Page:Gaston Leroux--The bride of the sun.djvu/274

260 above it, was a kind of golden yramid, crowned with a golden throne. "That is for the King," said Orellana. On each side of the altar, and before it, were three other pyramids. But they were not so high, and were not of gold. They were of wood. "The pyres," explained Orellana.

"The pyres! What do you mean, man?"

"Steady, steady! They're not going to burn her. She's the Bride of the Sun, and they wall her up. Burn her, indeed! It's not done, I tell you. Every Aïmara child knows that. Little children don't see the Temple of Death unless they are to die in it, but they know that much. Burn my daughter, indeed! As if I would allow it! What do you think I brought this pick for? You do just as well not to answer. Much better remain silent than talk nonsense like that. If you look at the walls out there you'll see a big porphyry slab between each gold panel. There are just a hundred of them, and behind each one is one of the Sun's brides. If I only knew which tomb my daughter was in, I would have had her out a long time ago. But the slabs are all just alike, and there is nothing to help a poor father in his search. This time, though, I'm watching, and as soon as they've gone, I shall save her."

"She may be dead, smothered alive, when you get her out." Dick, thinking hard while the old