The Lost City by Jr. Joseph E. Badger (me reader .txt) đ
- Author: Jr. Joseph E. Badger
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Until past the noon hour that pleasant voyage lasted, without any
remarkable discovery being made, the trio munching a cold lunch
at their ease, rather than take the trouble to effect a landing.
But then, not very long after the sun had begun his downward
course, there came a change which caused Featherwitâs blood to
leap through his veins far more rapidly than usual, for yonder,
still a number of miles away, there was gradually opening to view
a hill-surrounded valley of considerable dimension, certain
portions of which betrayed signs of cultivation, or at least of
vegetation different from aught the explorers had as yet come
across since entering that land of wonders.
Almost unwittingly Professor Featherwit sent the air-ship higher,
even as it sped onward at quickened pace, his face as pale as his
eyes were glittering, intense anticipation holding him spellbound
for the time being. And thenâthe wondrous truth!
âBehold!â he cried, shrilly, pointing as he spoke.
âHouses yonder! Cultivated fields, andâsee! human beings in
motion, who areââ
âKicking up a great old bobbery, just as though theyâd sighted
us, and wanted to knowâI say, uncle Phaeton, how would it feel
to get punched full of holes by a parcel of bow-arrows?â
With a quick motion the air-ship was turned, darting lower and
off at a sharp angle to its former course, for the professor
likewise saw what had attracted the notice of his younger nephew.
Scattered here and there throughout that secluded valley were
human beings, nearly all of whom had sprung into sudden motion,
doubtless amazed or frightened by the appearance of that oddly
shaped air-demon.
Brief though that view had been, it was sufficiently long to show
the professor houses of solid and substantial shape, cultivated
plots, human beings, and a little river whose clear waters
sparkled and flashed in the sunlight.
It was very hard to cut that view so short, but the professor had
not lost all prudence, and he knew that danger to both vessel and
passengers might follow a nearer intrusion upon the privacy of
yonder armed people. Yet his face was fairly glowing with glad
exultation as he brought the aerostat to a lower strata of air,
shutting off all view from yonder valley, as it lay amid its
encircling hills.
âHurrah!â he cried, snatching off his cap and waving it
enthusiastically, as the air-ship floated onward at ease. âAt
last! Foundâweâve discovered it at last! And all is true,âall
is true!â
âFound what, uncle Phaeton?â asked Waldo, a bit doubtfully.
âThe Lost City of the Aztecs, of course! Oh, glad day, glad
day!â
âUnlessâwhat if it should prove to be only aâa mirage, uncle
Phaeton?â almost timidly ventured Bruno, a moment later.
CHAPTER XV.
ASTOUNDING, YET TRUE.
The professor gave a great start at this almost reluctant
suggestion, shrinking back with a look which fell not far short
of being horrified. But then he rallied, forcing a laugh before
speaking.
âNo, no, Bruno. All conditions are lacking to form the mirage of
the desert. And, too; everything was so distinct and clearly
outlined that one couldââ
âFairly feel those blessed bow-arrows tickling a fellow in the
short ribs,â vigorously declared the younger Gillespie. âNot but
thatâI say, uncle Phaeton?â
âWhat is it now, Waldo?â
âReckon theyâre like any other people? Got boys andâand girls
among âem, I wonder?â
âI daresay, yes, why not?â answered Featherwit, scarcely
realising what words were being shaped by his lips, while Bruno
broke into a brief-lived laugh, more at that half-sheepish
expression than at the query itself.
âBoth boys and girls galore, I expect, Kid; but you neednât
borrow trouble on either score. You can outrun the lads, while
as for the fairer sex,âwell, theyâll take precious good care to
keep well beyond your reach,âespecially if you wear such another
fascinating grin asââ
âOh, you go to thunder, Bruno Gillespie!â
Through all this interchange the air-ship was maintaining a wide
sweep, drawing nearer the forest beneath, if only to keep hidden
from the eyes of the strange people in yonder deep valley. Yet
the gaze of Phaeton Featherwit as a rule kept turned towards that
particular point, his eyes on fire, his lips twitching, his whole
demeanour that of one who feels a discovery of tremendous
importance lies just before him.
âAre we going to land, uncle Phaeton?â queried Bruno, taking note
of that preoccupation, which might easily prove dangerous under
existing circumstances.
That question served to recall the professor to more material
points, and, after a keen, sweeping look around, he nodded
assent.
âYes, as soon as I can discover or secure a fair chance. I wish
to see moreâI must secure a fairer view of theâof yonder
place.â
âWill it not be too dangerous, though? Not for us, especially,
uncle, but for the aerostat? Even if these be not the people you
imagineââ
âThey are past all doubt a remnant of the ancient Aztecs. Yonder
lies the true Lost City, and we areâoh, try to comprehend all
that statement means, my lads! Picture to yourselves what
boundless fame and unlimited credit awaits our report to the
outer world! The benighted world! The besotted world!
Theâtheââ
âWhile weâll form the upsotted world, or a portion of it, without
something is done,âand that in a howling hurry, too!â fairly
spluttered Waldo, as the again neglected air-ship sped swiftly
towards a more elevated portion of that earth, part of the tall
hill-crest which acted as natureâs barricade to yonder by nature
depressed valley.
âTime enough, lad, time enough, since we are going to land,â
coolly assured the professor, deftly manipulating the
steering-gear and still curying around those tree-crowned hills.
âIf we are really hunted after, âtwill naturally be in the
quarter of our vanishment, while by alighting around yonder,
nearly at right angles with our initial approach, we will have
naught to fear from theâthe Aztecan clans!â
Clearly the professor had settled in his own mind just what lay
before them, and nothing short of the Lost City of the Aztecs
would come anywhere near satisfying that exalted ideal. And,
taking all points into full consideration, was there anything so
very absurd in his method of reasoning, or of drawing a
deduction?
Still, that exaltation did not prevent uncle Phaeton from taking
all essential precautions, and it was only when an especially
secure landing-place was sighted that he really attempted to
touch the earth.
Fully one-half of that wide circuit had been made, and as nothing
could be detected to give birth to fears for either self or
air-ship, the aeronauts skilfully landed their vessel with only
the slightest of jars. It was a well-screened location, where
naught could be seen of the flying-machine until close at hand,
yet so arranged as to make a hasty flight a very easy matter
should the occasion ever arise.
Not until the landing was effected and all made secure, did
Professor Featherwit speak again. Then it was with gravely
earnest speech which suitably affected his nephews.
âAbove all things, my dear lads, bear ever in mind this one
fact,âwe are not here to fight. We do not come as conquerors,
weapons in hand, hearts filled with lust of blood. To the
contrary, we are on a peaceful mission, hoping to learn, trusting
to enlighten, with malice towards none, but honest love for all
those who may wear the human shape, be they of our own colour
orâorâotherwise.â
âThatâs whatâs the matter with Hannahâs cat!â cheerfully chipped
in the irrepressible Waldo. âI say, uncle Phaeton, is it just a
lie-low here until yonder fellows grow tired of looking for what
they canât find, then a flight on our part; or will weââ
âHave we voyaged so far and seen so much, to rest content with so
very little?â exclaimed the professor, hardly as precise of
speech as under ordinary conditions. âNo, no, my lads! Yonder
lies the greatest discovery of the nineteenth century, and we
areâGet a hustle on, boys! The day is waning, and with so much
to see, to study, toâCome, I say!â
In spite of his initial attempt to impress his nephews with a due
sense of the heavy responsibilities which rested upon them,
Phaeton Featherwit was far more excited than either one of the
brothers. Doubtless he more nearly appreciated the importance of
this wondrous discovery, provided his now firm belief was
correct,âthat yonder stood a solid, substantial city, erected by
the hands of a people whom common consent had agreed were long
since wiped out of existence.
The story told by Cooper Edgecombe, backed up by the articles
taken from the person of the warrior whom he had slain in
self-defence, certainly had its weight; while the brief and
imperfect glimpse which he had won of yonder valley helped to
bear out that astounding belief. And yet, how could it be true?
Really believing, yet forced by more sober reason to doubt, the
poor professor was literally âin a sweatâ long ere another view
could be won of the depressed valley, although the landing of the
air-ship was so well chosen as to make that trip of the briefest
duration consistent with prudence.
The natural obstacles were considerable, however, and as they
picked their way along, the brothers for the first time began to
gain a fairly accurate idea of what was meant by the term, a
virgin forest.
To all seeming, the human foot had never ventured here, nor were
any marks or spoor of wild beasts perceptible on either side.
Although the aerostat had landed not far below the crest of those
hills, the adventurers had to climb higher, before winning the
coveted view, partly because the most practicable route led down
into and along a winding gulch, where the footing was far less
treacherous than upon the higher ground, cumbered, as that was,
with the leaf-mould of centuries.
Still, half an hourâs steady labour brought the little squad to
the coveted point, and once again Professor Featherwit was almost
literally stricken speechless,âfor there, far below their
present location, spread out in level expanse, lay the secret
valley with all its marvels.
Far more extensive than it had appeared by that initial glimpse,
the valley itself seemed composed of fertile soil, yet, by aid of
the river which cut through, near its centre, irrigating ditches
conveyed water to every acre, thus ensuring bounteous crops of
grain and of fruit as well.
Numerous buildings stood in irregular array, for the most part of
no great height, nor with many pretensions towards architectural
beauty or grace of outline; but in the centre of the valley
upreared its head a massive structure, pyramidal in shape,
consisting of five comparatively narrow terraces, connected one
with another only at each of the four corners, where stood a
wide-stepped flight of stones.
âBehold!â huskily gasped the professor, intensely excited, yet
still able to control the field-glass through which he was
eagerly scanning yonder marvels. âThe temple of the gods! And,
yonder, the temple of sacrifice, unless my memory isâand look!
The people areâthey wear just such garb asâOh, marvellous!
Amazing! Astounding! Incredibleâyet true!â
Although their uncle could thus take in the various details to
better advantage, still the intervening distance was not so great
as to entirely debar the brothers from finding no little to
interest them, as was readily proven by their various
exclamations.
âJust look at the people, will ye, now? Flopping around like
they hadnât any bigger business than toâReckon theyâre looking
for us to come back, Bruno?â
âOr watching for the monster bird of prey, rather,â suggested the
elder Gillespie. âOf course they couldnât distinguish our faces,
and our bodies
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