Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 189, No. 4 — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

564 They went on rapidly to the council chamber, and there the seven old men were waiting. Word was sped to them in ad- vance of the discovery of the High Priest- ess, and of her safe return. As she entered the chamber, they bowed reverently, and the chief addressed her, saying: “‘ Welcome, Za! Your safe return from the jaws of the Evil One is a miracle. The great god, our father, the Sun, has re- turned you safely to his favorite Mayan children. The darkness of the wild beast has been prevailed against once more by the all-wise Sun, most powerful, most beau- tiful.”’ A chorus of praise and thanksgiving re- sounded from all the tribe which was as- sembled just outside the door. On the edge of the crowd, Tench McTier hung ex- pectantly, thinking that any moment his guards would appear to seize him again. Inside, Za was saying to the old men: ** My life was saved by the white man, the stranger you rescued from the desert. He saved me from the lion. He conducted me down the face of the steep cliff. He watched over me through the night, so that the wild beasts and the snakes could not harm me. He led me back safely to my people.” “Where is he?” demanded the chief of the council. A call went through the crowd. Friendly hands began to push Tench to- ward the open door. A lane was made for him, and he was shoved slowly along. In a moment he stood inside the council cham- ber before the seven old men. At the door his former guards kept out the members of the tribe, and inside stood Xlaco, beaming on him. All of the May- ans wore fatuous grins of approval and de- light. To one side of the council, and re- moved from them, stood Za, the huitzin drawn closely about her, looking at him aloofly. “ Stranger,” said the chief of the coun- cil, in his thin, aged voice, in which there was a tremor of emotion, for it quavered as he spoke. ‘“ The great god has sent you to us. He has tried you. On equal terms with our young men, you have been shown to be the fleetest of foot among them all, & surpassing conqueror. “ Then confronted by the evil one, Satan ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. — : himself, in the form of a wild lion, you have shown courage above all others. The privilege has been accorded you by the great god himself of saving the mortal life of his daughter, the Priestess, Za. “Therefore, you are to be received among us as a true child of Maya, a son of the Sun, and a priest of Za. Advance, kneel and receive the symbol of your rank and condition.” Tench went forward, came down to one knee before the chief of the council, and inclined his head slightly. The old: man took from a bench at his rear a thong of rawhide, in the center of which hung a single yellow jewel, about the size of a small pea. This he placed over the head of the white man. ‘““T christen thee ‘ Xtla.’ By the sign of this jewel you are taken to the bosom of Maya, and are henceforth one with the true children of the Sun.” Even as Tench rose and looked about, Za was departing through the door of the council chamber. He saw only the scin- tillant, pasteled back of the huitzin. With an effort he controlled an impulse to speal to her and to go after her. All eyes were upon him, and instinctive- ly he realized that it would be dangerous to reveal any of his mortal longing. The glances, however, were all most friendly and most admiring. Evidently he had com- pletely captured the Mayans. His prowess in the race, and his imper- turbability at the appearance of the puma had made him in their eyes a hero. However, there was one obscure excep- tion, of which he was only dimly aware. As he turned to leave the chamber he felt concentrated on him a sinister glance from one of the youths in the crowd. For a second his look met that of his chief rival in the race of the afternoon before, Huasco. There was a fleeting clash of glance. In that second a spark seemed to kindle between them. It was a spark of antago- nism which only accentuated the wave of love and admiration which flowed toward him from all others of the tribe. Xlaco came forward glowingly. ‘“ Xtla,” he said, “ you are free now, a Mayan! Command your servant.” (€(0) .OO mie <S) (E@)