The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

A PERUVIAN PARADISE. 31 onslaughts, and for a long time escaped his vengeance. It was covered with a mantle and its face he could not see. But at length his sword clove his enemy through. He pulled the dripping blade from the inert body and waved it over his head in triumph. But, as the body of his foe fell, the mantle came away from the face and it wasrevealed. It was the white, dead face of the girl, Imozene ! Keeth shrieked aloud at the awful sight. He struggled with unseen hands ; he fought for breath. And then, of a sudden, he found himself lying in the old priest’s arms, who held a cup of some liquor to his lips. ‘“ Drink !’? he commanded, and as Keeth obeyed the old man said: ~ What thou hast seen, remember. As thou seest, so shall it be if my people let thee go. Forget not, oh, rash man! ”’ CHAPTER VIII.—REVIEWING ‘THE SITUATION. IT was some minutes before Keeth regained his composure. ‘The ner- vous strain engendered by his involuntary trance had shaken him terribly. ‘‘ You are a wonderful man, priest,’? he murmured. ‘‘ No.one ever took my will from me before.and showed me what was in his thought.’’ The old man smiled quietly. ‘‘ ‘Thou art mistaken, senor,’’ he said. ‘‘I did not show thee that which I imagined. ‘Think not I have played thee some child’s trick. I know not what thou didst see. If the gods revealed to thee that which would follow thy rash purposes, be warned thereby. I am but their servant.’’ Keeth looked upon him earnestly. He understood something of the power which the old man had shown him. It was a form of hypnotism ; but evidently what he had seen had not been suggested by the priest. Never could the old. man have beheld that last awful picture and remained so calm. The American was greatly perturbed. ‘Thou art a noble young man, stranger,’’ pursued the priest. ‘‘ Although we must detain thee, thou shalt have such courtesy as befits thy rank; thy companions, too, shall be well treated. I shall esteem it an honor to take thee into my own household; but now thou wilt return to the house where thou art lodged.’’ He struck a sharp blow upon a brazen gong with a little hammer, and the priest who had guided Keeth through the temple appeared, and beckoned him to accompany him. 3 They passed swiftly through the silent corridors once more, mounted the long flights of stone steps, and at length reached the porch. Here the two waiting guards conducted him back to his house. The heavy door was closed, but it was not barred. He could have gone out at any time, for he doubted if a watch was set upon his movements. But it would be of no use to leave the town. ‘There was only one way out of the valley, and without doubt that way was well guarded. ‘The lack of sen- tinels assured him that his captors considered escape absolutely impossible. He found a pile of robes at one side of the room, and after arranging this bed lay down and slept soundly till morning. He was awakened just before light by a terrible clangor on the plaza, and springing from his couch ran to CoOnmiclaoolK< (S@)