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For s?mb~ minutes w? lay'thus" "side by side, and as wo lay a great wonder and gratitudo grew In my heart, wonder that a woman could bo so bravo, gratitude tor the love she gave me, scaling it with her lifeblood, because Otomie loved me so well that she desired to dio thus at my sido rather than to live on in greatness and honor without ma Of a sudden, In a mo For some minute? we lay thus side by side. ment while I thought of this marvel, a now light shone upon my heart, and lt was changed toward her. I felt that no wom an could ever be so dear to me as this glo rious woman-no, not even my betrothed. I felt-nay, who can say what I did feel? But I know this-that the tears rushed to my eyes and ran down my painted face, and I turned my head to look at her. Sho was lying as much upon her left side as hor bands would allow; her long hair fell from tho stone to the paving, where it lay in masses, and her face was toward me. So close was it indeed that there was not an inch between our lips. "Otomie," I whispered, "listen tomo. I love you, Otomio. " Now I saw her breast heave beneath tho bands and the color come upon her brow. "Then I am repaid," she answered, and our lips clung together In a kiss, tho first, and, as wo thought, the last. Yes, thora wc kissed, on tho stone of sacrifice, be neath tho knife of the priest and the shadow of death, and if there has boen a stranger love scene in tho world I have never heard its story. "Oh, I om repaid," 6he said again. "I would gladly die a score of deaths to win thia moment. Indeed I pray that I may die before you tako back your words, for, Toule, I know well that thero is one who is dearer to you than I am, but now your heart is softened by tho faithfulness of au Indian girl, and you think that you lovo her. Let mo die, then, believing that the dream is true." "Talk not so, " I answered heavily, for even at that moment the memory of Lily came into my mind. ''You givo your life for me, and I love you for it." "My lifo is nothing, and your love is much," she answered, smiling. "Ah, Teule, what majic havo you that you can bring me.'Montezuma's daughter, to the altar of tho gods, and of my own free will? Well, I desire no softer bcd, and for tho why and wherefore it will soon be known by both of us, and with it many other things." CHAPTER XIX. THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS. "Otomie," I said presently, "when will ^they kill us?" "When the point of light lies within the ring that is painted over your heart," she answered. Now I turned my head from her and looked at the sunbeam which pierced the shadow above us like a golden pencil. It rested at my side about six inches from me, and I reckoned that it would lie in tho scarlet ring painted upon my breast within somo 15 minutes. Meanwhile the clamor of battle grew louder and nearer. Shifting myself so far as tho cords would allow, I strained my head upward and saw that tho Spaniards had gained the crest of the pyramid, since tho battle now raged upon Its edge, and I have rarely seen so terrible a fight, for tho Aztecs fought with tho fury of despair, thinking little of their own lives if they could only bring a Spaniard to his death. But for tho most part their rude weapons would not pierce tho coats of mail, so that there remained only one way to compass their ? desire-namely, by costing thc white men over tho edge of tho teocali! to be crushed like eggshells upon the pavement 200 feet below. Thus tho fray broke itself up Into groups of foes, who rent and torc at each other upon tho brink of the pyramid, now and again to vanish down its sido, 10 or 12 of them togethor. Some of tho priests also joined in thc fight, thinking lesa of their own deaths than of the desecration of their temples, for I saw one of them, a man of huge strength and stature, seize a Spanish soldier round tho middle and leap with him into space. Still, though very slowly, the Spaniards and Tlascalans forced their way toward the center of tho platform, and as they came the danger of this dreadful end grew less, for the Aztecs must drag them farther. Now, the fight drew near to tho stone of sacrifice, and all who remained alive of the Aztecs, perhaps some 250 of them, be sides the priests, ranged themselves round ns and lt in a circle; also the oater rim of the sunbeam that fell through the gold en funnel, creeping on remorselessly, touched my painted aide, which lt seemed, to burn as hot iron might, tar, alas, I could not command tho sun to stand still while tho battlo raged, as did Joshua in the val ley of Ajalon. When lt touched me, five priests seized my limbs and h?td, and the father of them, ho who had conducted me from tho palace, clasped his flint knife In both hands. Now a deathly sickness took me, and I shut my eyes, dreaming that all was done, but at that moment I heard a wild eyed man, Whom I had noted stand ing by, call out to tho minister of death: "Not yet, O priest of Tezcatl If you smito beforo tho sunbeam lies upon the victim's heart, your gods aro doomed, and doomed aro the peoplo of Anahuac." Tho priest gnashed his teeth with rago and glared first at the creeping point of light and then over his shoulder ac tho ad vancing battle. Slowly tho ring .>.' war riors closed in upon us, slowly tho golden I ray crept up my breast till its puter aim j touched tho rod circle pointed upon my j heart. Again the priest heaved up his awful knife, again I shut my oyes, and,. again I heard the shrill scream-of the as- ? tronomer: "Not yet, not yet, or your gods are doomed I" " Then I heard another sound. It was the voice of Otomie crying for help. "Savo us, Teules! They murder usl" Bho shrieked in so piercing a noto that lt reached the ears of tho Spaniards, for one shouted in answer and in tho Castillan tongue: "On, my comrades, onl Tho-dogs do murder on their altars!" Then thero was a mighty rush, and the defending Aztecs were swept in upon tho altar, lifting tho priest of sacrifice from his feet and throwing him across my body. Thrice thot rush carno, like a rush of tho sea, and each time tho stand of tho Aztecs weakened. Now thou* circle was broken, and tho swords of tho Spaniards dashed up on every side, and now tho red ray lay wi rain thc ring upon my heart. "Smite, priest of Tezcat," screamed tho voice of tho astronomer. "Smite homo for thc glory of your god!" With a fearful yell, thc priest lifted the knifo. I saw tho golden sunbeam that rested full upon my heart shlno on it. Then as lt was descending I saw tho samo sunbeam shine upon a yard nf steel that flashed across me and lost itself In the breast of the niurderer priest. Down came the great flint knife, but its aim was lost. It struck indeed, hut not upon my bosom, though I did not escape lt altogether. Full upon thc altar of sacrifice lt foll and was shattered there, piercing between my side and that of Otomio and gashing the flesh of both so that our blood was min gled upon tho stone, making us ono in deed. Down. too. como tho uri eat -across our T5?dj?$"f?r"O?~fe?cond time,"b??To rise no more, for be writhed dying on thoso whom he would have slain. Then, as in i a dream, I heard the wail of the astron - I omer singing the dirge of the gods of Ana huaa "The priest is dead, and his gods are fallen," ho cried. "Tezcat has rejected bis victim and is fallen. Doomed are tho gods of Anahuac! Victory is to the cross of the Christians*" Thu? he walled. Then came the sound of sword blows, and I knew that this proph et was dead also. Now a strong arm pulled the dying priest from off us, and he staggered beek till he fell over the altar where the eternal fire burned, quenching it with his blood and body after it had flared for many gen erations, and a knife Out the rope that bound us. I sat up, staring round me wildly, and a voloe spoke above me in Castillan, not to me Indeed, but to some comrade, "These two went near to lt, poor dev ils!" said the voioe. "Had my out been one second later that savage would havo drilled a hole in him as big es my head. 3y all the saints, the girl is lovely, or would be If she were washed! I shall beg her of Cortes as my prize. " The voice spoke, and I knew the voice. None other ever had that bard, clear ring. I knew it even then and looked up, slip ping off the death stone as I looked. Now ii saw. Before me, clad in mail, was my enemy, De Garcia It was his sword that by the good providence of God had pierced the breast of the' priest. Ho had saved me, who, had he known, would as soon lia ve turned his steel against his own heart as on that cf my destroyer. I gazed at bim, wondering if I dreamed. Then my lips spoke without my will, as id were: "Do Garcia!" He staggered back at tba Bound of my voice, like a man struck by a shot; -then He staggered back at the sound of my voice. stired ot me, rubbed his eyes with his hand and stared again. Now at length he knew me through my paint "Mother of God!" he gasped, "it ls the knave Thomas Wingfield, and I have saved his life!" By this time my senses had come back to me, and knowing all my folly I turned, seeking escape. But De Garcia had no mind to suffer this. Lifting his sword, he sprang at mo with a beastlike scream of rage an d hate. Swiftly as thought I slipped round .the stone of sacrifice, and after me came the uplifted sword of my enemy. It would have overtaken me soon enough, for I was weak with fear and fasting, and my limbs were cramped with bonds, but at that moment a cavalier, whom by his dress and port I guessed to bo none other than Cortes himself, struck up De Garcia's sword, saying: "How now, Sarceda? Are you mad with the lust of blood that you would take to sacrificing victims like an Indian priest? Let the poor devil go." ; "He ls no Lidian. He is an English spy," cried De Garcia and once more struggled to get at ma < ' "Decidedly our friend is mad," said Cortes, scanning me. "He says that this wretched creature is an Englishman. Come, be off, both of you, or somebody else may make the same mistake," and he waved his sword in token to us to go, deeming that I could not understand bis words, tuen added angrily as De Garcia, speechless with rage, made a new attempt to get at me: No, by heaven! I will not suffer it We are Christians and como to save vic tims, not to slay them. Here, comrades, hold this fool who would stain his soul with murder." Now the Spaniards clutched De Garcia by the arms, and he cursed and raved at them, for, as I have said, his rage was that of a beast rather than of a mon. But I stood bewildered, not knowing whither to fly. Fortunate it was for me indeed that one was by who, though she understood no Spanish, yet bad a quicker wit for while I stood thus Otom?a clasped my hand and whispering, "Fly, fly swiftly!" led me away from the stone of sacrifice. "Whither shall we go?" Z said at length. "Were lt not better to trust to the mercy Of the Smniardsf " "To the mercy of that man devtt ^th thesword?" she answered. "Peace, Teule, and follow me." i Kow she led me on, and the Spaniards Set us by unhanned-aye, and even spoke words of pity as we passed) for they knew ?we were victims snatched from saori Indeed, when a certain brute, a colan Indian, rushed at us, purposing to slay us with a club, one of the Span iards ran him through the shoulder, t? that he fell wounded to the pavement. So we went on, and at tho edge of the pyramid we glanced back and saw that Do Garcia had broken from thosjf who hold 1dm, or perhaps ho found his longue and explained thc truth to them, fit tlt# least ho was bounding from the altar o? sacrifice, nearly 50 yards away, anil com ing toward us with uplifted sword. TL*q fear cavo us strength, and wo ilod like tie wira Along thc steep path wo ruaho? side by sido, leaping down tho steps &o4 over tho hundreds of dead and dying, enV pausing now and again to savo ourself from being smitten into space by th* bodies of tho priests whom tho Spttxuar&i were hurling from tho crest of the- tsucam Once, looking up, I caught sight of Sf Garclir pursuing far above us, trat aft?? that we* saw him no moro. Doubtless hy wearied.of the chase or feared to full Ino} tho hands of such of thc A /.rec waniora ?J still clustered round tho foot of tho pjnfi? mid. After that I remember nothing till li found myself once more in my ggmrtaMllU in Montczuma's palace, which I nevCf hoped to seo again. Otornie was by rxfy and sho brought ino water to wash t Si) paint off from my body and tho blood froil my wound, which, leaving her own un tended, sho dressed skillfully, for the cir? of tho priest's knife was deep, and I bau bled much; also sho clothed herself afresh In a while robo and brought mo raiment to wear, with food and drink, and I par took of them. Then I bado her cat some thing herself, and When she had dono so I gathered my wits together and spoke to "What next?" I said. "Presently Jhe priests will be on us, and wo shall be drag ged back to sacrifice. There is no hope for me hore. I must fly to the Spaniards and trust to their mercy." "To the mercy of that man with tho ?word? Say, Tculo, who ls be?" "He ls that Spaniard of whom I have spoken to you, Otomia He ls my mortal enemy, whom I have followed across tho seas." "And now you would put yourself into bis power. Truly, you aro foolish, Teulo." "It is better to fall into tho hands of Christian men than into those of your .' ' I tEiwsarsiL .... . - ... "Have no lear, " sho said- "Tho priests aro harmless for you. You havo escaped thom, und there's an end. Few havo ever come alive from their clutches before, and he who docs so is a wizard indeed. For tho rest, I think that your God is stronger than our gods, for surely ho must havo cast bis mantle over us when we lay yon der on the stone. Ah, Teule, to what havo you brought me that I should live to doubt my gods! Aye, and to call upon tho foes of my country for succor in your need! Believe me, I had not dono it for my own sake, since I would have died with your kiss upon my lips and your word of lovo echoing in my ears, who now must livo knowing that these joys havo passed from me." "How so?" I answered. "What I havo said I have said. Otomio, you would have died with me, and you saved my lifo by your wit in calling oh the Spaniards. Henceforth it is yours, for there is no other woman in tho world so tender and so brave, and I say it again, Otomie, my wife, I love you. Our blood has mingled on the stone of sacrifice, and there wo nave kissed. Let these be our marriage rites. Perhaps I have not long to live, but till I die I am yours, Otomie, my wife. " Thus I spoke from the fullness of my heart, for my strength and courage, were shattered. Horror and loneliness had taken hold of me. But two things were left to me In tho world-my trust in Prov idence and ?ho love of this woman, who had dared so much for me. Therefore I forgot my troth and clung to her as a child to its mother. Doubtless it was wrong, but I will be bold to say that few men BO placed would havo acted other wise. Moreover, I could not toke back the fateful words that I had spoken on the stone of sacrifice. When I said them, I was expecting death indeed, but to re nounce them now that its shadow was lifted from me, if only for a little while, would have been the act of a coward. For good or evil I had given myself to Monte zuma's daughter, and I must abide by it or be shamed. Still such was the noble ness of this Indian lady that even then she would not take me at my word. For a little while 6ho stood smiling 6adly and drawing a lock of her long hair through the hollow of her hand. Then she spoke: "You aro not yourself, Teule, and I should be base indeed if I made so solemn a compact with ono who docs not know what he sells. Yonder on tho altar and in a moment of death you said that you loved me, and doubtless lt was true. But now you havo come back to life, and say, lord, who set that golden ring upon your hand, and what is written in its cir cle? Yet even if tho words aro truo that you have spoken and you love mo a little, there is one across tho sea whom you lovo better. "That I could bear, for my heart is fixed on you alone among men, and at the least you would bo kind to mo, and I should move in the sunlight of your presence. But having known tLo light, I winnot 1 ive to wander in tho darkness. You do not un derstand. I fear that if-if wo wero w ^d you would weary of mo as men do, ar x that memory would grow too strong fo : you. Then by and by it might be possible for you to find your way back across tho waters to your own land and your own love, and so you would desert me, Teule. This is what I could not bear, Teule. I can forego you now, aye, and remain your friend. But I cannot bo put aside liko a dancing girl, tiio companion of a month, I, Montezuma's daughter, a lady o' my own land. Should you wed me, it must be i*or life, Teule, and that is perhaps moro than you would wish to promise, though you could kiss mo on yonder stone, and there is blood fellowship between us," and she glanced at tho red stain in thc linen robe that covered the wound upon her side. "And now, Teule, I leavo you awhile, that I may find Guatemoc, if ho still lives, and others who, now that the strength of the priests is shattered, havo power to pro tect you and advance you to honor. Think then on all that I have said and do not be hasty to decide. Or would you mako an end at once and fly to tho white men if I can find a means of escape?" "I am too weary to fly anywhere, " I an swered, tleven if I could. Moreover, I for get My enemy is among tho Spaniards, he whom I have sworn to kill; therefore his friends are my foes, and his foes my friends. I will not fly, Otomie. " "There you are wiso," she said, "for if you come among the Teules that man will murder you. By fair means or foul he will murder you within a day; I saw lt in his es. Kow rest while I seek your safety, there is any safety in this blood stained land," CHAPTER XX. THOMAS IS MARRIED. Otomie turned and went. I watched the golden curtains close behind her. Then I Sank back upon the couch and instantly was lost in sleep, for I was faint and weak and so dazed with weariness that at the time I scarcely know what had happened or the purpose of our talk. Afterward, however, it came back to me I must have slept for many hours, for when I awoke it was far into the night. It was night but not dark, for through the barred window places come the sound of tumult and fight ing and red rays of light cast by the flames of burning h on sos. One of these windows was above my couch, and standing on tho bed I seized tho sill with my hands. With much pain, because of the flesh wound in my side, I drew myself up till I could look through the bars. Then I saw that tho Spaniards, not content with the capture of the teocalli, had made a night at\aok and set fire to hundreds of housed in the city. The glare of the flames was that of a lurid day, and by lt I could see the white men retreating to their quarters, pursued by thousands of Aztecs, who hung upon their flanks, shooting at them with stones and arrows. Now I dropped down from tho window place and began to think as to what I should do, for again my mind was waver ing. Should I desert Otomio and escape to the Spaniards, if lt were possible, tak ing my chance of death at tho hands of De Garcia? Or should I stay among tho Aztecs, if they would give me shelter, and wed Otomie? There was a third choico I indeed-to stay with them and leave Oto mie alone, though it would bo difficult to do this and keep my honor. Ono thing I understood-if I married Otomio it must bo at her own price, for thon I must bo come an Indian and glvo over all hope of returning to England and to my botrothod. Of this indeed there was little chanco. Still, while lifo remained to mc, it might como about if I was freo. But once my hands were tied by this marriago it could never bo during Otomio's lifetime, and so far as Lily Bozard was concerned I should bo dead. How could I bo thus faithless to her memory* and my troth, and, on thc other hand, how could I discard tho wom an who hod risked ull for me, and who, to speak truth, had grown so dear to mo, though thero was one yet dearer? While I sat musing on tho couch tho curtain was drawn, and a man entered bearing a torch. It was Guatemoc as he hod como from tho fray, which, except for its harvest of burning houses, was finished for that night. Tho plumes wero shorn from his head, his golden armor was hacked by tho Spanish swords, and he bled from a shot wound in thc neck. ..Greeting, Toulo," ho said. "Certainly I never thought to seo you allvo tonight, or myself oithor, for that matter. But it is-a strange world, and now, if never bo fore in Tonoctitlan, those things happen for which we look tho least But I havo no time for words. I como to summon you before tho oouncll." .'What ls to bo my fato?" I asked. MTo bo dragged back to tho stone of sacri fi?e?" "Kay, have no fear of that. But for the rest I cannot say. In an hour you may bo dead or great among us, if any of VA can be called great in these days of shame. Otomie has worked well for you among tho princes and tho counselors, so .he says, and if you havo a heart you should be grateful to her, for it seems to me that few women have loved a man so much. As for mo, I have boon employed elsewhere," and he glanced at his rent armor, "but I will lift up my voico for Eon. Kow come, friend, for tho torch urns low. By phis timo you must be wei) seasoned in dangers. Ono moro or less will matter as little to you as to mo. " Then I rose and followed him Into th? great cedar paneled ball whoro that very morning I had received adoration as a god. Now I was a god no longer, but a prisoner on trial for his lifo. Upon tho dais whoro I had stood in tho hour of my rodhc&d wero ca t h o red those of tho Drinces and counselors who were lett alive-, tio? of them, like Guatcmoc, were clad in rei and bloody mail, others in their customaj dress, and one in a priest's robe. Thoy hs only two things in common among theJ -the sternness of their faces and tl greatness of their rank-and they 6at thei this night not to decide my fate, whlc was but a little thing, but to take couns as to how they might expel the Spaniarc beforo the city was destroyed. When I entered, a man in mall, who BI in the center of the half circle, and 1 whom I knew Cultlahua, who would 1 tho emperor should Montezuma die, lookc np quickly and said: ."Who is this, Guatemoc, that you brin with you? Ah, I remember-tho Teul that was the god Tczcat, and who escape the sacrifice today! Listen, nobles. Wbi is to bo dono with this man? Say, is i lawful that he be led back to sacrifice?" Then tho priest answered: "I grieve t say that it is not lawful, most nob! prince. This man has lain on the alte of tho god-he has even been wounded b tho holy knife. But tho god rejected hil in a fateful hour, and he must lio there n more. Slay him if you will, but not upo the stone of sacrifice." "What, then, shall be done with him?' said tho prince again. "He is of the blood of tho Teules, an' therefore an enemy. One thing is certal -ho must not be suffered to join tb white devils and give them tidings of ou distress. Is lt not best that he be pu away forthwith?" Now several of tho council nodded thei heads, but others sat silent, making n sign. "Come," said Cultlahua, "we have n time to waste over this man when th lives of thousands are hourly at stake Tho question is, Shall the Teule be slain?' Thon Guatomoc rose and spoke, saying "Your pardon, noble kinsmen, bnt I hoi? that wo may put this prisoner to bette uso than to kill him. I know him well Ho is brave and loyal, as I have proved Moreover, ho ls not all a Teule, but hal of another race that hates them as he hate them; also he has knowledge of the! customs and mode of warfare, whioh w< lack, and I think that he maybe able U give us good counsel in our strait." "Tho counsel of tho wolf to the dee perhaps," said Cultlahua coldly, "coan sol that shall lead us to the fangs of thi Teules. Who shall answer for this foreigz devil, that he will not betray us if wo trust him?" "I will answer with my life, " answered Guatomoc. \ "Your lifo is of too great worth to be Mt on such a stake, nephew. Men of thii white breed are liars, and his own word h of no value oven if he gives lt 1 thin!) that it will be best to kill him and ha vt dono with doubts. " "This man is wed to O tom ie, prince* of the Otomie, Montezuma's daughter, your niece," said Guatemoc again, "and sho loves him so well that she offered her self upon the stone of sacrifice with him. Unless I mistake she will answer for him also. Shall sho be summoned before you?" "If you wish, nephew, but a woman in love is a blind woman, and doubtless he has deceived hor also. Moreover, sho was hi9 wife aqcording to tho rule of religion only. Is it your desire that the princess should bo summoned beforo you, com rades?" Now some said nay, but tho most, those whoso interest Otomio had gained, said yea, and the end of it was that ono of theil number was sent to summon her. Presently she came, looking very weary, but proud in mien and royally attired, and bowed boforo thc council. "This is tho question, princess," said Cultlahua, "whethor this Teule shall be slain forthwith, or whether ho shall bc sworn as ono of us, should he bo willing tc tako tho oath? The Prince Guatemoc hore vouches for him, and ho says, moreover, that you will vouch for him also. A wom an can do this in ono way only, by taking him she vouches as her husband. You are already wod to this foreigner by the rule of religion. Aro you willing to marry him according to tho custom of our land and to answer for his faith with your own life?" "I am willing," Otomie answered quiet ly, "If he ls willing." . "In truth, it is a groat honor that you would do this white dog," said Cultlahua "Bothink you, you are princess of the Oto mie and one of our master's daughters. It is to you that wo look to bring back the mountain clans of tho Otomie, of whom you are chieftalness, from thoir unholy al liance with tho accursed Tlascalans, the slaves of tho Teules. Is not your life too precious to bo set on such a stako as this foreigner's faith, for learn, Otomie, If he proves falso your rank shall not help you?" "I know it all," sho replied quietly. "Foreigner or not, I love this man, and I will answer for him with my blood. More over, I look to him to assist me to win back tho pcoplo of tho Otomio to their al legiance. But lot him speak for himself, my lord, ls may happen that he has no dosiro to tako mc in marriage" Cultlahua smiled grimly and said, "When tho choice lies between the breast of death and thoso fair arms of yours, nieco, it is easy to guess his answer. Still speak, Toulo, and swiftly. " "I have littlo to say, lord. If tho Prin cess Otomio is willing to wed me, I am willing to wed hor, " I answered, and thus in tho moment of my danger all my doubts and scruples vanished. As Cultlahua had said, lt was easy to guess the choice cf one sot between death and Otom?a Sho heard and looked at mo warningly, saying In a low voice: "Remember our words, Toula In such a marriage you re-' nounco your past and give mo your fu tura" "I remember," I answered, and while I Bpoke there came before my eyes a vision of Lily's face as it had been when I bade her farewell. This, thon, was the end of the vows that I had sworn. Cultlahua looked at mo with a glance which seemed to search my heart and said: "I hear your words, Teula You, a white wanderer, are graciously willing to tako this princess to wlfo and by her to be lifted high among tho groat lords of' this land. But, say, how can we trust you? If you fail us, your wife dies indeed, but that may bo naught to you." "I am ready to swear allegiance," I an swered. "I bato tho Spaniards, and among them is my bitterest enemy whom I fol lowed across tho sea to kill-tho man who strovo to murder mo this very day. I can say no more. If you doubt my words, it were best to make an cud of mo. Already I havo suffered much at tho hands of your people. It matters littlo if I dio or liva" "Boldly spoken, Teule. Now, lords, I ask your judgmout Shall this man be given to Otomio as husband and bo sworn as one of us, or shall ho bo killed instant ly? You know thc matter. If lie can bo trusted, as Guatemoc and Otomio bellovo, ho will bo worth an army to us, for ho is j acquainted with tho language, tho cus I toms, tho weapons and tho modes of war fare of these white devils whom tho gods havo let looso upon us. If, on tho other hand, ho Is not to bo trusted, nnd it is hard for us to put faith in ono of his blood, he may do us much injury, for in tho end he will escape to tho Teules and betray our counsels and our strength or the lack of I it It ls for you to judgi. lorda" Now tho counselors consulted together, and somo said ono thing and some anoth er, for they wero not by any means of a mind in tho matter. At length, growing weary, Cultlahua called nn them to put tho question to tho vote, and this they 'did by a lifting of hands. First those who wore in favor of my death held up their hands, then thoso who thought it would bo wiso to spare ma There wore 26 counsel ors present, not counting Cultlahua, and of theso 13 voted for my execution, and 13 were for saving mo aliva "Now it seems that I must givo a cast ing vote," 6ald Cultlahua when tho talo had been rendered, and my blood turned cold at his words, for I had seen that his mind was sot against mc. Then lt was that Otomio broke in, saying: "Your pardon, my uncle, but before you speak I have tv word to say. You need my services, do you not for if tho pooplo of thc Otomie will listen to any and suffer themselves to bo led from their ovil path lt is to me? My mother was by birth their chieftaiucss, the last of a long Uno, and I am her only child. Moreover, my father is their emperor. Therefore my lifo is of no small worth now in this timo of trou ble, fort bongil I am nothing }n myself yet it may chanco that I can bring 80,000 warriors to your standard. The priests know this on yonder pyramid, and whon j claimed my right to lio at tho sJdjLof the 'J.?U1U UiCj (,....i?uiu lui;, ijui liuUlU UiuV Huffer it, though they hungered for tho royal hlood, till I called down tho vengo anco of tho gods upon them. Now, my uncle and you, lords, I tell you this: Slay yonder man if you will, but know that then you must find another than me to lure the Otomle from their rebellion, for then I complete what I began today and follow him to the grave." Sho ceased, and a murmur of amazement went round the chamber, for none had looked to find such love and courage in thin lady's heart. Only Cuitlahua grew angry. "Disloyal girl, " he said, "do you dare to Bet your lover before your country? Shame upon you, shameless daughter of our king! Why, it ls In the blood-as the father ls, so is the daughter. Did not Mon tezuma forsake his people and choose to lie among these Teulcs, the false children of Quetzal? And now this Otomle follows in his path. Tell us how is it, woman, that you and your lover alone escaped from tho teocalll yonder when all the rest were killed. Are you then in league with these Te ules? 1 say to you, niece, that if things were otherwise and I had my way yon should win your desire indeed, for you should be alain at this man's side and within tho hour." And he ceased for lack of breath and looked upon her fiercely. But Otoraie never quailed. She stood before him pale and quiet, with folded hands and downcast eyes, and answered: "Forbear to reproach me because my love is strong, or reproach mo if you will, I haye spoken my last word. Condemn this manto die, and, prince, you must seek gome other envoy to win book the Otomle to tho cause of A nah une. " Kow Cuitlahua pondered, staring Into the gloom above him and pulling at his beard, and tho silence was great, for none knew what his judgment would ba At last he spoke: "So bo it. Wo have need of Otomle, my niece, and it ls of no avail to fight against a woman's love. To ule, we give you life, and with tho lifo honor and wealth, and tho greatest of our women in marriage, and a place in our councils. Take these gifts and her, but I say to you both be ware how you use them. If you betray us -nay, if you but think ou treachery-I swear to you that you shall dio a death so slow and horrible that the very namo of lt would turn your heart to water, you and your wife, your children and your servants. Come, let him bo sworn !" I heard, and my bc-id swam, and a mist gathered before my eyes. Once again I was saved from Instant death. Presently it cleared, and looking up my eyes mot those of the woman who had saved mo, Otomle, my wife, who smiled upen mo somewhat 6udly. Then the priest came forward bearing a wooden bowl, carved about with strange signs, and a flint knifo, and bode mu bare my arm. Ho out my flesh with the knife, so that blood ran from lt Into thu buwl. Some drops of this blood he emptied on to the ground, muttering invocations thuwliilo. Then he turned and looked nt Cuitlahua as though in question, und Cuitlahua answered with a bitter luugli: "Let him bo baptized with thc blood of tho Princess Otomio, my niece, for sho is bail for him." "Nay, lord," said Guatemoc, '-these two have mingled bloods already upon the stone of sacrifice, and thoy aro man and wife. But I also have vouched for him, and I offer minc in earnest of my faith." "This Toulo has good friends," said Cuitlahua l,You honor him overmuch. But so bc it." Then . Guatemoc como forward, and when the priest would have cut him with tho knifo ho laughed and said, pointing to tho bullet wound upon his neck: "No need for that, priest Blood runs hero that was shed by the Teules. None can bo litter for this purpose." So tho priest drow away tho bandage and suffered tho blood of Guatemoc to drop into a second smaller bowl. Then ho carno to mo, and dipping his finger into tho blood ho drew the sign of a cross upon my forehead as a Christian priest draws it upon tho forehead of an infant and said: "In the presence and tho name of God, our Lord, who ls everywhere and sees all things, I sign you with this blood and make you of this blood. In the presence and the nameof God, our Lord, who is ev erywhere and sees all things, I pour forth your blood upon the earth I" (Here he poured as he spoke.) "As this blood of yours sinks into the earth, so may the memory of your past life sink and bo for gotten, for you aro born again of the peo ple of Anahuac In the presence and the namo of God, our Lord, who is everywhere and secs all things, I minglo these bloods" (here ho poured from one bowl into the other), "and with them I touch your tongue" (herc, dipping his finger into tho bowl,, ho touched thc tip of my tor. gu o with it) "and bid you swear thus: " 'L Toulo, swear to bo faithful to the people of Anonuac and to their lawful gov ernors. I swear to wage war upon their foes and to compass their destruction, and more especially upon the Teules, till they are driven into the sea. I swear te offer no affront to the gods of Anahuoo. I swear myself in marriage to Otomle, princess of the Otomie, the daughter of Montezuma, my lord, for so long as her lifo shall on dure. I swear to attempt no escape from these shores. I swear to renounce my fa ther and my mother, and the land where I was born, and to cling to this land of my new birth, and this my oath shall en dure till the volcano Popo ceases to vomit smoke and fire, till there is no king in Tenootitlan, till no priest serves tho altars of the gods and the people of ?nohuao are nb more a people.' " When I had sworn, Guatemoc came for ward and embraced mo, saying: "Wel come, Teule, my brother in blood and heart. Now you are ono of us, and we look to you for help and counsel. Come, be seated by ma" I looked toward Cuitlahua doubtfully, but he smiled graciously and said: "Teulo, your trial is over. We have aooepted you, and you have tworo the solemn oath of brotherhood, to break which is to dio hor ribly in this world and to. be tortured through eternity in the nazi Forget all that xnay have been said in the hour of vour weighing, for the balance is in your favor, and be sure that if you give us no cause to doubt you, you shall find none to doubt us. Now, as the husband of Otomio, you are a lord among the lords, having honor and great possessions, and as such be seated by your brother Guatemoc and join our council. " I did as ho bod o me, and Otomio with drew from our presence. Then Cuitlahua spoke again, no longer of me and my mat ters, but of the urgent affairs of state. Ho spoke in slow words and woighty, and more than onco his voice broke iii his sor row. Ho told of tho griovous misfortunes that had overcome tho country, of tho death of hundreds of its bravest warriors, of tho slaughter of tho priests and soldiers that day on the teocalll and tho desecra tion of his notion's gods. What was to be done in this extremity? ho asked. Monte zuma lay dying, a prisoner in the camp of tho Teules, and the fire that he had nursed with his breath devoured tho land. No ef forts of theirs could break the iron strength of those white devils, armed with strange and terrible weapons. Day by day dis aster overtook the arms of the Aztecs. What wisdom had they now that tho pro tecting gods were shattered in tholr Very shrines, when tho altars ran red with the blood of their ministering priests, whon the oracles wore dumb or answered only in the accents of despair? Then ono by ono princes and generals arose and gavo counsel according to their lights. At length all had spoken, and Cuitlahua said, looking toward mo: ' We have a now counselor among us who ls skilled in the warfare and customs of tho white man, who till an hour ago was himself a white man. Has ho no word of comfort for us?" "Speak, my brother," said Guatomoa Then I spoko. "Most noble Cuitlahua, and you, lords and prince?, you honor mo by asking my counsel, and lt is this, in few words and brief: You waste your strength by hurling your armies contin ually against steno walls and the weapons of Teules. So you shall not prevail against them. Your devices must bo changed if you would win victory. Tho Spaniards aro Uko other men. They are no gods, as the ignorant imagine, and the creatures upon which they lido aro not demons, but beasts of burden, suoh as are used for many purposes in the land where I waa bon?. . - -?* _TO BF. CONTlNt'gn. 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