The Slave Sculptor — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

| 52 THE SLAVE SCULPTOR. eality. Then turning, she moved rapidly away, passed over the cliff and disappeared. Reaching the sumptuous apartment of which we have spoken, Mza- sina was released by her captors: Overcome with fright and ex- haustion, she sank helpless to the floor. Maxtla’s heart bled in pity for her sufferings. That moment his own hands were released, preparatory to having them more securely bound. With the rapidity of lightning, he slid from the grasp of his captors, and the next instant Cruz#lli lay sprawling at full length on the floor, fillowed by Teluca, both having received blows that would have felled an ox. Then, stooping, Maxtla raised the fright- ened Mazina, and clasped her to his heart. oat The two villains were soon oI sieteoiies again, = with fierce, menacing ures, t advanced to assault. Maxtla placing Mazina Fines leer tear wall, and placed himself in an attitude of defence. His teeth were set, his lips compressed, his eyes flashed, and every nerve was concentrated for a desperate re- sistance. Toluca was not very strong, nor very courageous, and he purposely avoided coming within reach of the sculptor’s arms. Cruzilli was more then Maxtla’s equal in strength, yet not his match @ ‘science, and ere he had time to reflect, he lay quivering on the floor from another tremendous blow. Then springing fo Maxtla made a pass at Toluca, which started the blood profusely, and he fell directly across the body of Cruzilli, who was just at- tempting to regain his feet. As Toluca a meer discovered a ne and maquahuitl, hang- ing against n an instant he sprarg forward, grasped them with a smile of satisfaction, and stationed -himself in — of Mazina, determined to defend her to the last. The two foiled vii- lains arose with fiendish shouts, yet they were more wary, and did not needlessly expose themselves within the sculptor’s reach. Tolu- ca did not appear disposed to renew the attack, but exhibited a de- sire that Cruzilli should subdue the powerful opponent alone. Max- tla presented a defiant front, and he dared his captors to the battle. Cruzilli maddened by the taunt, and frenzied by defeat, armed him- self with weapons similar to those of the sculptor, and with an air of confidence, he came boldly to the encounter. Maxtla had moved away from the wall, where his clut could have fair play. In a moment their weapons were whizzing in the sir. Crash followed crash, in rapid succession. Neither faltered. They were equally matched, and the result appeared doubtful. Sud- denly, Maxtla made a feint, then struck, yet his wily adversary re- covered encugh to parry off the blow, but it shivered his shield, and laid open one side of his head, tearing the scalp from the skull. He dropped the point of his weapon, staggeref backward, then fell to the floor covered with blood. Mazina fainted at the commencement of the struggle, and lay un- conscivus of what had transpired. At that moment, however, while a comcbdooks.con