WithafiercelyexultantcryTlacopahurledthevitalorgantowardstheaccused，itstrikingthemotheruponanarm，thenglancingfurthertoleaveanuglysmearuponthedaughter’sshouldererefallingamongtheeagermultitude，whofoughtandstruggledtosecureatleastamorselofthehideousthing。
\"Behold！thegodshathmarkedtheirown！\"criedthehighpriest，hisharshtonesfairlyfillingtheHallofSacrifice。\"Theyareguiltyofallcrimeslaidattheirdoor。Theymeritdeath，athousandfold。TheMotherofGodshathspoken！\"
\"Towhombutthou，Tlacopa？\"sternlycriedthecaptainoftheguards，ashestoodfirminspiteoftheominoussoundswhichwererisingfromtherear，aswellasfromeitherside。
\"Shehathspokenuntome，asherworthyrepresentativeonearth。\"
\"Andtherearethosewhosaymuchreligionhathturnedthybrain，goodTlacopa，\"retortedAztotl，holdinghistemperfairlywellundercontrol，yetwithblazingeyesandstiffeningsinews。\"Arethyearsalonetoreceivesuchimportantcommunicationsas——\"
\"Silence，thouscoffer！\"fiercelycriedthehighpriest，liftingquiveringhandsonhighasthoughabouttocalldownthethundersofanoutrageddeityuponthatimpioushead。\"Shewhohathspokenoncemaydeigntospeakagain。Harken，——heartheoracle！\"
Doubtlessthiswascuefortheslaveofthetempletorepeatthewordsplacedwithinitsmouth，butthatslavewasliterallyunabletospeakawordforhimself，letaloneothers。Yet，——theoraclewasnotwhollysilenced！
\"Talkout，orIwill！\"fiercelymutteredBruno，givingIxtliaviolentpunchintheside。\"talkoutfortheSunChildren！\"
TheyoungAztecneedednofurtherprompting，lovingVictoandGladyashedid，hatinganddespisingthehighpriest。Andinshrill，cleartonescamethewondrousoracle：
\"Tlacopalies！Tlacopaisanevildog！TheMotheroftheGodslovesandwilldefendherfriends，theChildrenofthegreatandgoodQuetzal’。\"
HowmuchmoreIxtlimighthavesaid，hadhebeengrantedfurthergrace，willneverbeknown。Tlacopashrankawayfromthespeakingstatueasfromalivingdeath，butthenherallied，savagelythundering：
\"’Tisalyingoracle！’Tisanevilimpostorwhohas——Anomen！
Atrueomen，mychildren！Theeviloneshathbeenbrandedfortheknife！Seizethem！Tothesacrifice！\"
Thatviciouscrywasswiftlytakenup，butthebody-guardclosedinaroundthemenacedwomen，presentingarmstoallthatmaddenedhorde，whiletheircaptainsternlywarnedallgoodpeopletofallasideandmakewayfortheChildrenoftheSun。
Thenthatsecretentrancewasflungwide，permittingtwoexcitedyoungmentoissue，TlacopareelingasidefromablowdealthimbyBruno’sclenchedfist，asthatworthyhastenedtojoinforceswiththebody-guard。
CHAPTERXXX。
AGAINSTOVERWHELMINGODDS。
Thisdoubleappearance——forIxtlikeptfairpacewithhishot-headedwhitebrother——causednolittlestir，andaddedconsiderabletothepartialbewildermentwhichhadfallenoverthataudience。
PrinceHuashoutedforthsavagethreats，buthe，aswellasthepaba，wasfairlydemoralisedforthemomentbythetotallyunexpectedfailureoftheircarefullylaidschemes。
Seeinghischance，AztotlbadehismenescorttheSunChildrenfromtheHallofSacrificebacktotheirownabiding-place，barelynoticinghisson，andpayingnoheedatalltothedisguisedpaleface。
Withspearsreadyforstrokeorparryasoccasionmightdemand，theguardfacedaboutandslowlymovedawayfromthegreatstoneofsacrifice，rigidofface，coolofnerve，readytodieifmustbe，yetneveroncethinkingofdisobediencetoorders，orofplayingcurtosavelife。
Almostinvoluntarilythecrowdpartedbeforethatmeasuredadvance，givingwayuntilafairpathwaylayopen，alongwhichthebody-guardmovedwithneitherhastenorhesitation，outwardlyignorantofthefactthatuglycriesanddangerousgestureswerecomingthickerandfastertheirway。
Scoresofothervoicescaughtupthefiercecrygivenbytheheadpriest，andnowthetemplewasringingthroughoutwithdemandsthatthefalseSunChildrenshouldpayfullpenalty，shouldbehaledtothesacrificialstone，theretopurgethemselveswithoutfurtherdelay！
OthersshowedaninclinationtofavourthedescendantsofQuetzal’，andthusthewidelyconflictingshoutsandcriesformedamedleywhichwasfairlydeafening。
ForoneofhisfiercetempertheRedHeronshowedamarvellouscoolnessthroughoutthatperilousretreat，andnevermorethanduringthefirstfewseconds。Thenasingleinjudiciouswordortoohastymovementmighteasilyhaveprecipitatedafight，wherethevastaudiencewouldsurelyhavebroughtdisaster，whetherthemajoritysowilledornot。
Holdinghismenwellinhand，movingonlyasrapidlyasprudencejustified，yetlosingneithertimenorground，wherebothwereofsuchvitalimportance；AztotlforcedapassagefromthegreatHallofSacrificedowntothelevel，thenoutintotheopenair，whereonecouldseeandfightifneedsbe。
Throughallthis，BrunoGillespieheldthepositionhehadtaken，onehandgrippingtightlyhismaquahuitl，butplacinghismaindependenceupontherevolverwhichnestledconvenientlywithinthefoldsofhissash，onenervousforefingertouchingthecurvedtrigger。
Hecouldnothelpseeingthatthedangerwasgreat。Hefeltcertainthattheycouldnotretreatmuchfartherwithoutcomingtoblows，whentheoddswouldbeoverwhelminglyagainstthem。
Yetneverforaninstantdidheregrethavingtakensuchadecidedstep；notforonemomentdidhegivethoughttohimself。
Almostwithinreachofhishand，ifextendedatthelengthofhisarm，movedthefairmaidenwhosefaceandformhadmadesodeepanimpressionuponhismindandhisheart。Shewasinperil。
Sheneededaid。Thatwasenough！
ThenthebrieflystunnedTlacoparushedforthfromhisdesecratedtemple，wildlyflourishinghisarms，furiouslydenouncingboththeSunChildrenandtheirbody-guard，thunderingforththecursesofallthegodsupontheheadsofthosewhorefrainedfromarrestingtheevilones。
\"ThemightyMotherofGodscallsforherown！Seizethem！
StrikedowntheimpiousdogswhodareattempttodefraudourMother！Seizethem！Tothesacrifice——tothesacrifice！\"
Equallyloudofvoice，thePrinceHuacameleapingdowntothesandylevel，urginghispeopletotheassault，offeringalmostfabuloussumsasrewardforthebraveAztecwhosearmshouldlayyondertraitorousRedHeronproneinthedust。
Thecrisiscame，andthedogsofwarwereletloose。
Anarrowwhizzednarrowlypastthefeatheredhelmetwornbythecaptainoftheguards。Astonecamehummingoutofsling，tobedeftlydashedasidebyAztotl’sshieldereitcouldfairlysmitethatgold-crownedheadas，outwardlycalmandcomposed，VictoaidedhertremblingdaughterontowardstheTempleoftheSunGod，wherealonetheymightlookforsafety。
Butwoulditbefoundeventhere？
No！For，atsavagehowlfromlipsofthehighpriest，astrongforceofarmedredskinstookuppositionattheteocalli，blockingeachoneofthefourflightsofstonestepsinordertointerceptthebody-guard，whilestillcloserpressedtheyelling，screeching，franticheathenofbothsexesandallages。
Aztotlsawhowhehadbeenflanked，butmadenosign，evenwhileslightlyturningcourseforanothertempleatlessdistance，asinglewordbeingsufficienttoposthistrue-hearts。
Sofarnotasingleblowhadbeenstruckbytheretreatingparty，althoughgreatprovocationhadbeengiventhem。Morethanoneoftheirnumberwasbleeding，yetallwereafoot，andstillcapableofholdingranks。Then——
Bravestofthebrave，amanamongmeninspiteofhistenderyears，IxtlilaiddownhislifeindefenceofhisidolisedVicto。
Fromoneofthatmaddenedrabblecameaheavystone，flungwithallthepowerofasinewyarmandgreatsling。Smittenfairlybetweentheeyes，thepoorlad’sskullwascrushed，asagianthandmightmashaneggshell。
Onegaspingsigh，thentheladsunktoearth，deaderehecouldfairlymeasurehislengththereupon。
ForasingleinstantAztotlseemedasonestupefied，butthenanawfuluproarburstfromhislabouringlungs，andhehurledhisheavyjavelinfullatyondermurderer，wingingitwithafather’scurses。
Swiftflewthedart，butfullyasquicklysankthatvarlet，theheadofthespearscrapinghisskull，topassonandsmitewithdeathoneevenmoreevil，ifthatmightbe。
FullinthethroatTlacopawasstricken，thebroadbladeofcoppertearingapassagethrough，andtheshaftfollowingafterforthegreaterportionofitslength。Unabletoscream，thoughhisvisagewashideouslydistortedbymingledfearandagony，thehighpriestcaughtthewoodinbothhands，evenashereeledtopartlyturn，thenfalluponhisface，dead，——thricedead！
Withawildthrillofgriefandhorror，BrunoGillespiesawhisredbrotherreelincrueldeath，and，forthemomentheedlessofhisownperil，whichsurelywasdoubledthereby，hesprangthatway，tostoopandcatchthatquiveringshapeinhiseagerhands。
Toolate，savetoshowhiscomradeship。Thatheavystonehadonlytoosurelyperformeditsgrimmission。Dead！Poorlad：
dead，whileseekingtosaveanother！
Withafiercecryofangrymourning，Brunoliftedthemutilatedcorpseinhisarms，tryingtotossitoverashoulder，tobearawayfromriskoftramplingundertheheedlessfeetoftheyellingheathen；butitwasnottobe。Anotherstonesmotehisarmneartheelbow，breakingnobone，yetsobenumbingthememberastotemporarilydisableit，causingthatpreciousburdentodroptoearthoncemore。
Thencameanawfuloutcryfromthepeople，whomthesightoftheirhigh-priestreelingindeathhad，forafewfleetingseconds，fairlystupefied。Crieswhichmeantmuchtotheliving，andbeforewhicheventhatbandoftrue-heartsrecededwithslightlyquickenedpace。
WiththeothersfellbackBruno，leavinghishand-woodlyingbesidethelifelesscorpseofhisredskinnedbrother-at-heart，butdrawingforththeweaponwhichheknewsomuchbetterhowtouse。
Thefiercelustofvengeancenowseizeduponhim，heartandbrain。Heshoutedforthgrimdefiancetothathowlingcrew，andasthedeadlymissilescameinthickeningclouds，carryingdeathandwoundstothebodyguardoftheSunChildren，heopenedfire，shootingtokill。
Entirelywithoutfirearmsthemselves，andinallprobabilityignorantofsuchaninstrumentofdestruction，thismighthaveproducedafarmorebeneficialresultunderothercircumstances。
Asitwasnow，few，ifany，tookheedofwhattheycouldnothearabovethatawfultumult，andthosewhofelttheboringleadneverroseuptogivetheirtestimony。
Closercrowdedthesuperstition-riddenheathen，showeringmissilesofalldescriptionsuponthebody-guard，confoundingallwiththeonetowhosejavelintheirheadpriestowedhisdeath，——onlytorecoiloncemore，infierceawe，asanothervictimofhighrankpaidforfeithislifeforthedeathofIxtli，soleoffspringofAztotl，theRedHeron。
CHAPTERXXXI。
DEFENDINGTHESUNCHILDREN。
LouderthaneverrosethevoiceofLordHua，afterwitnessingthefallofhisally，thehighpriest。Inspiteofthegreatoddsagainstthebody-guards，hebegantofearlesthisintendedpreyshouldevenyetslipthroughhisevilclutches。
FiercerthaneverrangforthhiscursesandimprecationsupontheheadoftheAztecwhothusdaredthevengeanceofallthegodsbyliftinghandinarmsagainsttheanointed。
Andthen，hisownnervestrungbythoseveryeffortstoinspireothers，LordHuaforgednearerthefront，eagertobeholdallhishatedenemiescrushedtoearthasbyasinglestroke。Andthen——
WithviciousforcehehurledhisjavelinstraightforthewhitethroatoftheSunChildwhohadscornedhisfawningadvances，andonlytheeverreadyeye，thetruehand，thestrongarmofAztotlagainwardedoffgrimdeathfromtheFairGod’sChild。
Caughtuponthattrustyshieldoneinstant，thenextturnedtowardsitsoriginalowner，toquiverforthebarestfractionoftimeinthatvengefulgrip，then，gloriouslytruetothehero’swillandintent，spedthatjavelinhome。
Hometothefalseheartoffalseprince；grindingthroughskinandfleshandbones，cleavingthathotorganwithbroadbladeoftemperedcopper，forcingoneviciousscreechfromthosetorturedlungs，thencausingthatbulktomeasureitslengthupontheblood-sprinkledsands。
Onceagaintheheatheninvoluntarilyrecoiled，asdeathclaimedahighvictim。Oncemorethebandoftrue-heartsslightlyquickenedtheirpacetowardsthetemple，nownighathand。Yetthoselessenednumbersneveroncebetrayedfear，ordoubt，orfaltering。Grimlytruetotheirtrust，theyfellbackinthebestoforder，fightingastheymoved，beatingbacktheheathenhosts，asthougheachmanwasagod，andtheirstrongarmsawallofsteel。
Hereandthereatrue-heartsanktoearthwiththehandofdeathveilinghiseyes，buthediedinsilence；nocryoffear，nomoanofpain，nopitifulappealformercyatthehandsofhismaddenedpeople。Theyknewtheirswornduty，andliketrueheartstheytrodthatnarrowpathuntotheveryend。
Althoughwithgraduallylesseningnumbers，thebody-guardremainedpracticallythesame。Stillinahollowsquare，withtheChildrenoftheSunGodinthecentre，theyslowly，doggedlyfellback，everfacingtheraveningfoe，evermovingshouldertoshoulderasasingleman。
Then，justasBrunoGillespiewasrefillinghisemptiedrevolver，thebaseofthetallpyramidaltemplewaswon，andstillprotectingtheirfair-hairedcharge，thebody-guardascendedtothesecondterrace，beatingbacksuchofthewildrabbleaspressedthemtooclosely。
Againthatwonderfulbarking-deathcameintoplay，andBrunofeltastrangelysavagejoygnawingathisheartashesawmorethanonestalwartwarriorreeldizzilybackfromhishothail。
\"ForIxtli，youcurs！ThatforIxtli！Down，——andeatdirt，dogs！\"
Scarcelycouldhisownearscatchthosesounds，althoughheshoutedwiththefullpowerofhisstrongyounglungs，soindescribablyhorridwasthedinandtumult。
Upanotherflightofsteps，thenyetanother，althoughthecrazedrabblewasnotpressingthemsoveryhard，justnow。Still，theirnumberforbadeafourfolddivisionasyet，andAztotlfearedlesttheblood-raveningmobattempttoheadofftheirflightbytakingpossessionoftheotherstairs，thusbeingfirsttooccupyyonderflatarenahighabovetheearth，whereuponhehopedtostillprotecttheSunChildren，eventhoughhemustlaydownhislifetomaintaintheirlease。
Lackinganacknowledgedleader，thefuriousmassthoughtonlyofcrushingthefaithfulbandbymereweightofnumbers，takingnothoughtinadvance，elsetheendmightwellhavebeenprecipitated。
Arrows，spears，javelins，stonesfromslings，poureduponthebody-guardinalmostcountlessnumbers，nowandthenclaimingatrue-heartasvictim，whereupontherabblehowledafreshindrunkentriumph；butwhereasinglemandiedintheperformanceofhisoath-boundduty，halfascoreheathenbitthedustandgrovelledouthisremnantoflifeyonderwheremostviciouslytrampledthefeetofhisfellowbrutes。
Pausingbarelylongenoughtobeatbackthecrazedrushwhichcamesocloseupontheirretreat，thebandofbrotherswouldthenslowly，doggedlyfallbackanotherofthosemightysteps，withbaredteethandblazingeyes，longingtoendallbyonejoyousplungeintothethickoftheirassailants，dyingwiththeirchosendead！
Fiveseparatetimesthatupwardflight，andfivetimesthegrimpausetogivedeathanotherportionofhisredfeast。Fivetimestheblood-lappingmobdashedagainstthebandofbrothers。Fivetimestheywerehurledback，leavingmoredeadanddyingtheretomarkthesavagestruggle。
Andthen，sadlydecimatedateachhalt，lessinnumbersastheypassedfartherfromearthtoclimbnearerthebluesky，thesurvivorswonthecrestoftheteocalli，stillfighting，stillbeatingbacksuchasfollowedtheirstepsmoreclosely。
Erethatbrilliantretreatbegan，’twouldhavetakencloseranksforthebody-guardtofindstanding-roomuponthetemple-top；butnow——Aztotlcalledforadivisionofhisforce，sincetherewerefourseparateavenuesofapproach，ofwhichtheenemywasprompttoavailitself。
\"FortheSunChildren，mybrothers！\"hecried，hisvoicerisingevenabovethatawfultumultandturmoil。\"Guardthemwithyourlives！\"
Littleneedtowastebreathinsoadjuring。Ofallthusenlisted，notoneofthetrue-heartsbutprovedworthythetrust。
Notonebravewhotookcareforhisownlife。Notonebutwasreadytodieinordertosave；andthusfarnotasinglewoundhadwonsofaraseitherChildoftheFairGod。
Evennowwhiletheheathenwereragingmoreviciouslythanever，crowdingeachterraceandjammingeachflightofstepstothevergeofsuffocation，strongarmswereshieldingthem，trueheartswerethinkinghowbesttheymightbeserved。
TimeandagainAztotlwardedawaywingeddeathasitsoughttoclaimVictoforitsprey。AndBrunoGillespie，nowhitlessbraveifsomewhatlackinginwarlikeexperience，madeGladyshisespecialcare，sendingshotordealingknife-thrustinherdefence，barelygivingthoughttohisownsafetyasasideissue。
Thosebroadterracesboreuglypoolsandirregularpatchesofredblood。Thevariousflightsofstonestepsgrewslipperyanduncertainastheylikewisebegantosteam。Yetforwardandupwardpressedthehowlingmob，anddesperatelyfoughtthedoomedbody-guardabove。
Fasterflythedeadlymissiles，toomanybyfarforeventhekeenesteyetoguardagainstthemall。Oneandanotherofthosegallantdefendersdropaway；onlybecausedeathhadclaimedthem，notbecauseoffearorofbodilyanguish。
Aztotlstaggers，——anarrowisquiveringinhisbroadbosom，——butstillhefightson，dealingdeathwitheachblowofhisblood-drippinghand-wood。Astonelaysopenhisbrow，——butheavierandfasterplayshisterribleweapon。Ajavelinflashesbriefly，thentheredcoppervanishesfromsight，whiletheashenshaftslowlydyescrimson，asthehotlife-bloodissues。
Alast，dyingstroke，andtheRedHeronsinksatthefeetofhisadoration，faithfuluntothelast，hisbravesoulgoingforthtojoinwiththatofIxtli；thelastofagallantfamily。
Victogivesawildcryofvengeance，thensnatchesupbowandquiverwhereletfallbyadeath-smittenwarrior，andwingsswiftdeathtotheslayerofhercaptainoftheguard。
Anawfulmelee，wheretheoddsweremomentarilyincreasing；whereonemanwasforcedtodotheworkofascore；wheredeathinevitableawaitedall，unlessamiracleshouldintervene。Andthatmiracle——
ShrillyrangforththevoiceofVictoriaEdgecombeas，amidstthefuryofbattle，shecaughtsightoftheair-shipswiftlydartingthatwaythroughtheclearatmosphere，bentonsaving，ifsavingmightbe。
ThepeculiarsoundwhichattendedtheexplodingofadynamitecartridgeheraldedthedeathofmorethanoneAztec，and，astheswiftrattleofrevolversaddedtotheuproar，therewasaninvoluntaryrecoiling，aterrifiedshrinking，whichwasemployedtothebestadvantagebytheair-voyagers。
Theaerostatbarelylandeduponthetopofthetemple，beforeCooperEdgecombe，withawildscreamofecstaticjoy，caughthiswifeinhisarmsandhurriedherintothecar，whileWaldoandunclePhaetonaidedBruno。
CHAPTERXXXII。
ADIEUTOTHELOSTCITY。
AndBrunoclungfasttothehalf-swooningmaiden，sothattwoinplaceofonehadtobeassistedbyuncleandnephew！
Barelyascoreofsecondsthusemployed，thenthegallantair-shiprespondedtothetouchofmaster-hand，andfloatedawayfromthebloodytemple-topwithitsincreasedburden，evenasthelastsurvivoroftheSunChildren’sbody-guardsankdownindeath。
Abriefstuporcameovertheamazedheathenatsightofthisawfulair-devilfromwhosesidesspatforthinvisibledeath；butthen，astheydivinedatleastaportionofthetruth，astheysawtheirlonged-forvictimsthusbornebodilyaway，arevulsioncame，and，amidthemosthideoushowlsandscreeches，missilesflewtowardstheair-ship，menacingsuddendeathtoalltherein。
Butfatewouldnothaveitthus，and，undertheguidanceofthatmaster-hand，theaeromotorflewhigherandfarther，quicklyleavingbehindallperilfromjavelins，darts，arrows，orstonesfromslings。Andbutoneoftheirnumberhadsufferedaught：
Brunolayasonedead，bloodflowingfromastone-gashoveraneye，butwithonehandstillgrippingthebuttofanemptypistol；hisotherarmwas——aroundtheSunDaughter’swaist！
AndGladys？Firstsheshrunkbackwithagaspingcryofmingledfearandgrief；onlytoquicklyrecoverand——didshekissthatcuriouslyspotted，streakedface？
Waldoafterwardsdeclaredshecertainlydid，forthatamomentlaterhesawsomeofthatmoistenedstainuponherquiveringlips；butWaldowaseverextravagantlyfondofajest，anditmaybe——nevermind！
Notuntiltheair-shipwassafelypastperilfromyonderhowling，ravinglunaticsinbronzedidProfessorFeatherwitgiveheedtoaughtelse，andbythattimeVictoriahadlefttheardentembraceofherhusband，tocarefortheelderGillespie，whosesingle-hearteddevotionallthroughthatbloodyretreatandbloodierstruggleuponthetemplehadnotwhollyescapedhernotice。
Undersuchtenderministrations，Brunoquicklyrevived，and，afterassuringhimselfthattheChildrenoftheSunwerealiveandunharmed，whiletheLostCitywasnowleftfarbehindthem，hehuskilybeggedunclePhaetontodescendtoearth，wherehemightfindwaterenoughtoremovewhatremainedofthatloathsomedisguise！
ButProfessorFeatherwitwasfartooshrewdageneraltotakeanyunnecessaryrisks。Hislastglimpseofyondervalleyshowedhimhundredsofarmedredskinsrushingattopspeedforthevariouspassesbywhichthatcircleofhillscouldbeover-passed，andheknewthatchasewouldbemadeaslongasthefaintestrayofhopeluredtheAztecson。
Thusitcamethatnohaltwasmadeuntiltheinlandreservoirwasreached，wheretherecouldbenopossibledangerinmakingatemporarylanding。AndthenBrunostoleawayinhothaste，bothtowashhispersonandtoreclotheitingarmentsnotquitesoridiculousashenowfeltthatsavagerigmustappear。
\"Justasthoughthelittlewomanwasn’tusedtoseefit-outslikethat，oldman，\"mockedWaldo，theirrepressible。\"She’llgoscareatyouinthisrig；seeifshedoesn’t，now！\"
WhetherornoGladyswasactuallyfrightenedasBrunomadehisappearance，neednotbedecidedhere；butonefactremains：sheactedavastdealshyerthanwhenshesawhergallantdefenderlyingasifdead，withtheredbloodflowingoverhisface。
Naturallyenough，CooperEdgecombeseemedfairlycrazedbyhisjoy。Aftersomanylongyearsofhopelessgriefandwistfullonging，tofindhislovedones，safeandsound，farmorebeautifulthanofyore！Surelyenoughtoturnthegravestofmenintoalaughing，jesting，volublelad！
Butthroughoutitallranaveinofsadnessandofmourning。
NeitherAztotlthenoble，norIxtlithegallant，couldsosoonbeforgotten。Andmorethanonepairofeyesgrewdim，morethanonevoiceturnedhusky，asmentionwasmadeofbothlifeanddeath，——peacetotheirashes！
Heavilyburdenedastheair-shipnowwas，itwouldbeunwisetoaddmore，andsobutafewminorarticleswereremovedfromthecavern，whichhadforsolongshelteredtheexiledaeronaut，thentheleverwastouched，andthevesselroseslowlyintoair，makingoneleisurelycircuitofthelake，inordertoshowtheChildrenoftheSunwheretheirhusbandandfathercamesoperilouslynightoenteringuponasubterraneanvoyagetothefar-awayPacific。And，luckilyasitappeared，theywerejustintimetoseethat\"bigsuck\"draganotherhugetreedownintoitseverhungrymaw。
Notuntiltheshadesofnightagainbegantosettleovertheearthdidtheprofessorpermitanotherhalt，butthenmanymileslaybetweenthatLostCityoftheAztecsandtheirpresentposition，and，afterselectingapleasantspotforalighting，preparationsfortheirfirstal-frescomealincompanywerebegun。
Thatprovedtobeapleasantmeal，andyetamorepleasanteveningthereinthewilderness，——thefirst，butbynomeansthelast，partakenof，——for，nowtheyneednolongerfeartheheathen，ProfessorFeatherwitwaseagertomorethoroughlyexplorethatstrangeland。
Still，theair-shipwasinconvenientlycrowded，andthathelpedtocutexplorationsshort。Then，too，CooperEdgecombewasnaturallyeagertoreturntocivilisationoncemore，especiallyashenowhadhisheart’sdearestdesire，wifeanddaughter，eachpeerlessinherpeculiarway。
Thusitcametopassthattheterraincognitawasabandonedforthetimebeing，ProfessorFeatherwitstrikingthatwidepathofruinwhichmarkedthecourseofthetornado，thensailingleisurelytowardsthepointoftheirinitialdeparture，improvingtheopportunitybygivinganeatlittlelectureconcerningtornadoesingeneral，andthatoneinparticular。
\"Whichtotallyexplodedsomanyabsurdtheorieshelduptodate，\"
washisproudassertion；andthenhewentontoexplainjusthow，andwhy，andwherefore——
Whydwelllonger？ThetaleIsetouttonarrateisfinished。
Theunknownlandhasbeenpenetrated，andatleastaportionofitsmarvelshasbeeninspected；imperfectly，nodoubt，butthatmaybeattributedtocircumstanceswhichwerepastcontrol。
Andshouldthestillcuriousreaderask，\"Isitalltrue？IsthereactuallysuchaplaceastheLostCity？AndarethepeoplewholiveinthattownreallyandtrulythesameraceasonceinhabitedOldMexico？\"——toallsuch，Icanhardlydobetterthanthis：therewasaTerritoryofWashington。ThereisnowaStateofWashington。WithinthatStatemaybefoundarange，orsystemofmountains，knowntotheworldastheOlympics。Andwithinthewidescopeofcountrywhichliesnestlinginsideofthatmountainsystemmaytothisdaybefound——
But，afterall，alittleparablewhichWaldoGillespiereadtoacertaindoubtingThomas，ontheveryeveningofthedaywhichchangedGladysEdgecombe，spinster，intoMrs。BrunoGillespie，maybetterserveinthisconnection。
\"Afterall，Idon’tbelievethereisanysuchplaceorpeople，\"
declaredDoubtingThomas，noddinghisheadvigorously。
\"Isthatso？\"mildlyqueriedourgoodfriend，Waldo。\"Letmegiveyoualittlepointer，oldman。Onceuponatime，amanbythenameofJohnSmithwasbeingtriedforstealingafathog。
TheStatebroughtthreereputablewitnessestoswearthattheyactuallysawthetheftcommitted，whilethebestthedefencecouldofferwastodeclarethattheycouldproduceatleastadozenhonestcitizenswhowouldmakeoathtothefactthattheydidnotwitnessthecrime。So——moral：
\"WesixfairlyhonestpeoplesawboththeLostCityanditsinhabitants。Scoresofequallyreliablepersonsneversaweither。Whichsortofevidenceweighsthemost，mygoodfellow？\"
Gentlemenofthejury，theverdictrestswithyou！