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Keep your ? columns fo interesting more weeks After tn"-ic wo wept ourselves to sleep In each other's arms, Otomle murmuring "Look, he lies dead!" from time to time, "Oh, my husband, I would that wo were asleep and forgotten, we and the babo together." "Best now," I answered, "for death ls very near to us." Tho morrow came, and with lt a dead lier fray than any that had gone before, and after lt more morrows and more deaths, but still we lived on, for Guatemoc gave us of his food. Thon Cortes sent his heralds demanding our surrender, and now threo-fourths of the city was a ruin, and three-fourths of its defenders wcro dead. The dead were heaped In the houses like bees stifled in a hive, and in tho streets they lay so thick that wo walked upon them. The council was summoned, fierce men, haggard with hunger and with war, und they considered tho offer of Cortes. "What is your word, Guatemoc?" said their spokesman at last. "Am I Montezuma, that you ask me? I swore to defend this city to the hist," he answered hoarsely, "and, for my part, I will defend it. Better that wo should all die than that we should fall living into the hands of tho Tculcs. " "So say we," they replied. And thc war went on. At length there caine a day when the Spaniards made a new attack and gained another portion of thc city. There thc people were huddled together like sheep In a pen. We strove to defend them, but our arms were weak with famine. They fired into us with their pieces, mowing us down like corn before sickle. Then tho Tlasca lans wero loosed upon tis, liko fierce hounds upon a defenseless buck, and on this day lt is said that there died 40, OOO people, for none was spared. On tho mor row-lt was tho last day of the siege-carno a fresh embassy from Cortes, asking that Guatemoc should meet him. Thc answer was the same, for nothing could conquer that noblo spirit. "Tell bim, " said Guatemoc, "that I will die where I am, but that I will hold no parley with him. We aro helpless; let Cortes work his pleasure on us." By now all tho city was destroyed, and we who remained alivo within its bounds were gathered on tho causeways and be hind tho rains of walls, men, women and children together. Here they attacked us again. The great drum on tho teocalll beat for the last time, and for the last timo thc wild scream of the Aztec warriors went up to heaven. We fought our best. I killed four men that day with my arrows, which Otomle, who was at my side, handed me as I shot. But tho most of us had not tho strength of a child, and what could we doP They came among us liko seamen among a flock of seals and slaughtered us by hundreds. They drove us into tho canals and trod us to death thero till bridges were made of our bodies. How wo escaped I do not know. At length a party of us, among whom was Guatemoc, with his wife, Teculchpo, were driven to the shores of the lake, where lay canoes, and into these wc entered, scarcely knowing what we did, but think ing that wo might escape, for now all the city was taken. Tho brigantines saw us and sailed after us with a favoring wind the wind always favored thc foe in that war-and, row as we would, one of them carno up with us and began to lire into us. Thon Guatemoc stood up and spoke, say ing: "I am Guatemoc. Bring me to Malln cho. But spare those of my people who re main alive." "Now," I said to Otomio at my side, "my hour has o?me, for the Spaniards will surely hang mo, and lt is In my mind, wife, that I should do well to kill myself, so that I may bo saved from a death of shame." "Nay, husband," she answered sadly, "as I said in bygone days, while you live thero is hope, but the dead come back no more. Fortune may favor us yet; still, li you think otherwise, I am ready to die.M "That I will not suffer, Otomle." "Then you must hold your hand hus band, for now, aa always, where you go I follow." '"Listen," I whispered. "Do not let it bo known that you aro my wife. Puss yourself as one of tho ladies of Tecuiohpo, the queen, your sister. If we aro separat ed, and if by any chunco I escape, I will try to mako my way to the City of Pines. There, amoi.g your own people, wo may find refuge." "So bo it, beloved," sho answered, smil ing sadly. "But I do not know how tho Otomle will receivo mo, who have led 20, 000 of their bravest men to a dreadful death." Now wo wero on tho deck of thc brigan tine and must stop talking, und thence, after tho Spaniards had quarreled over us for awhile, wo wero taken ashore and led to tho top of a houso which still stood, where Cortes had mado ruuly hurriedly to receive his royal prisoner. Surrounded by his escort), tho Spanish general stood, cap in hand, and by his sido was Marinu, grown moro lovely than before, whom I Cow met for tho first time since wo had parted in Tabasco. Our eyes met, and 6ho started, thereby showing that she knew mo again, though it must) havo been hard for Murinu to ree ogrdze her friend Tculo in tho blood stained, starviLg and tattered wretch who could scarcely find strength to climb tho azotea. But at that timo no words passed between us, for all eyes wero bent on tho meeting between Cortes and Guatemoo. between tho conqueror and tho conquered. Still proud and defiant, though he Seemed but a living skeleton, Guatemoc Walked straight to where the Spaniard Stood and spoke, Marina trunslating his words: "I am Guatemoc, tho emperor, Malln eho," ho said. "'What a man might do to defend his people I have done. Look on tho fruits of my labor, " and ho pointed to tho blackened ruins of Tenoctitlan that stretched on every side us far as the eye could reach. "Now I have como to thia pass, for the gods themselves havo boen against mc. Deal with mo as you will, but lt will be best that you kill me now," and ho touched the dagger of Cortes with hi* hand, ''and thus rid mo swiftly of the misery of life." "Fear not, Guatemoc," answered Cor tes. *'You have fought like a bravo man, and sud? I honor. With me you are safe, Jfor we Spaniards love a gallant foe. See, lhere is food," and he pointed to atable spread with such viands as wo had not ?sen for many a week. "Eat, you and rour companions together, for rou must ?yes on these >r a rare and story in a few need 16. " Afterward" we wuT talk?. " < 80 we ate, and heartily, I, for my port, thinking it would be well to die upon a full stomach, having faced death so long upon an empty one, and while we de voured the meat the Spaniards stood on one side scanning us, not without pity. Presently Teculchpo was brought before Cortes, and with her Otomie and six other ladies. He greeted her graciously, and they were given to eat. how one of the Spaniards who had been watching me whispered something into tho ear of Cor tes, ond I saw his face darken. "Say," he said to me In Castillan, "aro you that renegade, that traitor who has aided these Aztecs against us?" "I am no renegade and no traitor, gen eral, '1 I answered boldly, for the food and wino had put new lifo into mo. "I am an Englishman, and I havo fought with thc Aztecs because I have good cause to hate you Spaniards." "You shall soon have better, traitor!" he said furiously. "Hore, lead this man away and hang him on th? mast of yonder ship." Now I saw that it was finished and made ready to go to my death, when Ma rina spoke Into the ear of Cortes. All she said I could not catch, but I heard tho words "hidden gold." He listened, then hesitated and spoke aloud: "Do not hang, this man -xxlay. Let him be safoly guard ed. Tomorrow I will inquire Into his case." CHAPTER XXV. THOMAS IS DOOMED. At the words of Cortes two Spaniards came forward, and seizing,me one by either arm they led me across the roof of tho houso toward thc stairway. Otomlo had heard also, and though she did not understand the words she read the face of Cortes and knew well that I was being taken to imprisonment or death. As I passed her she started forward, a terror shining in her eyes. Fearing that she was about to throw herself upon my breast, and thus reveal herself as my wife and bring my fa^c upon her, I glanced at her warningly, then made pretense to Stum ble, and as though with fear and exhaustion I fell at her feet. The soldiers who lcd me laughed brutally, and one of them kicked mc with his heavy boot. But Otouiio stooped down and held her hand to me to help mo rise, and as I did so wo spoke low and swiftly. "Farewell, wife," I said. "Whatever happens, keep silent." "Farewell," she answered. "If you must die, await me in tho gates of death, for I will join you there." "Nay, live on. Time shall bring com fort." "You aro my life, beloved. With you timo ends for me." Now I was on my feet again, and I think that nono noted our whispered words, for all wero listening to Cortes, who rated the man that had kicked mo. "I bado you guard this traitor-not to kick him, "he said angrily In Castllian. "Will you put us to open shame before these savages? Do so once moro, and you shall pay for it smartly. Learn a lesson In gentleness from that woman. Sho is starv ing, yet she leaves her food to help your prisoner to his feet. Now take him away to camp and sec that he comes to no harm, for ho can tell me much." ? Then the soldiers lcd mo away, grum bling as they went, and the last thing I saw ww tho despairing face of Otomie, my wife, as sho gazed after mo, faint with the secret agony of our parting. But when I came to the head of the stairway Guate moc, who stood near, book my hand and shook 16. "Farewell, my brother, " ho sold, with a heavy smile. "Tho game wo played to gether ls finished, and now lt ls time for ns to rest. I thank you for your valor and your aid." "Farewell, Guatemoc," I answered. "You are fallen, but let this comfort you In your fall you havo found immortal fame." "On, on!" growled tho soldiers, and I went, little thinking how Guatemoc and I should meet again. They took me to a canoe, and wo wero paddled across the hike by Tluscalans till at longth wo carno to the Spanish camp. Tho room of the stone house where they prisoned me had a window secured by bars of wood, and through these bars I could see and hear tho revelings of the sol diers during tho time of my con?nemont. All day long, when they were not on duty, and most of the night also, they gambled and drank, staking tens of pesos on a bin gle throw, which the loser must pay out of his share of the countless treasures of the Aztecs. Little did they care if they won cr lost, they were so sure of plunder, but played on till drink overpowered thom and they rolled senseless beneath the ta bles, or till they sprang up and danced wildly to and fro, catching at tho sunbeams ?nd screaming, "Gold, gold, goldi" Listening at this window also I gath ered 6ome of the tidings of tho camp. I learned that Cortes had come back, bring ing Guatemoc and several of tho princes with him, together with many of tho noble Aztec ladies. Indeed I saw und heard tho j soldiers gambling for these women when ! they wero weary of their play for money, a description of each of them being writ ten on a piece of paper. Ono of these la dles answered well to Otomie, my wife, and sho was put up to auction by the bruto who won her In tho gamble and sold to a common soldier for a hundred pesos, for theso men never doubted but that the women and thc gold would bc handed over to them. Thus things went for several days, dur ing which I sut and slept in my prison un troubled by any, except the native woman who waited on mo and brought mo food in plenty. During those days I ate as I have never cuten before or since, and I slept much, for my sorrows could not rid my body of its appetites and commanding need for food and rest. Indeed I verily believe that at the end of a week I had in- ' creased in weight by a full half. Also my weariness was conquered at length, and I was strong again. But when I was neither sleeping nor eating I watched ut my window, hoping, though in vain, to catch some sight of Otomie or Guatemoc. If I might not seo my friends, however, ut least I saw my foe, for ono evening Dc Garcia came and stared at my prison. He could not see me, but I saw him, and the devilish smile that flickered on his face HS he went away Uko a wolf made mc shiver with a presage of woes to conic. For 10 minutes or moro he stood gazing at my window hungrily, as a cat gazes at a caged bird, and I felt that bo waa walting for the door to bo oponed and knew that it would soon bo opened. This hftpppmd on the eve of the day upon which ? wo? put to torture. Meanwhile, a? t?mtt Wimp on, I noticed that a change came over tilts temper of the camp. The soldiers ceased to ga;? bio for untold wealth; they sven ceased drinking to excess and from tholr riotous joy, but took to hanging together In knots, discuss ing fiercely I could not learn of what. On tho day when De Garcia came to look at my prison there was a great gathering in the 6quor? opposite my prison, to which I JAW Cortes rid?-" upon ft white horse and richly dressed. Tho WC?Plng was too fur away for me to overhear whaf p.i.wsod. but I noticed that several officers addressed j ? Cortes angrily, and that their speeches I WA're loudly cheered hy thc soldiers. At last thu great captain answered them at some length, and they broke up in silenco. Next morning, after I had breakfasted, four soldiers came into my prison and or dered inc to accompany them. ''Whither'-" I asked. "To the eaptain, traitor," their leader answered. "It has como at last, " I thought to my self, but I said only: "It is well. Any chango from thi6 hole ls one for tho bettor. " .'Certainly," he replied, "and this ls your last shift." Thon I know that the man behoved that I was going to my death. In flvo minutos I was standing beforo Cortes In his private house. At his side was Marina, and around him woro several of his companions in arms. The great man looked at mo for awhile, then spoke: ''Your nara? ls Wingfield. You aro of mixed blood-half English and half Span ish. You were cast away in tho Tabasco river and taken to Tonoctltlan. There you were doomed to pers?nate tho Aztec god Tezoat and wero rescued by us when we captured the great teocali 1. Subsequently At his ?ldc was Marina. you joined tho Aztecs and took part In the attack and slaughter of tho nocho triste. You were afterward the friend and coun selor of Guatemoc and assisted In his de fense of Tenoctitlan. Is this true, pris oner?" "It is all true, general," I answered. "Good. You aro now our prisoner, and had you a thousand lives you have forfeited them all because of your treachery to your race and blood. Into tho circumstances that led you to commit this horrible trea son I cannot enter. Thc fact remains you have slain many of the Spaniards and tholr allies-that ls, being In a state of treason, you have murdered them. Wing field, your life ?3 forfeit, and I condemn "ou to dio by hanging as a traitor and an apostate." "Then there ls nothing more to Ix; said, " I answered quietly, though a cold fear frozo my blood. "There is something," answered Cortes. "Though jvir crimes have been many, I am ready to give you your life and free dom upon a condition. I am ready to do more-to find you a passage to Kurope cn the first occasion, when? you may per chance escape the echoes of your infamy if God ls good to you. Tho condition ls this: Wo have reason to believe that you are ac quainted with the hiding place of the gold of Montezuma, which was unlawfully stolen from us on the night of tho noche triste-nay, wc know that this is so, for you were seen to go with the canoes that were laden with it. Chooso now, apos tate, between a shameful death and the revealing to us of tho secret of this treas ure. 1 ' For a moment I wavered. On thc one hand was the loss of honor, with life and liberty and tho hope of home; on thc other a dreadful end. Then I remembered my oath and Otomic, and what she would think of mo, living or dead, if I did this thing, and I waverod no more. "I know nothing of tho treasure, gen eral," I answered coldly. " Send mo to my death." "You mean that you will say nothing of it, traitor. Think again. If you havo sworn any oaths, they aro broken by God. Tho empiro of tho Aztecs is at an end; their king is my prisoner; their groat city is a ruin. The true God has triumphed over these devils by my hand. Their wealth ia my lawful spoil, and I must have it to pay my gallant comrades, who cannot grow rich on desolation. Think again." "I know nothing of this treasure, gen eral?' "Yet memory sometimes wakons, trai tor. 1 havo said that you shall die if yours should fail you, and so you shall, to bo sore, But death is not always swift. There, arc means. Doubtless you who havo lived lo Spain havo heard of them," and he arched his brows and glared at mo meaningly, ''by which a man may die and yet live for many weeks. Now, loath as I am to do it, it seems to mc that, if your memory still sloops, I must find somo luoh means to rouse it-before you die.11 UI am in your power, general," I an swered. "You oall mo traitor again and again. I om no traitor. I am a subject of tho king of England-not of the king of Spain. I came hither, following a villain' wno has wrought me and mine bitter wrong-ono of your company named Do Garcia or Sarceda. To find him and for other reasons I joined the Aztecs. They aro conquered, and I am your prisoner. At thoJeast, deal with mc as a bravo man deals with a fallon enemy. I know noth ing of tho treasure. Kill mo and make an end." "As a man I might wish to do this, Wingfield, but I am more than a man. I am tho hand of tho church herc in Ana huac. You havo partaken with tho wor shipers of idols; you have seen your fel low Christians sacrificed and devoured by your brute comrades. For this alone you deserve to be tortured eternally, and doubt less that will bo so after wc havo dono with you. AB for thc hidalgo Don Sar ceda, I know him only as a brave compan ion In arms, and certainly I shall not lis ten to tales told against him by a wander ing apostate. It ls, however, unlucky for you," and hero a gleam of light shot across tho face of Cortes, "that thero should bo any old feud between you, see ing that lt is to his charge that I am obout to confide you. Now, for the last time, I say choose. Will you reveal the hiding pince of tho treasure and go free, or will you bc handed over to thc care of Don Sar ceda till such time as he shall find means to make you speak?" Now a great faintness seized me, for I knew that I was condemned to bo tor tured, and that De Garcia was to be the torturer. What mercy bad I to expect from this cruel heart when I, his deadliest foe, lay in his power to wreak his vengo anco on? lint still my will and my honor prevailed against my terrors, and I an swered: "I have told you, general, that I know nothing of this treasure. Do your worst, and may God forgive you for your cruelty. " "Dare not speak that holy name, apos tate and worshiper of idols, eater of hu man flesh. Let Sarceda bc summoned." A messenger went out, and for nwhile thoro was silence. I caught Marina's glance and saw pity in her gentle eyes. But sho could not help me here, for Cortes was mad because no gold had been found, and tho clamor of tho soldiers for reward had worn him out and brought him to this shameful remedy, he who was not cruel by nature. Still she strove to plead for me with him, whispering earnestly in his ear. For awhile Cortes listened; then he pushed her from him roughly. ''Peace, Marina," ho said. "What! Shall I spare this English dog somo pangs when my command and perchance my very lifo hangs upon thc finding of the gold? Nay, he knows well where it lies hid. You said lt yourself when I would havo hung him for a traitor, and certainly ho was ono of those whom the spy saw go out with lt upon thc lake. Our friend was with them also, but became bock no more. Doubtless they murdered him. What ls this man to you that you should plead for him? Cease to trouble me, Marina. Ami not troubled enough already?" and Cortes put his hands to his face and remained lost In thought. AH for Marina, she looked at mo sadly and sigluxl as though to say, "I havo dono my best," and I thanked her -?Ith my eyes. TO UK CONTINCKD. Subscribe t? the Edgefield AD VERTISER. A LIFE POLICY IN THE J. OF PORTLAND, MAINE, /$ T//EBEST InvESTfliEfiT ? MAH CAN MAKE! 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