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m o n OUtl)CO?1 n? S?MXXR WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850. "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, bo thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THIS TRUE SOUTHRON. Established Jane, 1366 Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1894. New Series-Vol. XIV. So. 3. W? ?attirai at? Smt?jjrmt. Published Ever? Wednesday, -BT NT- G. Osteen, SUMTES, S. ?. TBSMS : Two Dollars per ano nm-in advance. ADVERTISEMB?T: One Square first insertion..$1 00 Every subsequent insertion........ ......... 50 Contracts for three months, or longer will be made at reduced rates. All communications which subserve private interests will be charged foras advertisements. Obituaries and tribntes of respect will be charged for. oorrntoMT, ?aaa. BY TM? AUTHOR. CHAPTER X. THE LA5D OF MONTEZUMA. As it chanced, a large Spanish carafe Barned Las Cinque Hagas, or The Five Wounds, was about to sail for Hispaniola, and having obtained a license to trade I took passage tn her under my assumed name of D'Aila, passing myself off asa merchant. To further this deception I purchased goods to the value of 105 pesos, and of such nature as I was informed were most readily salable in the Indies, which merchandise I shipped with me. The ves? sel was full of Spanish adventurers, most? ly ruffians of varied career and strange his? tory, but none the less good companions enough when not in drink. By this time leonid speak Castillan so perfectly and was so Spanish in appearance, that it was not difficult for me to pass myself off as one of their nation, and this I did, in? venting a feigned tale of my parentage andot the reasons that-led me to tempt the seas For the net, now? as ever, I kept my cwn counsel, and notwithstanding my reserve, for I would not mingle in their aigles, I soon became well liked by my comrades, chiefly because of my skill in ministering to their sicknesses. Of our voyage to the Indies much could be written after the manner of sea tales, most of all of De Garda, whom I encoun? tered on a Spanish slaveship, where I found refuge after the loss of the carah, near the port of Santo Domingo. But I hasten sow to write of my fortunes, both evil and good, and of my trials on account of De Garcia in the land of Montezuma, and of her whose story I have long delay? ed, Montezuma's daughter. From the power of De Garcia, for he was an officer in that abominable slaveship, I escaped by leaping Into the sea. In a drifting barrel I floated away when the murderous slaves thought the sharks were making food of me, and from death by starving I was spared through a fish that I snatched from the talons of a gull and devoured raw. The hard wood and iron bands of my tub shielded me from the teeth of a ravenous shark, and in it I float? ed through the breakers to the shores of a lowly lying land and into the mouth of a great river. At length, when the barrel drifted in not more than four feet of water, I slid down from it, and wading to the bank cast myself at length there to rest and thank God, who thus fax had preserved me miraculously. Then I staggered to my feet and walked along the bank of the riv? er till I came to a pool of rainwater, which on the. tasting proved to be sweet and good. I drank, weeping for joy at the taste of the water, drank til ? could drink no more, and let those who have stood in such a plight remember what water was t them, for no words of mine can tell it After I had drunk and washed the brine from my face and body and been thus rc freshed I cast myself down to sleep in the shade of a bush bearing white flowers, for I was utterly outworn. When I opened my eyes again, it was night, and doubtless I should have slept on through many tours had it not been for a dreadful itch and pain that took me in every part till at length I sprang up and cursed in my agony. At first I was at a loss to know what occasioned this torment till I perceived that the air was alive with gnatlike insects which made a singing noise, and then settling on my flesh sucked blood and spat poison into the wound at one and the same time. These dreadful insects the Spaniards name mosquitoes. Nor were they the only flies, for hundreds of other creatures so bigger than a pin's head had fastened onto me like bulldogs .to a baited bear, boring their heads into the .flesh, where in the end they cause festers. They are named garrapatas hythe Span? ish, and I take them to be the young of the tick. Others there were also, too numerous to mention, and of every shape and size, though they had this in common-all bit and all were venomous. Before the morning these plagues had driven me ahnest to madness, for in no way could I obtain relief from them. To? ward dawn I went and lay in the water, thinking to lessen my sufferings, but be? fore I had been there 10 minutes I saw a hage crocodile rise up from the mud be? side me. I sprang away to the bank hor? ribly afraid, for never before had I beheld so monstrous and evil looking a brute, to fall again into the clutches of tho crea? tures^ winged and crawling, that were waiting for me there by myriads. But enough of these damnable insects! At length the morning broke and found me in a sorry plight, for my face was swol? len to the size of a pumpkin by the venom of the mosquitoes, and the rest of my body was in little better case. Moreover, I could not keep myself still because of the itch? ing, but must run and jump like a mad? man. And where was I to run to through this huge swamp, in which I could see no shelter or sign of man? I could not guess, so since I most keep moving I followed the bank^bf the river, as I walked disturb? ing many crocodiles and loathsome snakes. Now, I knew that I could not live long in such suffering and determined to strug? gle forward till I fell down insensible and death put an end to my torments. For an hour or more I went on thus till I came to a place that was clear of bush and reeds. Across this I skipped and danced, striking with my swollen hands at the gnats which buzzed about my head. Now the end was not far off, for I was ex hausted and near to falling, when sudde ly I came upon a party of men, brown color and clothed with white garmenl who had been fishing in the river. I them on tho water were several canoes which were loads of merchandise, and th were now engaged in eating. So soon these men caught sight of me they ntten exclamations in an unknown tongue, ai seizing weapons that lay by them, bm and arrows and wooden clubs set on the side with spikes of flinty glass, they ma< toward me as though to kill me. NowtI lifted up my hands praying f< mercy, and seeing that I was unarmed at helpless the men laid down their arms ai addressed me. I shook my head to sh o that I could not understand and point? first to the sea and then to myswolk features. They nodded, and going to ox of the canoes a man brought from it paste of a brown color and aromatic smel Then- by signs he directed, me to reinos such garments as remained on me, tl fashion of which seemed to puzzle thei greatly. This being done, they proceedc to anoint my body with the paste, tl touch of which gave me a most blessed n lief from my intolerable itching and bun ing and, moreover, rendered my flesh di tasteful to the insects, for after that th? plagued me little. When I was anointed, they offered ix food-fried fish and cakes of meal, togetht with a most delicious hot drink covert with a brown and foaming froth that learned to know afterward as chocolat When I had finished eating, having talke awhile together in low tones, they m< tioned me to enter one of the canoes, gr ing me mats to lie on. I obeyed, and thit other men came with me, for the cane was large. One of these, a very grave ma with a gentle face and manner, whom took to be the chief of the party, sat dow opposite to me, the other two placin themselves in the bow and stern of th boat, which they drove along by means c paddles. Then we started, followed b three other canoes, and before we had gor a mile utter weariness overpowered m< and I fell asleep. I awoke much refreshed, having slep many hours, for now the sun was sett in c and was astonished to find the grave loot ing man; my companion in the canoe keeping watch over my sleep and wardin the gnats from me with a leafy brand His kindness seemed to show that I wa in no danger of ill treatment, and my f eax on that point being set at rest I began t wonder as to what strange land I had com and who its people might bel Soon, hov; ever, I gave over, having nothing to built on, and observed the scenery instead.. NOT we were paddling up a smaller river tha the one on the banks of which I had bee; cast away and were no longer in the mids of marshes. On either side of us was open land, o rather land that would have been opei had it not been for the great trees, large than the largest oak, which grew upon it some of them of surpassing beauty. U? these trees climbed creepers that hung Uk ropes even from the topmost boughs, an? among them were many strange and gor geous flowering plants that seemed to clin j to the bark as moss clings to?walL Ii their branches also sat harsh voiced bird of brilliant colors and apes that barker and chattered at us as we went Just as the sun set over all this strang new scene' the canoes came to a landing place built of timber, and wo disembark ed. Now it grew dark suddenly, and al I could discover was that I was being 1? along a good road. Presently we reachet a gate, which, from the barking of dog; and the numbers of people who thronged about it, I judged to be the entrance to J town, and passing it we advanced dowi a long street with houses on cither side ; At the doorway of the last house my com pardon halted, and taking me by the hanc led me into a long, lo room lit with lamp? of earthenware. Here some women came forward and kissed him, while others, whom I took to be servants, saluted hin: by touching the floor with one hand Soon, however, all eyes were turned on me, and many eager questions were asked of the chief, of which I could only guess the pur? port When all had gazed their fill, supper was served, a rich meal of many strange meats, and of this I was invited to partake, which I did, scated on a mat and eating of thc dishes that were placed upon the ground by the women. Among these I noticed one girl who far surpassed all the others in grace, though cone were unpleasing tc the eye. She was dark indeed, but hei features were regular and her eyes fine. Her figure was tall and straight, and thc sweetness of her face added to the charm of her beauty. I mention this girl herc foi two reasons-first, because she saved me once from sacrifice and once from torture, and, secondly, because she was none other than. that woman who afterward became known as Marina, the mistress of Cortes, without whose aid he had never conquer? ed Mexico. But at this time she did not guess that it was her destiny to bring her country of Anahuac beneath the cruel yoke of the Spaniard. Prom the moment of my entry I saw that Marina, as I will call her, for her In? dian name is too long to be written, took pity on my forlorn state and did what lay in her power to protect me from vulgar curiosity and to minister to my wants. It was she who brought me water to wash in, and a clean robe of linen to replace my foul and tattered garments, and a cloak fashioned of bright feathers for my shoul? ders. When supper was done, a mat was given me to sleep on in a little room apart, and here I lay down, thinking that, though I might be lost forever to my own world, at least I had fallen among a people who were gentle and kindly, and, moreover, as I saw from many tokens, no savages. One thing, however, disturted me-I discov? ered that, though I was well treated, also I was a prisoner, for a man armed with a copper spear slept across the doorway of my little room. Before I lay down I looked through the wooden bars which served as a protection to the window place and saw that the house stood upon the border of a large open space, in the midst of which a great pyramid towered a hundred feet or more into the air. On the top of this pyramid was a building of stone which i took to be a temple, and rightly, in front of which a fire burned. Marv eling what the purpose of this great work might be, and in honor of what faith it was erected, I went to sleep. On the morrow I was to learn. Here it maybe convenient for me to state, what I did not discover till after? ward, that I was in the city of Tabasco, the capital of one of the southern prov? inces of Anahuac, which is situated at a distance of some hundreds of mil^s from the central city of Tenoctitlan, or Mexico. The river where I had been cast away -fl the Rio de Tabasco, where Cortes land in the following year, and my host, rather my captor, was the cazique, or chi of Tabasco, the same man who subsequei ly presented Marina to Cortes. Thus it came about that, with the e ception of a certain Aguilar, who, wi some companions, was wrecked on t coast of Yucatan six years before, I -w the first white man whoever dwelt arno: the Indians. This Aguilar was rescu by Cortes, though his companions w< all sacrificed to Huitzel, the horrible w god of the country. But the name of t Spaniards was already known to thc I dians, who looked on them with supers tious fear, for in the year previous to r being cast away the hidalgo Hern?n d de Cordova had visited the coast of Tuc tan and fought several battles with the s tives, and earlier ta the same year of n arrival Juan de Grigalva had come to tl very river of Tabaso. Thus it came abo that I was set down as one of this stran. new nation of Te ule s, as the Indi ans nam* the Spaniards, and therefore as an enen for whose blood the gods were thirsting. I awoke at dawn, much refreshed" wi sleep, and having washed and clothed m self in the linen rob?g ?hat were pro vid for me I came into the large room, whe food was given me. Scarcely had I finis ed my meal when ray captor, the caziqu entered, accompanied by two men who appearance struck terror to my heart. ] ! countenance they were fierce and hoxribJ They wore black robes embroidered wi' mystic characters in red, and their loi and tangled hair was matted together wil j some strange substance. Thesemen, who: all present, including the chief, or caziqu seemed to look on with the utmost reve ence, glared at me with a fierce glee'th made my blood run cold. Ono of them JJ deed tore open my white robe and place his filthy hand upon my heart, which bet quickly enough, counting its throbs alot while the other nodded at his words. Ai erward I learned that he was saying th I was very strong. Glancing round to find the interpret! tion of this act upon the faces of tho: about me, my eyes caught those of tl girl Marina, and there was that in the] which left me in little doubt. Horror an pity were written there, and I knew th; some dreadful death overshadowed mc, R fore I could do anything, before I cou! even think, I was seized by the priests, < pabas, as the Indians name them, ac dragged from the room, all the househol following us except Marina and the c: zique. Now I found myself in a gre. square or market place bordered by man fine houses of stone and lime, and some < mud, which was filling rapidly with a vas number of people, men, women and chi dren, who all stared at me as I went t< ward the pyramid on the top of which tl fire burned. At the foot of this pyramid was led into a little chamber hollowed ot in its thickness, and here my dress wt torn from me by more priests, leaving m naked except for a cloth about my loir and a chaplet of bright flowers which W? set upon my head. In this chamber wei three other men-Indians-who, from th horror on their faces, I judged to be als doomed to death. Presently a drum began to beat big above us, and we were taken from th chamber and placed in a procession c many priests, I being the first among th victims. Then thc priests set up a chanl and we began the ascent of a pyramid, fol lowing a road thac wound round an round its bulk till it ended on a platfon at its summit, which may have measure 40 paces in the squire. Hence the vie> of the surrounding country was very fine but in that hour I scarcely noticed it, ha\ ing no care for prospects, however pleas ing. On the farther side of thc platforx were two wooden towers 50 feet or so i: height. These were the temples of th gods-Huitzel, god of war, and Quetzal god of the air-whose hideous effigies carved in stone, grinned at us through th open doorways. In the chambers of thes temples stood small altars, and on the al tars were large dishes of gold, containinj the hearts of those who had been sacrifica on the yesterday. These chambers, more over, were incrusted with every sort o filth. In front of the temples stood the al tar whereon the fire burned eternally, an< before it was a hog backed block of blacl marble of the size of an inn drinking ta blc, and a great carven stone shaped lik< awheel, measuring some 10 feet across with a copper ring in its center. All these things I remembered after ward, though at the time I scarcely seemec to see them, for hardily were we arrived a the platform when I was seized and drag ged to the wheel shaped stone. Here ? hide girdle was put round my waist ant secured to the ring by a rope long enougl to enable me to run to the edge of the stone and no. farther. Then a flint point?e spear was given to me and spears wen given also to the two captives who accom? panied rae, and it was made clear to me by signs that I must fight with them, it being their part to leap upon the -stone and mino to defend it Now I thought that il I could kill these two poor creatures per? haps I myself should be allowed to go free, and so to save my lifo I prepared to take theirs if I could. Presently the head priest gave a signal commanding the two men to attack me, but they were so lost in fear that they did not even stir. Then the priests began to flog them with leather girdles till at length, crying out with pain, they ran at mc. One reached the stone and leaped upon it a little before the other, and I 6tuck the spear through his arm. Instantly he dropped his weapon and fled, and the other man fled also, for there was no fight in them, nor would any flogging bring them to face mc again. Seeing that they could not make them brave, tho priests determined to have done with them. Amid a great noise of music and chanting, he whom I had smitten was seized and dragged to the hog backed block of marble, which in truth was a stone of sacrifice. On this he was cast down, breast upward, and held so by five priests, two gripping his hands, two his legs and one his head. Then, having donned a scarlet cloak, the head priest, the same who had felt my heart, uttered some kind of prayer, and raising a curved knife of the fliutlikc glass or itztli struck open the poor wretch's breast at a single blow and made the an? cient offering to thc sun. As he did this all the multitude in tho place below, in full view of whom this j bloody game was played, prostrated them I selves, remaining on their knees till thc offering liad been thrown into the golden censer before tho statue of the god Huit? zel. Thereon the horrible priests, casting themselves on the hotly, carried it with shouts to the edge of the pyramid, or teo calli, and rolled it down the steep sides. > Struck open the poor wretch's breast an made the ancient offering to the sun. At the foot of the slope it was lifted ar borne away by certain men who were wai lng, for what purpose I did not know ? that time. Scarcely was the first victim dead whe the second was seized and treated in a lil fashion, the multitude prostrating then selves as before. And then last of a came my turn. I felt myself seized art my senses swam, nor did I recover thei till I found myself lying on the accurse stone, the priests dragging at my liml and head, my breast strained upward ti the skin was stretched as tight as that < a drum, while over me stood the huma devil in his red mantle, the glass knife i his hand Never shall I forget his wicke face, maddened with the lust for blood, c the glare in his eyes as he tossed back hi matted locks. But he did not strike i once; he gloated over me, pricking me wit the point of his knife. It seemed to rr that I lay there for years while the pat aimed, and pointed with the knife, but t last, through a mist that gathered befOJ my eyes, I saw it flash upward. Thei when I thought that my hour had corni a hand caught his arm in midair and hel it, and I heard a voice whispering. What was said did not please the pries for suddenly he howled aloud and made dash toward me to kill me, but again h: arm was caught before the knife felL The he withdrew into thc temple of tbe go Quetzal, and for a long while I lay upo the stone, suffering the agonies of a hui dred deaths, for I believed that it was d< termined to torture me before I died, an that my slaughter had been staid for thi purpose At length I heard footsteps and shut m eyes, for I could bear the sight of tb.8 dreadful knife no longer. But, behold! n knife felL Suddenly my hands wer loosed, and I was lifted to my feet, o which I never hoped to stand again. The I was borne to tte edge of the teocalli, fe I could not walk, and there my would b murderer, tho priest, having first shoute some words to thc spectators below tha caused them to murmur like a forest whe: the wind stirs it, clasped me in his bloo stained arms and kissed me on the fore head. Now it was for the first time tha I noticed my captor, the cazique, standin, at my side, grave, courteous and smiling As he had smiled when he handed me t the pabas, so he smiled when he took m back from them. Then, having beei cleansed and clothed. I was led to th sanctuary of the gcx" Quetzal and stocx face to face with the hideous image there staring at the golden censer that was t> have received my heart while the priest uttered prayers. Thence I was supporte) down thc winding road of the pyramii till I came to its foot, where my captor the cazique, took me by the hand and Icc me through the people who, it seemed now regarded me with some strange ven eration. Thc first person that I saw whei we reached the house was Marina, wh< looked at me and murmured some sof words that I could not understand Thei I was suffered to go to my chamter, an( there I passed the rest of the day prostrates by all that I had undergone Truly I ha< come to a land of devils! And now I will tell how it was that '. came to be saved from the knife. Marina having taken some liking to me, pitied mi sad fate, and being very quick witted sh< found a way to rescue me, for when '. had been led off to sacrifice she spoke t< the cazique, her lord bringing it to hi? mind that by common report Montezuma the emperor of Anahuac, was disturbed ai to the Teules, or Spaniards, and desiree much to see one Now, she said, I was evidently a Teule, and Montezuma woulc be angered indeed if I were sacrificed in ? faroff town instead of being sent to hin: to sacrifice if he saw fit. To this thc ca? zique answered that the words were wise but that she should have spoken them be? fore, for now the priests liad got hold ol me, and it was hopeless to save me from their grip. ''Nay," answered Marina, "thereis this to be said Quetzal, the god to whom this Teule is to be offered, was a white man. [Quetzal, or more properly Quctcal coatL was the divinity who is fabled to have taught tho natives of Anahuac all the useful arts, including those of govern? ment and policy. He was white skinned and dark haired. Finally he sailed from tho shores of Anahuac for the fabulous country of Tlapallan in a bark of serpents' skins. But before he sailed he promised that he would return again with a numer? ous progeny. This promise was remem? bered by the Aztecs, and it was large? ly on account of it that the Spaniards were enabled to conquer the country, for they were supposed to be his descendants. Perhaps Quetzalcoatl was a Norseman! Vide 6agas of Eric thc Red and of Thor? ium Karlsefne] And it may well hap? pen that this man is one of his children. Will it please the god that his child should be offered to him? At the least, if tho god is not angered, Montezuma will cer? tainly be wroth and wreak a vengeance on you and the priests." Now, when the cazique heard this ho saw that Marina spoke truth, and hurry? ing up the teocalli he caught tho knife as it was in the act of falling upon me. At first thc head priest was angered and call? ed out that this was sacrilege, and when the caziquo had told him his mind he un? derstood that he would do wisely not to run a risk of the wrath of Montezuma. So I was loosed and led into the sanctua? ry, and when I carno out the paba an? nounced to the people that the god had de? clared me to be ono of his children, and it was for this reason that then, and there? after they treated me with reverence. CHAPTER XL THE SAVING OF GUATEMOC. Now, after ^his dreadful dayl was kind? ly dealt with by the people of Tabasco, who gave me che name of Teule, or Span? iard, and no longer sought to put mc to sacrifice. Far from it indeed, I was well clothed and fed and suffered to wander where I would, though always under care of guards who, had I escaped, would have paid for it with their lives. I learned that on the morrow of my res? cue from the priests messengers were dis? patched to Montezuma, the great king, ac? quainting bim with the history of my cap? ture and seeking to know his pleasure con? cerning me. But the way to Tenoctitlan was far, and many weeks passed before the messengers returned again. Meanwhile I filled the days learning the Maya language and also something of that of the Aztecs, which I practiced with Marina and others, for Marina was not a Tabascan, having been born at Painalla, on the southeastern borders of the empire. But her mother sold her to merchants in order that Ma? rina's inheritance might come to another child of hers by a second marriage, and thus in the end the girl fell into the hands of the cazique of Tabasco. Also I learned something of the history and customs and of the picture writing of the land and how to read it, and, moreover, I obtained great repute among the Tabas cans by my skill in medicine, so that in time they grew to believe that I was in? deed a child of Quetzal, the good god And the more I studied this people the less I could understand Of them. In most ways they were equal to any nation of our own world of which I had knowledge. None are more skilled in thc arts; few are better architects or boast of purer laws. Moreover, they were brave and had pa? tience. But their faith was the canker at the root of thc tree. In precept it was no? ble and had much in common with our own, such as the rite of baptism, but I have told what it was in practice. When I had lived a month in Tabasco, I had learned enough of the language to talk with Marina, with whom I grew friendly, though no more, and it was from her that I gathered the most of my knowl? edge, and also many hints as to the con? duct necessary to my safety. In return I taught her something of my own faith and of the customs of the Europeans, and it was the knowledge which she gained from me which afterward made her so useful to the Spaniards and prepared her to accept their religion, giving her insight into the ways of white people. So I abode for four months and more in the house of the cazique of Tabasco, who carried his kindness toward me to the length of offering me his sister in mar? riage. To this proposal I said no as gen? tly as I might, and he marveled at it, for the girl was fair. Indeed so well was I treated that had it not been that my heart was far away, and because of thc horrible rites of their religion, which I was forced to witness almost daily, I could have learned to love this gentle, skilled and in? dustrious people. At length, when full four months had passed away, the messengers returned from the court of Montezuma, having been much delayed by swollen rivers and other acci? dents of travel. So great was the impor I had learned enough nf thc language to talk with Marilla. tance that the emperor attached to the fact of my capture, and so desirous was he to see me at his capital, that he had sent his own nephew, thc Prince Guatemoc, to fetch me and a great escort of warriors with him. Never shall I forget my first meeting with this prince, who afterward became my dear companion and brother in arms. When the escort arrived, I was away from the town shooting deer with the bow and arrow, a weapon in thc use of which I had such skill that all the Indians wondered at me, not knowing that twice I had won the prize at thc butts on Bungay common. Our party teing summoned by a messen? ger, we returned bearing our deer with us On reaching the courtyard of thc caziquc's house, I found it filled with warriors most gorgeously attired, and among them ono more splendid than the rest. He was young, very tall and broad, most handsome in face and having eyes like those of an ea? gle, while his whole aspect breathed maj? esty and command. His body was incased in a cuirass of gold, over which hung a mantle made of the most gorgeous feath? ers, exquisitely set in bands of different colors. On his head he wore a helmet of gold surmounted by the royal crest, an ea? gle, standing on a snake fashioned in gold and gems. On his arms, and beneath his knees, he wore circlets of gold and gems, and in his hand was a copper bladed spear. Round this man were many nobles, dressed in a somewhat similar fashion, except that the most of them wore a vest of quilted cotton in place of the gold cui? rass and a jeweled panache of the plumes of birds instead of thc royal symbol. ? This was GuatemoCj Montczuma's neph? ew and afterward the last emperor of An ahuac. So soon as I saw him I saluted Highest of all in Leavening Po Royal him is the Indian fashion by touching the earth v?th my right hand, which I.then raised to my head. But Guatemoc, hav? ing scanned me with his eye as I stood, bow in hand, attired in my simple hunt? er's dress, smiled frankly and said: 14 Surely, Teule, if I know anything of the looks of men, we are too equal in our birth, as in our age, for you to salute me asa slave greets his master." And he held his hand to me. And I took it, answering with the help of Marina, who was watching this great lord with eager eyes: "It may be so, prince, but though in my own country I am a man of repute and wealth here I am nothing but a slave snatched from the sacrifice. " "I know it," he said, frowning. "It is well for all here that you were so snatched before the breath of life had left you, else Montezuma's wrath had fallen on this city." And he looked at the cazique, who trembled, such in those days was the ter? ror of Montezuma's name Then he asked me if I was a Teule, or Spaniard I told him that I was no Span? iard, but one of another white race who had Spanish blood in his veins. This say? ing seemed to puzzle him, for he had never so much as heard of any other white race, so I told him something of my story, at least so much of it as had to do with my being cast away. When I had finished, he said: "If I have understood aright, Teule, you say you are no Spaniard, yet that you have Spanish blood in you abd cam? hither in a Spanish ship, and I find this story strange Well, it is for Montezuma to judge of these mat? ters, so let us talk of them no more Come and show me how you handle that great bow of yours. Did you bring it with you, or did you fashion it here? They tell me, Teule, that there is no such archer in the land" So I came up and showed him the bow, which was of my own make and would shoot an arrow some 60 paces farther than any that J. saw in Anahuac, and we fell into talk on matters of sport and war, Ma? rina helping out my want of language, and before that day was done we had grown friendly. For a week the Prince Guatemoc and his company rested in the town of Tabas? co, and all the time we three talked much together. Soon I saw that Marina looked with eyes of longing on the great lord, partly because of his beauty, rank and might, and partly because she wearied of her captivity in the house of the cazique and would share Guatemoc's power, for Marina was ambitious. She tried to win his heart in many ways, but he seemed not to notice her, so that at last she spoke more plainly and in my hearing. "You go hence tomorrow, prince," she said softly, "and I have a favor to ask of you, if you will listen to your handmaid" "Speak on, maiden," he answered. "I would **sk this, that if it pleases you you will buy me of the cazique, my mas? ter, or command him to give me up to you, and take me with you to Tenoctitlan." Guatemoc laughed aloud. "You put things plainly, maiden," he said, "but know that in the city of Tenoctitlan my royal wife and cousin, Tecuichpo, awaits me, with her three other ladies, who, as it chances, are somewhat jealous." Now Marina flushed leneath her brown skin, and for the first and last time I saw her gentle eyes grow hard with anger as she answered: "I asked you to take me with you,, prince. I did not ask to bc your wife or love." 4'But perchance you meant it," he said dryly. "Whatever I may have meant, prince, it is now forgotten. I wished to see the great city and the great king, lx?cause I weary of my life herc and would myself grow great You have refused me, but perhaps a time will come when I shall grow great in spite of you, and then I may remember thc shame that has been put upon me against you, prince, and all your royal house." Again Guatemoc laughed and of a sud? den grew stern. "Youare overbold, girl," he said, "for less words than these many a one might I find herself stretched upon thc stone of ! sacrifice But I will forget them, for your j woman's pride is stung, and you know ! not what you say. Do you forget them ! also, Teule, if you. have understood." { Then Marina turned and vrciit, her ! bosom heaving with anger and outraged I love or pride, and as she passed me I heard ; her mutter, "Yes, prince, you may forget, ; but I shall not." ! Often since that day I have wondered if j some vision of the future entered into the I girl's breast in that hour, or if in her wrath she spoke at random. I have won? dered also whether this scene between her and Guatemoc had anything to do with the history of her after life, or did Marina, as she avowed to mc in thc days to come, 1 bring shame and ruin on lier country for the love of Cortes alone? It is hard to say, and perhaps these tilings had nothing to do with what followed, for v. en great events have happened we are apt arch out causes for them in the past that were j no cause. This may have been but a pass ! ing mood of hers and one soon put out of ' mind, for it is certain that few build up j the temples of their lives upon some firm j foundation of hope or hate, of desire or ; despair, though it has happened to mc to ! do so, but rather take Chance for their arch : itect, and indeed whether they take him j or no he is still thc master builder. Still j that Marina did not forget this talk I i know, for in after time I hoard her remind ! this very prince of thc words that had j passed between them-aye, and heard his I noble answer to her. ; For a whole month wc traveled, for the ! way was far and the road rough, audsomc j times we must cut our path through forests i and sometimes we must wait upon the ! banks of rivers. Many were thc strange j sights I saw upon that journey, and many j the cities in which we sojourned in much ! state and honor, but I cannot stop to tell of all these. One thing I will relate, however, though j briefly, because it changed the regard that 1 the prince Guatemoc and I felt one.to tho wer.-Latest U. S. Gov't Report I Baking i Powder t?Uf PORE