Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 189, No. 4 — page 106: what you’re looking at

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576 tim; for he was obscured in flame and smoke. But now he was prevented from further onslaught. The guards held him securely. Tench looked into the stern countenance of the aged chief, whose eyes were blazing with religious fervor. He realized that he ‘was dealing with a fanatical zeal that would destroy his life next, if he persisted. Yet he did not hesitate. “Stop it!” he cried. You must stop.” The old chief laid a hand on his shoul- der compassionately. The intensity in his eyes was replaced by a gentle smile. Plain- ly he looked upon Tench as an unreasoning child, frightened by his first sight of a holo- caust. “No man can stay the judgment of the Sun,” said he gently. “ This is the test of the great father. No man has injured this criminal? No Mayan would dare to take his life. The Sun alone can take life, for only the Sun can give life!” The chief pointed to the head of the stone couch. Now Tench could see what had been indistinct to him from his seat above. It was a primitive touch-hole bored through a small rock with the polished jewel from Za’s breast acting as a powerful mag- nifying glass for the rays of the Sun, which had passed through it, igniting some grains of saltpeter which lay below. ‘These in turn had spread to the waiting pyre. It was as the chief had said; only too true. No human hand directly set about the destruction of the criminal. It was the Sun test. If, for any reason, the Sun failed to ignite the grains of saltpeter through the Sun Window, then the prisoner would not be burned. it was as cruel and merciless as the water test wherein young babes were thrown without preparation into a raging stream to sink or swim, only with less chance of survival. Perception of the technique of the exe- cution came to Tench in the momentary flash of a few seconds. Outwardly he was conscious only of the fact that before him lay a human creature, being burned to death. He protested violently and pleaded with tears in his eyes that it be stopped. From the rear seats came angry impreca- “This is inhuman. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. tions against Tench. The guards held him securely, and looked toward the chief of the council for words of command, It ap- peared that they would have thrown Tench on the fire with Black Pete in a second, if the word were given. The kindliness of the aged man inter- vened in favor of the precipitate Xtla. “You are ‘the fleet one’,” he admon- ished. “ Return to your seat. Watch and pray. The Sun test is the greatest lesson offered to a Mayan by the god. Observe its teachings. Reflect that you are one of the Sun’s children, but only an atom in his power.” Meanwhile the flames were crackling on the stone slab, and the shrieks of the excori- ated robber had trailed off into a dying moan. A film went over Tench’s eyes. He sank back limp into the arms of the guards and collapsed. He had fainted. CHAPTER XVI. THE AFTERMATH. HE next Tench knew, he was being Se carried along a path in the jungle. Xlaco was at his side, solicitously watching for signs of returning conscious- ness. He came to, as if out of a nightmare, With a wild exclamation he demanded;:, ‘Where is he! Save him!” The bearers placed him on his feet, though holding him firmly by the arms, Whether this was to restrain him, or to sustain him, he could not be sure. Xlaco laid a firm, kind hand across his brow. It was the same hand that had suc- cored him in the desert, the hand that had brought him back from the shadow of the grave. He saw only kindly concern in the patient old eyes which regarded him with tender solicitude. ‘Be calm,” said Xlaco, “or the fever will come upon you once more.” ) Tench looked about. They were a few paces outside the entrance to the recess in which lay the stadium, which was obscured from his vision. Groups of Mayans were pressing around them, but not too close, ‘They seemed fearful of coming too near 6A m Gk 200k: So - *