er, than that of
religious mimes and bacchanals, in a certain class of pagan ceremonies,
highly popular with the multitude. This, indeed, is evident from their
characteristics in the sculptures. Their ancient college, or hospital,
otherwise vacant and forlorn, was now chiefly occupied by a much higher
order of priests, called Mahaboons, who were their legal and sacerdotal
guardians. With a Yachin, one of the junior brethren of this order,
named Vaalpeor, a young man of superior intellect and attainments,
Velasquez soon cultivated a friendly and confidential acquaintance,
which proved reciprocal and faithful. And while Huertis was devoting all
his time and energies to the antiquities, hieroglyphics, ethnology,
science, pantheism, theogony, arts, manufactures, and social
institutions of this unknown city and people, the ear of this young
pagan priest was as eagerly imbibing, from the wiley lips of Velasquez,
a similar knowledge of the world at large, to him equally new and
enchanting. If Huertis had toiled so severely, and hazarded so much,
both as to himself and companions, to acquire a knowledge of this one
city and people, it soon became clear to the penetrating mind of
Velasquez, that Vaalpeor possessed enough both of mental ambition and
personal energy to incur equal toil and risk to learn the wonders of the
cities and races of the greater nations of mankind. Indeed, this desire
evidently glowed in his breast with a consuming fervor, and when
Velasquez, after due observation proposed the liberation of the whole
expedition, with Vaalpeor himself, as its protected companion, the now
consciously imprisoned pagan, horror-stricken at first, regarded the
proposition with complacency, and finally, with a degree of delight,
regardless of consequences. It was, however, mutually agreed that the
design should be kept secret from Huertis, until ripe for success. A
serious obstacle existed in his plighted guardianship of the Kaana
children, whom he could abandon only with his life; but even this was
not deemed insurmountable.

In the meantime, Huertis, to facilitate his own objects, had prevailed
upon his entire party to conform in dress and habits with the community
in which they lived. The city was surrounded on all sides by a lofty
colonade, sustaining the upper esplanade of the city walls, and forming
a broad covered walk beneath, in which the population could promenade,
sheltered from sun and shower. In these places of gener