Read Online The Mystery of the Aztec Warrior by Franklin W. Dixon - Free Book Online Page B

But all it could do was claw the air and hiss.
    The commotion awakened Chet, who stared in disbelief. For a moment he thought the boy was going to throw the iguana on him and dashed out of the way.
    â€œWhere’d that ugly thing come from?” he exclaimed. “Take it away!”
    By now, the Mexican boy was smiling again. He explained that the iguana must have crawled for some distance from a valley near a river.
    â€œI thought iguanas were harmless,” said Frank.
    â€œThey are,” the lad answered. “But I was afraid that if your friend woke up and saw it, it might give him a bad scare.”
    Chet thanked the boy profusely, and before starting off with the Hardys, he handed his “rescuer” several coins.
    â€œSee you on the moon someday!” Joe called out as their car pulled away.
    It was late afternoon when the three boys reached Oaxaca. They decided to stay at a hotel on the edge of town. After registering and unloading their baggage, the three set off for a look at the town.
    They had not gone far when Frank called, “Listen!”
    He and the others stopped. From a distance ahead of them came sounds of music and shouting. The boys could not tell from the babble of voices whether they were sounds of merriment or of some kind of protest meeting.
    â€œHow about our finding out what’s going on?” Frank suggested.

CHAPTER X
    Ghost-City Search
    FRANK, Joe, and Chet soon found that the shouting they heard came from the zócalo. The large square was being used as a stage, with an enthusiastic audience standing around its sides.
    â€œNo trouble here,” said Joe in relief. “Just a celebration.”
    They watched a group of children in gay Spanish costumes dancing to the music of several guitars. Chet and the Hardys observed with interest the intricate steps such small boys and girls could accomplish.
    A bystander heard Frank’s admiring comments and said, “Children in Mexican schools have regular instruction in native dances at an early age. Many become professional dancers.”
    Frank asked whether schools taught only the Spanish-dominated period in the country’s history. The man shook his head. “Our pupils learn the history of Mexico from prehistoric times. Many of them can speak the various Indian dialects, and through legends handed down in their families, know a lot about the great civilizations that were here in ancient days.”
    The children’s performance came to an end and they ran off, giggling and bowing. The next number on the program brought rapt attention, not only from the native audience but from the Bayport visitors.
    A group of men were costumed as ancient warriors. Their act, done in dance form, represented a battle. The soldiers used long-handled daggers with which they fenced adroitly to overcome their opponents.
    â€œThey’re great!” said Chet.
    â€œSure are,” the Hardys agreed.
    Presently it became evident that one side was victorious, when most of their opponents fell as if slain. In rushed a man dressed as an ancient priest, holding up his hand to end the slaughter. He commanded the victors to bring him one of the conquered warriors who was still on his feet and ordered the man to follow him.
    The priest cried out, “You have been chosen for the human sacrifice!”
    â€œUgh!” said Chet. “That old fellow looks fierce enough to carry out his threat!”
    The Hardys and the friendly man who stood next to them laughed, and the stranger said, “I am glad that you found the performance so realistic. You could almost believe there was to be a sacrifice. We Spanish stopped that ugly custom among the ancient people. It took many, many years to convince the Indians that their gods were not demanding this form of obeisance.”
    â€œAll I can say,” Chet spoke up, “is that I’m glad I’m living today. I would have been too nice a fat morsel for those