Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 189, No. 4 — page 108: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

578 In his heart Tench had no doubt that Black Pete’s “ hunch” as to the origin of Za was correct. Even if she was not actu- ally the lost daughter of “old man Mc- Carthy,” she was yet a white woman, bred of the same bone as himself, endowed with the same instincts, and with the same cul- tural background. Whence she came among these Mayans was a mystery, but it was not so important that it should be solved. The only mys- tery that he had to solve lay in the ques- tion of how to get her out of there—with her consent, preferably; but to get her out, and quickly. With these reflections he dissembled in the presence of Xlaco. By the time they reached the stone hut, he seemed to be on sympathetic terms with the old man. He accepted the dissertation on the judgment of the Sun with a single word. ‘“ Aye,” he said, and inclined his head in the Mayan form of reverential expression. Swiftly among the members of the tribe soft words were spread: ‘‘ The fever has departed.” ‘The fleet one is himself again.” ‘These expressions passed through- out the village, accompanied by grave nod- dings of the head. It was within their knowledge that wit- nessing the Sun test might create in a be- holder a spasmodic protest such as had seized Xtla, but none had ever seen it come before to a young man. It usually attacked a woman, or a girl; Mayan men were made of sterner stuff. Allowances, however, were made _ for Xtla, because of his foreign origin, and his white skin. His fleetness of foot ren- dered him supreme and perhaps now, they argued, that he was initiated to the mean- ing of the full rigors of the Sun test, he would become wholly and for all time a Mayan. He would be an excellent addition to the tribe, a fit husband for one of its daughters, and to be properly mated under the auspices of the council at the next spring festival. Every feminine eye and heart in the village began estimating the chances of securing him as a husband. While the men were inclined to deride his exhibition of weakness in the amphitheater, ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. the women loved him the more for it.. They could not find it in their hearts to condemn one who had openly expressed what many of them secretly felt. Their words of adulation spread through the tribe so that the men sullenly held their peace and reserved judgment on Xtla. He was not for them to judge, anyway. That was an affair for the council and, in the last analysis, the Sun god. For a few days life went on as it had before. Tench studiously observed every form of Mayan living which he had been taught, but there was no longer any sooth- ing satisfaction in it. With the greatest difficulty he calmed his impetuous desire to escape. From time to time he became aware of the surveillance of Huasco. The Aztec, as Tench ticketed him. in his own mind, soft-footed as a cat, made a habit of fre- quenting his neighbors in the next hut. He would appear there at any hour of the day and make himself at home. Only Tench realized that his purpose there was to observe the goings and comings of Xtla. The passing of Black Pete had occurred in the last quarter of the moon. A week later the-new moon came in, the July moon. It was the lush strength of the year, the Sun at its best, the Mayan zenith. The arroyos were all dry and the vegetation was growing brittle, as there had been no rains for three months. The corn was just coming in. Tench watched the ascendancy of the new moon. He began to figure on the time when the High Priestess must go alone to the rocky glen. He knew from Xlaco that her communings now with the moon were considered of great import, for the Mayans believed she would thus implore her mothers’ influence with her father to quick- ly ripen the harvest. He had made no effort to approach her pueblo. Guards were stationed about this, and he knew it would be hazardous in the extreme to attempt to reach her there. One word of his purpose might deprive him of his liberty. He shuddered to think what interpretation the council might place upon it. He dared not even ask what punishment (E(0) VOOKS AMUCE (E)