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CHAPTER XL THE SAVING OF GUATEMOC Xow, after this dreadful day I was kind ly dealt with by tho pcoplo of Tabasco, who gavo mc thc name of Tonie, or Span iard, and no longer sought to put me to sacrifice. Far from it indeed, I was well clothed and fed and suffered to wander where I would, though always under caro of guards who, had I escaped, would havo paid for it with their lives. I learned that on the morrow of my res cue from tho priests messengers were dis patched to Montezuma, thc great king, ac quainting him with the history of my cap ture and seeking to know* his pleasure con cerning me. But thc way to Tenoctitlan Wes far, and many weeks passed before tho messengers returned again. Meanwhilo I Ailed thc days learning the Maya language and also something of that of tho Aztecs, which I practiced with Marina and others, for Marina was not a Tabascan, having been born at Painallo, on tho southeastern borders of thc empire. But her mother sold her to merchants in order that Ma rina's inheritance might como to another child of hers by a second marriage, and thus in the end the girl fell into tho hands of the cazique of Tabasco. Also I learned something of tho histor}* and customs and of the picturo 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 timo they grew to believe that I was in deed a child of Quetzal, thc good god. And tho moro 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. Xone aro more skilled in thc arts; few ara better architects or boast of purer laws. Moreover, they were bravo and hod pa tience. But their faith was the canker at the root of the 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 thc customs of the Europeans, and it was the knowledge which she gained from me which afterward made her so useful to thc 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 thc house of thc cazique of Tabasco, who carried his kindness toward mc to tho 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 tho girl was fair. Indeed so well was I treated that had it not been that my heart was far away, and because of the horrible rites of their religion, which 1 was forced to witness almost daily, I could havo learned to love this gentle, skilled and in dustrious people. At length, when full four months had passed away, the messengers returned from thc court of Montezuma, having been much delayed by swollen rivers and other acci dents of traveL So great was tho impor Ihad learned enough of thc language to talk with Marina. tance that thc emperor attached to thc fact of my capture, and so desirous was ho to seo mc at his capital, that he had sent his own nephew, the Prince Guatemoc, to fetch mc and a great escort of warriors with him. Xever shall I forget my first meeting with this prince, who afterward became my dear companion and brother in arms. When thc escort arrived, I was away from tho town shooting deer with thc bow and arrow, a weapon in tho usc of which I had 6uch skill that all thc Indians wondered at mc, not knowing that twico I had won tho prize at the butts on Bungay common. Our party being summoned by a messen ger, wo returned bearing our deer with us. On reaching thc coxirtyard of thc cazique's house, I found it filled with warriors most gorgeously attirai, and among them ono more splendid than the rest. He was young, very tall and broad, most handsome in face and having eyes liko tho?>o of on ea gle, while his whole aspect breathed maj esty and command. His body was incased ina cuirass of gold, over which hung a mantle made of thc 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 v. ero 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 hirds instead of tho royal symbol. This was Guatemoc, Montczuma'sneph ew and afterward tho last emperor of An ahuac So soon as I saw him I saluted him in the Indian fashion by touching the earth with my right hand, which I then raised to my head. But Guatemoc, hav ing scanned mo with his eye as I stood, bow in hand, attirai in my simple hunt er's dress, smiled frankly and said: "Surely, Teulc, it I know anything of tho looks of men, wo are too equal in our birth, as in our age, for you to salute mc asa slave greets his master." And ho held bis hand to mc. And I took it, answering with tho help of Marina, who was watching this great lord with cager eyes: "It may bc so, prince, but though lu my own country I am a man of reputo and wealth here I am nothing but a slave snatched from tho sacrifice," "I know it," he said, frowning. "It is well for all here that you were so snatched before tho breath of life had left you, else Montczuma's wrath had fallen on this city." And he looked at the cazique, who trembled, such in those days was the ter ror of Montczuma's name. Then ho asked mc if I was a Tculc, or Spaniard. I told him that I was no Span iard, but ono of another white race who had Spanish blood in his veins. This say ing Stemel to puzzle him, for he had never 6o much as heard of any other white race, so I told him something of my si orv, at least so much of lt nu had to do with my beiiiir east away. When I had finished, ho said: "If I have understood aright, Teulo, you say you aro no Spaniard, yet that you have Spanish blood tn you and came hither ina Spanish ship, and I lind this story strange. Well, it is fur Montezuma to judge of these mat ters, so let US talk of them no more. Come and show mo how you handlo that great bow of yours. Did you bring it with you, or did you fashion it here? They tell me, Teulc, that there is no such archer in tho ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ?> ( ?opYa?GMT!lB8a.gYTflEAVTH0R.- ) - "" W ?rrnu. So I come up and showed him tho boi j which was of my own make and, wou shoot an arrow some CO paces farther thi any that I saw in Anahuac, and we f< into talk on matters of sport and war, M rina helping out my want of languag and. before that day was dono wo hi grown friendly. For a week the Prince Guatemoc ai his company rested in tho town of Tuba co, and all tho timo wc thrco talked mu< together. Soon I saw that Marina look? with eyes of longing on tho great lor partly because of his beauty, rank ar might, and partly because she wearied her captivity in the house of tho caziqi and would share Guatemoc's power, fi Marina was ambitious. She tried to wi his heart in many ways, but he seemed m to notico her, so that at last she 6pol more plainly and in my hearing. "You go hence tomorrow, prince," si said softly, "and I have a favor to ask ? you, if you will listen to your handmaid. "Speak on, maiden," he answered. "I would ask this, that if it pleases yo you will buy mo of the cazlque, my mai ter, or command him to give me up to yoi and take mo with you to Tenoctitlan. " Guatemoc laughed aloud. "You pv things plainly, maiden," he said, "bu know that in thc city of Tenoctitlan m royal wife and cousin, Tecuichpo, await me, with her three other ladies, who, as i chances, are somewhat jealous." Now Marina flushed beneath her brow skin, and for tho first and last time I sa' her gent?o eyes grow hard with anger ? 6ho answered: "I asked you to take mo with yoi prince. I did not ask to be your wife c love." "But perchance) you meant it," he sal dryly. "Whatever I may have meant, prince, 1 is now forgotten. I wished to see the groa city and the great king, because I wear of my life hero and would myself groA great. You have refused me, but pcrhap a timo will come when I shall grow gren in spito of you, and then I may rcmembc the shame that hus been put upon ni against you, prince, and all your roya house." Again Guatemoc laughed and of a sud den grew stern. "You aro overbold, girl," he said, "fo less words than these many a one mlgh find herself stretched upon thc stono o sacrifice. But I will forget them, for you woman's pride is stung, and you kno\ not what you say. Do you forget then also, Teule, if you have understood." Then Marina turned und went, he bosom heaving with anger rind outrage? love or pride, and as she passed me I heall lier mutter, '"Yes, prince, you may forget but I shall not." Often since that day I have wondered 1 some vision of the future entered into tin girl's breast in that hour, or if in he wrath sho spoke at random. I have won dercd also whether this scene between he and Guatemoc had anything to do wit] thc history of her after life, or did Marina as she avowed to mc in thc days to come bring shame and ruin on her country fo; thc lovo of Cortes alone? It is hard t< say, and perhaps these things had nothing to do with what followed, for when greai events have happened wc arc apt to searcl out causes for them in tho past that wer? no cause. This may have been but a pass ing mood of hers and one soon put out ol mind, for it is certain that few build up tho temples of their lives upon some flrn: foundation of hope or hate, of desiro 01 despair, though it has happened to mo ti do so, but rather take Chanco for their arch itect, and indeed whether they take hire or no ho is still tho master builder. Stil] that Marina did not forget this talk 1 know, for in after time I heard her rem Ind this very prince of tho words that had passed between them-aye, and heard his noble answer to her. For a whole month wc traveled, for thc way was far and thc road rough, and some times we must cut our path through foreste and sometimes wo must wait upon thc banks of rivers. Many were thc strange sights I saw upon that journey, and manj the cities in which wo sojourned in much stato and honor, but I cannot stop to toll of all these. One thing I will relate, however, though briefly, becauso it changed thc regard that the prince Guatemoc and I felt one to thc other into a friendship which lasted till his death and indeed endures in my heart to this hour. One day wc were delayed by the banks of a swollen river, and in pastime went out to hunt for deer. When we hud hunt ed awhile and killed three deer, it chanced that Guatemoc perceived a buck standing on a hillock, and wc set about to stalk lt, five of us in alL But tho buck was in tho open, and thc trees and bush ceased a full 100 yards away from where bc stpod, so that there was no way by which wc might draw near to him. Then Guatemoc began to mock me, 6aying: "Now, Teule, they tell tales of your archery, and this deer is thrice as fax aa wc Aztecs can make sure of killing. Lot us seo your skill. " "I will try," I answered, "though the shot ts tong;" So we drew beneath the cover of a ceiba tree, of which tho lowest branches droop ed to within 16 feet of thc ground, and having set an arrow on thc string of the great bow that I had fashioned after tho shape of those we uso in England I aimed and drew it. Straight sped t'.e arrow,and struck tho buok fair, passing through its heart, and a low murmur of wonderment went up from those who saw tho feat. Then, just as wo prepared to go to tho fallen deer, a male puma, which is noth ing but a cat, though 50 times as big, that had been watching the buck from above, dropped down from thc boughs of thc cei ba tree full on to tho shoulders of tho Princo Guatemoc, felling him to tho ground, where he lay face downward, while tho fierce brute bit and clawed at his back. Indeed had it not been for his golden cui rass and helm Guatemoc would never have lived to bo emperor of Anahuac, and perhaps it might have been better so. Now, when they saw thu puma snarl ing and tearing at the person of their prince, though brave men enough, tho three nobles who were with us were seized with sudden panic and ran, thinking him dead. But I did not run, though I should have been glad enough to do so. At my side hung ono of the Indian weapons that serve them instead of swords, a club of wood set on both sides with spikes of ob sidian, liko tho teeth in thc bill of a sword fish. Snatching it from its loop, I gavo tho puma battle, striking a blow upon his head that rolled him over and caused thc blood to pour. In a moment he was up and at mo roaring with rage. Whirling tho wooden sword with both hands, I smote him in midair, liio blow passing bf tween Ids opened paws and catching him full on the snout and head. So hard v.- ? this stroko that my weapon was shattered Still it did not stop the puma. In a sec ond I was cast to thc earth with il frcul shock, and tho brute was on nie, tearing and biting at my chest und neck. It was well for mc at that moment that I wore a garment of quilted cotton; otherwise 1 must hove boen ripped open, and even with this covering I was sadly torn, and to this day I bear tho marks of tho beast's claws upon my body. But now when I seemed to bc lost thc great blow that I had Struck took effect on him, for one of tho points of glass had pierced to his brain. Ile lifted his heud; his claws contracted themselves in my Ooah; then ho howled like a dog in pain and fell dead upon my body. So I lay upon the ground unable to 6tlr, for I was much hurt, until my com panions, having taken heart, caine book and pulled the puma off me. By this time Guatemoc, who saw lt all, but till now was unable to moro from lack of breath, had found his feet again. "Teule,"ho gasped, "you are a brave man indeed, and if you live I swear that 1 will always stand your friend to the death, as you hayc^stood mine. " - - - Ilms ho spoke to mc, but to tho ott ho said nothing, ousting no reproachc; them. Then I fainted away. CHAPTER XII. THE COURT OF MONTEZUMA. Xow, for a week I was so ill from : wounds that I was unablo to be mov and then I must bo carried in a litter we came to within three days' journey the city of Tenoctitlan, or Mexico. One night we camped in a rest hon of which there wero many built along : roads for the use of travelers, that v placed almost on the top of tho sierra mountain range which surrounds the \ loy of Tenoctitlan. Next morning took the road again before dawn, for cold was so sharp at this great height ti we, who had traveled from the hot la: could sleep very little, and also Guat?n desired if it wero possiblo to reach tho c that night. When we had gone a few hundred pac tho path carno to the crest of the moi tain range, and I halted suddenly in wi der and admiration. Below mo lay a v bowl of land and water, of which, how cr, I could seo nothing, for tho shado of the night still filled lt. But before r. piercing tho very clouds, towered tho ere of two snow clad mountains, and on tb tho light of the unrisen sun played, airen changing their whiteness to thc stain blood. Popo, or the Hill that Smokes, tho name of thc one, and Ixtoc, or 1 Sleeping Woman, that of tho other, a no grander sight was ever offered to i eyes ol' man than they furnished in tl hour before tho dawn. From tho lol summit of Popo went up great colum of smoke, which, what with the fire their heart and the crimson of tho sunrl looked Uko rolling pillars of flame. A for the glory of the glittering slopes belo that changed continually from tho mys ry of white to dull red, from rod to crii son and from crimson to every dazzli: huo that tho rainbow holds, who can t it, who can even imagine it? Xono inde except those that huve seen the sun ri over tho volcano of Tenoctitlan. When I had feasted my eyes on Popo, turned to Ixtac. She is not sc lofty as h "husband," for 6o tho Aztecs name t volcano Popo, and when first I looked could sec nothing but tho gigantic sha of a woman fashioned in snow and lyil liko a corpso upon her lofty bier, who hair streamed down tho mountain sid But now tho sunbeams caught her als and she seemed to 6tort out in majes from a veil of rosy mist, a wonderful ai thrilling sight. But, beautiful as sho w then, still I love the Sleeping Womon bc at eve. Then she lies a shape of glory ( the blackness beneath and is slowly swu lowed up into the solemn night as the dui draws its veil across her. Xow, ns I gazed tho light began to crc< down thc sides of tho vol?anos, rcvealir the forests on their flanks. But still tl vast valley was filled with mist that h in denso billows resembling those of tl seo, through which hills and temples to] started up Uko islands. By slow degrc as wc passed upon our downward road tl vapors cleared away and thc lakes of Te cuco, Chalco and Xochicalco shone in tl sunlight like giant mirrors. On the banks stood many cities. Indeed tl greatest of these, Mexico, seemed to flo. upon the waters. Beyond them and abo. them were green fields of corn and alt and groves of forest trees,' while far awi towered thc black wall of rock that hcdgi in thc valley. All day wc journeyed swiftly throng this fairyland. Wc passed through ti cities of Auiaquem and Ajotzinco, which will not stay to describe, and many a lon ly village that nestled upon tho borders ( Lake Chalco. Then wo entered on tl great causeway of stone built like a ron resting on thc waters, and with thc afte: noon wc came to the town of Cuitlahuai Thence we ptissed on to Iztapnlapan, an hero Guatemoc would have rested for tl: night in tho royal house of his uncle Cull lahua. But when wc reached thc town w found that Montezuma, who had been at vised of our approach by runners, had scr orders that we wero to push on to Teno< titian, and that palanquins had been mad ready to bear us. So wo entered tho palanquins, and lcai lng thot lovely city of gardens were born swiftly along the southern causeway. 0 wo went past towns built u >*>. piles fixe in the bottom of tho lake, "t garden that were laid out on reeds ..nd floate over tho waters Uko a boat, past teocali i and glistening temples without numbei through fleets of light canoes and thor 6ands of Indians going to and fro abou their business, till at length toward SUE set wo reached the battlemented foi that is called Xoloc, which stands upo: the dike. I say stands, but, alas, it stand no moro! Corte.'' has destroyed it, an with it all thoso glorious cities which m; oyes beheld that day. At Xoloc wo began to enter thc city c Tenoctitlan, or Mexico, tho mightiest cit; that ever X hud seen. Thc houses on th outskirts indeed wero built of mud o adobe, but thoso In tho richer parts wer constructed of redstone. Each house sui rounded a courtyard and was, in turn surrounded by a garden, whilo betweei them ran canals, having footpaths on cl ther side. Then there were squares, an< in the squares pyramids, palaces and tem pies without end. I gazed on them till was bewildered, but all seemed os uoth lng when at length I saw tho great tem pie, with its stone gateways opening t< tho north and tho south, thc east and tin west, its walls carven everywhere wltl serpents, its polished pavements, its teoo allis decked with human skulls, thousand upon thousands of them, and its vast sur rounding tianqucz, or market place. '. caught but a glimpse of lt thon, for th< darkness was falling, and afterward w< were borne on through tho darkness, I die not know whither. Awhile wont by, and I 6aw that wo hoc left tho city and were passing up a stcej; hill beneath tho shadow of mighty ccdai trees. Presently wo halted in a courtyard, and hero I was bidden to alight Ther the Prince Guatemoc lcd mo into a won> drous house, of which all the rooms we? roofed with cedar wood and its walls hung with richly colored cloths, and in thal house gold seemed as plentiful as brick? and oak aro with us In England. Led by domestics who boro cedar wands In theil hands, wo wont through many passages and rooms tUl at length wo came to a chamber whero other domestics were awaiting us, who washed us with scented waters and clothed us in gorgeous ap parel. Thence they conducted us to a door, whero wo were bidden to remove our shoes, and a coarse colored robe was given tc each of us to hide our splendid dress. Thc robes having been put on, wc wore suffered to pass the door and fotind ourselves in a vast chamber in which were many noble men and some women, all standing and clad in coarse robes. At thc far end of this chamber was a gilded screen, and from behind it flouted sounds of sweet music. Xow, as wc stood in thc great chamber, that was lighted witli sweet smelling torches, many men advanced and greeted Guatemoc, the prince, and I noticed that all of them looked upon mc curiously. Presently a woman came, and I saw that her beauty was great She wa? tail and stately, and beneath her rough outer robe splendidly attired in worked and jeweled garments. Weary and bewildered as I was, lier loveliness seized me, as lt were, in a vise-never before had I seen such lovo Uness, for her eye was proud and full liko tho eye of a buck, her curling hair fell upon her shoulders, and her features were very noble, yet tender almost to sadness, though at times she could seem fierce enough. This lady was yet in her firs, youth; perchance she may have seen somo 18 ycurs, but her shape was that of a full grown woman and most royal. "Greeting, Guatemoc, my cousin," sho said in n sweet voice. ''So you are como at last. My royal father luis awaited you for long and will ask questions as to your delay. My sister, your wife, has wondered also why you tarried." Now, as she spoke. I felt rutlier than saw that this lady was searching me with her eyes. "Greeting, Otoinlc, my cousin, "answer ed tho prince. "I have licet) delayed by tho accidents of travel. Tabasco is far away, also my charge anti companion, Tculc, " and lie nodded toward me, "mot with an accident on thc road." "What was thc accident!'" sh?' asked. "Only tills-that be saved me from thc jaws of n puma at Ibo risk of his life when all tho others fled from me and wa? some what hurt In tiie deed. Ile saved me thus, " -and iji a few words he told the story. oho lisrancci, and i Baw that lier eyes sparkled at thc talo. When it was done, sho spoke again, and this time to mc. ''Welcome, Teule," she said, smiling. "You are not of our people, yet my heart goes out to such a man." And, still smil ing, she left us. "Who is that great lady?' I asked ol Guatemoc. "That is my cousin Otomle, tho prin cess of the Otomle, my uncle Montezu ma's favorite daughter," he answered. "She likes you, Teule, and that is well for you for many reasons. Hush!" As he spoke the screen at the far end of the chamber was drawn aside. Beyond it a man sat upon a broldered cushion, who was inhaling tho fumes of tho tobacco weed from a gilded pipo of wood, after tho Indian fashion. This man, who was no other than thc monarch Montezuma, was of a tall build and melancholy counte nance, having a very palo faco for ono of his nation, and thin, black hair. Ho was dressed in a white robo of tho purest cot ton and wore a golden bolt and sandals set with pearls, and on his head a plumo of feathers of tho royal green. Behind him wore a band of beautiful girls somewhat slightly clothed, some of whom played on lutes and other instruments of music, and on either side 6tood four anciont counsel ors, all of them barefooted and clad In tho coarsest garments. So soon as thc scrcon was drawn all tho company in tho chamber prostrated them selves upon their knees, an example that I hastened to follow, and thus they remain A man pat upon a broldered cushion in haling the jumes of thc tobacco. ed till tho empero1' made a feign with tho gilded bowl of his pipe, when they roso to their feet again and Btood with folded hands and eyes fixed abjectlv i'.pun the floor. Presently Montezuma made anoth er signal, and throe agod mon, whom I understood to ho cmbassadors, advanced and asked some prayer of him. Ho an swered them with a nod pf tho head, and they retreated from his presence, making obeisance and stepping backward till they mingled with the crowd. Then tho emper or spoko a word to ono of tho counselors, who bowed and carno slowly down the hall, looking to thc right and to tho left. Presently his eye fell upon Guatemoc, and indeed ho was easy to see, for he stood a head tailor than any there. "Hail, prince," ho said. "Tho royal Montezuma desires to speak with you, and with tho Teule, your companion." . "Do as I do, Teule," said Guatemoc, and led the way up thc chamber till wc reached thc place where the wooden screen had been, which, ns we passed it, was drawn behind us, shutting us off from the hall. Here we stood awhile, with folded hnnds and downcast eyes, till a signal was jnade to us to advance. "Your report, nephew," said Montezu ma in a low voice of command. i "I went to the city of Tabasco, O glo rious Montezuma. I found the Teulo and brought him thither, also I caused the high priest to be sacrificed according to thc royal command, and now I hand back tho imperial signet, " und ho gave tho ring to a counselor. "Why did you delay so long upon tho road, nephew?" "Because of the chances of tho Journey. While saving my life, royal Montezuma, tho Teule, my prisoner, was bitten by a puma Its skin is brought to you as an offering." Now Montezuma looked at mo for the first timo, then opened a picture-scroll that one of the counselors handed to him and read in it, glancing at me from time to time. "The description ls good," he said at length, "in all savo one things-it does not say that this prisoner is tho handsomest man in Anahuac. Say, Teule, why have your countrymen landed on my dominions and slain my pcoplef" "I know nothing of it, O king," I an swered as well as I might, with the help of Guatemoc, "and they aro not my coun trymen." "Tho report says that you confess to hav ing tho blood of theso Teulcs in your veins, and that you como to these shores, or near them, in ono of their great canoes." "That ls so, O king, yot I am not of their people, and I came to tho shore floating on A barrel." "I hold that you lie, "answered Monte zuma, frowning, "for tho sharks and croc odiles would devour one who swam thus; ' ' Then ho added anxiously, "Say, aro you of tho descendants of Quetzal?" "I do not know, 0 king. I am of a white race, and our forefather was named Adam." "Perchance that io another name for Quetzal," ho Enid. "It has long been prophesied that his children would return, and now it seems that tho hour of their coming is at hand. " And ho sighed heav ily, then added: "Go now. Tomorrow you shall tell mo of these Teules, and the coun cil of tho priests shall decide your fate," Now, when I heard the names of the priests, I trembled in all my bones and cried, clasping my hands in supplication: "81ay me if you will, 0 king, but I be seech you deliver me not again into the hands of tho priests." ''We aro all in tho hands of tho priests, who are the mouth of God." he answered coldly. "Besides I hold that you have lied to me." Then I wont, foreboding evil, and Gua temoc also looked downcast. Bitterly did I curse the hour when I had said that I was of thc Spanish blood and yet no Span iard. Had I known oven what. I know that day, torturo would not have wrung those words from mo. But now it was tao late. Now Guatemoc led me to certain apart ments of this palace of Chapoltepec, where his wife, the royal Princess Tccuiohpo, was awaiting him, a very lovely lady, and with her other ladles, among them the Princess Otomle, Muntczuma's daughter, and sonio nobles. Herc a rich repast was served to us, and I was seated next to tho Princess Otomie, who spoke to me most graciously, asking mc many things con corning my land and tho people of tho Toulcs. It was from her that I learned first that the emperor was much disturbed at heart because of these Teulcs, or Span iards, for ho was superstitious and 'held them to be thc children of tho god Quet zal, who, according to ancient prophcoy, would como to take tho lund. Indeed ao gracious was sho, and so royally lovely, that for the first timo I felt my heart stir red by any other woman than my betroth ed whom I had left far away in England, and whom, as I thought, I should nevor soe again. And, as I learned lu after days, minc was not tho only heart that was stir red that night. Near to xis sat another royal Indy, Pa pantzin, the sister of Montezuma, 'but she was neither young nor lovely, and yet most sweet faced and ?ul, as though with the presage of death. Indeed she died not many weeks after, hut could not rest quiet In her gravo, as shall bo told. When tho feast was don? and wo had drunk of thc cocoa or chocolate and smok ed tobacco In pipes, a strange hut most soothing custom that I learned in Tabasco, and of which I have uever been able to break myself, though tho weed ls still hard to como by hero in England, I was led to my sleeping place, a small chamber, paneled with cedar board?. For awhilo I could not sleep, fer I was overcome by the memory of all tho strange sights that I had seen In this wonderful now land, which was so civilized and yet BO barba rous. Thou my thoughts flow to tho vision of that most, lovely maid, thu Princess Oto mle., who, as I believed, had looked on me so kindly, and I found that vision sweet, for I was young, and tho English Lily, my own love, was far away and lost, to mo for ever. Was it then wonderful that I should find this Indian DODDY, fair? Indeed whore. ls tue man wno woultTnot have been over come by hor swceetness, her beauty and that stamp of royal graco which comes with kingly blood and tho daily exercise of power!' Liku the rich wonders of the robe she wore, her very barbarism, of which now I saw but the better side, drew and dazzled my mind's eye, giving her woman's tenderness some now quality, somber and strange, an eastern richness which ls lacking in our well schooled Eng lish women, that at one and the same stroke touched both the imagination and the senses and through them enthralled the heart. For O tom ie seemed such a woman as men dream of, but very rarely win, seeing that tho world has few such natures and fewer nurseries where they can be reared. At onco pure and passionate, of royal blood and heart, rich natured and most womanly, yet brave as a man and beauti ful as tho night, with a mind athirst for knowledge and a spirit that no sorrows could avail to quell, over changing in her outer moods, and yot moot faithful and with the honor of a roan, such was Oto m?e, Montezuma'u daughter, princess of tho Otoinle. Was it wonderful then that I found hor fair, or, when fate gave me her love, that at last I lovod her in turn f And yet there was that In her nature which should h ave hold mo back had I but known of it, for, with all lier charm, hor beauty and hor virtuos, at heart sho was still a savage, and, strlvo as sho would to hide it, at times her blood would master lier. But as I lay In tho chamber of the pal ace of Chapol tepee the tramp of the guards without my door reminded mo that I had little now to do with love and othor de light?, I whoso lifo hung from day to day upon a hair. Tomorrow the priests would decide my fato, and when tho priests wore judges thc prisoner might know tho sen tence before it was spoken. I was a stron ger and a white man, surely such a one would provo an offering more acceptable to the gods than that furnished by a thou sand Indian hearts. I had .boen snatched from the ul tars of Tabasco that I might grace tho higher altars of Tenoctltlan, and that was all. My fate would bc to perish miserably far from my home, and in this world never to be heard of more. Musing thus sadly, at last I slept. When I woke, the sun was up. Bislng from my mat, I went tu the wood barred window place and looked through. The palace whence I gazed was placed on the crest of a rocky hill. On one sido this hill was bathed by tho bluo waters of Teaouco; on the other, a milo or more away, rose the temple towers of Mexico. Along the si opes of tho hill and in some directions for a mile from its base grew huge cedar trees, from the boughs of which hung a gray and ghostly looking moss. These trees aro so large that tho smallest of them ls bigger than the best oak in this parish of Dltch inghom, while the greatest measures 29 paces round thc hose. Beyond and between these marvelous and ancient trees were tho gardens of Montezuma, that with tholr strange and gorgeous flowers, their marble baths, their aviaries and wild boost dons wore, os I beliove, thc most wonderful in tho whole world. [The gardens of Monte zuma have been long destroyed, but BOH?O of the cedars still flourish at Chapoltepcc, though tho Spaniards cut down many. Ono of them, which tradition says was a fovorlte" tree of the great emperor's, meas ures-according to a rough calculation the author of this book made upon the spot about 00 foot round tho bolo. It is strange to think that a few ancient conifers should alone survive of all tho glories of Monte suma's wealth and state.] "At tho least," thought I to myself, "even if I must die, it is something to have seen this country of Anahuac, ita king, its customs and its people." TO HF. 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