Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 291: what you’re looking at

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

282 “And you think I am still in your power!” she shrieked. “ I, whom you sent to this place! And whom you fol- lowed here, as was meet! ” At a quick sign from Elna we drew back into the shadows and left these two, Jadispiato lying on the floor, and old Altama bending over him, to fight it out together. ‘I curse you!” she said. “I cursed you with my dying breath.” “ Heavens!” muttered “ She thinks she is dead.” | ‘Be silent,” whispered Elna. “The old woman has her wits again. I know the signs in her eyes. She is torturing Jadispiato.” ‘What mean you, hag?” cried the priest. “ What do you say with your dying breath? ”’ ‘Aye! So I said and mean. Do you not know where you are?”’ ‘Well enough I do. I am in the cel- lar of the temple, having been brought here by those intruders.” ‘ Ha, ha, ha, ha!’ screamed AIl- tama, and I shivered, for in her mad- ness she had uttered nothing so terrible as that screaming laugh. ‘“ The temple! The cellar! See how the minds of the evil cling to their scenes of violence! Cellar! Temple! Ha, ha, ha, ha!” “Curses on you! What do you mean? Where am I then?” “You are in hell! Yes, to this place vou sent me because I cursed you for the evil you had brought upon me. To this place you sent those who chanced upon Ameza, intending no harm. And to this place you came by the hand of Forresto, who is now ruler of Ameza.” There was another silence. _““ He will not believe that nonsense,” I said in a low tone. ‘“ My friend, if you had been follow- ing delusions all your life, and now, ex- cited beyond reason, if that hag screamed those things at you, you would believe them,” returned Desklit. But what is she trying to do with him? J fail to see the utility of it all.” ‘No person in Ameza knows Jadis- Desklit. THE ARGOSY. piato better than Altama,” said Elna. “ They are old enemies.” The priest was glancing round him and in the dim light I fancied his eyes were wild and frenzied. He saw me first and beckoned for me to come to him. “Well,” I said. “Ts it true what this she devil tells me?” he asked in a voice that was al- most stifled with terror. “Tt is true,” I answered. “But you! How came you here?” “T was killed with my companions by your command.” A shiver ran through the frame of the priest, and he closed his eyes. Old Altama stepped near him again and was about to speak. Elna rushed to her and dragged her away. “ Be silent!” she said. “‘ You have done enough. He is terror stricken. Even if he does not believe the absurd thing, it will act upon his mind. We must leave him alone in darkness to think about it.” “Good!” whispered Altama in a voice that was almost a whistle. “ I will show you where.” “Did I not tell you?” whispered Elna to me. ‘‘ Altama is herself again. Her hag-like looks and manner have a wonderful effect upon a mind so dis- ordered as Jadispiato’s. Let us follow her.” At that moment we saw the huge form of Gapo rushing toward us. “’Fore God, Senor Keybu’n!” he cried. “ Dey is comin’ like bees. Dey done open de trap doo’ an’ I kilt three, but dey come, dey come, an’ dey keep on comin’,” “We must hasten,” ‘Take up the priest.” We lifted the now silent form of Jad- ispiato, and followed the swiftly gliding forms of Elna and the old woman. Lot- tie, shivering with terror, kept close to Desklit. “Leave the burden to Pedro and me,’ I said to him. “ You take care of Miss Wisdom.” said Elna. GOH GOOO SS CO