?" he cried, hoarsely. "Make way, I bid
thee; make way, for I will see the Sun Children and--"

"Not so, my Lord Hua," coldly interrupted the master of guards, that
warning palm still turned to the front. "You are here without law or
leave, and know what the edict says: from the going to the return of
the sun, these stones are sacred from all feet save those of the Sun
Children and their regular body-guard."

"What care I for laws? Or for such as thou, Red Heron? I will that such
a thing shall be, and it comes to pass. And--thou dare to bar my way,
Aztotl?"

"Ay. By words if they prove sufficient. By force if called for. By death
if worst must come; even the death of a mighty chieftain like Lord Hua
would not be too great a feat."

For a brief space it seemed as though Huatzin would make a leap to which
there could be but one termination, death to one or to both. But Aztotl
coldly spoke on:

"I have given you fair and friendly warning, Lord Hua. Go, now, while
the path of peace lies open. Go, else I sound the call, and my
guard will take you in charge, just as they would any other rascally
intruder."

"Your precious son, for instance?" retorted the 'Tzin, viciously. "He
came with one whom--one of a different race from our own, Aztotl! A
traitor in thy own family, yet thou darest hint at--"

Aztotl lifted a bent finger to his lips, sounding a shrill,
far-penetrating whistle. The response was prompt indeed, an armed force
advancing with weapons held ready, awaiting only word from commander to
punish that rash intruder by hurling him to death over the terraces.

Although nearly beside himself with fury, Huatzin glared defiance at
both guard and its commander, then turned more directly upon the Sun
Children, speaking in savage tones:

"Unto you, proud Victo, I'll either win you as my--"

"Go on, Lord Hua," coldly spoke the woman, as his voice choked.

"I'll win and wear you as my squaw, or else give you to the stone of
sacrifice!" he snarled, then turned away as Aztotl motioned his guards
to clear the temple of all intruders, then see that none other dared
enter.

CHAPTER XXV. WALDO GOES FISHING.

It was with stronger forebodings than he dared acknowledge even to
himself, that Professor Featherwit watched the two young men out of
sight in the early gloom, and scarcely had his nephew passed beyond
hearing than uncle Phaeton would gladly have recalled Bruno.

Waldo made light of all fears, prophesying co