Page:Gaston Leroux--The bride of the sun.djvu/221

Rh those who shall come pure to the Kingdom of the Sun, pure as the hearts of little children, at the dawn of the world."

"Huascar, have pity! Remember my mother! Have pity!"

Huascar bowed to the Guardians of the Temple and went out silently.

Maria-Teresa, crooning over little Christobal, covered him with kisses. "Why did you come, little one? Why did you come?"

"To tell you not to be afraid, Maria-Teresa. Papa and Dick are coming. They are following, and will save us both. But if you must die, little sister, I will die with you."

The mammaconas, moving silently, had lit the sandia in their precious vases; brother and sister slept together, in each other's arms.

Now she had awakened in the House of the Serpent, and Christobal was not with her. She struggled to regain consciousness, heard his cries near by, and rose from the cushioned couch on which she had been reclining. There was Christobal, naked, struggling in the hands of the mammaconas. Terrified, she made as if to rush to his assistance, but six of the women surrounded her, calmed her with fluttering hands. No harm would come to the child; he was being dressed, as she would be dressed, in a robe made of bat skins. They spoke with infinite respect,