Page:Gaston Leroux--The bride of the sun.djvu/41

Rh "They are not all like that.... Yes, we have had one or two native rebellions, but it was never anything very serious."

"How many of them are there in the country?" put in Dick.

"About two-thirds of the population," answered Maria-Teresa. "But they are no more capable of really rebelling than they are of working properly. It is the Garcia business that has unsettled them, coming after a long period of quiet." She turned to her father. "What does the President think of it all?"

"He does not seem to worry a great deal. This Indian unrest recurs every ten years."

"Why every ten years?" demanded Uncle Francis.

"Because of the Sun Festival," said old Irene. "The Quichuas hold it every ten years."

"Where?" Dick took a sudden interest.

"Nobody knows," replied Aunt Agnes, in a curiously strangled voice. "There are sacrifices ... and the ashes of the victims are thrown into rivers and streams ... to carry away the sins of the nation, the Indians believe."

"That is really very interesting!" exclaimed Uncle Francis.

"Some of the sacrifices are human," half groaned the old lady, dropping her head to her plate.