Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 280: what you’re looking at

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

THE CAPTIVES .OF THE TEMPLE. the reason of your captivity. You set your face toward this danger when you invaded the confines of our country.” “But this is Brazil,” I said. “I was one of a small party that came here merely on a scientific errand. What have we to do with Ameza?” “Your scientific errand,’ he _ said, with a grandiloquent wave of his right hand, “is the crime for which you are to be punished.” “Is the search after knowledge, or the love of nature, a crime in Ameza?”’ - “No, not as you put it; but your search after the moon flower 1s a crime in that it infringes upon our rights, which we seek at all times to defend.” | “You amaze me more and more. What is this you call the Moon Flower?” “It is the giant orchid of which your party are in search.” | “And do you mean to say that for be- ing a companion of the men whosought that flower I am to be killed?” “Yes, even so. The Moon Flower is the deity of Ameza.” More astounded than ever, I sat down and stared at him. It began to dawn upon me that I had fallen into the hands of a very remarkable and in- teresting lunatic, but if the stories he was weaving for my benefit were phantasms of his brain, the splendor of his ap- parel, the grandeur of Ins house, and his evident determination to kill me, were not. “You have but a day to live,” went on this strange being, after a pause. “ Have you any preparations to make for your,long journey into the un- known?” “I have no wish to make the jour- ney. Is there no appeal from your cruel judgment? Are you the ruler of Ameza?” “No, Isisora is the ruler. She is vir- tually queen, though she has not that title, having come to us from the world and not by birth within Ameza. She is called the Priestess of Ameza.’’- Here was a gleam of hope. If there 271 was a higher power in this strange place to which I might appeal, it was encouraging to know that the posses- sor of it was not born a lunatic like the priest. “Am I to see this Isisorar”’ I asked. “Oh, yes. All captives are taken be- fore her.” : “How comes it that you have a ruler who is not qualified to be your queen?” “She is richly qualified save by birth. When you see her you will not wonder that she is the ruler of Ameza. But I have spoken more than I should. I meant merely to tell you that you would die in the Temple to-morrow.” “At least tell me if I am the only cap- tive. There was quite a party with me.” “They are all here. The four Eng- lishmen are now within the Temple burning their eyes with the glorious beauty of the Moon Flower they came to steal. That other American fought so fiercely it was necessary to bind him. He is now in another portion of my house. The young damsel is in the hands of Isisora. The negro is the slave of my slaves. Does my answer still your curiosity?” ‘* Now, tell me where Ameza its situ- ated, and how itt comes to be settled by white people who speak Spanish.” “T shall say no more. I have already talked too long and too pleasantly with an enemy.” “But [am not an enemy. I have no desire to take away the Moon Flower. I was shipwrecked in the Amazon—I and my American companion and the negro. We were picked up by these Englishmen, who refused to set us ashore.” “Tt is all the same. You invaded our territory.” He would talk no further, and with a haughty glance he turned and left me. chains as the Brazilian cats were being replaced to guard my door. When the excitement of the priest’s presence was removed J. f<'* ex brett ec. Again I heard the clanking of the © CO