CHAPTER XXXII. ADIEU TO THE LOST CITY.
And Bruno clung fast to the half-swooning maiden, so that two in placeof one had to be assisted by uncle and nephew!
Barely a score of seconds thus employed, then the gallant air-shipresponded to the touch of master-hand, and floated away from the bloodytemple-top with its increased burden, even as the last survivor of theSun Children's body-guard sank down in death.
A brief stupor came over the amazed heathen at sight of this awfulair-devil from whose sides spat forth invisible death; but then, as theydivined at least a portion of the truth, as they saw their longed-forvictims thus borne bodily away, a revulsion came, and, amid the mosthideous 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 thatmaster-hand, the aeromotor flew higher and farther, quickly leavingbehind 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 stillgripping the butt of an empty pistol; his other arm was--around the SunDaughter's waist!
And Gladys? First she shrunk back with a gasping cry of mingled fear andgrief; only to quickly recover and--did she kiss that curiously spotted,streaked face?
Waldo afterwards declared she certainly did, for that a moment later hesaw some of that moistened stain upon her quivering lips; but Waldo wasever extravagantly fond of a jest, and it may be--never mind!
Not until the air-ship was safely past peril from yonder howling, ravinglunatics in bronze did Professor Featherwit give heed to aught else,and by that time Victoria had left the ardent embrace of her husband, tocare for the elder Gillespie, whose single-hearted devotion all throughthat bloody retreat and bloodier struggle upon the temple had not whollyescaped her notice.
Under such tender ministrations, Bruno quickly revived, and, afterassuring himself that the Children of the Sun were alive and unharmed,while the Lost City was now left far behind them, he huskily beggeduncle Phaeton to descend to earth, where he might find water enough toremove what remained of that loathsome disguise!
But Professor Featherwit was far too shrewd a general to take anyunnecessary risks. His last glimpse of yonder valley showed him hundredsof armed redskins rushing at top speed for the various passes by whichthat circle of hills could be over-passed, and he knew that chase wouldbe 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 wasreached, where there could be no possible danger in making a temporarylanding. And then Bruno stole away in hot haste, both to wash his personand to reclothe it in garments not quite so ridiculous as he now feltthat 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 inthis rig; see if she doesn't, now!"
Whether or no Gladys was actually frightened as Bruno made hisappearance, need not be decided here; but one fact remains: she acted avast 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 findhis loved ones, safe and sound, far more beautiful than of yore! Surelyenough to turn the gravest of men into a laughing, jesting, voluble lad!
But throughout it all ran a vein of sadness and of mourning. NeitherAztotl the noble, nor Ixtli the gallant, could so soon be forgotten. Andmore 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 addmore, and so but a few minor articles were removed from the cavern,which had for so long sheltered the exiled aeronaut, then the leverwas touched, and the vessel rose slowly into air, making one leisurelycircuit of the lake, in order to show the Children of the Sun wheretheir husband and father came so perilously nigh to entering upona subterranean voyage to the far-away Pacific. And, luckily as itappeared, they were just in time to see that "big suck" drag anotherhuge tree down into its ever hungry maw.
Not until the shades of night again began to settle over the earth didthe professor permit another halt, but then many miles lay between thatLost City of the Aztecs and their present position, and, after selectinga pleasant spot for alighting, preparations for their first al-frescomeal in company were begun.
That proved to be a pleasant meal, and yet a more pleasant eveningthere in the wilderness,--the first, but by no means the last, partakenof,--for, now they need no longer fear the heathen, Professor Featherwitwas eager to more thoroughly explore that strange land.
Still, the air-ship was inconveniently crowded, and that helped to cutexplorations short. Then, too, Cooper Edgecombe was naturally eager toreturn to civilisation once more, especially as he now had his heart'sdearest desire, wife and daughter, each peerless in her peculiar way.
Thus it came to pass that the terra incognita was abandoned for the timebeing, Professor Featherwit striking that wide path of ruin which markedthe course of the tornado, then sailing leisurely towards the pointof their initial departure, improving the opportunity by giving aneat little lecture concerning tornadoes in general, and that one inparticular.
"Which totally exploded so many absurd theories held up to date," washis 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 unknownland has been penetrated, and at least a portion of its marvels hasbeen inspected; imperfectly, no doubt, but that may be attributed tocircumstances which were past control.
And should the still curious reader ask, "Is it all true? Is thereactually such a place as the Lost City? And are the people who livein that town really and truly the same race as once inhabited OldMexico?"--to all such, I can hardly do better than this: there was aTerritory of Washington. There is now a State of Washington. Within thatState may be found a range, or system of mountains, known to theworld as the Olympics. And within the wide scope of country which liesnestling inside of that mountain system may to this day be found--
But, after all, a little parable which Waldo Gillespie read to a certaindoubting Thomas, on the very evening of the day which changed GladysEdgecombe, spinster, into Mrs. Bruno Gillespie, may better serve in thisconnection.
"After all, I don't believe there is any such place or people," declaredDoubting Thomas, nodding his head vigorously.
"Is that so?" mildly queried our good friend, Waldo. "Let me give youa little pointer, old man. Once upon a time, a man by the name of JohnSmith was being tried for stealing a fat hog. The State brought threereputable witnesses to swear that they actually saw the theft committed,while the best the defence could offer was to declare that they couldproduce at least a dozen honest citizens who would make oath to the factthat 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 ofevidence weighs the most, my good fellow?"
Gentlemen of the jury, the verdict rests with you!
The Lost City Page 32
