The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

A PERUVIAN PARADISE, | 27 clangor of brazen cymbals from the direction of the temple, and the hum of many voices in the courtyard. But after a while the concourse of people dispersed and then there came a commanding knock upon his door. He opened it. Two gigantic Indians, armed with their ever present spears, stood eutside and beckoned him to come with them. His belt was buckled around his waist beneath the tunic, and he felt of the butts of his revolvers to make sure they were in place before he obeyed. -Then he stepped forth and was led toward the temple porch. Before the door the armed men were relieved by a priestly lookin g Indian in a long white robe, who motioned Keeth to follow him. He carried a a torch, which lit the labyrinth of passages through which he guided the white man. Finally they halted before a heavy door and his guide rapped. Keeth was sure that they had descended some distance beneath the level of the ground, yet the air in the passages was cool and sweet. ‘These wonder- ful people had some knowledge of ventilation. A voice—a voice which he recognized—replied to the knock. ‘The guide touched the door and it swung inward. He motioned Keeth to step within, and when he had done so the door immediately closed and the young man found himself in a long, gloomy apartment, the high roof of which was up- held by sculptured columns. At the further end of the room a single lamp, hanging by chains from the roof, shed a dim glow upon stone table. At the table sat the old man whose acquaintance he had already made. Keeth walked slowly down the room and came at length to the table. The light revealed’ the brown face of the patriarch, with all its innumerable wrinkles. But despite his appearance of extreme age the eyes glowed brightly in the half darkness. Keeth found himself strangely attracted by those eyes. They seemed to scrutinize his very soul and hold his own gaze captive. For a few moments there was silence between them. The old man was looking his visitor over dnd a little smile curled the corners of his mouth as he noted his fine proportions, now so well displayed by the Indian dress. Upon the table before him were some rolls of what looked like parchment, frayed and yellowed by time. Keeth saw that they were covered with markings in various colored dyes, or inks, and they seemed like ancient manuscripts. Suddenly the old man spoke, and instead of the unintelligible tongue which he had previously: used, he said, in the purest of Castilian, yet with an accent which sounded strange to Keeth, accustomed as he was to the speech of the South American Spaniard: ‘““Senor, who art thou, and whence comest thou ? Why dost thou seek to penetrate the fastnesses of these Sierras which have so long been the refuge of my people ?”’ CHAPTER VII.—Tuxe Frat Gors Forru. KEETH was astounded. Upon the occasion of his first meeting with the aged Indian ithe latter had not made even a sign which led him to believe that he understood Spanish. He now stood dumb before him. Comiclaoolk< (@)