The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, August 15, 1894, Image 2
m o n
OUtl)CO?1
n? S?MXXR WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850.
"Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, bo thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's."
THIS TRUE SOUTHRON. Established Jane, 1366
Consolidated Aug. 2,1881.
SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1894.
New Series-Vol. XIV. So. 3.
W? ?attirai at? Smt?jjrmt.
Published Ever? Wednesday,
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NT- G. Osteen,
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oorrntoMT, ?aaa. BY TM? AUTHOR.
CHAPTER X.
THE LA5D OF MONTEZUMA.
As it chanced, a large Spanish carafe
Barned Las Cinque Hagas, or The Five
Wounds, was about to sail for Hispaniola,
and having obtained a license to trade I
took passage tn her under my assumed
name of D'Aila, passing myself off asa
merchant. To further this deception I
purchased goods to the value of 105 pesos,
and of such nature as I was informed were
most readily salable in the Indies, which
merchandise I shipped with me. The ves?
sel was full of Spanish adventurers, most?
ly ruffians of varied career and strange his?
tory, but none the less good companions
enough when not in drink. By this time
leonid speak Castillan so perfectly and
was so Spanish in appearance, that it
was not difficult for me to pass myself off
as one of their nation, and this I did, in?
venting a feigned tale of my parentage
andot the reasons that-led me to tempt
the seas For the net, now? as ever, I kept
my cwn counsel, and notwithstanding my
reserve, for I would not mingle in their
aigles, I soon became well liked by my
comrades, chiefly because of my skill in
ministering to their sicknesses.
Of our voyage to the Indies much could
be written after the manner of sea tales,
most of all of De Garda, whom I encoun?
tered on a Spanish slaveship, where I
found refuge after the loss of the carah,
near the port of Santo Domingo. But I
hasten sow to write of my fortunes, both
evil and good, and of my trials on account
of De Garcia in the land of Montezuma,
and of her whose story I have long delay?
ed, Montezuma's daughter. From the
power of De Garcia, for he was an officer
in that abominable slaveship, I escaped by
leaping Into the sea.
In a drifting barrel I floated away when
the murderous slaves thought the sharks
were making food of me, and from death
by starving I was spared through a fish
that I snatched from the talons of a gull
and devoured raw. The hard wood and
iron bands of my tub shielded me from the
teeth of a ravenous shark, and in it I float?
ed through the breakers to the shores of a
lowly lying land and into the mouth of a
great river. At length, when the barrel
drifted in not more than four feet of water,
I slid down from it, and wading to the
bank cast myself at length there to rest
and thank God, who thus fax had preserved
me miraculously. Then I staggered to my
feet and walked along the bank of the riv?
er till I came to a pool of rainwater,
which on the. tasting proved to be sweet
and good. I drank, weeping for joy at the
taste of the water, drank til ? could drink
no more, and let those who have stood in
such a plight remember what water was t
them, for no words of mine can tell it
After I had drunk and washed the brine
from my face and body and been thus rc
freshed I cast myself down to sleep in the
shade of a bush bearing white flowers, for
I was utterly outworn.
When I opened my eyes again, it was
night, and doubtless I should have slept
on through many tours had it not been for
a dreadful itch and pain that took me in
every part till at length I sprang up and
cursed in my agony. At first I was at a
loss to know what occasioned this torment
till I perceived that the air was alive with
gnatlike insects which made a singing
noise, and then settling on my flesh sucked
blood and spat poison into the wound at
one and the same time. These dreadful
insects the Spaniards name mosquitoes.
Nor were they the only flies, for hundreds
of other creatures so bigger than a pin's
head had fastened onto me like bulldogs .to
a baited bear, boring their heads into the
.flesh, where in the end they cause festers.
They are named garrapatas hythe Span?
ish, and I take them to be the young of the
tick. Others there were also, too numerous
to mention, and of every shape and size,
though they had this in common-all bit
and all were venomous.
Before the morning these plagues had
driven me ahnest to madness, for in no
way could I obtain relief from them. To?
ward dawn I went and lay in the water,
thinking to lessen my sufferings, but be?
fore I had been there 10 minutes I saw a
hage crocodile rise up from the mud be?
side me. I sprang away to the bank hor?
ribly afraid, for never before had I beheld
so monstrous and evil looking a brute, to
fall again into the clutches of tho crea?
tures^ winged and crawling, that were
waiting for me there by myriads.
But enough of these damnable insects!
At length the morning broke and found
me in a sorry plight, for my face was swol?
len to the size of a pumpkin by the venom
of the mosquitoes, and the rest of my body
was in little better case. Moreover, I could
not keep myself still because of the itch?
ing, but must run and jump like a mad?
man. And where was I to run to through
this huge swamp, in which I could see no
shelter or sign of man? I could not guess,
so since I most keep moving I followed
the bank^bf the river, as I walked disturb?
ing many crocodiles and loathsome snakes.
Now, I knew that I could not live long in
such suffering and determined to strug?
gle forward till I fell down insensible and
death put an end to my torments.
For an hour or more I went on thus till
I came to a place that was clear of bush
and reeds. Across this I skipped and
danced, striking with my swollen hands
at the gnats which buzzed about my head.
Now the end was not far off, for I was ex
hausted and near to falling, when sudde
ly I came upon a party of men, brown
color and clothed with white garmenl
who had been fishing in the river. I
them on tho water were several canoes
which were loads of merchandise, and th
were now engaged in eating. So soon
these men caught sight of me they ntten
exclamations in an unknown tongue, ai
seizing weapons that lay by them, bm
and arrows and wooden clubs set on the
side with spikes of flinty glass, they ma<
toward me as though to kill me.
NowtI lifted up my hands praying f<
mercy, and seeing that I was unarmed at
helpless the men laid down their arms ai
addressed me. I shook my head to sh o
that I could not understand and point?
first to the sea and then to myswolk
features. They nodded, and going to ox
of the canoes a man brought from it
paste of a brown color and aromatic smel
Then- by signs he directed, me to reinos
such garments as remained on me, tl
fashion of which seemed to puzzle thei
greatly. This being done, they proceedc
to anoint my body with the paste, tl
touch of which gave me a most blessed n
lief from my intolerable itching and bun
ing and, moreover, rendered my flesh di
tasteful to the insects, for after that th?
plagued me little.
When I was anointed, they offered ix
food-fried fish and cakes of meal, togetht
with a most delicious hot drink covert
with a brown and foaming froth that
learned to know afterward as chocolat
When I had finished eating, having talke
awhile together in low tones, they m<
tioned me to enter one of the canoes, gr
ing me mats to lie on. I obeyed, and thit
other men came with me, for the cane
was large. One of these, a very grave ma
with a gentle face and manner, whom
took to be the chief of the party, sat dow
opposite to me, the other two placin
themselves in the bow and stern of th
boat, which they drove along by means c
paddles. Then we started, followed b
three other canoes, and before we had gor
a mile utter weariness overpowered m<
and I fell asleep.
I awoke much refreshed, having slep
many hours, for now the sun was sett in c
and was astonished to find the grave loot
ing man; my companion in the canoe
keeping watch over my sleep and wardin
the gnats from me with a leafy brand
His kindness seemed to show that I wa
in no danger of ill treatment, and my f eax
on that point being set at rest I began t
wonder as to what strange land I had com
and who its people might bel Soon, hov;
ever, I gave over, having nothing to built
on, and observed the scenery instead.. NOT
we were paddling up a smaller river tha
the one on the banks of which I had bee;
cast away and were no longer in the mids
of marshes.
On either side of us was open land, o
rather land that would have been opei
had it not been for the great trees, large
than the largest oak, which grew upon it
some of them of surpassing beauty. U?
these trees climbed creepers that hung Uk
ropes even from the topmost boughs, an?
among them were many strange and gor
geous flowering plants that seemed to clin j
to the bark as moss clings to?walL Ii
their branches also sat harsh voiced bird
of brilliant colors and apes that barker
and chattered at us as we went
Just as the sun set over all this strang
new scene' the canoes came to a landing
place built of timber, and wo disembark
ed. Now it grew dark suddenly, and al
I could discover was that I was being 1?
along a good road. Presently we reachet
a gate, which, from the barking of dog;
and the numbers of people who thronged
about it, I judged to be the entrance to J
town, and passing it we advanced dowi
a long street with houses on cither side
; At the doorway of the last house my com
pardon halted, and taking me by the hanc
led me into a long, lo room lit with lamp?
of earthenware. Here some women came
forward and kissed him, while others,
whom I took to be servants, saluted hin:
by touching the floor with one hand Soon,
however, all eyes were turned on me, and
many eager questions were asked of the
chief, of which I could only guess the pur?
port
When all had gazed their fill, supper was
served, a rich meal of many strange meats,
and of this I was invited to partake, which
I did, scated on a mat and eating of thc
dishes that were placed upon the ground
by the women. Among these I noticed
one girl who far surpassed all the others
in grace, though cone were unpleasing tc
the eye. She was dark indeed, but hei
features were regular and her eyes fine.
Her figure was tall and straight, and thc
sweetness of her face added to the charm
of her beauty. I mention this girl herc foi
two reasons-first, because she saved me
once from sacrifice and once from torture,
and, secondly, because she was none other
than. that woman who afterward became
known as Marina, the mistress of Cortes,
without whose aid he had never conquer?
ed Mexico. But at this time she did not
guess that it was her destiny to bring her
country of Anahuac beneath the cruel yoke
of the Spaniard.
Prom the moment of my entry I saw
that Marina, as I will call her, for her In?
dian name is too long to be written, took
pity on my forlorn state and did what lay
in her power to protect me from vulgar
curiosity and to minister to my wants. It
was she who brought me water to wash in,
and a clean robe of linen to replace my
foul and tattered garments, and a cloak
fashioned of bright feathers for my shoul?
ders.
When supper was done, a mat was given
me to sleep on in a little room apart, and
here I lay down, thinking that, though I
might be lost forever to my own world, at
least I had fallen among a people who
were gentle and kindly, and, moreover, as
I saw from many tokens, no savages. One
thing, however, disturted me-I discov?
ered that, though I was well treated, also I
was a prisoner, for a man armed with a
copper spear slept across the doorway of
my little room. Before I lay down I looked
through the wooden bars which served as
a protection to the window place and saw
that the house stood upon the border of a
large open space, in the midst of which a
great pyramid towered a hundred feet or
more into the air. On the top of this
pyramid was a building of stone which i
took to be a temple, and rightly, in front
of which a fire burned. Marv eling what
the purpose of this great work might be,
and in honor of what faith it was erected,
I went to sleep.
On the morrow I was to learn.
Here it maybe convenient for me to
state, what I did not discover till after?
ward, that I was in the city of Tabasco,
the capital of one of the southern prov?
inces of Anahuac, which is situated at a
distance of some hundreds of mil^s from
the central city of Tenoctitlan, or Mexico.
The river where I had been cast away -fl
the Rio de Tabasco, where Cortes land
in the following year, and my host,
rather my captor, was the cazique, or chi
of Tabasco, the same man who subsequei
ly presented Marina to Cortes.
Thus it came about that, with the e
ception of a certain Aguilar, who, wi
some companions, was wrecked on t
coast of Yucatan six years before, I -w
the first white man whoever dwelt arno:
the Indians. This Aguilar was rescu
by Cortes, though his companions w<
all sacrificed to Huitzel, the horrible w
god of the country. But the name of t
Spaniards was already known to thc I
dians, who looked on them with supers
tious fear, for in the year previous to r
being cast away the hidalgo Hern?n d
de Cordova had visited the coast of Tuc
tan and fought several battles with the s
tives, and earlier ta the same year of n
arrival Juan de Grigalva had come to tl
very river of Tabaso. Thus it came abo
that I was set down as one of this stran.
new nation of Te ule s, as the Indi ans nam*
the Spaniards, and therefore as an enen
for whose blood the gods were thirsting.
I awoke at dawn, much refreshed" wi
sleep, and having washed and clothed m
self in the linen rob?g ?hat were pro vid
for me I came into the large room, whe
food was given me. Scarcely had I finis
ed my meal when ray captor, the caziqu
entered, accompanied by two men who
appearance struck terror to my heart. ]
! countenance they were fierce and hoxribJ
They wore black robes embroidered wi'
mystic characters in red, and their loi
and tangled hair was matted together wil
j some strange substance. Thesemen, who:
all present, including the chief, or caziqu
seemed to look on with the utmost reve
ence, glared at me with a fierce glee'th
made my blood run cold. Ono of them JJ
deed tore open my white robe and place
his filthy hand upon my heart, which bet
quickly enough, counting its throbs alot
while the other nodded at his words. Ai
erward I learned that he was saying th
I was very strong.
Glancing round to find the interpret!
tion of this act upon the faces of tho:
about me, my eyes caught those of tl
girl Marina, and there was that in the]
which left me in little doubt. Horror an
pity were written there, and I knew th;
some dreadful death overshadowed mc, R
fore I could do anything, before I cou!
even think, I was seized by the priests, <
pabas, as the Indians name them, ac
dragged from the room, all the househol
following us except Marina and the c:
zique. Now I found myself in a gre.
square or market place bordered by man
fine houses of stone and lime, and some <
mud, which was filling rapidly with a vas
number of people, men, women and chi
dren, who all stared at me as I went t<
ward the pyramid on the top of which tl
fire burned. At the foot of this pyramid
was led into a little chamber hollowed ot
in its thickness, and here my dress wt
torn from me by more priests, leaving m
naked except for a cloth about my loir
and a chaplet of bright flowers which W?
set upon my head. In this chamber wei
three other men-Indians-who, from th
horror on their faces, I judged to be als
doomed to death.
Presently a drum began to beat big
above us, and we were taken from th
chamber and placed in a procession c
many priests, I being the first among th
victims. Then thc priests set up a chanl
and we began the ascent of a pyramid, fol
lowing a road thac wound round an
round its bulk till it ended on a platfon
at its summit, which may have measure
40 paces in the squire. Hence the vie>
of the surrounding country was very fine
but in that hour I scarcely noticed it, ha\
ing no care for prospects, however pleas
ing. On the farther side of thc platforx
were two wooden towers 50 feet or so i:
height. These were the temples of th
gods-Huitzel, god of war, and Quetzal
god of the air-whose hideous effigies
carved in stone, grinned at us through th
open doorways. In the chambers of thes
temples stood small altars, and on the al
tars were large dishes of gold, containinj
the hearts of those who had been sacrifica
on the yesterday. These chambers, more
over, were incrusted with every sort o
filth. In front of the temples stood the al
tar whereon the fire burned eternally, an<
before it was a hog backed block of blacl
marble of the size of an inn drinking ta
blc, and a great carven stone shaped lik<
awheel, measuring some 10 feet across
with a copper ring in its center.
All these things I remembered after
ward, though at the time I scarcely seemec
to see them, for hardily were we arrived a
the platform when I was seized and drag
ged to the wheel shaped stone. Here ?
hide girdle was put round my waist ant
secured to the ring by a rope long enougl
to enable me to run to the edge of the
stone and no. farther. Then a flint point?e
spear was given to me and spears wen
given also to the two captives who accom?
panied rae, and it was made clear to me
by signs that I must fight with them, it
being their part to leap upon the -stone and
mino to defend it Now I thought that il
I could kill these two poor creatures per?
haps I myself should be allowed to go free,
and so to save my lifo I prepared to take
theirs if I could. Presently the head
priest gave a signal commanding the two
men to attack me, but they were so lost in
fear that they did not even stir. Then the
priests began to flog them with leather
girdles till at length, crying out with pain,
they ran at mc. One reached the stone and
leaped upon it a little before the other,
and I 6tuck the spear through his arm.
Instantly he dropped his weapon and fled,
and the other man fled also, for there was
no fight in them, nor would any flogging
bring them to face mc again.
Seeing that they could not make them
brave, tho priests determined to have done
with them. Amid a great noise of music
and chanting, he whom I had smitten was
seized and dragged to the hog backed block
of marble, which in truth was a stone of
sacrifice. On this he was cast down, breast
upward, and held so by five priests, two
gripping his hands, two his legs and one
his head. Then, having donned a scarlet
cloak, the head priest, the same who had
felt my heart, uttered some kind of prayer,
and raising a curved knife of the fliutlikc
glass or itztli struck open the poor wretch's
breast at a single blow and made the an?
cient offering to thc sun.
As he did this all the multitude in tho
place below, in full view of whom this
j bloody game was played, prostrated them
I
selves, remaining on their knees till thc
offering liad been thrown into the golden
censer before tho statue of the god Huit?
zel. Thereon the horrible priests, casting
themselves on the hotly, carried it with
shouts to the edge of the pyramid, or teo
calli, and rolled it down the steep sides.
>
Struck open the poor wretch's breast an
made the ancient offering to the sun.
At the foot of the slope it was lifted ar
borne away by certain men who were wai
lng, for what purpose I did not know ?
that time.
Scarcely was the first victim dead whe
the second was seized and treated in a lil
fashion, the multitude prostrating then
selves as before. And then last of a
came my turn. I felt myself seized art
my senses swam, nor did I recover thei
till I found myself lying on the accurse
stone, the priests dragging at my liml
and head, my breast strained upward ti
the skin was stretched as tight as that <
a drum, while over me stood the huma
devil in his red mantle, the glass knife i
his hand Never shall I forget his wicke
face, maddened with the lust for blood, c
the glare in his eyes as he tossed back hi
matted locks. But he did not strike i
once; he gloated over me, pricking me wit
the point of his knife. It seemed to rr
that I lay there for years while the pat
aimed, and pointed with the knife, but t
last, through a mist that gathered befOJ
my eyes, I saw it flash upward. Thei
when I thought that my hour had corni
a hand caught his arm in midair and hel
it, and I heard a voice whispering.
What was said did not please the pries
for suddenly he howled aloud and made
dash toward me to kill me, but again h:
arm was caught before the knife felL The
he withdrew into thc temple of tbe go
Quetzal, and for a long while I lay upo
the stone, suffering the agonies of a hui
dred deaths, for I believed that it was d<
termined to torture me before I died, an
that my slaughter had been staid for thi
purpose
At length I heard footsteps and shut m
eyes, for I could bear the sight of tb.8
dreadful knife no longer. But, behold! n
knife felL Suddenly my hands wer
loosed, and I was lifted to my feet, o
which I never hoped to stand again. The
I was borne to tte edge of the teocalli, fe
I could not walk, and there my would b
murderer, tho priest, having first shoute
some words to thc spectators below tha
caused them to murmur like a forest whe:
the wind stirs it, clasped me in his bloo
stained arms and kissed me on the fore
head. Now it was for the first time tha
I noticed my captor, the cazique, standin,
at my side, grave, courteous and smiling
As he had smiled when he handed me t
the pabas, so he smiled when he took m
back from them. Then, having beei
cleansed and clothed. I was led to th
sanctuary of the gcx" Quetzal and stocx
face to face with the hideous image there
staring at the golden censer that was t>
have received my heart while the priest
uttered prayers. Thence I was supporte)
down thc winding road of the pyramii
till I came to its foot, where my captor
the cazique, took me by the hand and Icc
me through the people who, it seemed
now regarded me with some strange ven
eration. Thc first person that I saw whei
we reached the house was Marina, wh<
looked at me and murmured some sof
words that I could not understand Thei
I was suffered to go to my chamter, an(
there I passed the rest of the day prostrates
by all that I had undergone Truly I ha<
come to a land of devils!
And now I will tell how it was that '.
came to be saved from the knife. Marina
having taken some liking to me, pitied mi
sad fate, and being very quick witted sh<
found a way to rescue me, for when '.
had been led off to sacrifice she spoke t<
the cazique, her lord bringing it to hi?
mind that by common report Montezuma
the emperor of Anahuac, was disturbed ai
to the Teules, or Spaniards, and desiree
much to see one Now, she said, I was
evidently a Teule, and Montezuma woulc
be angered indeed if I were sacrificed in ?
faroff town instead of being sent to hin:
to sacrifice if he saw fit. To this thc ca?
zique answered that the words were wise
but that she should have spoken them be?
fore, for now the priests liad got hold ol
me, and it was hopeless to save me from
their grip.
''Nay," answered Marina, "thereis this
to be said Quetzal, the god to whom
this Teule is to be offered, was a white
man. [Quetzal, or more properly Quctcal
coatL was the divinity who is fabled to
have taught tho natives of Anahuac all
the useful arts, including those of govern?
ment and policy. He was white skinned
and dark haired. Finally he sailed from
tho shores of Anahuac for the fabulous
country of Tlapallan in a bark of serpents'
skins. But before he sailed he promised
that he would return again with a numer?
ous progeny. This promise was remem?
bered by the Aztecs, and it was large?
ly on account of it that the Spaniards
were enabled to conquer the country, for
they were supposed to be his descendants.
Perhaps Quetzalcoatl was a Norseman!
Vide 6agas of Eric thc Red and of Thor?
ium Karlsefne] And it may well hap?
pen that this man is one of his children.
Will it please the god that his child should
be offered to him? At the least, if tho
god is not angered, Montezuma will cer?
tainly be wroth and wreak a vengeance on
you and the priests."
Now, when the cazique heard this ho
saw that Marina spoke truth, and hurry?
ing up the teocalli he caught tho knife as
it was in the act of falling upon me. At
first thc head priest was angered and call?
ed out that this was sacrilege, and when
the caziquo had told him his mind he un?
derstood that he would do wisely not to
run a risk of the wrath of Montezuma.
So I was loosed and led into the sanctua?
ry, and when I carno out the paba an?
nounced to the people that the god had de?
clared me to be ono of his children, and it
was for this reason that then, and there?
after they treated me with reverence.
CHAPTER XL
THE SAVING OF GUATEMOC.
Now, after ^his dreadful dayl was kind?
ly dealt with by the people of Tabasco,
who gave me che name of Teule, or Span?
iard, and no longer sought to put mc to
sacrifice. Far from it indeed, I was well
clothed and fed and suffered to wander
where I would, though always under care
of guards who, had I escaped, would have
paid for it with their lives.
I learned that on the morrow of my res?
cue from the priests messengers were dis?
patched to Montezuma, the great king, ac?
quainting bim with the history of my cap?
ture and seeking to know his pleasure con?
cerning me. But the way to Tenoctitlan
was far, and many weeks passed before the
messengers returned again. Meanwhile I
filled the days learning the Maya language
and also something of that of the Aztecs,
which I practiced with Marina and others,
for Marina was not a Tabascan, having
been born at Painalla, on the southeastern
borders of the empire. But her mother
sold her to merchants in order that Ma?
rina's inheritance might come to another
child of hers by a second marriage, and
thus in the end the girl fell into the hands
of the cazique of Tabasco.
Also I learned something of the history
and customs and of the picture writing of
the land and how to read it, and, moreover,
I obtained great repute among the Tabas
cans by my skill in medicine, so that in
time they grew to believe that I was in?
deed a child of Quetzal, the good god
And the more I studied this people the less
I could understand Of them. In most
ways they were equal to any nation of our
own world of which I had knowledge.
None are more skilled in thc arts; few are
better architects or boast of purer laws.
Moreover, they were brave and had pa?
tience. But their faith was the canker at
the root of thc tree. In precept it was no?
ble and had much in common with our
own, such as the rite of baptism, but I
have told what it was in practice.
When I had lived a month in Tabasco,
I had learned enough of the language to
talk with Marina, with whom I grew
friendly, though no more, and it was from
her that I gathered the most of my knowl?
edge, and also many hints as to the con?
duct necessary to my safety. In return I
taught her something of my own faith and
of the customs of the Europeans, and it
was the knowledge which she gained from
me which afterward made her so useful to
the Spaniards and prepared her to accept
their religion, giving her insight into the
ways of white people.
So I abode for four months and more in
the house of the cazique of Tabasco, who
carried his kindness toward me to the
length of offering me his sister in mar?
riage. To this proposal I said no as gen?
tly as I might, and he marveled at it, for
the girl was fair. Indeed so well was I
treated that had it not been that my heart
was far away, and because of thc horrible
rites of their religion, which I was forced
to witness almost daily, I could have
learned to love this gentle, skilled and in?
dustrious people.
At length, when full four months had
passed away, the messengers returned from
the court of Montezuma, having been much
delayed by swollen rivers and other acci?
dents of travel. So great was the impor
I had learned enough nf thc language to
talk with Marilla.
tance that the emperor attached to the fact
of my capture, and so desirous was he to
see me at his capital, that he had sent his
own nephew, thc Prince Guatemoc, to
fetch me and a great escort of warriors
with him.
Never shall I forget my first meeting
with this prince, who afterward became
my dear companion and brother in arms.
When the escort arrived, I was away from
the town shooting deer with the bow and
arrow, a weapon in thc use of which I had
such skill that all the Indians wondered
at me, not knowing that twice I had won
the prize at thc butts on Bungay common.
Our party teing summoned by a messen?
ger, we returned bearing our deer with us
On reaching the courtyard of thc caziquc's
house, I found it filled with warriors most
gorgeously attired, and among them ono
more splendid than the rest. He was young,
very tall and broad, most handsome in
face and having eyes like those of an ea?
gle, while his whole aspect breathed maj?
esty and command. His body was incased
in a cuirass of gold, over which hung a
mantle made of the most gorgeous feath?
ers, exquisitely set in bands of different
colors. On his head he wore a helmet of
gold surmounted by the royal crest, an ea?
gle, standing on a snake fashioned in gold
and gems. On his arms, and beneath his
knees, he wore circlets of gold and gems,
and in his hand was a copper bladed spear.
Round this man were many nobles,
dressed in a somewhat similar fashion,
except that the most of them wore a vest
of quilted cotton in place of the gold cui?
rass and a jeweled panache of the plumes
of birds instead of thc royal symbol.
? This was GuatemoCj Montczuma's neph?
ew and afterward the last emperor of An
ahuac. So soon as I saw him I saluted
Highest of all in Leavening Po
Royal
him is the Indian fashion by touching the
earth v?th my right hand, which I.then
raised to my head. But Guatemoc, hav?
ing scanned me with his eye as I stood,
bow in hand, attired in my simple hunt?
er's dress, smiled frankly and said:
14 Surely, Teule, if I know anything of
the looks of men, we are too equal in our
birth, as in our age, for you to salute me
asa slave greets his master." And he
held his hand to me.
And I took it, answering with the help
of Marina, who was watching this great
lord with eager eyes:
"It may be so, prince, but though in my
own country I am a man of repute and
wealth here I am nothing but a slave
snatched from the sacrifice. "
"I know it," he said, frowning. "It is
well for all here that you were so snatched
before the breath of life had left you, else
Montezuma's wrath had fallen on this
city." And he looked at the cazique, who
trembled, such in those days was the ter?
ror of Montezuma's name
Then he asked me if I was a Teule, or
Spaniard I told him that I was no Span?
iard, but one of another white race who
had Spanish blood in his veins. This say?
ing seemed to puzzle him, for he had never
so much as heard of any other white race,
so I told him something of my story, at
least so much of it as had to do with my
being cast away.
When I had finished, he said: "If I have
understood aright, Teule, you say you are
no Spaniard, yet that you have Spanish
blood in you abd cam? hither in a Spanish
ship, and I find this story strange Well,
it is for Montezuma to judge of these mat?
ters, so let us talk of them no more Come
and show me how you handle that great
bow of yours. Did you bring it with you,
or did you fashion it here? They tell me,
Teule, that there is no such archer in the
land"
So I came up and showed him the bow,
which was of my own make and would
shoot an arrow some 60 paces farther than
any that J. saw in Anahuac, and we fell
into talk on matters of sport and war, Ma?
rina helping out my want of language,
and before that day was done we had
grown friendly.
For a week the Prince Guatemoc and
his company rested in the town of Tabas?
co, and all the time we three talked much
together. Soon I saw that Marina looked
with eyes of longing on the great lord,
partly because of his beauty, rank and
might, and partly because she wearied of
her captivity in the house of the cazique
and would share Guatemoc's power, for
Marina was ambitious. She tried to win
his heart in many ways, but he seemed not
to notice her, so that at last she spoke
more plainly and in my hearing.
"You go hence tomorrow, prince," she
said softly, "and I have a favor to ask of
you, if you will listen to your handmaid"
"Speak on, maiden," he answered.
"I would **sk this, that if it pleases you
you will buy me of the cazique, my mas?
ter, or command him to give me up to you,
and take me with you to Tenoctitlan."
Guatemoc laughed aloud. "You put
things plainly, maiden," he said, "but
know that in the city of Tenoctitlan my
royal wife and cousin, Tecuichpo, awaits
me, with her three other ladies, who, as it
chances, are somewhat jealous."
Now Marina flushed leneath her brown
skin, and for the first and last time I saw
her gentle eyes grow hard with anger as
she answered:
"I asked you to take me with you,,
prince. I did not ask to bc your wife or
love."
4'But perchance you meant it," he said
dryly.
"Whatever I may have meant, prince, it
is now forgotten. I wished to see the great
city and the great king, lx?cause I weary
of my life herc and would myself grow
great You have refused me, but perhaps
a time will come when I shall grow great
in spite of you, and then I may remember
thc shame that has been put upon me
against you, prince, and all your royal
house."
Again Guatemoc laughed and of a sud?
den grew stern.
"Youare overbold, girl," he said, "for
less words than these many a one might
I find herself stretched upon thc stone of
! sacrifice But I will forget them, for your
j woman's pride is stung, and you know
! not what you say. Do you forget them
! also, Teule, if you. have understood."
{ Then Marina turned and vrciit, her
! bosom heaving with anger and outraged
I love or pride, and as she passed me I heard
; her mutter, "Yes, prince, you may forget,
; but I shall not."
! Often since that day I have wondered if
j some vision of the future entered into the
I girl's breast in that hour, or if in her
wrath she spoke at random. I have won?
dered also whether this scene between her
and Guatemoc had anything to do with
the history of her after life, or did Marina,
as she avowed to mc in thc days to come,
1 bring shame and ruin on lier country for
the love of Cortes alone? It is hard to
say, and perhaps these tilings had nothing
to do with what followed, for v. en great
events have happened we are apt arch
out causes for them in the past that were
j no cause. This may have been but a pass
! ing mood of hers and one soon put out of
' mind, for it is certain that few build up
j the temples of their lives upon some firm
j foundation of hope or hate, of desire or
; despair, though it has happened to mc to
! do so, but rather take Chance for their arch
: itect, and indeed whether they take him
j or no he is still thc master builder. Still
j that Marina did not forget this talk I
i know, for in after time I hoard her remind
! this very prince of thc words that had
j passed between them-aye, and heard his
I noble answer to her.
; For a whole month wc traveled, for the
! way was far and the road rough, audsomc
j times we must cut our path through forests
i and sometimes we must wait upon the
! banks of rivers. Many were thc strange
j sights I saw upon that journey, and many
j the cities in which we sojourned in much
! state and honor, but I cannot stop to tell
of all these.
One thing I will relate, however, though
j briefly, because it changed the regard that
1 the prince Guatemoc and I felt one.to tho
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