“There’s the medicine men’s hut,” whispered Jerry to Jim as they came closer to the temple, and saw near it, a smaller cabin. At that moment the four rescuers were comparatively alone, and it was safe to make this remark. The miner nodded, and the next moment our friends found themselves the centre of a throng that was hurrying into the big council house.
The four had planned to stay near the outer doors, as they wanted to be where they could get out quickly when the time came. This would be when the mysterious rites were at their height, and would be at the point when the old flying lizard was taken away and a new one, to remain in place for the coming year, was substituted.
The interior of the temple presented a wonderful sight, and, had Jerry and Ned and the others not been nervous over the parts they were playing, they would have found much to marvel over, and admire. The walls were hung with the skins of wild animals, mingled with the feathers of birds, dyed various brilliant hues.
At one end of the building, which seemed to consist mainly of one big room, was a raised platform, and on this were many Indians, evidently the medicine men. They were attired in all sorts of horrid and weird costumes, some representing animals, and some combinations of men and beasts. There was a sort of altar, and on this there was a large round stone, that glittered like gold. The attention of everyone seemed focused on this stone.
The temple was now almost filled with the Indians, who crowded every available place, and yet others kept coming to see and to hear what was going on. Our friends kept near a doorway, and watched everything narrowly.
Though they were in some fear lest they be discovered, in which case their lives would instantly have paid the forfeit, they need not have been alarmed—at least just then. They looked too much like all the Indians around them, and, besides, every savage was too intent on the ceremonies about to take place to glance at his neighbors.
The four rescuers had not been in the place more than ten minutes before the weird rites began. The medicine men first started a monotonous chant, keeping time as they marched around the altar containing the golden stone. Their voices rose above the patter of the rain on the roof, and filled the great structure. The place was lighted by torches, and fires burning along the sides, while occasionally, through the opened windows, could be seen the gleams of the signal blazes, reflected from the polished stones. These were to call in any wandering parties of savages.
Suddenly the chant ceased, and all the Indians bowed down. Jerry and his friends did the same. When they rose they saw that the medicine men stood in a half circle about the altar. One Indian, evidently the leader, began a strange, high-pitched song, and, at the close, he rushed to the golden stone, and struck it a blow with a stick he carried. Instantly the stone opened and from the interior the medicine man drew out a curious object.
By the start of the professor, whose eyes lighted on it, Jerry and the others knew what it was—the flying lizard. High up over his head the medicine man held the odd creature, a crawling reptile, about a foot long, which, as it was elevated, spread out four green wings. It was a strange and fearsome creature, but the professor fairly trembled with eagerness as he beheld it.