Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 284: what you’re looking at

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

THE CAPTIVES OF THE TEMPLE. “I’m sure I don’t know what is to be done,” went on Isisora. “I am in terrible distress. Here is a party of seven white people all condemned to die, and not one of the lot thinks it is true. What can I do to save your” “Why, yet us go, to be sure,” re- plied the professor. “ Open the doors of this idolatrous place and set us free.” “ But don’t you understand that out- side this temple there is no place where you are safe? Here you can be slain only at my command while I am priest- ess. Outside you might fall victims to some fanatical assassin. There is no escape that I can think of. Oh, 1f you had only remained where you belong, see what might have been prevented.” “Well,” said Mr. Hebard, who was a very matter of fact Englishman, “let us have a complete understanding of the situation. Give us a description of this unholy place, so that we can form some estimate.of what is before us. For one, I do not intend tamely to lie down and die before a flower.” “ But what can you do? What can we all do? There are two hundred of these people, all controlled by the priests, and at least a thousand blacks. Every entrance into Ameza is through mountain passes that you could not find even if it were possible to set you free. This is indeed a terrible situa- tion.” Suddenly we heard a tremendous up- roar outside, in the direction taken by the priests. J distinguished the voice of Jadispiato- raised above the others, and then that of Forresto answering. “Ah!” gasped Isisora, placing her hand to her heart and almost swooning with terror. “ They are fighting even now. Forresto reads my thoughts like an open book. He knows I do not in- tend to order your death. And For- resto is—he is—he wants me to be his wife.” “Heavens! He isn’t such a loon af- ter all,” said Desklit. “I don’t blame him for that.” The doors of the temple were flung 275 wide open and we saw the priests in gn uproar striving to crowd in. The fore- most of them was Forresto, and he flourished a knife. “False woman!” he cried, breaking from his companions and rushing to- ward [Isisora. ‘False priestess! I know you for a trickster now! You will not command the death of these intruders! You looked with favor upon this one who is tall and powerful! I saw the light of friendship in your eyes for a stranger that you have ever with- held from me. I say he shall die, and you shall die, unless you say the words I’ve pleaded for so long. Now I swear by the Moon Flower that you ” He had raised his knife and made a dash at me. I stepped to one side, caught his arm in my own far from feeble grip, swung him round and smote his jaw with a good hard fist. Another blow sent him to the floor. “Quick!” cried Isisora. ‘Follow me! Nothing can save you now unless one dash succeeds.. Come! The priests! The priests!” And with a bound she led the way into a labyrinth of passages beyond the Moon Flower’s altar. CHAPTER VI. UNDERNEATH THE TEMPLE, HAVING been the nearest to Isisora in the temple, I was closest behind her. in the flight, and was sensible of the rush of feet behind which told of the coming of the others. I heard Lottie Wisdom panting from the sudden exer- tion and heard Desklit’s calm voice en- couraging her. The four elderly Englishmen were still further behind, their laggard steps bound to cause complications. To our ears came the wild cursing of the priests as they paused at Forres- to’s prostrate form. Then we heard them following in our steps, their angry voices echoing through the great vaults ¢f ce terepe CO