And Bruno clung fast to the half-swooning maiden, so that two in place
of one had to be assisted by uncle and nephew!
Barely a score of seconds thus employed, then the gallant air-ship
responded to the touch of master-hand, and floated away from the bloody
temple-top with its increased burden, even as the last survivor of the
Sun Children's body-guard sank down in death.
A brief stupor came over the amazed heathen at sight of this awful
air-devil from whose sides spat forth invisible death; but then, as they
divined at least a portion of the truth, as they saw their longed-for
victims thus borne bodily away, a revulsion came, and, amid the most
hideous howls and screeches, missiles flew towards the air-ship,
menacing sudden death to all therein.
But fate would not have it thus, and, under the guidance of that
master-hand, the aeromotor flew higher and farther, quickly leaving
behind all peril from javelins, darts, arrows, or stones from slings.
And but one of their number had suffered aught: Bruno lay as one dead,
blood flowing from a stone-gash over an eye, but with one hand still
gripping the butt of an empty pistol; his other arm was--around the Sun
Daughter's waist!
And Gladys? First she shrunk back with a gasping cry of mingled fear and
grief; only to quickly recover and--did she kiss that curiously spotted,
streaked face?
Waldo afterwards declared she certainly did, for that a moment later he
saw some of that moistened stain upon her quivering lips; but Waldo was
ever extravagantly fond of a jest, and it may be--never mind!
Not until the air-ship was safely past peril from yonder howling, raving
lunatics in bronze did Professor Featherwit give heed to aught else,
and by that time Victoria had left the ardent embrace of her husband, to
care for the elder Gillespie, whose single-hearted devotion all through
that bloody retreat and bloodier struggle upon the temple had not wholly
escaped her notice.
Under such tender ministrations, Bruno quickly revived, and, after
assuring himself that the Children of the Sun were alive and unharmed,
while the Lost City was now left far behind them, he huskily begged
uncle Phaeton to descend to earth, where he might find water enough to
remove what remained of that loathsome disguise!
But Professor Featherwit was far too shrewd a general to take any
unnecessary risks. His last glimpse of yonder valley showed him hundreds
of armed redskins rushing at top speed for the various passes by which
that circle of hills could be over-passed, and he knew that chase would
be made as long as the faintest ray of hope lured the Aztecs on.
Thus it came that no halt was made until the inland reservoir was
reached, where there could be no possible danger in making a temporary
landing. And then Bruno stole away in hot haste, both to wash his person
and to reclothe it in garments not quite so ridiculous as he now felt
that savage rig must appear.
“Just as though the little woman wasn't used to see fit-outs like that,
old man,” mocked Waldo, the irrepressible. “She'll go scare at you in
this rig; see if she doesn't, now!”
Whether or no Gladys was actually frightened as Bruno made his
appearance, need not be decided here; but one fact remains: she acted a
vast deal shyer than when she saw her gallant defender lying as if dead,
with the red blood flowing over his face.
Naturally enough, Cooper Edgecombe seemed fairly crazed by his joy.
After so many long years of hopeless grief and wistful longing, to find
his loved ones, safe and sound, far more beautiful than of yore! Surely
enough to turn the gravest of men into a laughing, jesting, voluble lad!
But throughout it all ran a vein of sadness and of mourning. Neither
Aztotl the noble, nor Ixtli the gallant, could so soon be forgotten. And
more than one pair of eyes grew dim, more than one voice turned husky,
as mention was made of both life and death,--peace to their ashes!
Heavily burdened as the air-ship now was, it would be unwise to add
more, and so but a few minor articles were removed from the cavern,
which had for so long sheltered the exiled aeronaut, then the lever
was touched, and the vessel rose slowly into air, making one leisurely
circuit of the lake, in order to show the Children of the Sun where
their husband and father came so perilously nigh to entering upon
a subterranean voyage to the far-away Pacific. And, luckily as it
appeared, they were just in time to see that “big suck” drag another
huge tree down into its ever hungry maw.
Not until the shades of night again began to settle over the earth did
the professor permit another halt, but then many miles lay between that
Lost City of the Aztecs and their present position, and, after selecting
a pleasant spot for alighting, preparations for their first al-fresco
meal in company were begun.
That proved to be a pleasant meal, and yet a more pleasant evening
there in the wilderness,--the first, but by no means the last, partaken
of,--for, now they need no longer fear the heathen, Professor Featherwit
was eager to more thoroughly explore that strange land.
Still, the air-ship was inconveniently crowded, and that helped to cut
explorations short. Then, too, Cooper Edgecombe was naturally eager to
return to civilisation once more, especially as he now had his heart's
dearest desire, wife and daughter, each peerless in her peculiar way.
Thus it came to pass that the terra incognita was abandoned for the time
being, Professor Featherwit striking that wide path of ruin which marked
the course of the tornado, then sailing leisurely towards the point
of their initial departure, improving the opportunity by giving a
neat little lecture concerning tornadoes in general, and that one in
particular.
“Which totally exploded so many absurd theories held up to date,” was
his proud assertion; and then he went on to explain just how, and why,
and wherefore--
Why dwell longer? The tale I set out to narrate is finished. The unknown
land has been penetrated, and at least a portion of its marvels has
been inspected; imperfectly, no doubt, but that may be attributed to
circumstances which were past control.
And should the still curious reader ask, “Is it all true? Is there
actually such a place as the Lost City? And are the people who live
in that town really and truly the same race as once inhabited Old
Mexico?”--to all such, I can hardly do better than this: there was a
Territory of Washington. There is now a State of Washington. Within that
State may be found a range, or system of mountains, known to the
world as the Olympics. And within the wide scope of country which lies
nestling inside of that mountain system may to this day be found--
But, after all, a little parable which Waldo Gillespie read to a certain
doubting Thomas, on the very evening of the day which changed Gladys
Edgecombe, spinster, into Mrs. Bruno Gillespie, may better serve in this
connection.
“After all, I don't believe there is any such place or people,” declared
Doubting Thomas, nodding his head vigorously.
“Is that so?” mildly queried our good friend, Waldo. “Let me give you
a little pointer, old man. Once upon a time, a man by the name of John
Smith was being tried for stealing a fat hog. The State brought three
reputable witnesses to swear that they actually saw the theft committed,
while the best the defence could offer was to declare that they could
produce at least a dozen honest citizens who would make oath to the fact
that they did not witness the crime. So--moral:
“We six fairly honest people saw both the Lost City and its inhabitants.
Scores of equally reliable persons never saw either. Which sort of
evidence weighs the most, my good fellow?”
Gentlemen of the jury, the verdict rests with you!