The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

56 A PERUVIAN PARADISE, & until past midnight. Then Jose declared it time they started, and shaking hands with Ford and letting the sleeping Fitch lie undisturbed, he and Keeth went out. They were both armed with revolvers, and their last act before leaving the retreat was to make sure that the weapons were in perfect order. ‘“T hope we won’t have to use them,’’ said Keeth, as they set off; ‘‘ but if we should happen to need ’em, we’ll need ’em bad.’’ ‘They made their way to the mouth of the tunnel, and after assuring them- selves that there were none of their enemies lurking near, they slipped out of the passage and set off up the valley in the direction of the town. ‘The mist lay heavy upon the ground, and out of this gray cloud occasionally appeared the elongated shadow of a stray llama, quietly feeding. ‘They saw no herdsmen ; if they had, they would scarcely have been challenged ; for in the dim light Keeth looked like an Indian himself, and "Jose looked as much like one as he did like anything human. The eastern sky was already aglow when they reached the edge of the group of stone buildings about the temple. Like two shadows they crept behind one.of the houses and crouched down to wait for the people to gather -on the plaza. They could hear the occupants of the house stirring and soon the beating of the brazen gongs on the temple porch denoted that the time for the morning sacrifice was near at hand. ‘The people left their houses aud hurried to the place. When the sound of the sandals had died away the two fugitives ventured into the house. On a stone slab beside the fireplace were bread and meat which the woman had prepared for the family breakfast. -Keeth seized a blanket and wrapped the food in it. Then they entered another house, and another, in each finding food but few torches. It was quite necessary that they should have plenty of light wood, for Jose declared the caverns through which he proposed to lead them to be a veritable labyrinth, and the only manner by which they might find their way was by marks he had made upon the walls. But the houses seemed all deserted, and as long as the people remained in the temple court they might search for what they needed unmolested. ‘They went from house to house as coolly as though nearly a thousand savages were not gathered within a fewrodsof them. Finally, from one place and another, Jose managed to collect a goodly bundle of torches. ‘These he strapped upon his back, so as to leave his hands free; Keeth had already done the same with his package of provisions. “Now come on,’’ whispered the latter. “‘ We’ll get out before they be- gin their pow-wow.”’ But in going back they passed within sight of the plaza. ‘The open space before the temple was choked with people, but all standing as motionless as graven images. It was growing lighter now and the fugitives could see across the plaza to the group of priests upon the temple porch. ‘The great gongs ceased their clangor, and as they gazed the crowd of white robed priests parted and a figure dressed in savage magnificence swept down the steps to ‘the altar. It was Gonnatzl. GComIichooks (E@)