very evening of the day which changed Gladys +Edgecombe, spinster, into Mrs. Bruno Gillespie, may better serve in this +connection. + +“After all, I don't believe there is any such place or people,” declared +Doubting Thomas, nodding his head vigorously. + +“Is that so?” mildly queried our good friend, Waldo. “Let me give you +a little pointer, old man. Once upon a time, a man by the name of John +Smith was being tried for stealing a fat hog. The State brought three +reputable witnesses to swear that they actually saw the theft committed, +while the best the defence could offer was to declare that they could +produce at least a dozen honest citizens who would make oath to the fact +that they did not witness the crime. So--moral: + +“We six fairly honest people saw both the Lost City and its inhabitants. +Scores of equally reliable persons never saw either. Which sort of +evidence weighs the most, my good fellow?” + +Gentlemen of the jury, the verdict rests with you! + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lost City, by Joseph E. Badger, Jr. + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOST CITY *** + +***** This file should be named 783-0.txt or 783-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/8/783/ + +Produced by Charles Keller + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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