I)mun un?
o uti) ron
IHK SUMTES WATCHMAN, Kat&blilhed April, 1850.
'Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's."
THU TKUK SOUTHRON. K.tabllihed Jone. 1566
Consolidated Aug, 2,1881.
SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1894.
New Series-Vol. XIV. So. 3.
Published Every "Wsdassday,
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CHAPTER X.
THE LAXD OF MONTEZUMA.
As it chanced, a largo Spanish corak
Barned Las Cinque Llagas, or The Five
Wounds, was about to sail for Hispaniola,
and having obtained a license to trade I
took passage in her under my assumed
name of D'AIla, passing myself oft* as a
merchant. To further this deception I
purchased goods to the value of 105 pesos,
and of such nature asl was informed were
most readily salable in the Indies, which
merchandise I shipped with me. The ves?
sel was full of Spanish adventurers, most?
ly ruffians of varied career and strange his?
tory, but none the less good companions
enough when not in drink. By this time
leonid speak Castilian so perfectly and
was so Spanish in appearance, that it
was not difficult for me to pass myself oft
as one of their nation, and this I did, in?
venting a feigned tale of my parentage
and of the reasons thafc*led me to tempt
the seas. For the rest, new* as ever, I kept
my own counsel, and notwithstanding my
reserve; for I would not mingle in their
orgies, I soon became well liked by my
corrrmfles, chiefly because of my skill in
ministering to their sicknesses.
Of our voyage to the Indies much could
be written after the manner of sea tales,
most of all of De Garcia, whom I encoun?
tered on a Spanish slave-ship, where I
found refuge after the loss of the carat,
near the port of Santo Domingo. But I
hasten now to write of my fortunes, both
evil and good, and of my trials on account
of De Garcia in the land of Montezuma,
and of her whose story I have long delay?
ed, Montezuma's daughter. From the
power of De Garcia, for he was an officer
in that abominable slaveship, I escaped by
leaping into tho sea.
In a drifting barrel I floated away when
the murderous slaves thought the sharks
were making food of me, and from death
by starving I was spared through a fish
that I snatched from the talons of a gull
and devoured raw. The hard wood and
iron bands of my tub shielded me from the
teeth of a ravenous shark, and in it I float?
ed through the breakers to the shores of a
lowly lying land and into the mouth of a
great river. At length, when the barrel
drifted in not more than four feet of water,
I slid down from it, and wading to the
bank cast myself at length there to rest
and thank God, who thus far had preserved
me miraculously. Then I staggered to my
feet and walked along the bank of the riv
er till I came to a pool of rainwater,
which on the tasting proved to be sweet
and good. I drank, weeping for joy at the
taste of the water, drank till I could drink
no more, and let those who have stood in
such a plight remember what water was t
them, for no words of mine can tell it
After I had drunk and washed the brine
from my face and body and been thus rc
freshed I cast myself down to sleep in the
shade of a bush bearing white flowers, for
I was utterly outworn.
When I opened my eyes again, it was
night, and doubtless I should have slept
on through many hours had it not been for
-a dreadful itch and pain that took me in
every part till at length I sprang up and
cursed in my agony. At first I was at a
loss to know what occasioned this torment
till I perceived that the air was alive with
gnatlike insects which made a singing
noise, and then settling on my flesh sucked
blood and spat poison into the wound at
one and the same time. These dreadful
insects the Spaniards name mosquitoes.
Nor were they the only flies, for hundreds
of other creatures no bigger than a pin's
head had fastenedonto me like bulldogs .to
a baited bear, boring their heads into the
flesh, where in the ?end they cause festers.
They are named garrapatas hythe Span?
ish, and I take them to be the young of the
tick. Others there were also, too numerous
to mention, and of every shape and size,
though they bad this in common-all bit
and all were venomous.
Before the morning these plagues had
driven me almost to mildness, for in no
way could I obtain relief from them. To?
ward dawn I went and lay in the water,
thinking to lessen my sufferings, but be?
fore I had been there 10 minutes I saw a
huge crocodile rise up from the mud be?
side me. I sprang away to the bank hor?
ribly afraid, for never before had I beheld
so monstrous and evil looking; a brute, to
fall again into the clutches of the crea?
tures,, winged and crawling, that were
waiting for me there by myriads.
But enough of these damnable insects!
At length the morning broke and found
me in a sorry plight, for my face was swol?
len to the size of a pumpkin by the venom
of the mosquitoes, and the rest of my body
was in little better case. Moreover, I could
not keep myself still because of the itch
ing, but must run and jump like a mad?
man. And where was I to run to through
this huge swamp, in which I could see no
shelter or sign of man? I could not guess,
so since I must keep moving I followed
the bank^)f the river, as I walked disturb?
ing many crocodiles and loathsome snakes.
Now, I knew that I could not live long in
such suffering and determined to strug?
gle forward till I fell down insensible and
death put an end to my torments.
For an hour or more I went on thus till
I came to a place that was clear of bush
and reeds. Across this I skipped and j
danced, striking with my swollen hands j
at the gnats which buzzed about my head.
Now the end was not far off, for I was ex- j
hausted and near to falling, when suddei
ly I came upon a party of men, brown i
color and clothed with white garment1
who had been fishing in the xiver. B
them on the -water -were several canoes i
which were loads of merchandise, and the
were now engaged in eating. So soon s
these men caught sight of me they uttere
exclamations in an unknown tongue, an
seizing weapons that lay by them, hov.
and arrows and wooden clubs set on thei
side with spikes of flinty glass, they mad
toward me as though to kill me.
NoWjI lifted up my hands praying fo
mercy, and seeing that I was unarmed an
helpless the men laid down their arms an
addressed ma I shook my head to sho\
that I could not understand and pointe
first to the sea and then to my swolle:
features. They nodded, and going to on
of the canoes a man brought from it .
paste of a brown color and aromatic smell
Then by signs he directed, me to remov
such garments as remained on mc. th'
fashion of which seemed to puzzle then
greatly. This being done, they proceed?
to anoint my body with the paste, th
touch of which gav? me a most blessed re
lief from my intolerable itching and burn
Lng and, moreover, rendered my flesh dis
casteful to the insects, for after that the;
plagued me little.
When I was anointed, they offered m
food-fried fish and cakes of meal, toge the
with a most delicious hot drink cover?
with a brown and foaming froth that
learned to know afterward as chocolate
When I had finished eating, having talker
awhile together in low tones, they mo
ticned me to enter one of the canoes, giv
lng me mats to lie on. I obeyed, and thre
other men came with me, for tho cano
was large. One of these, a very grave mai
with a gentle face and manner, whom
took to be the chief of the party, sat dow:
opposite to me, the other two placinj
themselves in the bow and stern of th
boat, which they drove along by means o
paddles. Then we started, followed b;
three other canoes, and before we had gen
a mile utter weariness overpowered me
and I fell asleep. .
I awoke much refreshed, having slep
many hours, for now the sun was setting
and was astonished to find the grave look
ing man, my companion in the canoe
keeping watch over my sleep and warding
the gnats from me with a leafy branch
His kindness seemed to show that I wa
in no danger of ill treatment, and my fear;
on that point being set at rest I began t<
wonder as to what strange land I had corni
and who its people might bel Soon, how
ever, I gave over, having nothing to built
on, and observed the scenery instead.. Nov
we were paddling up a smaller river thai
the one on the banks of which I had beer
cast away and were no longer in the midsi
of marshes.
On either side of us was open land, o;
rather land that would have been oper
had it not been for the great trees, largei
than the largest oak, which grew upon it
some of them of surpassing beauty. Up
these trees climbed creepers that hung like
ropes even from the topmost boughs, anc
among them were many strange and gor?
geous flowering plants that seemed to cling
to the bark as moss clings to?walL Ir
their branches also sat harsh voiced birds
of brilliant colors and apes that barked
and chattered at us as we went.
Just as the sun set over all this strange
new scene the canoes carno to a landing
place built of timber, and wo disembark?
ed. Now it grew dark suddenly, and all
I could discover was that I was being led
along a good road. Presently we reached
a gate, which, from the barking of dogs
and the numbers of people who thronged
about it, I judged to be the entrance to a
town, and passing it we advanced down
a long street with houses on either side
At the doorway of the last house my com?
panion halted, and taking me by thc hand
led me into a long, low room lit with lamps
of earthenware. Here some women came
forward and kissed him, while others,
whom I took to be servants, saluted him
by touching the floor with one hand. Soon,
however, all eyes were turned on me, and
many eager questions were asked of the
chief, of which I could only guess the pur?
port.
When all had gazed their fill, supper was
served, a rich meal of many strange meats,
and of this I was invited to partake, which
I did, scated on a mat and eating of thc
dishes that were placed upon the ground
by the women. Among these I noticed
one girl who far surpassed all the others
in grace, though none were unpleasing to
the eye She was dark indeed, but her
features were regular and her eyes fine.
Her figure was tall and straight, and the
sweetness of her face added to the charm
of her beauty. I mention this girl, herc for
two reasons-first, because she saved me
once from sacrifice and once from torture,
and, secondly, because she was none other
than. that woman who afterward became
known as Marina, the mistress of Cortes,
without whose aid he had never conquer?
ed Mexico. But at this time she did not
guess that it was her destiny to bring her
country of Anahuac beneath the cruel yoke
of the Spaniard.
From the moment of my entry I saw
that Marina, as I will call her, for her In?
dian name is too long to bc written, took
pity on my forlorn state and did what lay
in her power to protect me from vulgar
curiosity and to minister to my wants. It
was she who brought me water to wash in,
and a clean robe of linen to replace my
foul and tattered garments, and a cloak
fashioned of bright feathers for my shoul?
ders.
When supper was done, a mat was given
me to sleep on in a little room apart, and
here 7. lay down, thinking that, though I
might bc lost forever to my own world, at
least I had fallen among a people who
were gentle and kindly, and, moreover, as
I saw from many tokens, no savages. One
thing, however, disturbed me-I discov?
ered that, though I was well treated, also I
was a prisoner, for a man armed with a
copper spear slept across the doorway of
my little room. Before I lay down I looked
through the wooden bars which served as
a protection to the window place and saw
that the house stood upon the border of a
large open space, in the midst of which a
great pyramid towered a hundred feet or
more into the air. On the top of this
pyramid was a building of stone which ?
took to be a temple, and rightly, in front
of which a fire burned. Marveling what
the purpose of this great work might be,
aod in honor of what faith it was erected,
I went to sleep.
On tho morrow I was to learn.
Here it may be convenient for me to
state, what I did not discover till after?
ward, that I was in the city of Tabasco,
the capital of one of tho southern prov?
inces of Anahuac, which is situated at a
distance of some hundreds of miles from
the central city of Tenoctitlan, or Mexico.
The river where I had been cast away W2
the Rio de Tabasco, where Cortes lande
in the following year, and my host, c
rather my captor, was the cazique, orchie:
of Tabasco, the same man who subsequem
ly presented Marina to Cortes.
Tims it came about that, with the e^
I ception of a certain Aguilar, who, wit
some companions, was wrecked on th
coast of Yucatan six years before, I wa
I the first white man whoever dwelt arnon
the Indians. This Aguilar was rescue
j by Cortes, though his companions wei
ail sacrificed to Huitzel, the horrible wa
god of the country. But the name of th
Spaniards was already known to thc Ir
di ans, who looked on them with supersti
tious fear, for in the year previous to m;
being cast away the hidalgo Hernande
de Coidova had visited the coast of Yuca
j tan and fought several battles with thc na
I tives, and earlier in the same year of m;
\ arrival Juan de Grigalva had come to thi
; very river of Tabasco. Thus it cameabou
I that I was set down as one of this strang
! new nation of Teules, as the Indians nama
I the Spaniards, and therefore as an enem;
! for whose blood the gods were thirsting.
I awoke at dawn, much refreshed" wt!
sleep, and having washed and clothed my
self in the linen robej t?hat were provide
for me I came into the large room, wher
food was given me. Scarcely had I finish
ed my meal when my captor, the cazique
entered, accompanied by two men whos
appearance struck terror to my heart. L
countenance they were fierce and horrible
They wore black robes embroidered wit]
mystic characters in red, and their lom
and tangled hair was matted together wit!
some strange substance. Thesemen, whon
all present, including the chief, or cazique
seemed to look on with the utmost rever
ence, glared at me with a fierce glee tba
made my blood run cold. One of them in
deed tore open my white robe and place*
his filthy hand upon my heart, which bea
quickly enough, counting its throbs alouc
while the other nodded at his words. Aft
erward I learned that he was saying tba
I was very strong.
Glancing round to find the interpreta
tion of this act upon the faces of thos*
about me, my eyes caught those of th?
girl Marina, and there was that in then
which left me in little doubt. Horror an<
pity were written there, and I knew tha
some dreadful death overshadowed mc. Be
fore I could do anything, before I coule
even think, I was seized by the priests, o:
pabas, as thc Indians name them, am
dragged from the room, all the househole
following us except Marina and the ca
zique. Now I found myself in a grea
square or market place bordered by mani
fine houses of stone and lime, and some o:
mud, which was filling rapidly with a vas
number of people, men, women and chil
dren, who all stared at me as I went to
ward the pyramid on the top of which th<
fire burned. At the foot of this pyramid !
was led into a little chamber hollowed ou
in its thickness, and here my dress wai
torn from me by more priests, leaving m<
naked except for a cloth about my loin.?
and a chaplet of bright flowers which wai
set upon my head. In this chamber wer?
three other men-Indians-who, from th<
horror on their faces, I judged to be als<
doomed to death.
Presently a drum began to beat higl
above us, and we were taken from the
chamber and placed in a procession o:
many priests, I being the first among thc
victims. Then the priests set up a chant,
and we began the ascent of a pyramid, fol
lowing a road that wound round anc
round its bulk till it ended on a platforrr
at its summit, which may have measurec
40 paces in the square. Hence thc view
of the surrounding country was very fine,
but in that hour I scarcely noticed it, hav?
ing no care for prospects, however pleas?
ing. On the farther side of the platform
were two wooden towers 50 feet or so ir
height. These were the temples of the
gods-Huitzel, god of war, and Quetzal,
god of the air-whose hideous effigies,
carved in stone, grinned at us through the
open doorways. In the chambers of these
temples s^ood small altars, and on the al?
tars were large dishes of gold, containing
the hearts of those who had been sacrificed
on the yesterday. These chambers, more?
over, were incr usted with every sort ol
filth. In front of the temples stood the al?
tar whereon tho lire bumed eternally, and
before it was a hog backed block of black
marble of thc size of an inn drinking ta?
ble, and a great carven stone shaped like
a wheel, measuring some 10 feet across,
with a copper ring in its center.
All these things I remembered after?
ward, though at the time I scarcely seemed
to soe them, for hardly were we arrived at
the platform when I was seized and drag?
ged to the wheel shaped stone. Here a
hide girdle was put round my waist and
secured to the ring by a rope long enough
to enable me to run to the edge of the
stone and no. farther. Then a flint pointed
spear was given to me and spears were
given also to the two captives who accom?
panied me, and it was made clear to me
by signs that I must fight with them, it
being their part to leap upon tho -stone and
mino to defend it Now I thought that if
I could kill these two poor creatures per?
haps I myself should be allowed to go free,
and so to save my life I prepared to take
theirs if I could. Presently the head
priest gave a signal commanding the two
men to attack mc, but they were so lost in
fear that they did not even stir. Then the
priests began to flog them with leather
girdles till at length, crying out with pain,
they ran at me. One reached the stone and
leaped upon it a little before the other,
and I stuck the spear through his arm.
Instantly he droppetl his weapon and fled,
and tho other man fled also, for there was
no fight in them, nor would any flogging
bring them to face mc again.
Seeing that they could not mate them
brave, thc priests determined to have done
with them. Amid a great noise of music
and chanting, he whom I had smitten was
seized and dragged to thc hog backed block
of marble, which lu truth was a stone of
sacrifice. On this he was cast down, breast
upward, and held so by Ave priests, two
gripping his hands, two his legs and one
his head. Then, having donned a scarlet
cloak, thc head priest, tho same? who had
felt my heart, uttered some kind of prayer,
and raising a curved knife of tho flintlikc
glass or itztli struck open the poor wretch's
breast at a single blow and made tho an?
cient offering to the sun.
As he did this all tho multitude in tho
place below, in full view of whom this
bloody game was played, prostrated them?
selves, remaining on their knees till the
offering had been thrown into thc golden
censer before tho statue of the goel Huit?
zel. Thereon tho horrible priests, casting
themselves on the body, carried it with
shouts to the edge of the pyramid, or teo?
cali!, and rolled it down the st^ep sjeles. 1
*_
Struck open the poor wretch1 s breast, an
made the ancient offering to the sun.
At tho foot of the slope it was liff?c???
borne away by certain men who were wai"
mg, for what purpose I did not know t
that time.
Scarcely was the first victim dead whe
the second was seized and treated in a Iii
fashion, the multitude prostrating then
selves as before. And then last of a
came my turn. I felt myself seized an
my senses swam, nor did I recover thei
till I found myself lying on the accnrse
stone, the priests dragging at my lim t
and head, my breast strained upward tl
the skin was stretched as tight as that c
a drum, while over me stood the huma
devil in his red mantle, the glass knife i
his hand. Never shall I forget his wicke
face, maddened with the lust for blood, o
the glare in his eyes as he tossed back hi
matted locks. But he did not strike a
once; he gloated over me, pricking me wit
the point of his knife. It seemed to m
that I lay there for years while the pab
aimed, and pointed with the knife, but a
last, through a mist that gathered befor
my eyes, I saw it flash upward. Thor
when I thought that my hour had come
a hand caught his arm in midair and bel
it, and I heard a voice whispering.
What was said did not please the priesl
for suddenly he howled aloud and made
dash toward me to kill me, but again hi
arm was caught before the knife fell. The:
he withdrew into thc temple of the go
Quetzal, and for a long while I lay upo:
the stone, suffering the agonies of a hui:
dred deaths, for I believed that it was dc
termined to torture me before I died, an?
that my slaughter had been staid for thi
purpose.
At length I heard footsteps and shutm;
eyes, for I could bear the sight of tha
dreadful knife no longer. But, behold! n
knife felL Suddenly my hands wer
loosed, and I was lifted to my feet, o:
which I never hoped to stand again. Thej
I was borne to the edge of the teocalli, fo
I could not walk, and there my would b
murderer, tho priest, having first shoutet
some words to thc spectators below tha
caused them to murmur like a forest whei
tho wind stirs it, clasped me in his blocx
stained arms and kissed me on the fore
head. Now it was for the first time tba
I noticed my captor, the cazique, standing
at my side, grave, courteous and smiling
As he had smiled when he handed me t<
the pabas, so he smiled when he took mi
back from them. Then, having beei
cleansed and clothed, I was led to th<
sanctuary of the god Quetzal and stooi
face to face with thc hideous image there
staring at the golden censer that was t<
have received my heart while the priest
uttered prayers. Thence I was support?e
down thc winding road of the pyramic
till I came to its foot, where my captor
the cazique, took me by the hand and lee
me through the people who, it seemed
now regarded me with some strange ven
eration. The first person that I saw whei
we reached the house was Marina, wh<
looked at me and murmured some sof
words that I could not understand. Thez
I was suffered to go to my chamber, arte
there I passed the rest of the day prostratet
by all that I had undergone. Truly I hoc.
come to a land of devils!
And now I will tell how it was that ;
came to be saved from the knife. Marina
having taken some liking to me, pitied mj
sad fate, and being very quick witted sh<
found a way to rescue me, for when ]
had been lcd off to sacrifice she spoke t<
the cazique, her lord bringing it to hi?
mind that by common report Montezuma,
the emperor of Anahuac, was disturbed ai
to the Teules, or Spaniards, and desiree
much to see one. Now, she said, I was
evidently a Teule, and Montezuma woulc
be angered indeed if I were sacrificed in i
faro ff town instead of being sent to hire
to sacrifice if he saw fit. To this thc ca?
zique answered that the words were wise,
but that she should have spoken them be?
fore, for now the priests had got hold oi
me, and it was hopeless to save me from
their grip.
"Nay," answered Marina, "thereis this
to be said. Quetzal, the god to whom
this Teule is to bc offered, was a white
man. [Quetzal, or more properly Quctcal
coatl, was the divinity who is fabled to
have taught thc natives of Anahuac all
thc useful artr, including those of govern?
ment and policy. He was white skinned
and dark haired. Finally he sailed from
tho shores of Anahuac for the fabulous
country of Tlapallan in a bark of serpents'
skins. But before he sailed he promised
that he would return again with a numer?
ous progeny. This promise was remem?
bered by thc Aztecs, and it was large?
ly on account of it that the Spaniards
were enabled to conquer thc country, for
they were supposed to bc his descendants.
Perhaps Quetzalcoatl was a Norseman!
Vido sagas of Eric thc Red and of Thor
finn Karlsefne. ] And it may well hap?
pen that this man is one of his children.
Will it please thc god that his child should
bo offered to him? At thc least, if tho
god is not angered, Montezuma will cer?
tainly be wroth and wreak a vengeance on
you and thc priests."
Now, when tho cazique heard this he
saw that Marina spoke truth, and hurry?
ing up thc teocalli he caught tho knife as
it was in tho act of falling upon me. At
first thc head priest was angered and call?
ed out that this was sacrilego, and when
thc cazique had told him his mind he un?
derstood that ho would do wisely not to
run a risk of thc wrath of Montezuma.
So I was loosed and led into tho sanctua?
ry, and when I came ont the paba an?
nounced to thc people that the god had de?
clared me to be ono of his children, and it
was for this reason that then, and there?
after they treated me with reverence.
CHAPTER XL
THE SAYING OF GTJATEMOC.
Now, after '.bisdreadful dayl was kind?
ly dealt with by the people of Tabasco,
who gave me che name of Teule, or Span?
iard, and no longer sought to put me to
sacrifice. Far from it indeed, I was well
clothed and fed and suffered to wander
where I would, though always under care
of guards who, had I escaped, would have
paid for it with their lives.
I learned that on the morrow of my res?
cue from the priests messengers were dis?
patched to Montezuma, the great king, ac?
quainting him with the history of my cap?
ture and seeking to know his pleasure con?
cerning me. But the way to Tenoctitlan
was far, and many weeks passed before the
messengers returned again. Meanwhile I
filled the days learning the Maya language
and also something of that of the Aztecs,
which I practiced with Marina and others,
for Marina was not a Tabascan, having
been born at Painalla, on the southeastern
boraers of the empire. But her mother
sold her to merchants in order that Ma?
rina's inheritance might come to another
child of hers by a second marriage, and
thus in the end the girl fell into the hands
of the cazique of Tabasco.
Also I learned something of the history
and customs and of the picture writing of
the land and how to read it, and, moreover,
I obtained great repute among the Tabas
cans by my skill in medicine, so that in
time they grew to believe that I was in?
deed a child of Quetzal, the good god.
And the more I studied this people the less
I could understand Of th?tu. In most
ways they were equal to any nation of our
own world of which I had knowledge.
None are more skilled in the arts; few are
better architects or boast of purer laws.
Moreover, they were brave and had pa?
tience. But their faith was the canker at
the root of 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 the customs of the Europeas, and it
was the knowledge which she gained from
me which afterward made her so useful to
the Spaniards and prepared her to accept
their religion, giving her insight into the
ways of white people.
So I abode for four months and more in
the house of the cazique of Tabasco, who
carried his kindness toward me to the
length of offering me Ms sister in mar?
riage. To this proposal I said no as gen?
tly as I might, and he marveled at it, for
the girl was fair. Indeed so well was I
treated that had it not been that my heart
was far away, and because of the horrible
rites of their religion, which I was forced
to witness almost daily, I could have
learned to love this gentle, skilled and in?
dustrious people.
At length, when full four months had
passed away, the messengers returned from
the court of Montezuma, having been much
delayed by swollen rivers and other acci?
dents of traveL So great was the impor
I had learned enough of thc language to
talk wiih Ma rina.
tance that the emperor attached to the fact
of my capture, and so desirous was he to
see me at his capital, that he had sent his
own nephew, thc Prince Guatemoc, to
fetch me and a great escort of warriors
with him.
Never shall I forget my first meeting
with this prince, who afterward became
my dear companion and brother in arms.
When the escort arrived, I was away from
the town shooting deer with the bow and
arrow, a weapon in the use of which I had
such skill that all the Indians wondered
at me, not knowing that twice I had won
the prize at thc butts on Bungay common.
Our party being summoned by a messen?
ger, we returned bearing our deer with us
On reaching the courtyard of thccazique's
house, I found it filled with warriors most
gorgeously attired, and among them one
more splendid than the rest. He was young,
very tall and broad, most handsome in
face and having eyes like those of an ea?
gle, while his whole aspect breathed maj?
esty and command. His body was incased
in a cuirass of gold, over which hung a
mantle made of the most gorgeous feath?
ers, exquisitely set in bands of different
colors. On his head he wore a helmet of
gold surmounted by the royal crest, an ea?
gle, standing on a snake fashioned in gold
and gems. On his arms, and beneath his
knees, he wore circlets of gold and gems,
and in his hand was a copper bladed spear.
Round this man were many nobles,
dressed in a somewhat similar fashion,
except that the most of them wore a vest
of quilted cotton in place ot' the gold cui?
rass and a jeweled panache of the plumes
of birds instead of tho royal symbol.
* This was Guatemoc, Montezuma^ neph?
ew and afterward the last emperor of An
almac. So soon as I saw him I saluted
Highest of all in Leavening Po
Royal
4BSOW1
him in the Indian fashion by touching the
earth with my right hand, which I.then
raised to my head. But Guatemoc, har?
ing scanned me with his eye as I stood,
bow in hand, attired in my simple hunt?
er's dress, smiled frankly and said:
"Surely, Teule, if I know anything of
the looks of men, we are too equal in our
birth, as in our age, for you to salute me
asa slave greets his master." And he
held his hand to me.
And I took it, answering with the help
of Marina, who was watching this great
lord with eager eyes:
"It may be so, prince, but though in my
own country I am a man of repute and
wealth here I am nothing but a slave
snatched from the sacrifice."
"I know it, " he said, frowning. "It is
well for all here that you were so snatched
before the breath of life had left you, else
Montezuma's wrath had fallen on this
city." And he looked at the cazique, who
trembled, such in those days was the ter?
ror of Montezuma's name.
Then he asked mc if I was a Teule, or
Spaniard. I told him that I was no Span?
iard, but one of another white race who
had Spanish blood in his veins. This say?
ing seemed to puzzle him, for he had never
so much as heard of any other white race,
so I told him something of my story, at
least so much of it as had to do with my
being cast away.
When I had finished, he said: "If I have
understood aright, Teule, you say you are
no Spaniard, yet that you have Spanish
blood in you ahdc?me hither ina Spanish
ship, and I find this story strange. Well
it is for Montezuma to judge of these mat?
ters, so let us talk of them no more. Come
and show me how you handle that great
bow of yours. Did you bring it with you,
or did you fashion it here? They tell me,
Teule, that there is no such archer in the
land."
So I came up and showed him the bow,
which was of my own make and would
shoot an arrow some 60 paces farther than
any that I saw in Anahuac, and we fell
into talk on matters of sport and war, Ma?
rina helping out my want of language,
and before that day was done we had
grown friendly.
For a week the Prince Guatemoc and
his company rested in the town of Tabas?
co, and all the time we three talked much
together. Soon I saw that Marina looked
with eyes of longing on the great lord,
partly because of his beauty, rank and
might, and partly because she wearied of
her captivity in the house of the cazique
and would share Guatemoc's power, for
Marina was ambitious. She tried to win
his heart in many ways, but he seemed not
to notice her, so that at last she spoke
more plainly and in my hearing.
"You go hence tomorrow, prince," she
said softly, "and I have a favor to ask of
you, if you will listen to your handmaid."
"Speak on, maiden," he answered.
"I would ask this, that if it pleases you
you will buy me of the cazique, my mas?
ter, or command him to give me up to you,
and take me with you to Tenoctitlan."
Guatemoc laughed aloud. "You put
things plainly, maiden," he said, "but
know that in the city of Tenoctitlan my
royal wife and cousin, Tecuichpo, awaits
me, with her three other ladies, who, as it
chances, are somewhat jealous."
Now Marina flushed Ibeneath her brown
skin, and for the first and last time I saw
her gentle eyes grow hard with anger as
she answered:
"I asked you to take me with youy
prince. I did not ask to bc your wife or
love."
"But perchance you meant it, " he said
dryly.
"Whatever I may have meant, prince, it
is now forgotten. I wished to see th? great
city and the great king, because I weary
of my life herc and would myself grow
great. You have refused me, but perhaps
a time will come when I shall grow great
in spite of you, and then I may remember
thc shame that has been put upon me
against you, prince, and all your royal
house."
Again Guatemoc laughed and of a sud?
den grew stern.
"You arc overbold, girl," he said, "for
less words than these many a one might
find herself stretched upon thc stone of
sacrifice But I will forget them, for your
woman's pride is stung, and you know
j not what you say. Do you forget them
j also, Teule, if you have understood."
j Then Marina turned and wont, her
1 bosom heaving with anger and outraged
j love or pride, and as she passed me I heard
! her mutter, "Yes, prince, you may forget,
! but I shall not."
j Often since that day I have wondered if
j some vision of thc future entered into thc
j girl's breast in that hour, or if in ker
wrath she spoke at randem. I have won?
dered also whether this scene between her
and Guatemoc had anything to do with
the history of her after life, or did Marina,
as she avowed to mc in thc days to come.
1 bring shame and ruin on her country for
the love of Cortes alone? It is hard to
say, and perhaps these things had nothing
to do with what followed, for when great
events have happened wc aro apt to search
out causes for them in thc past that were
no cause. This may have been but a pass?
ing mood of hers and one soon put out of
mind, for it is certain that few build up
: thc temples of their lives upon sonic firm
j foundation of hope or hate, of desire or
? despair, though it has happened to mc to
1 do so, but rather take Chance for their arch
? itect, and indeed whether they take him
I or no he is still thc master builder. Still
I that Marina did not forget this talk I
[ know, for in after time I heard her remind
! this very prince of thc words that had
passed between them-aye, and heard his
! noble answer to her.
j For a whole month we traveled, for the
i way was far and the road rough, andsomc
? times wc must cut our path through forests
: and sometimes we must wait tipon thc
' banks of rivers. Many were the strange
j sights I saw upon that journey, and many
I the cities in which wc sojourned in much
state and honor, but I cannot stop to tell
of all these.
One thing I will relate, however, though
i briefly, because it changed the regard that
' the prince Guatemoc and I felt one jo tho
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