Children of the Sun.

Then that secret entrance was flung wide, permitting two excited young
men to issue, Tlacopa reeling aside from a blow dealt him by Bruno's
clenched fist, as that worthy hastened to join forces with the
body-guard.

CHAPTER XXX. AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS.

This double appearance--for Ixtli kept fair pace with his hot-headed
white brother--caused no little stir, and added considerable to the
partial bewilderment which had fallen over that audience.

Prince Hua shouted forth savage threats, but he, as well as the paba,
was fairly demoralised for the moment by the totally unexpected failure
of their carefully laid schemes.

Seeing his chance, Aztotl bade his men escort the Sun Children from the
Hall of Sacrifice back to their own abiding-place, barely noticing his
son, and paying no heed at all to the disguised paleface.

With spears ready for stroke or parry as occasion might demand,
the guard faced about and slowly moved away from the great stone of
sacrifice, rigid of face, cool of nerve, ready to die if must be, yet
never once thinking of disobedience to orders, or of playing cur to save
life.

Almost involuntarily the crowd parted before that measured advance,
giving way until a fair pathway lay open, along which the body-guard
moved with neither haste nor hesitation, outwardly ignorant of the fact
that ugly cries and dangerous gestures were coming thicker and faster
their way.

Scores of other voices caught up the fierce cry given by the head
priest, and now the temple was ringing throughout with demands that
the false Sun Children should pay full penalty, should be haled to the
sacrificial stone, there to purge themselves without further delay!

Others showed an inclination to favour the descendants of Quetzal', and
thus the widely conflicting shouts and cries formed a medley which was
fairly deafening.

For one of his fierce temper the Red Heron showed a marvellous coolness
throughout that perilous retreat, and never more than during the first
few seconds. Then a single injudicious word or too hasty movement might
easily have precipitated a fight, where the vast audience would surely
have brought disaster, whether the majority so willed or not.

Holding his men well in hand, moving only as rapidly as prudence
justified, yet losing neither time nor ground, where both were of
such vital importance; Aztotl forced a passage from the great Hall of
Sacrifice down to the level, the