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diff --git a/old/locty10.txt b/old/locty10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b2d1f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/locty10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7956 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext of The Lost City by Joseph E. Badger Jr + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + + +The Lost City + +by Joseph E. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association within the 60 + days following each date you prepare (or were legally + required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent periodic) + tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +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 be 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 Etext of The Lost City, by Joseph E. Badger, Jr. + |