BEFORE THE KING
Truly no stranger procession had ever been seen by human eyes.
Before me, the chief archer led the way, walking upon his great
calloused hands and with his bow grasped firmly in one prehensile foot
and his precious mirror in the other. On either side and in the rear
were scores of the weird beings hurrying along on their hands, keeping
up an incessant hissing sound like escaping steam; black legs and feet
waving and gesticulating in air and, at first glance, appearing like a
crowd of headless dwarfs. How I wished that Fenton might have been
there to see!
Apparently my actions had been closely watched from the safe retreats
of the houses and word passed that I was not to be feared, for as we
reached the first buildings, the edges of the roofs and the tiny
window slits were lined with curious, ugly faces peering at us. It was
then that I noticed that none of the buildings had doors, the walls
rising blank to the roofs save for the narrow windows, while ladders,
here and there in place, proved that the inhabitants, like the Pueblo
Indians, entered and left their dwellings through the roofs.
Now and then as we passed along, some of the more venturesome beings
would join the procession, scrambling nimbly down the ladders,
sometimes upside down on their hands, often using both hands and feet,
but always using hands only as soon as they reached the ground.
How or why they had developed this extraordinary mode of progression
puzzled me greatly, for there seemed no scientifically good reason for
it. Among tribes who habitually use boats, weak legs and enormously
developed shoulders, chests and arms are common, and I could well
understand how a race, depending entirely upon water for
transportation, might, through generations of inbreeding and
isolation, lose the use of legs.
But here was a people who apparently had no conveyances of any kind,
who must of necessity travel about to cultivate their crops, who must
carry heavy burdens in order to construct their buildings and to whom
legs would seem a most important matter, and yet with legs and feet so
atrophied and arms so tremendously developed that they walked on their
hands and used their feet as auxiliaries. It was a puzzle I longed to
solve and that I would have investigated thoroughly had fate permitted
me to dwell longer in the strange city. But I am getting ahead of my
story.
Presently we reached a large central square surrounded by closely set
buildings. Approaching one of these, my guide signalled that I was to
follow him as he swiftly ascended the ladder to the roof. Rather
hesitatingly, for I doubted if the frail affair would support my
weight, I climbed gingerly up and found myself upon the broad, flat
roof. Before me were several dark openings with the ends of ladders
projecting from them and down one of these my guide led the way. At
the bottom of the ladder I was in a large, obscure room, lit only by
the slits of windows high in the walls, and for a moment I could see
nothing of my surroundings, although from all sides issued the low
hissing sounds that I now knew were the language of these remarkable
people. Then, as my eyes became accustomed to the dim light, I saw
that a score of beings were squatted about the sides of the room,
while, directly before me, on a raised dais or platform, was seated
the largest and ugliest individual I had seen.
That he was a ruler, a king or high priest, was evident. In place of
the sack-like garment of his people he was clad in a long robe of
golden green feathers. Upon his head was a feather crown of the same
hue. About his wrists and ankles were golden bands studded with huge
uncut emeralds, and a string of the same stones hung upon his chest.
The throne, if such it could be called, was draped with a green and
gold rug and everywhere, upon the walls of the chamber, were paintings
of strange misshapen, uncouth creatures and human beings all in the
same green and yellow tints. Something in the surroundings, in the
drawings and the costume of the king, reminded me of the Aztecs or
Mayas and while quite distinct from either I felt sure that, in some
long past time, these dwellers of the lost city had been influenced by
or had been in contact with, these ancient civilizations.
As I stood before the dais my guide prostrated himself before the
green robed monarch and then, rising, carried on what appeared to be
an animated account of my arrival and the subsequent happenings.
As he spoke, silence fell upon those present and the king listened
attentively, glancing now and then at me and regarding me with an
expression of combined fear, respect and enmity. I could readily
understand what his feelings were. No doubt he was a person of far
greater intelligence than his subjects, and while more or less afraid
of such a strange being as myself, and superstitious enough to think
me supernatural, yet in me he saw a possible usurper of his own power
and prominence and, if he had dared, he would have been only too glad
to have put me out of the way.
At the end of the archer’s narrative the fellow handed his mirror to
the king who uttered a sharp exclamatory hiss as he saw his own ugly
countenance reflected in it. Forgetting court etiquette and
conventions in their curiosity, the others gathered about and as the
mirror passed from hand to hand their amazement knew no bounds.
All of these men I now saw were clad in green or green and white and
were evidently of high rank, priests or courtiers I took it, but
otherwise were as undersized and repulsive as the common people on the
streets.
Suddenly I was aroused from my contemplation of the room and its
occupants by my guide who came close and by signs ordered me to
perform the miracle of smoking. Very ceremoniously and deliberately I
drew out my pipe, filled it and struck a match. At the bright flare of
the flame king and courtiers uttered a wailing hiss of fear and threw
themselves upon the floor. But they were of different stuff from their
people, or else the guide had prepared them for the event, for the
king soon raised his head, and glancing dubiously at me and finding I
had not vanished in fire and smoke, as he no doubt expected, he
resumed his sitting posture and in sharp tones ordered his fellows to
do likewise.
But despite this it was very evident that he and his friends were in
dread of the smoke from my mouth and nose while the tobacco fumes
caused them to sputter and cough and choke. This at last was more than
even the king could stand, and by signs he made it clear that he
wished me to end the demonstration of my fire eating ability. Then he
rose, and, to my unbounded surprise, stood erect and stepped forward
like an ordinary mortal upon his feet. Here was an extraordinary
thing. Was the king of a distinct race or stock or was the use of
nether limbs for walking confined to the royal family or to
individuals?
It was a fascinating scientific problem to solve. I had no time to
give it any consideration, however, for the king was now addressing me
in his snake-like dialect and was trying hard to make his meaning
clear by signs. For a moment I was at a loss, but presently I grasped
his meaning. He was asking whence I had come, and from the frequency
with which he pointed upward I judged he thought I had dropped from
the sky.
Then a brilliant idea occurred to me as I remembered Hazen’s story and
his suggestion regarding his return by plane. Pointing upward I made
the best imitation of a motor’s exhaust that I could manage. There was
no doubt that the monarch grasped my meaning. He grinned, nodded and
swept his arm in a wide semicircle around his head, evidently to
represent the course of the plane when Hazen had flown over the city.
Seemingly satisfied and, I judged, deeply impressed as well, he
resumed his seat, gave a few orders to his fellows and summoning my
guide spoke a few words to him. Thereupon the archer signalled me to
follow and led the way across the room. But I noticed that the king
had not returned the mirror.
Ascending the ladder to the roof the fellow hurried across to a second
building, scrambled down another ladder and we entered a large room.
In one corner swung a large fiber hammock; in the centre was spread a
cloth decorated in green and gold, and as we entered two women
appeared, each carrying handsome earthenware dishes of food whose
savory odors whetted my already ravenous appetite.
Marvelous as it was to see these impossible beings carrying food in
their uplifted feet and walking on their hands, yet I had now become
somewhat accustomed to the people and I was so famished that I hardly
gave the upside down serving maids a second glance.
The food was excellent—consisting of vegetables, some sort of
fricasseed game and luscious fruits— and as I ate my guide squatted
near and regarded me with the fixed, half adoring, half frightened
look that one sees on the face of a strange puppy.
I judged that he had been appointed my own personal guard or valet—it
mattered little which—and I was not sorry, for he seemed a fairly
decent specimen of his race and we already had become pretty well
accustomed to each other’s signs and gestures. Wishing to still
further establish myself in his confidence, and feeling rather sorry
for him because of the loss of his treasured mirror, I searched my
pockets for some other trinket. My possessions however were limited.
They consisted of a stub of a lead pencil, a note book, a few coins,
my handkerchief, my watch, my pocketknife, a few loose pistol
cartridges, my pipe and tobacco and a box of matches. As I drew all
these out a sudden fear gripped me. I had barely a dozen matches
remaining and my supply of tobacco was perilously low. What would
happen when I could no longer produce fire and smoke when called upon
to do so?
But I controlled my fears and comforted myself with the thought that
possibly, after having felt the effects of tobacco smoke, the king
would not soon demand another miracle at my hands and that, before
either matches or tobacco was exhausted, something might well happen
to solve any problems that might arise. Nevertheless I heartily wished
that I had arranged with Hazen to bring supplies in case they were
needed and which he could have easily dropped as he flew over.
It would, I now realized, have proved an extremely impressive thing
for the people to have seen me secure my magic from the giant roaring
bird in the sky. But I had never of course dreamed of such adventures
as I had met and could not possibly have foreseen the need of such
things. Just the same I cursed myself for a stupid fool for not having
provided for any contingency and especially for not having arranged a
series of signals with Hazen. However, I was familiar with wigwagging
and decided that, if necessity arose, It would be quite feasible for
me to signal to him by means of my handkerchief tied on a stick. Also,
I felt a bit easier in my mind from knowing that near the city was a
splendid landing place for the plane and that Hazen, if signalled,
would unquestionably attempt a descent.
Truly it was not every explorer in a predicament like mine who could
count on being able to summon aid from the clouds if worst came to
worst or who knew that a friend in an airplane would keep track of his
whereabouts. Indeed, I almost chuckled at the thought of being in this
long lost city among these incredible folk and yet within two hundred
miles of the Canal and civilization and with another American due to
hover above—and even communicate with me—within the next three days.
It was all so dreamlike, so utterly preposterous that I scarcely could
force myself to believe it and, having dined well and feeling
desperately tired, I flung myself into the hammock and almost
instantly dropped off to sleep.
It was still daylight when I awoke and the room was empty. Ascending
the ladder to the roof without meeting anyone, I climbed down the
other ladder to the street. Many people were about and while a few
especially the women and children, threw themselves on their faces or
scampered into their houses at my approach, yet the majority merely
prostrated themselves for a moment and then stood, supporting
themselves in their ape-like way, and stared curiously at me. I had
gone but a short distance when my valet came hurrying to my side. But
he made no objections to my going where I wished and I was glad to see
that my movements were not to be hampered as I was anxious thoroughly
to explore the city and its neighborhood. Curious to learn the purpose
of the pyramidal structure I had noticed I proceeded in that direction
and was soon in a part of the town given over to stalls, shops and
markets. There were also several workshops, such as pottery makers’, a
woodworking shop and a weaver’s shop and I spent some time watching
the artizans at their work. Somehow, from seeing the people walk upon
their hands, I had expected to see them perform their tasks with their
feet and it came as something of a surprise to see these fellows using
their hands like ordinary mortals.
Beyond this portion of the city the houses were scattered, the
outlying buildings were more or less patched and out of repair and
were very evidently the abode of the poorer classes, although the
inhabitants I saw, and who retreated the instant they saw me, were
exactly like all the others as far as I could see, both in dress and
feature. Passing these huts, I crossed the smooth green field, which I
now saw was a perfect landing place for the plane. Tethered to stakes
and grazing on the grass were a number of animals which, as I first
noticed them, I had taken for goats and cattle. But now I discovered
that they were all deer and tapirs. It was a great surprise to see
these animals domesticated but, after all, it was not remarkable, for
I should have known, had I stopped to give the matter thought, that
goats, sheep and cattle were unknown to the aboriginal Americans and
that this city and its people, who had never been visited and had
never communicated with other races, would of necessity be without
these well known animals.
Moreover, I knew that the Mayas were supposed to have used tapirs as
beasts of burden, and while I was standing there watching the
creatures a man approached riding astride a big tapir and driving a
second one loaded with bags of charcoal and garden produce. Here then
was a partial solution of the manner by which these weak, dwarfed
people built their stone houses. For with the powerful elephant-like
tapirs—and I noticed all were the giant Baird’s tapir which reaches a
weight of seven or eight hundred pounds—they could easily haul the
blocks of stone from a quarry and by means of tackle and inclined
planes, could readily hoist the stones to the tops of the walls.
I had now reached the base of the pyramid and found it a massive
structure of the same flinty stone as the other buildings. Running
from base to summit was a spiral path or stairway and instantly I knew
that it was a sacrificial pyramid exactly like those used by the
Aztecs and on which unfortunate beings were killed and sacrificed.
This discovery still further confirmed my suspicions that these people
were either of Aztec or Maya blood or had been influenced by those
races. Filled with curiosity to see the altar on the summit I started
up the sloping stairs. I was at first doubtful if my companion would
permit this, for the structure was sacred and doubtless only priests
of the highest order were permitted upon it. Evidently, however, my
guide thought that such a supernatural being or god as myself had
every right to invade the most sacred places, and he offered no
objection, but prostrated himself at the base of the pyramid as I
ascended.
At the summit I found, as I had expected, the sacrificial stone, a
huge block elaborately carved in hieroglyphs and with channels to
permit the blood to drain off, while, close at hand, was a massive
carved stone collar or yoke exactly like those which have been found
in Porto Rico and have so long puzzled scientists. From the blood
stains upon this I felt sure it was used to hold down the victim’s
head and neck, while strong metal staples, set into the stone,
indicated that the man destined for sacrifice was spread-eagled and
his ankles and wrists bound fast to the rings.
It was a most interesting spot from a scientific standpoint, but
decidedly gruesome, while the stench of putrefied blood and fragments
of human flesh clinging to the stones was nauseating and I was glad to
retrace my steps and descend to the ground.
From the top of the pyramid I had obtained a fine view of the plain
and city and I had noted that the former was surrounded on all sides
with steep cliffs, and I realized that the plain was not a flat topped
mountain as I had thought but the crater of an extinct volcano.
I saw no path, pass or opening by which the crater-valley could be
entered, but I knew there was the one by which I had arrived. As the
sun, here on the mountain top, was still well above the horizon I
decided to visit the entrance to the tunnel, for I was anxious to know
why the people should leave this avenue open when, on every other
side, they were completely cut off from the outer world. Possibly, I
thought, they knew of those horrible man-eating trees and trusted to
them to guard the city from intruders. Or again, they might keep the
entrance guarded, for the fellow I had knocked over as I dashed in had
been at the tunnel mouth and for all I knew he might have been an
armed guard and was merely so thunderstruck at my precipitate
appearance that he forgot his duties and his weapons.
With such thoughts running through my mind I strolled across the
plain, past well-tilled gardens and fields, in several of which I saw
men ploughing with well made plows drawn by tapirs. Even the farmers
stopped their work and prostrated themselves as I passed, and it was
evident that word of my celestial origin and supernatural character
had gone forth to every inhabitant of the valley.
Following the path, I reached the little rise from which I had first
viewed the city and soon came to the spot where I had entered. Imagine
my utter surprise when I saw no sign whatever of the opening. I was
positive that I had not missed my way. I recognized the clumps of
bushes and the forms of the rocks, but there was no dark hole, no
aperture in the cliff. Then, as I drew near to the precipice, I made
an astounding discovery. Closely fitted into the rock and so like it
that it had escaped my attention, was an enormous stone door. How it
was operated, whether it was hinged or slid or whether it was pivoted,
I could not determine. But that it covered and concealed the entrance
to the tunnel I was convinced. Why the people had left the tunnel open
as though to clear the way for me, why they should have fitted a door
to it, why they should ever use the tunnel which could bring them only
to the death-dealing forest, were problems which I could not solve.
At any rate there was nothing to be gained by staying there and I
started back towards the city. Thinking to return by another route, I
took a path that led towards the opposite mountain side and presently
from ahead, I distinctly heard the sound of metal striking stone.
Oddly enough my mind had been so filled with other matters that I had
hardly wondered how these people cut or worked the hard stone. But now
that my attention was attracted by the sound my curiosity was aroused
and I hurried forward. What metal I wondered, did these people use?
For metal I knew it must be from the ringing, clinking noise. Was I
about to see hardened bronze tools in actual use or had these
marvelous folk discovered the use of iron or steel? So astounding had
been all my experiences, so paradoxical and incredible everything I
had seen, that I was prepared for almost anything. I, or rather we,
soon came to the verge of a deep pit wherein, laboring at great masses
of white stone, were scores of workmen. Standing like skeletons among
the blocks were derricks; hitched to sledge-like drags loaded with
stone were teams of tapirs and on the farther side was a big
outjutting ledge from which the stone was being quarried. Hurrying
down the steep trail I reached the bottom of the pit to find every man
flat on the ground.
Signalling to my companion that I wished to have the fellows go on
with their work, I approached the nearest slab of rock. It was the
same fine grained whitish rock of which the city was built, and, lying
upon it where they had been dropped by the stone cutters, were several
small hammers, chisels and an adze-like tool. That they were not
bronze or any alloy of copper I knew at the first glance. Their color
was that of tempered steel and they seemed ridiculously small for the
purpose of working this hard stone. If these people used steel then I
had indeed made a discovery, and intent on this matter I picked up one
of the tools to examine it. No sooner had I lifted it that I uttered
an involuntary exclamation of surprise. The hammer, although hardly
larger than an ordinary tack hammer, weighed fully ten pounds! It was
heavier than if made of solid gold. There was only one known metal
that could be so heavy and that was platinum. But platinum it could
not be, for that metal is softer than gold and would be of no more use
for cutting rock than so much lead. The tools, however, were
undoubtedly hard—the polished surface of the hammer-head and the
chisels, and the unscarred keen edges of the latter, showed this, and,
anxious to test their hardness, I held a chisel against the rock and
struck it sharply with a hammer.
Once more I cried out in wonder, for the chisel had bitten fully half
an inch into the stone! It had cut it as easily as if the rock were
cheese!
What marvel was this? What magic lay in these tools? And then the
secret dawned upon me and a moment’s examination of the stone
confirmed my suspicions. It was not that the tools were so very hard
or keen but that the rock was soft—so soft that I could readily cut it
with my pocket knife, a wax-like earthy rock which no doubt became
hard upon exposure to the air exactly like the coral rock of Bermuda,
which may be quarried with saws and even planed, but becomes as hard
as limestone after exposure to the elements. Still, the tools were far
harder than any metal except tempered steel, and for some time I
puzzled over the matter as I watched the workmen, now over their
fright and adoration, skilfully cutting and squaring the blocks of
stone. It was one more conundrum I could not solve, and it was not
until long afterwards, when a careful analysis of the metal was made,
that I knew the truth. The metal was an alloy of platinum and
iridium—the later one of the hardest of all known metals.
As we left the quarry and made our way toward the city I noticed an
immense aqueduct stretching across the land from the apparently solid
mountain side just above the quarry. I had given little thought to how
the people secured water here in the crater. But it was now apparent
that it was brought from some source by the stone conduit. Keenly
curious to know whence it came, for I could not imagine how a river,
lake or spring could exist on the crater rim, I wished to investigate,
but darkness was coming on, I was tired and I deferred further
exploration until another day.
Although I suppose I should have been grateful for being able to
communicate with the people at all, yet I keenly felt the lack of a
common medium of conversation, for the sign language was limited and I
could not secure the information I so much desired about many matters
that puzzled me.
Nothing further of interest transpired that night. I was supplied with
food, I slept soundly and did not awaken until roused by the women
with my breakfast. Very soon afterwards I was summoned to the throne
room by Zip, as I called my companion, and once more I had to strike a
match and smoke my pipe for the king’s benefit. This time a second
personage of high rank was beside him, a villainous looking
hunchbacked dwarf with red, vicious eyes and cruel mouth but who, like
the king, walked on his feet. From his elaborately decorated white
robes and the mitre-like crown of quetzal feathers on his gray head, I
concluded he was a high priest, for in the designs upon his costume
and the form of his crown, I saw a decided resemblance to the Aztec
priests as shown in the picturegraph of that race. Moreover, the
quetzal or resplendant trogon was, I knew, the sacred bird of the
Aztecs and Mayas, and while I was aware that it was common in the
northern portions of Panama, I had never heard of its occurrence in
Darien, a fact which still further confirmed my belief that these
people were of Aztec stock. But if this were the case it was a puzzle
as to why they should be so undersized, malformed and physically
degenerate, for both the Aztecs and Mayas were powerful, well-formed
races. The only solution I could think of was the supposition that
isolation and intermarriage through centuries had brought about such
results.
But to return to my audience with the king. I was not all pleased at
thus having to use my precious matches and tobacco and I foresaw some
very unpleasant developments in store for me if the performance was to
be of daily occurrence. It was manifest that I must devise some new
and startling exhibition of my powers if I were to retain my prestige
and my freedom, for I well knew, from past experiences with savage
races, and from the character of these potentates, that if I failed to
perform miracles, and became, in their eyes, an ordinary mortal, my
career would come to an abrupt end.
To be sure, there was the reassuring fact that Hazen would or should
appear within the next forty-eight hours, but it was decidedly
problematical as to whether I could communicate with him or could
receive any aid from the air. However, there was nothing to be done
but obey and puff away at my pipe. With the idea of cutting the
exhibition short I stepped closer to the throne and blew the smoke
towards the faces of the king and the priest. The monarch was soon
coughing and spluttering, but he was game, while the priest, to my
amazement, sniffed the smoke and seemed to enjoy it. Here was trouble.
Evidently he had a natural taste for tobacco and this fact caused me a
deal of worry, for if the old rascal took it into his head to acquire
the habit and demanded I should let him try a puff at the pipe I would
be in a pretty fix indeed.
However, my fears on this score were groundless, and presently the
king, who could stand it no longer, signalled for me to depart, which
I did most gladly.
I still had it in mind to investigate the water supply, and with
Zip—reminding me of an acrobatic clown—beside me, headed for the
aqueduct. This I found was of stones, dovetailed together in water
tight joints, and built like an open trough and the speed of the water
flowing through it proved the supply well above the city’s level. It
was an easy matter to follow the conduit, for a well-trodden path was
beside it, but it was a steep up-grade climb for nearly a mile before
I gained the spot where the aqueduct tapped the mountain rim. Here the
water gushed from a hole in the solid rock and from its volume I knew
it must come from some large reservoir. From where I stood I could
look directly down into the quarry and the thought flashed through my
mind that if the people continued to quarry in the place for many more
years they would undermine and weaken the foundations of the aqueduct.
It was their lookout not mine, however, and still intent on tracing
the water to its source I turned up a trail that appeared to lead to
the mountain top. In places this was excessively steep and here Zip
exhibited a new habit of his people. Dropping his feet he proceeded to
climb the path on all fours, his feet first and his prehensile toes
grasping every projection and bit of rock to draw him along while his
immense, powerful hands supported his weight and pushed him onward. He
looked more like a gigantic spider than anything, and not in the least
human. Panting and blown I at last gained the summit and looked down
upon a lake of dismal black water filling a circular crater about half
a mile in diameter. Close by was an aperture in the rock and
half-filled with water, and it was evident that this was connected
with the outlet below by means of a shaft. Whether this was a natural
formation or had been laboriously cut by hand I could not tell, but I
was prepared for almost anything by this time and was not greatly
surprised to find a cleverly constructed sluice gate arranged above
the opening to regulate the flow of water. I had seen similar crater
lakes in the extinct volcanoes of the West Indies, but I was surprised
that Hazen had not mentioned it. But on second thought I realized that
when flying over it, the dark water surrounded by vegetation would
hardly be visible and might easily be mistaken for heavy shadow or an
empty crater, while the aviator’s surprise at the city would fix his
attention upon it to the exclusion of all surroundings.
Standing upon the rock ridge several hundred feet above the city I had
almost the same view as Hazen had from his plane and I could
understand how, at an elevation of 5000 feet or more, he had been
unable to obtain any very accurate idea of the buildings or people. I
also realized, with a sinking of my heart, that it would be next to
impossible for him to recognize me or to see any signals I might make.
The most prominent spot in the entire valley was the pyramid, for this
was isolated upon the green plain and the sun, striking through a gap
in the eastern rim of the crater, shone directly upon the altar’s
summit, thus bringing it out in sharp relief. Indeed, it looked for
all the world like a pylon on an aviation field. If I expected to make
my presence known to Hazen or to signal to him, my best point of
vantage would be the summit of the pyramid and I determined to climb
there and await his arrival when he should be due, two days later.
Little did I dream at the time of the conditions under which I would
await him upon that gruesome altar.