THE GOLDEN EAGLE OF THE AZTECS
In the morning the boys went at their task with renewed vigor.
Inventory was first taken of the stores and provisions. There was
enough food for about six days, if used with care. Of water there
was a supply apparently for a little longer period. But the choking
dust of the "khiva" made bathing almost a necessity, and, used in
this way, even sparingly, the supply would not last over two days.
"No more baths until we go down into the valley," ordered Ned.
"Cleanliness would be a comfort, but we'll have to be uncomfortable."
Permanent camp was made in the cabin of the dirigible. In arranging
this all the machinery, the engine, the blower, the dynamo, the
reconverter and the aeroplanes, the rudder and the propeller were
unmounted, and the smaller articles made ready for storing in the
temple entrance. There were four casks of gasoline left unused. As
these were being carried to the temple Ned suddenly exclaimed:
"Why not rig up the engine and dynamo and use an electric light down
in our cave of Mystery."
"Good," answered Alan, "and while we are at it, why not hook up the
balloonet blower with the engine and get fresh air?"
The stowing away of the machinery, the packing of the gas bag and
the setting up of the engine and dynamo and blower afforded plenty
of work until noon; and then, while the trusty little engine was
pumping volumes of good sweet air into the hot, almost suffocating
chamber below ground, the boys had luncheon.
Then began the real exhumation of the long buried articles in the
secret religious chamber of the almost forgotten race. As
revelation succeeded revelation in the next two days the paralyzing
wonder that first came to Ned and Alan was succeeded by the dullness
of fatigue. At intervals of not more than an hour they came above
ground for fresh air. The absence of water soon converted them into
bronze-like human statues. They could feel that their lungs were
becoming clogged with the almost impalpable dust. But they
persevered. The prize was too rich to be abandoned because of mere
physical discomfort.
By means of the wired drag rope the powerful incandescent light was
carried to all the chambers. And one after another, as the blower
gave the boys air and helped sweep away the clouds of dust, the
remains which had lain buried for over three centuries were
uncovered and brought above ground.
Of the pottery itself, vases, jars, and religious ceremonial
utensils, perfect in shape and displaying ornamentation that would
have delighted Major Honeywell, the excavators could take little
note. After removing the twelve gold hoops or bands from the
supporting columns and twenty similar silver rings from the second
row of pillars, the boys penetrated the elevation in the center of
the "khiva."
As the end of the blower pipe was directed against this square
column, the sediment of centuries disappeared. Then the brilliantly
penetrating glare of the reflected electric light fell on the
elevation and both boys burst out in an exclamation of amazement.
On what had been a ceremonial dais stood the treasure of the secret
city of Cibola--an image of the sacred Golden Eagle of the Aztecs.
The revered bird of the Aztecs stood upright, its extended head
peering east. The body of this aboriginal work of art, crude in
form, was of massive silver. And to it were attached overlapping
plates of gold in the similitude of feathers. The unfolded wings
were also of gold. The head, beak and talons were of gold, and the
eyes were two polished bits of quartz. The idol, for such no doubt
it was, stood forty inches in height and weighed about three hundred
pounds.
The base on which the precious eagle stood was completely covered
with the deepest blue turquoise. At its foot and covering the dais
were the crumbled traces of many articles of cloth, feathers, bits
of wood and pottery, and the like, all, no doubt, fragments of
priestly utensils of worship. The most ornate and best preserved of
these was a large flat bowl covered on the inside with skillfully
cut mother-of-pearl. This was still iridescently beautiful, and the
more striking because its milk white exterior was unmarked by
decoration.
Each mummy, when hauled into the open air and examined, gave more
positive proof of the riches that had been collected in this sacred
retreat. The funeral bowls placed at the feet of the bodies varied
in form and material. Some of these were of plain black and white
pottery, others were coated with gold, silver, or mother-of-pearl.
The bowls apparently had once contained food. In all there were
two golden bowls, four of silver, one of pearl and one of pottery.
Each mummy was wound with as much care as was ever bestowed on the
Egyptian royal dead. The woven wrappings were coated with pitch and
beneath them were colored cotton cloths, affording proof of a high
civilization. The richest treasures of the dead were the
breastplates and necklaces found on each. These astounded the young
investigators.
These plates and beads had been strung on deer sinews, which, not
having been protected by pitch, were now only lines of dust. But,
lying on the breast of each there was invariably a "body scraper,"
(as Major Honeywell afterwards termed them) of gold, silver or
mother-of-pearl. Mother-of-pearl discs were the commonest neck
decoration. Of these the boys discovered four.
On three of the bodies were pierced pearl bead necklaces. On the
most elaborately wrapped figure, that of a head priest or high
chief, came the crowning discovery. This was a necklace of pierced
amethysts. And on the breast of this figure was a flat plate of
gold with sixteen radiating points, each of these terminating in a
large luminous unpierced and polished amethyst.
About the waist of this shriveled figure were the remains of a
jeweled belt. The foundation or back of this had dissolved into
dust, but careful unwrapping of the cerements revealed the priceless
ornamentation. This decoration was of alternating squares of
mother-of-pearl, in each of which glistened a perfect amethyst, and
of matchless turquoise squares set with great pearls.