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one。 He could not make advances to her： he had no opportunity to do so： she was making advances to him！
〃My love；〃 she said； standing before him； 〃I have come back to the world for your sake。 Before Semitzin first saw you； her heart was yours。 And I come to you； not poor； but with the riches and power of the princes of Tenochtitlan。 You shall see them： they are yours！Kamaiakan； take down the chest。〃
〃What's that about Semitzin？〃 inquired Freeman。 〃I'm not aware that I knew any such person。〃
〃Kamaiakan！〃 repeated the other； raising her voice； and not hearing Freeman's last words。 Kamaiakan was nowhere to be seen。 Both Freeman and she had supposed that he was following on behind the mule； but he had either dropped behind； or had withdrawn somewhere。 〃O Kamaiakan！〃 shouted Freeman； as loud as he could。
A distant hail； from the direction of the desert； seemed to reply。
〃That can't be he；〃 said Freeman。 〃It was at least a quarter of a mile off； and the wrong direction； too。 He's in the gorge； if he's anywhere。〃
〃Hark！〃 said Semitzin。
They listened； and detected a low murmur； this time from the gorge。
〃He's fallen down and hurt himself；〃 said Freeman。 〃Let's go after him。〃
In a few moments they stumbled upon the old Indian； reclining with his shoulders against a rock； and gasping heavily。
〃My princess；〃 he whispered； as she bent over him； 〃I am dying。 The poisonous air in the cave was fatal to me； though the spell that is upon the Golden Fleece protected you。 I have done what the gods commanded。 I am absolved of my vow。 The treasure is safe。〃
〃Nonsense！ you're all right！〃 exclaimed Freeman。 〃Here； take a pull at this flask。 It did me all the good in the world！〃
But the old man put it aside； with a feeble gesture of the hand。 〃My time is come；〃 said he。〃Semitzin； I have been faithful。〃
〃Semitzin； again！〃 muttered Freeman。 〃What does it mean？〃
〃But what is this？〃 cried the girl； suddenly starting to her feet。 〃I feel the sleep coming on me again！ I feel Miriam returning！ Kamaiakan； have you betrayed me at the last？〃
〃No； no； princess； I have done nothing；〃 said he； in a voice scarcely audible。 〃But； with death； the strength of my will goes from me； and I can no longer keep you in this world。 The spirit of Miriam claims her rightful body； and you must struggle against her alone。 The gods will not be defied： it is the law！〃
His voice sank away into nothing； and his beard drooped upon his breast。
〃He's dying； sure enough； poor old chap；〃 said Freeman。 〃But what is all this about？ I never heard anything like this language you two talk together。〃
Semitzin turned towards him； and her eyes were blazing。
〃She shall not have you！〃 she cried。 〃I have won youI have saved youyou are mine！ What is Miriam？ Can she be to you what I could be？You shall never have him！〃 she continued； seeming to address some presence invisible to all eyes but hers。 〃If I must go； you shall go with me！〃 She fumbled in her belt； caught the handle of a knife there； and drew it。 She lifted it against her heart； but even then there was an uncertainty in her movement； as if her mind were divided against itself； or had failed fully to retain the thread of its purpose。 But Freeman； who had passed rapidly from one degree of bewilderment to another； was actually relieved to see； at last； something that he could understand。 Miriam for some reason best known to herselfwas about to do herself a mischief。 He leaped forward； caught her in his arms； and snatched the knife from her grasp。
For a few moments she struggled like a young tiger。 And it was marvellous and appalling to hear two voices come from her； in alternation； or confusedly mingled。 One said； 〃Let me kill her！ I will not go！ Keep back； you pale…faced girl！〃 and then a lower； troubled voice； 〃Do not let her come！ Her face is terrible！ What are those strange creatures with her？ Harvey； where are you？〃
At last； with a fierce cry； that died away in a shuddering sigh； the form of flesh and blood； so mysteriously possessed； ceased to struggle； and sank back in Freeman's arms。 His own strength was well…nigh at an end。 He laid her on the ground； and； sitting beside her； drew her head on his knee。 He had been in the land of spirits； contending with unknown powers； and he was faint in mind and body。
Yet he was conscious of the approaching tread of horses' feet； and recollected the hail that had come from the desert。 Soon loomed up the shadowy figures of mounted men； and they came so near that he was constrained to call out； 〃Mind where you're going！ You'll be over us！〃
〃Who are you？〃 said a voice； which sounded like that of General Trednoke； as they reined up。
〃There's Kamaiakan； who's dead； and Miriam Trednoke； who has been out of her mind； but she's got over it now； I guess； and I；Harvey Freeman。〃
〃My daughter！〃 exclaimed General Trednoke。
〃My boy！〃 cried Professor Meschines。 〃Well； thank God we've found you； and that some of you are alive； at any rate！〃
CHAPTER VIII。
As it was still some hours before dawn； and Freeman was too weak to travel； it was decided to encamp beside the pyramid till the following evening； and then make the trip across the desert in the comparative coolness of starlight。 Meanwhile； there was something to be done； and much to be explained。
The spirit of Kamaiakan had passed away； apparently at the same moment that the peculiar case of 〃possession〃 under which Miriam had suffered came to an end。 They determined to bury him at the foot of the great pyramid； which would form a fitting monument of his antique character and virtues。
Miriam； after her struggle； had lapsed into a state of partial lethargy； from which she was aroused gradually。 It was then found that she could give no account what ever of how or why she came there。 The last thing she distinctly remembered was standing on the veranda at the ranch and looking towards the east。 She was under the impression that Kamaiakan had approached and spoken with her； but of that she was not certain。 The next fact in her consciousness was that she was held in Freeman's arms； with a feeling that she had barely escaped from some great peril。 She could recall nothing of the journey down the gorge； of the adventure at the bottom of it； or of the return。 It was only by degrees that some partial light was thrown upon this matter。 Freeman knew that he was at the entrance of the cave when the earthquake began； and he remembered receiving a blow on the head。 Consequently it must have been at that spot that Miriam and the Indian found him。 He had； too； a vague impression of seeing Miriam coming out of the cave； dragging the chest； and there； sure enough； was a metal box； strapped to the saddle of the pack…mule。 But the mystery remained very dense。 And although the reader is in a position to analyze events more closely than the actors themselves could do； it may be doubted whether the essential mystery is much clearer to him than it was to them。
〃We know that the ancient Aztecan priests were adepts in magic；〃 observed the professor； 〃and it's natural that some of their learning should have descended to their posterity。 W