Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

THE CAPTIVES OF THE TEMPLE. lovely fashion of her own by diamond bands. Her head seemed a thing of glory as the sunlight, streaming in at a window, sent arrows of vivid color from the precious gems she wore. But brilliant as were the diamonds in her hair, it seemed to me that her eyes were more brilliant still. They were now resting on me with a sort of melancholy interest, and I felt a thrill of hope as I noted the utter absence of the cruelty so clearly expressed in the high priest’s looks. This splendid priestess raised her right arm, bare to the shoulder, and of marvelously beautiful mold, and mo- tioned for me to take my place before her. I saw then that all the other mem- bers of the party were there and were half hidden as they knelt before the priestess. On either side of her stood a gold- en jar in which grew the most beau- tiful flower I had ever seen. The plant itself was about ten feet high, with thick stalks and long, vividly green leaves. Upon each stalk was one flower of magnificent color and size. It was undoubtedly the Moon Flower of Ameza, and the Great Royal Orchid of Professor Wisdom. Grouped with the captives of these strange people were several priests like Jadispiato, stern, unyielding, cruel. As I joined the others of my party I became uncomfortably aware that the gaze of one of these priests was resting on me. It was a fixed stare of such power and mialignity that I knew, even before I saw him, that here was an en- emy to be feared far more than Jadis- piato. I looked back at him. He was a young man, powerfully built, with a cruel and sneering mouth. Even while I felt the influence of his gaze, I began to feel another. The eyes of Isisora were now studying my face with a mild but searching keen- ness. . I thought I detected a pleased ex- pression as she turned away. I looked 273 again and her cheeks had gone deadly white—she was looking into the cruel, vengeful eyes of the young priest. When I had taken my place by the side of Desklity who silently clasped my hand, Jadispiato stepped before the beautiful priestess and began in a sing song monotone the story of our cap- ture. “It had come to our knowledge, O mighty priestess of our delight, that two separate bands of men were com- ing this way to invade our sacred ter- ritory. One of these bands was com- posed of rude and unscrupulous sail- ors from an American ship that was wrecked in the great Amazon. These men escaped in boats and touched at Santerem, where, as you know, one of our secret emissaries 1s stationed. Here they mistakenly told the object of their present journey, which was to pene- trate to the region called by the igno- rant the Devil’s Ring, and find the dia- monds believed to be plentiful there. ‘“ The other party was composed of a few men from England, who were jour- neying up the Amazon in a private ves- sel, also to invade our territory and carry away with them our sacred Moon Flower. The fame of these had been carried to the world by some traveler who chanced to escape us, and these men dared to outrage the sacredness of our lives by intruding here. ‘“ We sent out parties to meet and cap- ture them, preferring to take them alive and bring them here to punish them with death before the very flower of which they sought to rob us. These captives before you, O mighty Isisora, are the flower hunters. The others have not yet been found, but will even- tually fall into our hands.” As Jadispiato ceased, one after an- other of the other priests said: ‘“Jadispiato speaks truly. The in- truders must be punished.” I did not know whether it was fact or fancy, but I really believed the priestess was growing more mournful looking every minute The OMe ace