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+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
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** 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.
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