Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 294: what you’re looking at

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

THE CAPTIVES OF THE TEMPLE. ‘Then there is but one thing to do, and that is tackle the temple. I’m not going to die like a rat in a trap when there is a fighting chance to win out.” * Nor I,” said Desklit. “ We have wasted so much time here that our strength is gone. But we must try it.” ‘Oh, forgive me,” cried Elna, and I saw now that she was breaking down. “ It was I who brought you to this. J—J—did not know ” I reached out toward the voice and took her trembling hand in mine. “You have nothing with which to reproach yourself, my dear friend,” I said. “ You acted for the best, as you thought, and like many another, you erred. It is nothing. We know our mistake now and must seek to rectify it.” “Come,” added Desklit. ‘ There is no time to lose. Have the old woman conduct us back to the stairs.” At Elna’s command Altama led the way, guiding us by her voice, till we were in the light. It was still what would usually be called dark, but to us, just from total blackness it seemed brilliant. ‘“Look! There is no one on the stairs!” said Desklit. We hurried forward and, with the powerful negro leading, took the two girls by the hand and led them upward. ‘“ Be ready,” said Desklit. ‘‘ Gapo, kill the first man you see who opposes us.” “?Fore God, I will!’ exclaimed the negro. With a powerful shove he sent the door open. A cry of dismay and amaze- ment came from him. As I went up, leading Elna, I heard his voice saying: “What! You, Jim Riggles! What dis t’hing mean? ” A startling sight met us when we emerged from the cellar. On the floor of the chamber from which the door descended, lay the dead bodies of Forresto and six other priests, and near them, with his mute eyes ask- 3 285 ing for help, was a wounded sailor from the Wing. CHAPTER VIII. OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE. WE had left Jadispiato and Altama in the dark caverns. A hurried exam- ination proved that there was no living being save Jim Riggles and our own party in the temple. My first thought was for the dying priest, while Desklit, with perhaps a more practical mind, showed more interest in the wounded sailor. I left the doctor attending to Rig- gles while I sought for food. Having accompanied Elna to her own house, and obtained from her a supply of food for the two unfortunates below, I sent Gapo down with it. I was careful to send Jadispiato some of the cooked tubers of the Moon Flower, for in no other way, according to Elna’s testimony, could his life be saved. Elina and Lottie remained at th house of the ex priestess, and I returned to Desklit. I found that he had so far succeeded with his patient that the wounded man lay quite comfortable on an improvised couch, and was breathing easily while he slept. “Has he told you anything?” I asked. - “ No,” was the reply. “ I did not ask him. He is not in anv great danger, and we will get his story in a short time.” Gapo returned from the caverns and reported that both Jadispiato and AI- tama had partaken of the food sent them and were much improved. In a short time a sweet voice called us, and we saw Elna herself beckoning. ‘Come to my house and eat,” she said. “ You have thought first of oth- ers, and it is time now you ended your own fast.” EOMicoOolkKs.cO