Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 293: what you’re looking at

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

‘ee 284 the mind. Look at the effect of absinthe. A very short career of absinthe drink- ing will produce msanity. I suppose you could find in this very Brazil a dozen plants that. will destroy the brain.” The day passed into another, and the priest lay dull and stupid on the floor. “Fore God, Senor Keybu’n,” said Gapo, “ef dat man don’ come roun’ putty soon we alls die of dat starva- tion.” | And it did seem that Pedro was about right. Hunger had seized us all. Lottie felt weak and sick from lack of food. Elna, stronger and more hopeful, stood it better. Desklit grumbled a little, and I was sensible of the most excruciating pnawing at my stomach. Desklit had stolen out once to see tf the priests had all left the cellar, but did not dare go beyond the reach of our voices. Elna spoke to Altama, and the old woman sped away in the dark- ness. She returned as silently as she had come, and we heard her panting breath as she reached us. * Two are there,” she said, “sitting on the stairs.” Thirst became a formidable ally of hunger, but, fortunately, the place we were in was damp, and by placing our tongues on the wet walls we could avoid suffering. : Then Jadispiato began to rave. He went through the forms of the service in the temple. He condemned over and Over again certain enemies of his to death. He screamed for his favorite food. He moaned and cried and was on the verge of total collapse. Then, after a number of hours, he began to speak coherently again. “ Where am [?” I heard his voice moan out. “You are in the caverns under the temple, Jadispiato,” said Elna quickly. “ We are dying of starvation here. I know that you must be aware of some secret way in which we may leave here —some way beside through the trap door in the temple floor.” THE ARGOSY. “ Drink! I want water!’ he gasped. “There is no water here, nor food,” said Elna. “‘ The priests are waiting for us, but we do not want to go to them. We must find a way out of the caverns without going through the temple. Do you know such a way? ” “Food! Give me the bread made of the root of the Moon Flower! ” “There is none here. Take us toa safe place—to your house—to any place except the temple, and you shall have food and drink,” she answered. ‘Go through the temple!” he moaned. “ Go quickly, or I shall die. There is no other way.” ‘ The man is certainly sane now,” I said. “ But our waiting seems not to have benefited us.” ‘Experiment number one a failure,” said Desklit. ‘‘ Let me talk. Look here, old fellow,’’ he went on—*“ or at least listen if you can’t look. You con- demned certain people to death simply . because they came into your country after your accursed Moon Flower. Some of those people are here now. Do you still wish them to die?” ‘‘ [—I—canrnot see you—yet your voice—no—lI do not know you. I am dying. Take me into the light. Where am [? Qh, where am I?” “It is coming,” said Desklit. “In another hour or so he will talk ration- ally, and probably forget all about his animosity toward us.” | ‘Speak, Jadispiato,” commanded Filna. “ Is there any other entrance to this place except through the temple door? ”’ “ No, none,” came in a soft whisper from the old priest. Lottie gave a gasp and I heard her sobbing. Three days in that dark and gloomy hole would try the nerves of any girl. With the horror of almost certain death added, it was no wonder she broke down. Desklit tried to com- fort her. | “What do you think? ” I asked Elna. “Do you believe he spoke the truth? ” “I think so,” she said simply. EOMIE DOO SS CO