Part 26 (1/2)
There was no halting him, yet even as he continued to pour forth fervent supplication, the warriors drew back fro soleether Then the old war-chief advanced to the centre, pointing maliciously toward De Noyan and esture of apparent carelessness, and before I could clearly conjecture the fullhands clutched us, and, in spite of struggles, ere dragged roughly back toward the shrouded entrance of the lodge There was no shouting, no din of any kind to disturb the devotions of the Puritan, who prayed on with closed eyes and a vigor of utterancemock of all other sound Silently as they e faces closing about us, that ere being driven forth to no scene of pleasure
Harshly did their gripping hands hustle us forward The heavyaside, and like the unexpected flight of an arrow, into the black gloo up the wild faces, streahest summit of the yellow cliff there already rested the first rosy reflection of the rising sun One shout rang discordant from the surprised throats of our captors; the brutal hands released their grasp, and De Noyan and round
CHAPTER XXV
A VISITANT FROM THE SUN
As byup from where I lay, my eyes beheld every face turned outward, every eye fastened upon that distant wall of rock Suddenly a strange cry arose, each throat giving utterance to the sanal, and immediately every Indian lay prostrate, his face in the dust Gazing toward the spot they had watched so intently, I could perceive how the rose tints of the early sun flecked the upper extremity of the precipitous rock with spots of color, checkers of red and gold, while just below its lofty crest, see sky, hardly ray rock, appeared several uish a series of flashes as if they waved blazing torches in welcoht,” muttered iven wings whereby they mount the very rock in their devil worshi+p?”
”Hardly that,” I returned tersely ”There will be a footpath leading to the spot either from above or below”
”True, perchance; yet 'tis not from above Of that I as; you may perceive the deep shadow of it even frouish clearly the peculiarity pointed out, the wo ht of the dawn Scarcely glancing toward either the prostrate tribes priests, she advanced directly tohere we lay helpless in our bonds There was a flush upon her cheeks, a light of ani down upon ht have viewed an insensate stone
”Senor,” she said coldly, still speaking the Spanish tongue, ”it did please my humor but now to play a s their faith and tribal custo I won, and it is you who benefit You, and these others, are for the present delivered fro of yonder Sun has saved you; 'tis the law of the Natchez Nay, thank ratitude ”I told you before it was not from any desire to show mercy, but for a purpose of e whim--and surely I have seldoive heed unto my words I bid you proceed at once to that second hut yonder, nor dare venture forth again until I send The children of the Sun bo to the commands of their ancient faith, yet are of temper hard to control”
”You fear they may yet demand us in sacrifice?”
”Not to-day, unless you do that which shall arouse their passions beyond my power of restraint While the sun dominates the sky your lives are preserved froh careful guarding of speech and action I pro beyond the present day But now,” she bent over, severing o; do exactly as I bade you, and no longer bandy words with e?” I ventured anxiously, as I struggled toerect before her
”She bides elsewhere”
”It will be hard for her alone--”
”What is all that to you, sirrah?” she interrupted haughtily
”According to the tale told, you are not her husband He who ht to question separation has made no complaint”
”He does not comprehend your speech For that reason he remains dumb”
”Mean you it is he who inspires your objection?” she asked scornfully
”No; yet I doubt not 'tis in his heart even as uponher lips, looking curiously down upon his of grass binding his arms, and with her own hands assisted hiallant,” she said softly, reluctantly turning back froe like yours, but with the bearing of a gentleman, the smile of a courtier Pish!+ he will not e of his eyes But coo in haste, nor is it well for any one to waittwice”
”'T is no more than just we should be told the destiny of our companions,” I persisted, determined not to desert them thus ”May not both the Puritan and the woer, her lips giving vent to a low, cruel laugh
”I tell you no, and understand once for allbefore a French court to haggle over trifles, and dispute about your rights Bah! you have no rights; you live from day to day merely byas it remains my pleasure; while as to yon dainty creature, she shall reatly hurt her to be beyond your sight for a space”
”Does she bide with you?”
”If I so will it, yes; if not, no Who are you, hunter, to dare question Naladi after she bids you cease?” she exclaio ere I am tempted to show you I possess power to enforce ret it”
She was a tigress now, her eyes burning intoblood It would have been sheer e faces lowering at us fro forward in cruel obedience to a gesture of their Queen A single word from her red lips would, in spite of all superstition, cause them to rend us li relief when once beyond her sight in the cool depths of the sheltering hut