The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

58 A PERUVIAN PARADISE, the temple, leaving their dead and wounded companions heaped about the altar. Suddenly a figure leaped out from the shelter of a house and ran across the deserted court. It was Keeth ; but the fusillade of pistol shots did not cease, for Jose stood at the corner of the building and fired at the last dis- appearing Indians. , The American reached the altar in an instant. He whipped out his knife and cut the bonds of the victim of the Indians’ fanatical rage. He raised her in his arms and turned to fly. But the girl’s eyes were closed and she lay a dead weight against his breast. Was she dead? Had the horror of the awful experience through which she had passed snapped the frail thread of life? Keeth tried to feel if her heart beat, but in his horror he was unable to discover the faintest flutter. ‘“My God! she zs dead!’’ he thought, and staggered down from the altar. ‘‘She is dead!’’ he repeated, and pressed his lips to the closed lids and pallid cheeks. And then, as though his touch had called her back to life, the eyes opened and she gazed up into his own. ‘“ My lord,’’ she whispered, in wonder, ‘‘ is it thou ?’”’ Suddenly Jose’s voice rang out across the plaza : “Como, senor! Que desea?* ‘They are coming back. Queek!”’ Aroused by these words Keeth recrossed the court and joined his comrade. ‘““We haf not a moment to lose!’’ cried Jose. ‘‘ What do you wit’ the the senorita ?”’ aiid ‘She goes with us,’’ replied Keeth, between his teeth. ‘‘If I cannot escape with her, I'll not escape at all.”’ They ran toward the edge of the town, but before they reached the open country the brazen gongs of the temple clanged forth a summons for the re- gathering of the populace. Soon they would be pursued, and Keeth strained every effort to keep pace with his more fleet footed companion. CHAPTER XV.—AT LAST THE TREASURE. KEETH will never forget that race in the dusk of the early morning. A great mass of drab cloud obscured the face of the lately risen sun, and the fog still lay thick upon the valley. ‘The damp mist wrapped them anor like a blanket and hid. them from the eyes of the savages. They met none of their enemies during the flight down the valley. They were all behind. But the loud notes of the brazen gongs rang in their ears till they reached and entered the tunnel. Keeth was panting from exhaustion ; but he would not set Imozene down until they were well into the subterranean passage. Jose drew his match safe from a ragged pocket and lit one of the torches. With this flaming over his head he led the way. The American followed him, still bearing most of the girl’s weight upon his arm. ‘“ My lord,’’ she said, ‘‘ where are we going ?’’ * “ Come, senor! What do you want?”’ Eomicbooks (E@)