MYSTERIOUS RITES
The rain seemed to come down harder than ever when the four members of
the rescue party started to make their way along the strange valley.
Mr. Deering had told them the route to follow, or they might have
become confused in the storm and darkness.
“Have you got your revolvers handy, Jerry, and Ned?” asked Jim Nestor,
as they trudged along.
“Yes,” replied the tall lad, “but I hope there will be no occasion to
use them.”
On they hurried, the rain coming down harder than ever. But the
Indian disguises of animal skins served a good purpose, for they were
waterproof.
As they turned around a bend in the trail they came in full view of
the Indian encampment, or, rather village, for it was a permanent
town, with log huts arranged neatly in rows, or streets. In the centre
of a sort of public square could be seen a large building. This was
evidently the place where the ceremonies were to take place, for it was
lighted up, and outside it, in spite of the rain, several fires blazed.
It was evident that some sort of oil or grease kept them from going out.
Proceeding on a little farther, the four rescuers found themselves in
the very midst of the village. Now indeed were they in danger for, from
the houses on every side, came Indians--men, women and children there
were--all hurrying toward the temple, or council house. And every one
was in disguise. Some were attired as birds and some as beasts, while
a few elected to represent serpents, and crawled along on all fours.
It was well that Mr. Deering had thought to provide the four suits of
skins for our friends, or they would hardly have been able to penetrate
into the very heart of the savage town without being detected.
“There’s the medicine men’s hut,” whispered Jerry to Jim as they came
closer to the temple, and saw near it, a smaller cabin. At that moment
the four rescuers were comparatively alone, and it was safe to make
this remark. The miner nodded, and the next moment our friends found
themselves the centre of a throng that was hurrying into the big
council house.
The four had planned to stay near the outer doors, as they wanted to be
where they could get out quickly when the time came. This would be when
the mysterious rites were at their height, and would be at the point
when the old flying lizard was taken away and a new one, to remain in
place for the coming year, was substituted.
The interior of the temple presented a wonderful sight, and, had
Jerry and Ned and the others not been nervous over the parts they
were playing, they would have found much to marvel over, and admire.
The walls were hung with the skins of wild animals, mingled with the
feathers of birds, dyed various brilliant hues.
At one end of the building, which seemed to consist mainly of one big
room, was a raised platform, and on this were many Indians, evidently
the medicine men. They were attired in all sorts of horrid and weird
costumes, some representing animals, and some combinations of men and
beasts. There was a sort of altar, and on this there was a large round
stone, that glittered like gold. The attention of everyone seemed
focused on this stone.
The temple was now almost filled with the Indians, who crowded every
available place, and yet others kept coming to see and to hear what
was going on. Our friends kept near a doorway, and watched everything
narrowly.
Though they were in some fear lest they be discovered, in which case
their lives would instantly have paid the forfeit, they need not have
been alarmed--at least just then. They looked too much like all the
Indians around them, and, besides, every savage was too intent on the
ceremonies about to take place to glance at his neighbors.
The four rescuers had not been in the place more than ten minutes
before the weird rites began. The medicine men first started a
monotonous chant, keeping time as they marched around the altar
containing the golden stone. Their voices rose above the patter of the
rain on the roof, and filled the great structure. The place was lighted
by torches, and fires burning along the sides, while occasionally,
through the opened windows, could be seen the gleams of the signal
blazes, reflected from the polished stones. These were to call in any
wandering parties of savages.
Suddenly the chant ceased, and all the Indians bowed down. Jerry and
his friends did the same. When they rose they saw that the medicine
men stood in a half circle about the altar. One Indian, evidently
the leader, began a strange, high-pitched song, and, at the close,
he rushed to the golden stone, and struck it a blow with a stick he
carried. Instantly the stone opened and from the interior the medicine
man drew out a curious object.
By the start of the professor, whose eyes lighted on it, Jerry and the
others knew what it was--the flying lizard. High up over his head the
medicine man held the odd creature, a crawling reptile, about a foot
long, which, as it was elevated, spread out four green wings. It was a
strange and fearsome creature, but the professor fairly trembled with
eagerness as he beheld it.
After holding it in the air a moment the chief medicine man cried out
what was evidently a question. It was answered by a shout from all the
people. Then he made a motion as if about to kill the flying lizard,
but, instead, handed it to one of the medicine men surrounding him. The
Indian, carrying the reptile, started to leave the temple. At the same
time, from some source which the rescuers could not detect, another
flying lizard was produced. It was held up as the first had been. Again
came the question from the chief medicine man, and again the answer, in
a shouted chorus. This was evidently the new lizard, for it was placed
inside the gold stone, which was closed up again.
Then the medicine men took up their chant once more, and began to march
around the altar, while the whole concourse of people, in their strange
costumes, prostrated themselves flat on their faces on the floor of the
temple.
“Now’s our chance!” whispered Nestor to the others. “We can slip out
now, and none of them will see us. We’ll go to the hut, get the eight
prisoners and escape! The feasting will begin in a little while, and
the Indians will be too interested to notice anything.”
“All right,” answered Jerry in a whisper. They turned quickly, and left
the temple. The people were still on their faces. The Indian who had
been given the old lizard to dispose of was seen hurrying back up the
middle aisle. Evidently he wanted to join in the rites.
“Oh, where did he put that beautiful specimen?” murmured the professor.
“I must have it!”
“No time for that now,” answered Jim.
They were out of the temple by this time, and hurrying toward the
medicine men’s hut. As they ran on, the professor in the rear, and with
Ned, Jerry and Jim Nestor, grasping, under their skin disguises, their
revolvers, the scientist suddenly uttered a low cry. Jerry turned, and
saw something green glittering on the ground.
“The lizard! The flying lizard!” exclaimed Mr. Snodgrass in a hoarse
whisper. “The Indian did not kill it, after all. I have you, oh, my
beauty!”
He stooped, caught up the nasty looking creature, and quickly put it in
his green specimen box. Then he hastened on with the others toward the
hut. From inside the temple came a weird chant.
“Now for the rescue!” cried Jerry.
They reached the hut, which was in a shadow. As they were at the
entrance, there emerged from it eight figures.
“We are here,” spoke Mr. Deering. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes,” answered Jerry. “Come with us now, we will save you.”
There was no reply from the others, but Ned thought he heard a woman
sobbing. It was a long hope realized. The prisoners had been rescued,
but they had yet to be taken from the deep valley and away from their
savage captors.