The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

A PERUVIAN PARADISE. 43 “Curses on the white faced prisoners!’’ he shrieked. ‘‘ Let them be branded with the sign of the curse !”’ A hoarse shout answered him, and a number of the armed guards started forward. Gonnatzl wheeled and headed their charge up the temple steps. The prisoners drew back together and Keeth shook off the guards who had laid hold of him. ‘““ Back to the wall, boys !’’ he exclaimed. The confusion of voices swelled to a roar. The crowd swept up the steps like a breaker on a sea beach. ‘Torches were thrown down and trampled under foot, and the half naked savages looked like fiends from the pit in the dusk of the early morning. All the while the shrill note of the cymbals could be heard above the confusion. The old priest was advancing from the temple. He reached the entrance just as Gonnatzl and the foremost of the mob arrived upon the top step. His face, revealed by the light of the torches carried on either hand by his attendants, showed no emotion as he saw the hurlyburly on the temple porch. He advanced neither more swiftly nor more slowly than was his wont, but as he neared the end of the porch he gave a quick glance from the three white men at bay against the wall to the crowd of dark visaged Indians who had hesitated at his appearance. - He said no word, but at a wave of his hand the rabble slunk back down the steps, and even the fiery young prince gave way before him. ‘The babble of tongues died away and there fell an awed hush upon the assembly. ‘The old man stretched forth his hands above the heads of his people, and at the sign the remaining torches were dropped and stamped under foot by their metal soled sandals. Immediately a low, solemn chant was begun by the priests and the concourse of Indians took it up. ‘The light grew above the eastern peaks, and the ceremony in honor of the rising sun went on as though nothing had occurred to mar the repose of the occasion. Gonnatzl’s revolt had been stamped under foot with the blazing torches. When the usual sacrifice was burning on the altar the people quietly dis- persed. The priests filed silently back into the temple, and their leader turned and spoke to Gonnatzl fora moment. Whatever he said did not please the young man, for he scowled darkly, and casting a malignant glance at Keeth and his friends, marched slowly away from the place. The old man bowed to Keeth as he passed him. : “Have no fear, senor,’’? he said in Spanish. ‘‘ Inzalkl still rules his people.’’ But Keeth looked after him in doubt as he entered the temple. His step was slow and his hand shook with the palsy of age. He was not the same strong man he had been when first they had seen him. How soon would it be ere Gonnatzl should reign in his stead ? ‘' Boys, we must get away tonight, if such a thing is possible,’’? he whis- pered in his comrades’ ears. ‘‘Go home and get your breakfasts. [’ll come and see you this forenoon and we’ll make our plans. Save what food you can from your meals today. It’s better to run the risk of fol- lowing that river bed than to go through such another experience as this,”’ \ (S@) COTpmiclaoolK<