hanks to yonder
prying light, he could see how high those grim relics of perishing
mortality were piled up in tiers, with here and there upright skeletons
in position of greater prominence.

Perhaps Gillespie might have been better able to appreciate Ixtli's
amusement had he even an inkling as to how this game of hide-and-go-seek
was fated to end. That an end must come, eventually, was a foregone
conclusion. And then?

He ventured to ask Ixtli how they were to escape detection when they
could retreat no farther, but before an answer could be fairly shaped,
that end seemed actually upon them.

Without sound or warning of any sort, another bright light showed at a
considerable distance in the opposite direction, and, as Bruno stared
that way, he made out several armed warriors who appeared to be engaged
in that same occupation: searching that city of the dead for the living!

Thus caught between two fires, there seemed only one course to pursue,
and, with the courage of his fathers, Bruno spoke in low, grim tones to
his young guide:

"No use for you to join in the mix, Ixtli. I'll do the best I know how,
but if I can't make the riffle, if I go down for good and all, I ask you
to convey the news to my friends. You will?"

But Ixtli was not at the end of his resources, and gripping a wrist, he
urged Bruno towards yonder second light, speaking hastily as they moved
along towards the edge of that wide passage. "No fight, yet. Best
hide; mebbe no find; dat best try first. Den Ixtli fight like white
brother,--fast!"

There was time for scant speech, for just then the two parties seemed,
for the first time, to catch sight of each other, and while the brave
bearing the rude lantern still maintained his slow movements, searching
well as he came, the other Indians came in advance, giving the fugitives
barely time in which to crouch down under temporary cover.

The moment these enemies had passed them by, Ixtli urged Bruno on, then,
in swift whispers, instructed him how to perfect his hiding, even
aiding the young paleface into one of the upright crypts, back of a grim
skeleton, the mouldering blankets assisting in covering the one of flesh
and blood.

After like fashion, the Aztec sought cover on the opposite side of the
passage. None too quickly, either; for now the single searcher drew
dangerously nigh, peering into every practicable hiding-place on either
side, before moving onward.

Little by little he drew closer,