CHAPTER XXVII. PENETRATING GRIM SECRETS.
Bruno caught an imperfect view of moving figures at no great distanceahead, but ere he could fairly decide just what they might be, hisred-skinned guide swiftly whispered:
"More come look. You don't say. Ixtli fool 'em--easy!"
Making not the slightest attempt to avoid the issue, the young Aztecstepped a little in advance of Gillespie, thus casting him into partialeclipse, speaking briskly, as he met the two Indians, only one of whombore a light:
"It is trouble for nothing, brothers. There is no sign here. If he sawaught, 'twas in a dream, I think. And now--hark!"
Even there in the subterranean recesses something of the wildly exciteduproar which followed Waldo's rash attempt to go a-fishing after hisfellow men, and the sighting of that awful air-demon by the Indians,could be heard, and, without divining its actual import, Ixtli adroitlyturned it to his own advantage.
"They have found the strange dog without!" he cried, sharply. "Come, mybrothers, else we will be too late for--hasten, all!"
But only one-half of the present group obeyed, the two Indians dashingat full speed towards the main entrance to the city of the dead, leavingBruno behind, wholly unsuspected, and Ixtli chuckling gleefully over thefavourable change in the situation.
"Dey go--we come. Dis way, brother," the Aztec spoke, moving in theopposite direction, followed willingly enough by the now pretty wellbewildered paleface.
"Whither are we going?" Bruno felt impelled to ask, after a fewmoments more of blind obedience. "How are we going to get out? And myfriends,--they must have been alarmed by that great drum!"
Ixtli made response by touch rather than in words, and, giving hiscompanion barely time sufficient to read aright that look of warning, heextinguished the light, leaving themselves in complete darkness.
Naturally anticipating fresh danger, Bruno strained his ears to catchat least an inkling of its precise nature ere the trouble could fairlyclose in; but only silence surrounded them,--silence, and an almostpalpable gloom.
"Not cat," assured Ixtli, in a soft-toned whisper, as he divined theexpectations entertained by his comrade in peril. "Nobody come, now. Allgone see what noise 'bout, yonder. You, me, all right. Best mek no bigtalk, dough. Come--see!"
Apparently the young Aztec found it no easy matter to elect words whichshould fairly convey his desired meaning, and, abruptly giving over theeffort, he moved on, one hand lightly closed upon Bruno's wrist to guardagainst possible separation in that utter darkness.
Nothing further was said until Ixtli again came to a halt, Gillespiegiving a low exclamation as he felt what appeared to be a blank wallbefore them. Was this no thoroughfare? Were they blocked in, to perishof starvation, unless earlier discovered by the red-skinned searchers?
Far from agreeable thoughts, yet such swiftly flashed across the youngman's brain, lending an echo of harshness to his voice as he spoke.
"Where are we now, Ixtli? How are we going to get out of this? If youhave led me into a trap--"
Finger-tips lightly brushed his lips, then the Aztec explained as wellhe was able, thanks to his limited vocabulary.
Escape from the catacomb by the same route they had taken in seekingrefuge there was entirely out of the question. Even though the redskinsmight have abandoned the search in that precise quarter for the timebeing, thanks to the sudden alarm which had broken forth in the valley,almost certainly there would be an armed guard so stationed as tointercept any or all persons who might so attempt to emerge.
This much Bruno gathered, then took his turn at the verbal oars.
"But we can't stay here, man, dear. Nothing to eat or to drink, and myfriends worrying over us, outside. We've got to get out; I have, at anyrate. The only question is, just how, and where?"
"Dere one way go," Ixtli made reply, even his lowered tones betrayingmore than ordinary impressiveness, Bruno fancied. "Mebbe easy, mebbehard. Find dat, when try. We go dis way. Best be still, dough!"
Bruno was ready enough to promise all that, just so action was beingtaken, his uneasiness being by far too deep for rest or repose. More onaccount of his uncle and his brother, though, than for his own safety.He had not yet lost hope of extrication from the perils which surelysurrounded them, not quite abandoned hope of rescuing the Children ofthe Sun as well.
Turning abruptly to the left, Ixtli led the way into what appeared(through the senses of touch and hearing) to be a narrow, windingtunnel, which presently took an upward incline, then broadened into achamber of greater or lesser dimensions; the faint echoes told Gillespiethere was an enlargement of some description, but the utter darknessveiled all else.
Barely had the two adventurous youths come to a pause, than dull,uncertain sounds came from almost directly above their heads; and, afterlistening for a brief space, Ixtli disappointedly breathed a fear thatthey would have to wait for the time being.
"Why? What's going on up yonder? And where are we, anyway?"
Beneath the great teocalli, Ixtli made answer in his disjointed wayof speaking. There the evil-minded paba, Tlacopa, reigned supreme. Andthere, almost directly above their heads, stood the sacrificial stone,upon whose flat surface the Sun Children would be doomed to suffer thelast penalty, provided Tlacopa won his wicked will.
Bruno thrilled to his centre with fierce indignation as he, little bylittle, gathered this information. Perish by such hideous methods? Giveup her fair young life--
For, rather queerly, considering that Ixtli spoke of both Victo andGlady, he now had thought of--could see but that one lovely face andshrinking figure,--face and form of the daughter alone.
Discovery might have come all too soon, but for Ixtli's slipping a palmover those indignant lips and thus smothering the outbreak which theyoung man could not avoid; then, recalled to ordinary prudence, Brunotalked and listened by turns.
Ixtli contrived to make his white brother understand just how they weresituated at the time: in a secret channel of communication with thegreat war temple, through which sanctuary he had hoped to lead hisfriend, thence to escape from the valley itself, if a favourable chanceshould offer. Now their way was barred, and they could only wait.Unless--would Bruno keep close guard over his tongue?
Yes. Anything, rather than remain wholly idle, like this.
Adding a few minor cautions, Ixtli took Gillespie by a wrist, and stolenoiselessly forward, climbing upward, over and into a contrivance whichBruno vainly sought to recognise by the sense of touch, but giving athrill of amazement when his guide paused long enough to whisper in hisnearest ear:
"Dis war-god body. Stand up in teocalli, look on kill-stone. Wait; yousee, hear, all dat, now!"
Thanks to the close association of that night, with all its attendantperils, Bruno was growing fairly skilful in interpreting the brokensentences of his copper-hued chum, and he now knew they were movingabout within the hollow image of the Aztecan war-god, Huitzilopochtli,while--
He caught sight of several small apertures, through which yellow lightcame dimly, and, almost without thinking, applied his eyes to the onemost convenient, peering forth upon the broad sacrificial stone, withits foul, blood-stained surface, the little channels intended to drainoff the superfluous hemorrhage, together with the gloomy, repulsivesurroundings. And, too, a most abominable stench appeared to rise fromthe altar of death, and Bruno shrunk back with a shiver of disgust.
"No talk loud!" softly breathed Ixtli, gripping an arm with force. "Deykill, if find now. Look, dat one Tlacopa; big priest, you call. DEM helppaba fool all people; so!"
Although his meaning was not fully apparent, Bruno caught renewedinterest, and once more peered forth upon the scene, weird andimpressive enough, even from a Christian point of view.
Headed by Tlacopa, a ceremony of some description was taking place,lesser priests and other acolytes performing their various parts, theincantations rising now loudly, now sinking to a hollow monotone, thewhole affair being none the less absorbing when Bruno remembered that,perhaps, it
might have some connection with the vile plots against theSun Children, if not endangering life itself.
Gillespie likewise took note of various other graven images; among themone of the not less hideous war-goddess, Teoyaomiqui, or "divine wardeath," fitting consort for the mighty "humming-bird" himself.
Meanwhile, Ixtli, who appeared to look upon the whole affair as a moreor less jolly good jest at the expense of his superstitious people, tookoccasion to give his white brother a few pointers, letting him see howeasy it was for false oracles to be manufactured to order; how certainthe lightest wishes of the head priest were to find speedy fulfilment atall times.
While thus divulging part of the mysteries of the temple, that ceremonyreached a finale, and the little crowd slowly melted away, leaving butTlacopa and a select few of his trusted henchman. And Ixtli certainlycaught enough of their talk to alter his manner most materially.
"Come, quick!" he fiercely whispered in Bruno's ear, gripping an arm,and fairly forcing the young man to accompany his retreat.
Not another word was spoken before the lower level was reached, and thenGillespie broke the ice, asking what was the matter.
Dark though it was all around them, Bruno could tell by sense of touchthat his guide was powerfully agitated, and, though Ixtli clearlyhesitated before imparting the asked-for information, persistence wonthe point; and then--
Imperfectly though that discovery was set forth, Gillespie contrivedto gather this much: Tlacopa decreed that the Sun Children should bebrought to trial, if not to actual execution, when the morning sunarose!
"Never!" fiercely vowed Bruno, all on fire, as he recalled that morethan fair face. "Never,--while I live and draw breath!"
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