Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I asked him if lie intended to tat in tho feast, as the splendor of his a brought mo to believe. "Yes," he answered, "but why tl ask?" "Because, were I you, Guat?n would not ga Say, now , will the di bo armed?" "No, it is not usual." "They will be unarmed, Guatemo they arc thc flower of tho land. Uni they will dance In yonder inclosed and tho Tooles will watch them a Now, how would it be if these chan pick a quarrel with the nobles?" "Ido not know why yon should thus, Tonic, for surely theso white aro not cowardly murderers. Still ] your words os an omen, and thoug feast must bo held, for sec, airead nobles gather, I will not share in it. ' "You aro wise, Guatcmoc, " I said am sure that you arc wise." Afterward Otomie, Guatcmoc a went into the garden of the palace ai upou thc crest of a small pyramid, ; calli in miniature that Montezuma built for a place uf outlook on thc m and :he courts of tho temple. Fron spot wo saw tho dancing ot thc Azte bles and heard the song of tho music It was a gay sight, for in the bright light theil1 leather dresses flashed like of gems, and none would have gu how it was to end. Mingling with dancers wore groups of Spaniards ch mail timi armed with swords and m locks, but I noted that as thc time on theso men separated from thc Int and began to cluster like bees abou gates and at various points under thu ? ow of tho wall of serpente. "Now, what may this mean?" I sa Guatcmoc, and as I spoke I saw a S lard wave a white cloth in the air. '. in an instant, before tho cloth had cc to flutter, a smoke arose from over}* and with it carno thc sound of tho fl of matchlocks. Everywhere among dancers men foll dead or wounded, bul mass of them, unharmed as yet, hud themselves together liko frightened s and stood silent and terror stricken 1 the Spaniards, shouting the namo of t ?i::: ron saint, as ic is their custom t when they havo some such wickednci hand, drew their swords, and rushinj the unarmed Aztec nobles began to them. Now some shrieked and fled, some stood still rill they were cut do but, whether they staid or ran, the was thc same, for tho gates were guan and tho walls were too high to eli There they were slaughtered, every 1 of them, and may God, who sccs it reward their murderers. It was soon o Within 10 minutes of the waving of cloth those 1300 men were stretched u thc pavement dead or dying, and v shouts of victory the Spaniards were spoiling their corpses of thc rich ot mcnts they had worn. Then I turned to Guatcmoc and s? "It seems that you did well not to joli yonder revel. " But Guatcmoc made no answer, stared at tho dead and those who had m dercd them and said nothing. Only C mic spoke. "You Christians aro a ger people," she said, with a bitter laugh, is thus that you repay our hospital) Now, I trust that Montezuma, my fat! ls pleased with his guests. Ah, were I every man of them should lie on tho stx of sacrifice! If our gods arc devils, as} say, what arc thoso who worship yours! Then at length Guatemoc said: "Ol ono thing remains tous, and that is ven anea Montezuma has become a wo an. and I heed him no more. Nay, i] were needful, I would kill him with i own hand. But two men arc still left tho land-Cuitlahua, my uncle, and n self. Now I go to summon our armies And he went. All that night the city murmured lib swarm of wasps, and next day at daw so far as the eye could reach, the strei and market placa were filled with tens / thousands of armed warriors. They thr< themselves like a wave upon the walls tho palace of Axa, and like a wave frc a rock they wore driven back again by t Are of thc guns. Thrice they attacked, a thrice they were repulsed. Then Mon zuma, thc woman king, appeared up thc walls, praying them to desist, bccaui forsooth, did they succeed, ho hims< might perish. Even then they obeyed hil so great was their reverence for his sacr royalty, and for awhile attacked tho Spa lards no moro. But further than this tb would not go. If Montezuma forbado the to kill thc Spaniards, tit least they dete mined to starve them out, and from th hour a strait blockade was kept up again tho palace. Hundreds of the Aztco soldie had been slain already, but the loss wi not all upon their side, for * somo of tl Spaniards and many of tho Tlascolans ht fallen Into their hands. A3 for theso uj lucky prisoners, their end was' swift, fi they were token at onco to thc temples i tho great teocali i and sacrificiel there i tho gods in tho sight of their comrades. Now it was that Cortos returned wit many moro mon, for ho had^conquere Narvaez, whoso followers had"-vjc?riea tl standard of Cortes, and with them, other ono of whom I had good reason to knov Cortes was suffered to' rejoin Lia comradi in thc palace of Axa without attack, an on tho following day Cuitlahua, Montezu ma's brother, king of Palapan, was rclcaf ed by him that he might soothe thc people But Cuitlahua was no coward. Once sai outside his prison walls ho called tho COUD eil together, ?nf whom tho chief was Gua temoc. There they resolved on war to the end giving it out that Montezuma had forfeit ed his kingdom by his cowardice, and oi that resolve they acted. Had it beentakei but two short months before, by this dat? no Spaniard would have been left alive ii Tcnoctltlan, fur, after Marina, thc lov of Cortes, whoso subtle wit brought abou his triumph, it was Montezuma who wo the chief cause of his own fall and of tba of tho kingdom of Anahuac. CHAPTER XVII. OTOMIK'S COUNSEL. On tho day after thc return of Cortes ti Mexico, before tho hour of dawn, I wa: awakened from my uneasy slumers b" tho whistling cries of thousands of war riors and tho sound of atabais and drums Hurrying to my post of outlook on th? little pyramid, where Otomie joined me Xsaw that tho whole people wer.? got hom for war. So far as tho eye could reach, ii square, market place and street, they wen mossed in thousands and tens of thousands, Somo were armed with slings, some wit! bows and arrows, others with javelins tip? ped with copper and tho clubs set with Spikes of obsidian that is called moqua, and yet others, citizens of the poorer sort, with stakes hardened In tho fire. The bod ies of some were covered with golden coats of mail, crested with bair and fashioned like the heads of pumas, snakes or wolves; others wore escaupils or coats of quilted cotton, but tho most, of them were naked except for a cloth about the loins. On thc flat azoteas, or roofs ol' houses, also, and -oven on the top of tho roooaHi of sacrifice, wcro bands of men whose p.art it was to rain missiles into the Spanish quarters. It was a strange sight to SIT in that red Sunrise and ono never t<> 1?? forgotten, as th<? light flashed from t. niples and palace walls onto thc feather garments and gay banners, the points of counties."spears .and the armor of th'- Spaniards, who hurried to and fro behind th. ir battlements mak ing ready their defense. As soon ?is I he sun was up a priest blew ?shrill note upon a sholl, which was an swered by a trumpet call from tho Spanish quarters. Then, willi a shriek of rage, the thousands of the Aztecs rushed to thc attack, and thc air grow dark with mis siles. Instantly a wavering line of lim and smoke, followed by as.??und as of thun ?der, broke from tho walls o? cb* palace of .*.-z. T4 tho duiran? warriors feli Iii* Zj [ ??r^*lCHT.1833?BYTflE AVTHOrV ) g autumn loaves DcneaTir ira cannon arquebus bolls of tho Christians. For a moment they wavered, and a g groan wont up to heaven, but I saw < tomoo spring forward, a banner in f hand, and forming up again they ru after him. Now they were beneath wall of the palace, and tho assault bej Tho Aztecs fought furiously. Time t timo they strovo to climb tho wall, pi up thc bodies of the dead to servo th? ladders, and time upon time they wer? pulsed With cruol loss. Failing in t they set themselves to battering it di with heavy beams, but .when the b,w was mado and they clustered In it herded sheep tho cannon opened fin them, tearing long lanos through t mass and leaving them dead by seo Then they took to tho shooting of flan: arrows, and by this moans fired tho ? works, but tho palace was of stone would not burn. Thus for 12 long he tho struggle raged unceasingly till sudden fall of darkness put an end tx and tho only Bight to bo seen was tho f of countless torches carried by those ^ j sought out tho dead, aud tho only sou I to bo heard woro tho voices of woi: I lamenting and tho groans of tho dying On tho morrow the fight broko out ag at dawn, when Cortes sallied forth w I tho greater part of his soldiers and sc chousands of his Tlascalan allies. At f I thought that ho aimed his attack Montez nina's palace, and a breath of h went through mo, since then lt might como possible for mo to escapo in tho c j fusion. But this was not so, his obj being to set fire to tho houses, from flat roofs of which numberless miss: were hailed hourly upon his followt The charge was desperate, and it succeed for the Indians could not withstand shock of horsemen any moro thtin th naked skins could turn the Spaniar steel. Presently scores of houses were flames, and thick columns of smoke roi up Uko those that float from tho mouth I Popo. But many of those who rodo a ran from tho gates of Axa did not co: back thither, for tho Aztecs clung to 1 legs of tho horses and dragged their rid away living. That very day these captives wero sac fleed on tho altar of Huitzel and in t sight of their comrades, and with then horse was offered up, which had been ti en alive, and was borne and dragged wi infinite labor up the 6tocp sides of tho p; amid. Indeed never had tho sacrifices bc so manj- os during these days of combi All day long the altars ran red, and ; day long thc cries of thc victims rang my oars as the maddened priests WC about their work, for tims they soug to please the gods who should give thc victory over the Tonics. Even at night tho sacrifices continu by the light of tho sacred fires that fro below gave those who wrought them t appearance of devils flitting through t flames of hell and inflicting its tonnen on the damned, much as they are depict in the "Doom" painting of the resurte tion of tho dead that is over thc chane arch in this church of Ditchingham. A: hour by hour through thc darkness a vol called out threats anti warnings to ti Spaniards, saying: "Huitzel ls hungry fi your blood, ye Tcules. Ye shall surely fe low whero yo have seen your follows g Tho cages aro ready, che knives aro shai and the irons are hot for the torture. Pr parc ye, Teules, for though yo slay max ye cannot escape." Thus tho struggle went on day afti day till thousands of tho Aztecs were den and the Spaniards were well nigh wor out with hunger, war and wounds, for th? could not rest a singlo hour. At lengt ono morning when tho assault was at il hottest Montezuma himself appeared upo tho central tower ot the palace clad i splendid robes and wearing tho dinden Before him stood heralds bearing goldo wands, and about him wero tho noble who attended him in his captivity and guard of Spaniards. He stretched out hi hand, and suddenly tho fighting was stai and a silence fell upon tho place; even th wounded ceased from their groaning. The; he addressed tho multitude. What ho sai _ I was too far off to hear, though 11 carne ' Its purport afterward. He prayed his poe plo to COOBO from war, for tho Spanii d wero his friends and gues: ? and wouli presently leavo tho city of Tonootitlan When these cowardly words had passed hi lips, a fury took his subjects, who for lon( years had worshiped him as a god, and < shriek rent tho air that seemed to 6oy tm words only: "Woman! Traitor!" Then I saw an arrow rush upward ant 6trike tho emperor, and after tho arrow i shower of stones, so that ho fell down up on tho tower roof. Now a voice cried: "Wo have slain ou: king! Montezuma is dead!" And instant ly, with a dreadful wailing, the multitud) fled thi6 way and that, so that present?] no living man could bo seen whero then had been thousands. I turned to comfort Otomie, who wai watching by my 6ido and had seen hei royal father fall, and led her weeping inte j tho palace. Herc we met Guatemoc, th( prince, and his mien was fierce and wild. I Ho was fully armed aud carried a bow lr his hand. "Is Montezuma dead}1" I asked. "I neither know nor care," ho answer ed, with a savage laugh, then added: .'Now curse mc, Otomie, my cousin, foi lt was my arrow that smote him down, this king who has become a woman and o traitor, false to his manhood and his coun try." "I cannot curso yu, Guatemoc, for thc gods have smitten my father with a mad ness as you snioto him with your arrow, and it is best that he should die, both for his own sako and for that of his people. Still, Guatemoc, I am succ of this-that your crime will not go unpunished, and that in payment for this sacrilege you 6hall yourself come to a shameful death." "It may be so," said Guatemoc, "butat least I shall not die Straying my trust," and he went. Now I must tell that, as I believed, this was my last day on earth, for on the mor row my year of godhead expired, and I, Thomas Wingfield, should bo lcd out to sacrifice. Notwithstanding all thc tu mult in tho city, thc .mourning for tho dead and the fear that hung over it Uko a cloud, thc ceremonies of religion and its feasts were still celebrated strictly, moro strictly even than before. Thus on this night a festival was held in my honor, and I must sit at the feast crowned with flow ers and surrounded by my wives, whilo thosn uobles who remained alive in the city did mo homage, and with them Cuit lahua, who, if Montezuma wero dead, would now bo emperor. It was a dreary meal enough, for I could scarcely be gay, though I strove to drown my woes in drink, and, as for the guests, they had Utile jollity left in them. Hun dreds of their relatives wero dead and with them thousands of the people. Tho Span iards still held their own in tho fortress, and that day they had seen their emperor, who to them was a god, smitten down hy ona of their own number, and above all they Mt that doom was upon themselves. What wonder that they were not merry? Indeed no finora) feast could have been more sad. for flowers and wine and fair women do noe moke pleasure, and after all it was a funural fn/vstr^-for nie. At length it came to an .encl, and ? fled to my own apartment*, tybi thor my three wives followed me, for OUift)U> <Hd not come, colling me most happy and Mossed who tomorrow should l>e with mynelf-* that is, with my own godhead, in heaven. But I did not call them blessed, for, rising in wrath, I drove them away, saying that I had but ono comfort left, and it was that wherever I might go I should leave them behind. Then I cast myself upon the cushions of fuy Ix-d nnd mourned in my fear and bit terness of heart. This was tho end of the ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I cast myself upon thc cushions of my 1 'vengeance whioh I hod sworn to WTcal Do Garcia, that I myself must havo heart torn from my breast and offered a devil. Thus weeping and praying I sank i a half sleep and dreamed that Iwalkec tho hillside near tho church path that r through tho garden of tho lodgo at Dil ingham. Tho whispers of the wind v in tho trees which clothe tho bank of "Vineyard hills, thc scent of tho sweet E llsh flowers was in my nostrils, and balmy air of Juno blew upon my brow, waa night in this dream of minc, ac thought that tho moon shono Bwcctly tho meadows and tho river, whllo fi every sido came tho muslo of tho nighl gale. But I was not thinking of theso llghtful sights and sounds, though t. woro present in my mind, for my e watchod tho church path which goes tho hill at tho back of the house, arid heart listened for a footstep that I loni to hear. Then there came a sound of sing] from beyond tho hill, and tho words tho song were sad, for they told of one v had sailed away and returned no mc and presently between tho apple tree saw a whit? figuro on its crest. Slowly came toward me, and I knew that it v she for whom I waited-Lily, my bclov Now she ceased to sing, but drew on gi tly, and her face seemed very sad. Mo over, it was thc face of a woman in midi lifo, but still most beautiful, moro beau ful indeed than it had been In the bloi of youth. She had reached the foot of 1 hill and was turning toward the little g, den gatv, when I came forward from t shadow of tho trees and stood before h Back she started with a cry of fear, th grew silent and gazed into my face. "So changed," she murmured. "C it bo tho same? Thomas, is lt you coi back to me from tho dead, or is this bul vision?" and slowly and doubtingly t dream wraith stretched out her arms though to clasp me. Then I awoke. I awoke, and, lo, befe me stood a fair woman clothed in whil on whom tho moonlight shone ns in ii dream, and her arms were stretched t ward me lovingly. "It is I, beloved, and no vision," cried, springing from my bed and cl as ing her to my breast to kiss her. But L fore my lips touched hers I saw my crrc for she whom I embraced was not Li Bozard, my betrothed, but Otomic, wi was called my wife. Thon I knew th this was the saddest and must bitter dreams that had been sent ta mock m for all the truth rushed Into my min Loosing my hold of Otomic, I fell bat upon tho beti and groaned aloud, and as fell I saw the flush uf shame upon lier bro and breast, for tilla woman cd ni and thus my act and words w. an ii suit to her, who could guess well whi prompted them. Still she spuke gently. "Purdon me, Teule; I came but tu watt and not to waken you. I came also tin I may see you alone before tho dayhreal hoping that I might bo of service or i thc least of comfort to you, for the cn draws near. Say (?hon, in your sleep di you mistake me for some other woma dearer and fairer than I am. that yo would have embraced me?" "I dreamed thuc you were mybctrothec whom I love, and who ls far ucross th scu, "I answered heavily. "But enoug of lovo and such matters. What have 11 do with them who go down into darkness? ''In truth, I cannot tell, Teule. Still have heard wise men say tliut if lovo is t be found anywhere it is in this sam darkness of death, that is light indeed Grieve not, for if there is truth in thc fait! of which you have told mo or in our own either on this earth or beyond it, with th eyes of tho spirit you will seo your dear bc fore another sun is set, and I pray that yoi may find her faithful ' to you. Tell m now, how much does she love you? Wouh she have lain by your 6ido on tho bed o sacrifico as, had things gone otherwise be twoen us, Teule, It was my hope to do?" "No," I answered; "lt ls not thc custon of our women to kill themselves bocausi their husbands chance to die. " "Perhaps they think it better to live an< wed again," answered Otomio very quiet ly, but I saw her eyes flash and her breas heave in the moonlight as she spoko. "Enough of this foolish talk, "I said "Listen, Otomio. If you had cared for m< truly, surely you would have saved nu from this dreadful doom or prevailed upor Guatomoc to save mc. You are Monte zumo's daughter. Could you not huv< brought lt about during all theso month; that ho Issued his royal mandate, com manding that I 6hould bo spared?" ''Do you, then tako mo for so poor i friend, Teule?" sho answered hotly. "Know that for all theso months, by day and by night, I havo worked and striven to find a means to rcscuo you. Before he became a prisoner I importuned my fa ther, tho emperor, till ho ordorcd mo from his presence. I havo sought to bribo thc priests. I havo plotted ways of escape aye, and Guatemoc has helped, for ho loves you. Hod it not been for tho coming of these accursed Teulcs and thc war that they levied in tho city I had surely saved you, for a woman's thought leaps far and can find a path where none seems possible But this war has changed everything, and, moreovor, tho star readers and di viners of auguries have given a prophecy which seals your fate, for they havo prophesied that if your blood flows and your heart is offered at tho hour of noon tomorrow on tho altars of Tezcat our peo ple Bhall bo victorious over the Toules and utterly destroy them. But if the sacrifice is celebrated ono moment beforo or after that propitious hour, then thc doom of Tenoctitlan is sealed; also they havo de clared that you must die, not, according to custom, at tho temple of arms across tho luke, but on the great pyramid before the chief statuo of tho god. All this is known throughout tho land. Thousands of priests aro now offering up prayers that the sacrifice may bc fortunate, and a gold en ring has been hung over tho stone of slaughter in such a fashion that tho light of tho sun must strike upon tho center of your breast at tho very moment of mid day. For weeks you havo been watched as a jaguar watches its prey, for it was feared that you would escape to tho Tonics, and wc, your wives, have been watched also. At tliis moment there is a triple ring of guards about tho palace, and priests are set without your dours and be neath tho window places. Judge, then, what ehanco there is of escape, Teule. " "Littlo indeed," I said, "and yet I know a road. If I kill myself, they can not kill mc." "Noy," sho answered hastily, "what shall that avail you? While you live you may hopo, but onto dead you are dead for ever; olso, if you must die, It is best that you should die by the hund of thc priest. Bol Ic vo me, though tho end is horrible," and she shuddered, "it is almost painless, so they say, und very swift. They will not torture you. That wo havo saved you, Guatomoc and I, though at first they wished thus to honor tho god more particu larly on this great day. "O Teule," Otomio wont on, Boating herself by mo on tho bed and taking my hand, "think no moro of these brief ter rors, but look beyond them. Is it so hard a thing to die, and swiftly? Weall must die, today or tonight or tho next day, it matters little when, and your faith, Uko ours, teaches that beyond tho grave is end loss blessedness. Think then, my friend, tomorrow you will havo passed far from this Btrlfo and turmoil; tho strugglo and tho sorrows and thc daily fears for thc fu ture thot make tho stud sick will be over for you; you will be taken to your peace, where no one shall disturb you forever. There you will find that mother whom you have told pin of, and who loved you, and fhiero perhaps ona wPl join you who loves /PW beftor' than your mother; mayhap ryon I may meet you til/ire, friend, " and fifio lookccf ?it nw? prrnngi.fjy. "Thu road ^hat you ar?' dooiniftl r'J -?v/?k Is dark In deed, but surely It must bp VvelJ iroddotj, and there is light shining beyond lt. f& bo a man, my friend, and do not grieve. Rejoice Father that at BO early an age you havo done with woes and doubts and como to tho gates, of joy; that you havo passed tne Thorny, unwutumrwijuemess and seo tho smiling lukes and gardens, and among them tho temples of your eternal city. ''And now farewell. We meet no moro till tho hour of sucrlflco, for we women who masquerade as wives must accompany you to the first platforms of the temple. Farewell, dear friend, and think upon my words. Whether they are acceptable to you or no, I am 6ure of this-that both for tho sake of your own honor and because I ask it of you you will die bravely aa though the eyes of your own people were watching all." And, bending suddenly, Otomio kissed me on tho forehead gently os a sister might and was gone. CHAPTER xvnx THE KISS OF LOVE. At length the doy dawned. Presently there was a sound of music, and, accom panied by certain artists, my pages entered, bearing with them apparel more gorgeous than any that I had worn hitherto. . First, those pages huving stripped me of my robes, tho artists painted all my body in hideous designs of red and white and blue till I resembled a flag, not even sparing my faco and lips, which they colored with carmine huos. Over my heart also they drew a scarlet ring with much oare and measurement. Then they did up my hair, that now hung upon my shoulders, after tho fashion in which it was worn by gen erals among the Indians, tying it on tho top of my head with an embroidered rib bon red in color, and placed a plume of cock's feathers above it. Next, havinsr ar rayed my body In gorgeous vestments not unliko those used by popish priests at tho celebration of the mass, they set golden earrings in my ears, golden bracelets on my wrists and ankles, and round my neck a collar of priceless emeralds. On my breast also they hung a great gem that gleamed like moonlit water, and beneath my chin a falso beard made from pink eeo shells. Then, having twined me round with wreaths of flowers till I thought cf the Maypole on Bungny common, they rested from their labors, filled with admi ration at their handiwork. Now the music sounded again, and they gnvo me two lutes, ono of which I must hold in either hand, and conducted me to the great hall of the palace. Here a num ber of pcoplo of rank were gathered, all dressed in festal attire, and here also on dais to which I was led stood my four wives clad in tho rich dresses of the four goddesses Xochl, Xilo, Atla and Clixto, after whom they were named for the days of their wifohood, Atla being tho Princesa Otomic. When I had taken my place upon the dals, my wives came forward one by one, and kissing mo on tho brow offered mo sweetmeats and meal cakes in golden platters and cocoa and mescal In golden cups. Of thu mescal I drank, for it ls a spirit, and I needed inward comfort, but the other dainties I could not touch. These ceremonies being finished, there was silence for awhile, till presently a band of filthy priests entered at the far end of the chamber, clad in their scarlet sacrificial robes. Blood was on them ev erywhere; their long locks were matted with it; their hands were red with It; even their fierce eyes seemed full of it. They advanced un tho chamber till they stood priest lifted up his hands, crying aloud: "Adore thc immortal god, ye people," and all those gathered there prostrated themselves, shouting: '.We adore the god!" Thrice the priest cried aloud, and thrice they answered him thus, prostrating themselves at every answer. Then they rose again, and tho priest addressed me, say .'Forgivo us, O Tezcat, that wo cannot honor you as it is meet, for our sovereign should have been hero to worship you with us. But you know, O Tezcat, how sore is tho strait of your servants, who must wage war in their own city against those who blaspheme you and your broth er gods. You know that our beloved em peror lies wounded, a prisoner in their un holy hands. When wo have gratified your longing to pass beyond tho skios, O Tez cat, and whc.i in your earthly person you have taught us tho lesson that human prospcricy is but a shadow which flees uway, in memory of our love for you in tercedo for us. wc beseech you, that we may smite the se wicked ones and honor you and them by tho rito of their own sacrifice. C Tezcat, you have dwelt with us but a little while, and now you will not suffer that wo hold you longer from your glory, for your eyes have. longed to seo tills happy day, and it ls como at last. Wc huvo loved you, Tezcat, and minister ed to you. Grant in return that wo may seo you in your splendor, wo who are your little children, and till wo como watch well over our earthly welfare and that of thc people among whom you have design ed to sojourn." Having spoken some Buch words as these, that at times could scarcely be heard because ol' the sobbing of tho people and of my wives who wept loudly, except Otomio alone, this villainous priest made a sign, and onco more tho muslo sounded. Then ho and his band placed themselves about me, my wives, tho goddesses, going before and after, and lcd mo down the hall and on to tho gateways of the palace, which were thrown wldo for us to poss. Looking round mo with a stony wonder, for in this my last hour nothing seemed to escapo my notice, I saw that a strange play was being played about us. Somo hun dreds of paces away tho attack on the pol aco of Axa, where thc Spaniards were in trenched, raged with fury. Bands of war riors were attempting to scale tho walls and being driven back by tho deadly fire of tho Spaniards and the pikes and clubs of the Tlascalan allies, whilo from the roofs of 6uch of tho neighboring houses as remained unburned, and more especially from tho platform of tho great tcocalll, on which I must presently givo up tho ghost, arrows, javelins and stones were poured by thousands into tho courtyards and outer works of thc Spanish quarters. Flvo hundred yards away or so raged this struggle to tho death, but ?bout me, around tho gates of Montezuma's palace on tho hither aldo of tho square, was a different 6ceno. Here were (gathered a vast crowd, among them many women and children, waiting to see me die. They came with flowers In their hands, with the sound of music and joyous cries, and when they saw mo they sot up suoh a shout of welcome that it almost drowned the thun der of tho guns and the angry roar of bat tic. Now and again an 111 aimed cannon bull woidd plow through thom, killing 6omo and wounding others, but the rest took no heed, only crying tho more: "Wel come, Tezcat, and farewell Blessings on you, our deliverer; welcome and farewell!" Wc went slowly through tho press, tread ing on a path of flowers, till wo came across tho courtyard to the baso of the pyramid. Hero at tho outer gato there was a halt because of tho multitude of peo ple, and while wo waited a wurrior thrust his way through tho crowd and bowed be fore me. Glancing up, I suw that it was Guatemoc. '.Teule,"hc whispered tome, "I leave my charge yonder," and he nodded to ward tho force who strove to break a way Into the palace of Axa, ''to bid you fare well. Doubtless we shall meet again ero long. Believe me, Tcule, I would have helped you If I could, but lt cannot be. I wish that I might change places with you. My friend, farewell. Twice you have saved my lifo, but yours I cannot save" '.Farewell, Guatemoc," 1 answered. "Heaven prosper you, for you are u trae mun." Then we passed on. At thc foot of tho pyramid thc procession wa? formed, nnd here ono of my wives btide me adieu after weeping on my neck, though I did not weep on her?. Now, the roud to the summit of the teoculll winds round and round tho pyramid, every mountain higher as lt winds, und along this road >\e went in solemn state. At each turn we halted, and another wife budo mo a last good by, or ono nf my instru ments of music, which I did not grieve to soo the last of, or sumo article of my strange uti ire was takon from mo. At length, after an hour's march, for our progn ss v. :is slow, we reached the flat top of the pyramid that is approached by a great stair, a space larger than tho are? of tho churchyard hero at Dllehinghani, and unfenced at its lofty edge. Here on this (lizzy plaee stood tho temples of Hultzel lind Tomcat, soaring ?trii?Hirofi of Htonp nnd proud, within whfph Wurp pjueed Min horrid ciligii* ,"f fhp god;., una; ||r^adfnjj chumben, stained mfh snerlfloo,'' Hore, too, were the holy fires' that burned OtQf? nally, the sue i (it* lui stones, pho Implements of tarmont . i-uco drum of. snakes' Then suddenly tho head sklnir; but for thu rest tflo spoc was bore. It was bnrc, but not empty, for on that .Ide which looked toward tho Spanish quarters were stationed some hundreds of men, who hurled missiles Lnto their camp without ceasing. On tho other eldo wer* gathered a concourse of priests awaiting the ceremony of my death. Below the (Treat square, fringed about with burnt out houses, was crowded with thousands of people, some of them engaged in com bat with the Spaniards, but the larger fart collected there to witness my murder. Now, wo reached thc top of tho pyramid, two hours before midday, lor there were ?itill many rites to bo carried out ere the moment of sacrifice. First I was led into ibo sanctuary of Tozcat, the god whose eiio H here. Hero was his statue or Idol, hionud in black marbia and covered With golden ornaments, tu tho hands of Ibis idol was a shield of burnished gold on which its joweled eye? were ftxed, reading there, os his priests fabled, i?l that passed upon thc earth lie hod creatoi. Before him also was a plato of gold, which with mut tered invocations the bead veriest cleansed as I watched, rubbing lt wita his long and matted looks. This done ho held lt to my lips that I might breathe on it, and I turned faint and sick, ?or I knew that It was being mod? ready to reooivo my heart, which I folt beating in my breast. Now, what further ceremonies were to bo carried out in this unholy place I do not know, for at that moment a great tumult aroso in tb o square beneath, and I was hurried from the sanctuary by tho priests. Then I perceived this: Galled to madness hy the ctorm of missiles rained upon them from its crest, tho Spaniards woro attacking tho teocali 1. Already they were pouring across the courtyard in large companies, lcd by Cortes himself, and with thom came many hundreds of their allies, tho fiasco! ons. On the other hand, Borne thousands of tho Aztecs were rush ing to the foot of tho first stairway to give tho white men battle there. Five minutes passed, and the fight grow fierce. Again oed again, covered by tho fire of tho ar quebusiers, the Spaniards charged the Aztecs, but their horses slipping upon the Btone pavement at length they dismount ed and continued the fray on foot. Slow ly and with great slaughter the Indians were pushed back, and tho Spaniards gain ed a footing on tho first stairway. But hun dreds of warriors still crowded tho lofty winding road, and hundreds moro held the top, and it was plain that if tho Spaniards won thrungli at all tho task would bc a hard ono. Still a fierce hope smote me like a blow when I saw what was toward If the Spaniards took tho temple, there would bo no sacrific?. No sacrifice could be offered till midday, so Otoiuio had told me, and that was not for hard upon two hours. It came to this, thou-If thu Span iards wore victorious withlu two hours, there was a chanco for me; if not, I must dla I Now, when I wus led out of tho sanctu ary of Tezcut 1 wondered becuuso tho Princess Qtomie, or rather tho Goddess Aria, os sho was then eil led, wai standing among tho chief priest? and disputing with them, for I liad seen her bow her head at the door of thu holy placo trod thought that it was in token of farewell, seeing thut sho wus tho last of thu four women to leave me. Of what sho disputed I could not hear because of the din of bat tle, but tho argument was keon, and it seemed to mo that tho priest? wore some what dismayed at her words and yet had a flerco joy in them. It appeared also that sho won her cause, for presently they bowed in obeisance to her, and turning .lowly sho swept to my sid? with a pecul iar majesty of gait that even then I noted. Glancing up at her face also, I saw that it was alight as though with a grout and holy fmrpose, and, moreover, that sho looked iko some happy bride passing to her hus band's arms. "Why arc you not gone, Otomief" I said. ''Now it is too lute. Tho Spaniards surround thoteocalli, and you will be killed or taken prisoner." "I await tho end, whatevor lt may bo," she answered briefly, and we spoke no moro for awhile, but watched the progress of the fray, which was fierce indeed. Grimly tho Aztec warriors fought before the symbols of their gods and in the sight of tho vast concourse of people who crowd ed the square beneath and stared at the struggle in silence. They hurled them selves upon the Spanish swords, they gripped tho Spaniards with their hands, and screaming with rogo dragged them to the steep sides of tho roadway, proposing to oast them over. Sometimes they suc ceeded, and a boll of men clinging together would roll down the slope and be dashed to pieces on the steno flooring of tho court yard, a Spaniard being in tho center of the ball. Bnt do what they would, like somo vast and writhing snake, still, the long ar ray of Teules, clad in their guttering mall, plowed its way upward through the storm of spears and arrows. Minute by minute and step by stop they crept on, fighting as men fight who know the fate that awaits the desecrators of the gods of Anahuao, fighting for life and honor and safety from the stono of sacrifice. Thus an hour went by, and the Span iards were half way up the pyramid. Louder and louder grew the fearful Bounds of battle, the Spaniards oh oe red and called on their patron saints to aid them, the Aztecs yelled like wild beast?, the priests ?creamed Invocations to their gods and cries of encouragement to their warriors, while above all rose the rattle of the arquebuses, the roar of the cannon and the fearful note of the great drum of snake's skin, on which a half naked priest beat madly. Only the multitudes below never moved nor shouted. They stood silent, gazing upward, and I could see the sunlight flash on the thousands of their staring eyes. Now, all this while I was standing near the stone of sacrifice, with Otomie at my ?Ide. Bound me ware a ring of priest?, and over the stone was fixed a square of black cloth supported upon four polea, which were set lu sockets la the pave ment lu the center of this black cloth was sewed a golden funnel, measuring 6 Inches or so across at ita mooth, and the sunbeams posing through this formal fell In a bright patch the tise of aa apple opon the space of parement that was shaded by the doth. As the sun moved In the heav ens, so did this ring of light creep across the shadow till at length lt climbed the ?tone aaorifloe and lay upon its edge. Then, at a algn from the head priest, his ministers laid hold of mo and plucked what was left of my fine clothes 'from me as cruel boys pluck a living bird till I ?toed naked except for the paint upon my body and a cloth about my loins. Now I knew that my hour had como, and, strange to tell, for the first time this day courage entered into me, and I rejoiced to think that Boon I should havo done with my tormentors. Turning to Otomie, I be gan to bid her farewell in a clear voice, when to my amaze I saw that as I had been served so she was being served, for her splendid robes were being tom off her, and she stood before mo arrayed in noth ing except her beauty, her flowing hair and a broidered smock. "Do not wonder, Teule, " sho said in a low voioe, answering the question my tongue refused to frame. ' ' I am your wife, and yonder is our marriage bed, the first and last. Though you do not love me, today I die your death and at your side, as I have the right to do- I could not save you, Teule, but at least I can dio With you." At the moment I made no answer, for I was stricken silont by my wonder, and be fore I could And my tongue the priests had cast me down, and for thc second time I lay upon tho stone of doom. AH they held mo a yell fiercer and longer than any whloh had gone before told that the Spaniards had got foot upon the last stair of the as cent. Scarcely had my body been set upon tho center of tho great stone when that of Otomie was laid besido it, so close that our sides touched,' for I must lie in tho middle of the stone, and there was no great place for her. Then, tho moment of sacri fice not being come, thc priests made us fast with cords which they knotted to cop per rings in tho pavement and turned to watch the uro?TOss of th? .fra* . To UK CONTINUED. The Old Hickory Wagons, in compaiable forever, still take the lead everywhere. Ramsey & Bland oan nnpp?v ym ftnd sand you home nappy,_ Farm bells for sale by Ramsey & Bland. 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