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?Ht Utatcljman and ?outfyrou. - - -? -1-----1 ----------________________ ?Hrjt SUMTES WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850. "Be Just and Fear not-LVetall the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's land Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON. Established jone, 1366 Consolidated Ang. 2,1881. _??blis_ie? B-ery Wednesday, -BT 3M. Gr. Osfeen, TERMS : Two Dollar?per an.nam-io advance. -i. ?S *D f?? x?WF ru ? ? Elroy* s^bSw^nT intat?bn^.."~.." "50 Contracta for. three momba, or longer will be made at reduced rates. *'' " AU communications which subserve private i n t eres ts.w i il be charged foe as ad ve - tiseme o ts. Obituaries aod-tribu tes of respect will be charged for. * - . oorraioMT. was, IT TOI AUTHOR. CHANTER XIX. THE TB?UMPH OF THE CEOSS. "Otem*?," I said presently, "when will they kill ns?" "When the point of light lies within thc ring that is painted over your heart," she aiiaweted. Now I turned my head front her and looked at the sunbeam which pierced the shadow above TIS like a golden pencil It rested at my side about six inches from me. and I reckoned that it weuld lie in the scarlet zing painted upon my breast within some 15 min?tes. Meanwhile the clamor of battle grew louder and nearer. Shifting myself so far as the cords would allow, I strained my head upward and saw that the Spaniards had gained the crest of the pyramid, since the battle now raged upon its edge, and I have rarely seen so terrible a fight, for the Aztecs fought with the fury of despair, thinking little of their own lives if they could only bring a Spaniard to his death. But for the most part their rude weapons would not pierce the coats of mail, so that there remained only one way to compass their desire-namely, by casting the white men over the edge of the teocalH to be crushed like eggshells upon the pavement 200 feet below. Thus the fray broke itself up into groups of foes, who rent and tore at each other upon the brink af the pyramid, now and again to vanish down its side, 10 or 12 of them together. Some of the priests also joined in the light, thinking less of their own deaths than of the desecration of their temples, for I saw one of them, a man of huge strength and stature, seize a Spanish soldier round the middle and leap with him into space. Still, though very slowly, the Spaniards and Tlascalans forced their way toward the center of the platform, and as they came the danger of this dreadful end grew less, for the Aztecs must drag them farther. Now, the fight drew near to the stone of sacrifice, and all who remained alive of the Aztecs, perhaps some 250 of them, be? sides the priests, ranged themselves round us and it in a circle; also the outer rim of the sunbeam that fell through the gold? en funnel, creeping on remorselessly, touched my painted side, which it seemed to burn as hot iron might, for, alas, I could not command the sun to stand still while the battle raged, as did Joshua in the val? ley of Ajalon. When it touched me, five priests seized my limbs and head, and the father of them, he who had conducted me from the palace, clasped his flint knife in both hands. Now a deathly sickness took me, and I shut my eyes, dreaming that all was done, but at that moment I heard a wild eyed man, whom I had noted stand? ing by, call out to the minister of death: . "Not yet, O priest of Tezcat! If you smite before the sunbeam lies upon the victim's heart, your gods are doomed, and doomed are the people of Anahnac, " The priest gnashed his teeth with rage and glared first at the creeping point of light and then over his shoulder at the ad? vancing battle. Slowly the ring of war-, riots closed in upon us, slowly the golden ray crept up my breast till its outer rim touched the red circle painted upon my heart. Again the priest heaved up his awful knife, again I shut my eyes, and again I heard the shrill scream of the as? tronomer: "Not yet, not yet, or your gods are doomed!" Then I heard another sound. It was the voice of Otomie crying for help. 4*Savo us, Teules! They murder us!" she shrieked in so piercing a note that it leached the ears of the Spaniards, for one shouted in answer and in the Castilian tongue: 4'On, my comrades, on! The dogs do murder on their altars!" Then there was a mighty rush, and the defending Aztecs were swept in upon the altar, lifting the priest of sacrifice from his feet and throwing him across my body. Thrice that rush came, like a rush of the sea, and each time the stand of the Aztecs weakened. Now their circle was broken, and the swords of the Spaniards flashed up on every side, and now the red ray lay within the ring upon my heart. "Smite, priest of Tezcat," screamed the voice of .the astronomer. "Smite home for the glory of your god!" With a fearful yell, the priest lifted the knife. I saw the golden sunbeam that rested full upon my heart shine on it. Then as it was descending I saw the same sunbeam shine upon a yard of steel that flashed across me and lost itself in the .breast of the murderer priest. Bown came the great flint knife, but its aim was lost. It struck Indeed, but not upon my bosom, though I did not escape lt altogether. Full upon the altar of sacrifice it fell and was shattered there, piercing between my side and that of Otomie and gashing the flesh of both so that our blood was min? gled upon the stone, making us one in? deed. Down, too, came the priest across our bodies for the second time, but to rise no more, for he writhed dying on those whom he would have slain. Then, as in a dream, I heard thc wail of tho astron? omer singing the dirge of the gods of Ana huac. "The priest is dead, and his gods are fallen," ho cried. "Tezcat; has rejected his victim and is fallen. Doomed are the gods of Anahuac! Victory is to tho cross of the Christians!" Thus he wailed. Then came the sound of sword blows, and I knew that this proph? et was dead also. Now a strong arm pulled the dying priest from off us, and he staggered back t?l"E?T?? over tho altar w?crc T?C eternal i fire burned, quenching it with his blood and body after it had flared for many gen? erations, and a knife cut the rope that bound us. I sat np, staring round me wildly, and a voice spoke above mo in Castillan, not to me indeed, but to some comrade. "These two went -near to it, poor dev? ils!" said the voice. "Had luy cut been one second later that savage would have drilled a hole in him as big as my head. By all the saints, the girl is lovely, or would be if she were washed! I shall beg her of Cortes as my prize." The voice spoke, and I knew the voice. Non? other ever had that hard, clear ring. I knew it even then and looked up, slip? ping off the death stone as I looked. Now I saw. Before me, clad in mail, was my enemy, De Garcia. It was his sword?that by the good providence of God had pierced the breast of the priest. He had saved me, who, had hoi-; known, would .as soon have turned his steel against hisownjheart as on that of my destroyer. I gazed at him, wondering if I dreamed. Then my lips speke without my will, as it were: "De Garcia!" He staggered back at the sound of my voice, like a man struck by a shot, then He staggered back at the sound of my voice. stared at me, rubbed his eyes with his hand and stared again. Now at length ho knew me through my paint. "Mother of God!" he gasped, "it is the knave Thomas Wingfield, andi have saved his life!" . By this time my senses had come back to me, and knowing all my folly I torneo, seeking escape. But De Garcia had no mind to suffer this. Lifting his sword, he sprang at me with a beastlike scream of rage and hate. Swiftly as thought I slipped round the stone of sacrifice, and after me came the uplifted sword of my enemy. It would have overtaken me soon enough, for I was weak with fear and fasting, and my limbs were cramped with bonds, but at that moment a cavalier, whom by his dress and port I guessed to be none other than Cortes himself, struck np De Garcia's sword, saying: "How now, Sarceda? Are you mad with the lust of blood that yon would take to sacrificing victims like an Indian priest? Let the poor devil go. " "He is Qo Indian. He is an English spy," cried De Garcia and once more struggled to get at me. "Decidedly our friend is mad," said Cortes, scanning me. "He says that this wretched creature is an Englishman. Come, be off, both of you; or somebody else may make the same mistake," and he waved his sword in token to ns to go, deeming that I could not understand his words, then added angrily as De Garcia, speechless with rage, made a new attempt to get at me: 44No, by heaven! I will not suffer it We are Christians and come to save vic? tims, not to slay them. Here, comrades, hold this fool who would stain his soul with murder." Now the Spaniards clutched De Garcia by the arms, and he cursed and raved at them, for, as I have said, his rage was that of a beast rather than of a man. But I stood bewildered, not knowing whither to fly. Fortunate it was for me indeed that one was by who, though she understood no Spanish, yet had a quicker wit, for while I stood thus Otomie clasped my hand and whispering,4 'Fly, fly swiftly!" led me away from the stone of sacrifice. "Whither shall we go?" I said at length. 4 4Were it not better to trust to the mercy of the Spaniards?" 4 4 To the mercy of that man devil with the sword ? ' ' she answered. 4 4 Peace, Teule, and follow me." Now she led me on, and the Spaniards let ns by unharmed-aye, and even spoke words of pity as we passed, for they knew that we were victims snatched from sacri? fice. Indeed, when a certain brute, a Tlascalan Indian, rushed at us, purposing to slay us with a club, one of the Span? iards ran him through the shoulder, so that he fell wounded to the pavement. So we went on, and at the edge of the pyramid we glanced back and saw that De Garcia had broken from those who held him, or perhaps he found his tongue and explained the truth to them. At the least he was bounding from the altar of sacrifice, nearly 50 yards away, and com? ing toward us with uplifted sword. Then fear gave us strength, and we fled like the wind. Along the steep path we rushed, side by side, leaping down the steps and over the hundreds of dead and dying, only pausing now and again to save ourselves from being smitten into space by the bodies of the priests whom the Spaniards were hurling from the crest of the teocalli. Once, looking up, I caught sight of De Garcia pursuing far above us, but after that we saw hin no more. Doubtless he wearied of the chase or feared to fall into the hands of such of the Aztec warriors as still clustered round thc foot of the pyra? mid. After that I remember nothing till I found myself once more in my apartments in Montezuma's palace, which I never hoped to see again. Otomie was by me, and she brought mo water to wash thc paint off from my body and thc blood from my wound, which, leaving her own un? tended, she dressed skillfully, for the cut of tho priest's knife was deep, and I had bled much; also she clothed herself afresh in a white robe and brought mc raiment to wear, with food and drink, and I par? took of them. Then I bade her eat some? thing herself, and when she had done so I gathered my wits together and spoke to her. "What next?" I said. "Presently the priests will be on us, and wc shall be drag j ged back to sacrifice. There is no hope for rue hem. ? mteST-yl? me"SpanlarOs trust to their mercy. *' { "To the mercy of that man with sword? Say, Teulc, who is he?" 4'He is that Spaniard of whom 11 spoken to you, Otomie. He is my mc enemy, whom I have followed across seas." "And now you would put yourself : his power. Truly, you are foolish, Teu . 4tIt is better to fall into the hand Christian men than into those of j priests," I answered. "Have no fear," she said. "The pri are harmless for you. You haveesca them, and there's an end. Few have < come alive from their clutches before, he who does so is a wizard indeed, the rest, I think that your God is str?r than our gods, for surely he must fc cast his mantle over us when we lay 3 der on the stone. Ah, Teule, to what, h you brought me that I should live doubt my gods! Aye, and tb call upon foes of my country for succor in your m Believe me, I had not done it for my c sake, since I would have died with y kiss upon my lips and your word of 1 echoing in my ears, who now must '. knowing that these joys have passed fi me.,, \ "How so?" I answered. "What I h said I have said. Otomie, you wo j have died with me, and you saved my by your wit in calling on the Spaniai Henceforth it is yours, for there is other woman in the world so tender am brave, and 1 say it again, Otomie, wife, I love you. Our blood has ming on the stone of sacrifice, and there have kissed. let these be our niarri rites. Perhaps I have not long to live, 1 till I die I am yours, Otomie, my wife. Thus I spoke from the fullness of : heart, for my strength and courage w shattered. Horror and loneliness 1 taken hold of me. But two things w left to me in the world-my trust in Pr idence and the love of this woman, v< had dared so much for me. Therefore forgot my troth and clung to her ai child to its mother. Doubtless it v wrong, but I will be bold to say that 1 men so placed would have acted otb wise. Moreover, I could not take bf the fateful words that I had spoken the stone of sacrifice. When I said the I was expecting death indeed, but to j noun ce them now that its shadow v I lifted from me, if only for a little whl I would have been the act of a coward. I I good or evil I had given myself to Mon I -ema's daughter, and I must abide by J or be shamed. Still such was the nob I ness of this Indian lady that even thens I would not-take me at my word. For I little while she stood smiling sadly a I drawing a lock of her long hair thron I the hollow of her hand. Then she spoki J "You are not yourself, Teule, and I should be base indeed if I made so soler I a compact with one who does not kn< j what he sells. Yonder on the altar a J in a moment of death you said that y ! loved me, and doubtless it was ?tn I But now you have come back to life, a I say, lord, who set that golden ring up j your hand, and what is written in its c I cle? Yet even if the words are true th j you have spoken and you love me a litt! I there is one across the sea whom you lo better. I "That I could bear, for my heart is fis I on you alone among men, and at the lea you would be kind to me, and I shou move m the sunlight of your presence. B j having known thc light, I cannot live wander in tho darkness. You do not u j derstand. I fear that if-if we were w< j you would weary of me as men do, ai I that memory would grow too strong f j you. Then by and by it might be possit j for you to find your way back across tl j waters to your own land and your ov? j love, and so you would desert me, Teul I This is what I could not bear, Teule. j can forego y?u now, aye, and remain yoi j friend. But I cannot be put aside like I dancing girl, the companion of a mont] I I, Montezuma's daughter, a lady of ir I own land. Should you wed me, it mu I be for life, Teule, and that is perhaps moi J than you would wish to promise, thoug I you could kiss me on yonder stone, an j there is blood fellowship between us," an I she glanced at the red stain in the line I robe that covered the wound upon her sid* J "And now, Teule, I leave you awhih I that I may find Guatemoc, if he still live* j and others wno, now that the strength c I the priests is shattered, have power to prc j tect you and advance you to honor. Thin j then on all that I have said and do not ti J hasty to decide. Or would you make a: j end at once and fly to the white men if j can find a means of escape?" t4I am too weary to fly anywhere, " I an swered, lteven if I could. Moreover, I foi i get. My enemy is among the Spaniards he whom I have sworn to kill; therefor I his friends are my foes, and his foes rn; friends. I will not fly, Otomie. " i "There you aro wise," she said, "fori I you come among the Teules that man wil j murder you. By fair means or foul he wil murder you within a day; I saw it in hi: J eyes. Now rest while I seek your safety if there is any safety in this blood stainet land." _ I CHAPITER XX. I THOMAS IS MARRIED. Otomie turned and went. I watched thc golden curtains close behind her. Then 1 sank back upon the couch and instant!, was lost in sleep, for I was faint and weak and so dazed with weariness that at the j timo I scarcely knew what had happened or the purpose of our talk Afterward, j however, it came back to me. I must have slept for many hours, for when I awoke it J was far into the night. It was night, but J not dark, for through thc barred window J places came thc sound of tumult and fight? ing and red rays of light cast by the flames J of burning houses. One of these windows was above my couch, and standing on the bed I seized the sill with my hands. With I much pain, because of the flesh wound in J my side, I drew myself up till I could look through the bars. Then I saw that the Spaniards, not content with the capture of the teocalli, had made a night attack and set fire to hundreds of houses in the city. The glare of thc flames was that of a lurid J day, and by it I could seo the white men retreating to their quarters, pursued by thousands of Aztecs, who hung upon their flanks, shooting at them with stones and arrows. Now I dropped down from the window place and began to think as to what I should do, for again my mind was waver? ing. Should I desert Otomio and escape to thc Spaniards, if it were possible, tak? ing my chance of death at the hands of De Garcia? Or should I stay among the Aztecs, if they would give me shelter, and wed Otomie? There was a third choice indeed-to stay with them and leave Oto rnlelHbne, though l? woin?TD? fflffl^cu! do this and keep my honor. One thi understood-if I married Otomie it s be at her own price, for then I mus? come an Indian and give over all hoi returning to England and to my betrot Of this indeed there was little cha Still, while life remained to me, it m come about if I was free. But once hands were tied by this marriage it c< never be during Otomie's lifetime, an far as Lily Bozard was concerned I she be dead. How could I be thus faithles her memory and my troth, and, on other hand, how could I discard the w an who had risked all for me, and whe speak truth, had grown so dear to though there was one yet dearer? While I sat musing on the couch curtain was drawn, and a man enU bearing a torch. It was Guatemoc as had come from the fray, which, except its harvest of burning houses, was finis for that night. The plumes were sh from his head, his golden armor 1 hacked by the Spanish swords, and bled from a shot wound in the neck. "Greeting, Teule," he said. "Certai I never thought to see yon alive toni? or myself either, for that matter. Bu is a strange world, and now, if never fore in Tenoctitlan, those things hap; for which we look the least. But I h no time for words. I came to sumu you before the council." "What is to be my fate?" I ask "To be dragged back to the stone of sa flee?" "Nay, have no fear of that But the rest I cannot say. In an hour : may be dead or great among us, if ans us can be called great in these days shame. Otomie has worked well for ? among the princes and the counselors, she says, and if yon have a heart i should be grateful to her, for it seems me that few women have loved a man much. As for me, I have been emplo; elsewhere," and he glanced at his n armor, "but I will lift up my voice yon. Now come, friend, for the to burns low. By this time you must well seasoned in dangers. One more less will matter as little to you as to rn? Then I rose and followed him into 1 great cedar paneled hall where that vi morning I had received adoration a< god. Now I was a god no longer, bul prisoner on trial for his life. Upon 1 dais where I had stood in the hour of : godhead were gathered those of the prin and counselors who were left alive. So: of them, like Guatemoc, were clad in it and bloody mail, others in their custom* dress, and one in a priest's robe. They h only two things in common among th< -the sternness of their faces and 1 greatness of their rank-and they sat th? this night not to decide my fate, whl was but a little thing, but to take conn as to how they might expel the Spaniai before the city was destroyed. I When I entered, a man in mail, who f in the center of the half circle, and whom I knew Cuitlahua, who would the emperor should Montezuma die, loot np quickly and said: I "Who is this, Guatemoc, that you bri: with you? Ah, I remember-the Tei I that was the god Tez cat, and who cscap the sacrifice today! Listen, nobles. Wh is to bc done with this man? Say, is lawful that he be led back to sacrifice?" Then the priest answered: "I grieve say that it is not lawful, most not prince. This man has lain on the alt j of the god-he has even been wounded I j the holy knife. But the god rejected hi in a fateful hour, and he must lie there i j more. Slay him if you will, but not up< the stone of sacrifice." j "What, then, shall be done with him! said the prince again. "He is of thc blood of the Teules, ai therefore an enemy. One thing is certa j -he must not be suffered to join ti white devils and give them tidings of oi distress. Is it not best that he be pi away forthwith?" Now several of the council nodded the heads, but others sat silent, making i j sign. i "Come," said Cuitlahua, "we have i time to waste over this man when tl j lives of thousands are hourly at stak The question is. Shall the Teule bc slain? j Then Guatemoc rose and spoke, sayinj J "Your pardon, noble kinsmen, but I hoi that we may put this prisoner to betti I use than to kill him. I know him wei He is brave and loyal, as I have prov? j Moreover, he is not all a Teule, but ha of another race that hates them as he hat* them; also he has knowledge of thei j customs and mode of warfare, which vf j lack, and I think that he may be able t j give ns good counsel in our strait." ! "The counsel of the wolf to the dee perhaps," said Cuitlahua coldly, 4'cour j sel that shall lead ns to the fangs of th j Teules. Who shall answer for this foreig devil, that he will not betray, us if w trust him?" ? "I will answer with my life, " answerci Guatemoc. I 4 * Your life is of too great worth to be se I on such a stake, nephew. Men of thi ! white breed are liars, and his own word i J of no value even if he gives it I thinl I that it will be best to kill him and havi j done with doubts." I 4 4 This man is wed to Otomie, princes j of the Otomie, Montezuma's daughter your niece," said Guatemoc again, "ant j she loves him so well that she offered her j self upon the stone of sacrifice with him, I Unless I mistake she will answer for hin: also. Shall she be summoned before you?' "If you wish, nephew, but a woman ii love is a blind woman, and doubtless he has deceived her also. Moreover, she was his wife according to the rule of religion only. Is it your desire that thc princess should be summoned before you, com? rades?" ! Now some said nay, but the most, those whose interest Otomie had gained, said yea, and the end of it was that ono of their number was sent to summon her. Presently she came, looking very weary, but proud in mien and royally attired, and bowed before the council. "This is tho question, princess," said Cuitlahua, "whether this Teulo shall be slain forthwith, or whether he shall bo sworn as one of us, should he be willing to take the oath? The Prince Guatemoc here vouches for him, and he says, moreover, that you will vouch for him also. A wom? an can do this in one way only, by taking him she vouehes as her husband. You are already wed to this foreigner by the rule of religion. Aro you willing to marry him according to t ho custom of our land and to answer for his faith with your own life?" "I am willing," Otomie answered quiet? ly, 44if he is willing." 4'In truth, it is a jgreat honor that you would do~Ehis whit?'d?g," said CultlaEu?. "Bethink you, you are princess of the Oto? mie and ono of our master's daughters. It is to you that we look to bring back the mountain clans of the Otomie, of whom you are chieftainess, from their unholy al? liance with the accursed Tlascalans, the slaves of the Teules. Is not your life too precious to be set on such a stake as this foreigner's faith, for learn, Otomie, if he proves false yourrank shall not help you?" "I know it all," she replied quietly, i "Foreigner or not, I love this man, and I will answer for him with my blood. More? over, I look to him to assist me to win back the people of the Otomie to their al? legiance. But let him speak for himself, my lord. It may happen that he has no desire to take me in marriage." Cuitlahua smiled grimly and said, "When the choice lies between the breast of death and those fair arms of yours, niece, it is easy to guess his answer. StilL speak, Teule, and swiftly. " "I have little to say, lord. If the Prin? cess Otomie is willing to wed me, I am willing to wed her, " I answered, and thus in the moment of my danger all my doubts and scruples vanished. As Cuitlahua had said, it was easy to guess the choice of one set between death and Otomie. She heard and looked at me warningly, saying in a low voice: "Remember our words, Teule In such a marriage you re? nounce your past and give me your fu? ture." **I remember," I answered, and while I spoke there came before my eyes a vision of Lily's face as it had been when I bade her farewell. This, then, was the end of the vows that I had sworn. Cuitlahua looked at me with a glance which seemed to search my heart and said: "I hear your words, Teule. You, a white wanderer, are graciously willing to take this princess to wife and by her to be lifted high among the great lords of this land. But, say, how can wc trust yon? If yon fail ns, your wife dies indeed, but that may be naught to yon." "I am ready to swear allegiance, " I an? swered. "I hate the Spaniards, and among them is my bitterest enemy whom I fol? lowed across the sea to kill-the man who strove to murder me this very day. I can say no more. If you doubt my words, it were best to make an end of me Already I have suffered much at the hands of your people It matters little if I die or live. " "Boldly spoken, Teule. Kow, lords, I ask your judgment. Shall this man he given to Otomie as husband and be sworn as one of us, or shall he be killed instant? ly? You know the matter. If he can be trusted, as Guatemoc and Otomie believe, he will be worth an army to us, for he ls acquainted with the language, the -cus? toms, the weapons and the modes of war? fare of these white devils whom the gods have let loose upon ns. If, on the other hand, he is not to be trusted, and it is hard for ns to put faith in one of his blood, he may do ns much injury, for in the end he will escape to the Teules and betray our counsels and our strength or the lack of it It is for you to judge, lords. " Now the counselors consulted together, 'and some said one thing and some anoth? er, for they were not by any means of a mind in the matter. At length, growing weary, Cuitlahua called on them to put the question to the vote, and this they did by a lifting of hands. First those who were in favor of my death held up their hands, then those who thought it would be wise to spare me There were 26 counsel? ors present, not counting Cuitlahua, and of these 13 voted for my execution, and 13 were for saving me alive. "Now it seems that I must give a cast? ing vote," said Cuitlahua when the tale had been rendered, and my blood turned cold at his words,, for I had seen that his mind was set against me. Then it was that Otomie broke in, saying: "Your pardon, my uncle, but before you speak I have a word to say. You need my services, do you not for if the people of the Otomie will listen to any and suffer themselves to be led from their evil path it is to me? My mother was by birth their chieftainess, the last of a long line, and I am her only child. Moreover, my father is their emperor. Therefore my life is of no small worth now in this time of trou? ble, for though I am nothing in myself yet it may chance that I can bring 30,000 warriors to your standard. The priests knew this on yonder pyramid, and when I claimed my right to lie at the side of the Teule they gainsaid me, nor would they suffer it, though they hungered for tho royal blood, till I called down the venge? ance of thc gods upon them. Now, my uncle and you, lords, I tell you this: Slay yonder man if you will, but know that then you must find another than me to lure the Otomie from their rebellion, for then I complete what I began today and follow him to the grave. " She ceased, and a murmur of amazement went round the chamber, for none had looked to find such love and courage in this lady's heart Only Cuitlahua grew angry. "Disloyal girl, " he said, "do you dare to set your lover before your country? Shame upon you, shameless daughter of our king! Why, it is in the blood-as the father is, so is the daughter. Did not Mon? tezuma forsake his people and choose to lie among these Teules, the false children of Quetzal? And now this Otomie follows in his path. Tell us how is it, woman, that you and your lover alone escaped from the teocalli yonder when all the rest were killed. Aro you then in league with these Teules? I say to you, niece, that if things were otherwise and I had my way you should win your desire indeed, for you should bc slain at this man's side and within the hour. " And he ceased for lack of breath and looked upon her fiercely. But Otomie never quailed. She stood before him pale and quiet, with folded hands and downcast eyes, and answered: "Forbear to reproach mo because my love is strong, or reproach me if you will, I havo spoken my last word. Condemn this man to die, and, prince, you must seek some other envoy to win back the Otomie to the cause of Anahuac. " Now Cuitlahua pondered, staring into thegloom_ abova him and pulling at his Highest of all in Leavening Poi Royal De?r"aV"alKl the sTJenoe~W53 ~grars,-r?r none knew what his judgment would be. At last he spoke: 4 4 So be it. We have need of Otomie, my niece, and it is of no avail to light against a woman's love. Teule, wc give you life, and with the life honor and wealth, and the greatest of our women in marriage, and a place in our councils. Take these gifts and her, but I say to you both be? ware how you use them. If you betray us -nay, if you but think on treachery-I swear to you that you shall die a death so slow and horrible that the very name of it would turn your heart to water, you and your wife, your children and your servants. Come, let him be sworn!" I heard, and my head swam, and a mist gathered before my eyes. Once again I was saved from instant death. Presently it cleared, and looking up roy eyes met those of the woman who had saved me, Otomie, my wife, who smiled upon me somewhat sadly. Then the priest came forward bearing a wooden Ixrvl, carved about with strange signs, and a flint knife, and bade me bare my arm. He cut my flesh with the knife, so that blood ran from it into the bowl. Some drops of this blood he emptied on to the ground, muttering invocations the while. Then he turned and looked at Cuitlab.ua as though in question, and Cuitlahua answered with a bitter laugh: "Let him be baptized with the blood of the Princess Otomie, my niece, for she is bail for bim." 4*Nay, lord," said Guatemoc, 4'thesetwo have mingled bloods already upon the stone of sacrifice, and they are man and wife. But I also have vouched for him, and I offer mine in earnest of my faith. " "This Teule has good friends," said j Cuitlahua. 44You honor him overmuch. But so be it" Then Guatemoc came forward, and when the priest would have cut him with the knife he laughed and said, pointing to the bullet wound upon his neck: "No need for that, priest. Blood runs here that was shed by thc Teules. None can be fitter for this purpose. " So the priest drew away the bandage and suffered the blood of Guatemoc to drop into a second smaller bowL Then he came to me, and dipping his finger into the blood he drew the sign of a cross upon my forehead as a Christian priest draws it upon the forehead of an infant and said: "In the presence and the name of God, our Lord, who is everywhere and sees all things, I sign you with this blood and make you of this blood. In the presence and the name of God, our Lord, who, is ev? erywhere and sees all things, I pour forth your blood upon the earth!" (Here he poured as he spoke.) 44As this blood of yours sinks into the earth, so may the memory of your past lifo sink and be for? gotten, for you are born again of the peo? ple of An ah u ac. In the presence and the name of God, our Lord, who is everywhere and sees all things, I mingle these bloods" (here ho poured from one bowl into the other), 4'and with them I touch your tongue" (here, dipping his finger into the bowl, he touched the tip of my tongue with it) "and bid you swear thus: 44 41, Teule, swear to be faithful to the people of Anahuac and to their lawful gov? ernors. I swear to wage war upon their foes and to compass their destruction, and more especially upon the Teules. till they are driven into the sea. I swear to offer no affront to thc gods of Anahuac. I swear myself in marriage to Otomie, princess of the Otomie, the daughter of Montezuma, my lord, for so long as her life shall en? dure. I swear to attempt no escape from these shores. I swear to renounce my fa? ther and my mother, and the land whore ' I was born, and to cling to this land of' my new birth, and this my oath shall en? dure till thc volcano Popo ceases to vomit smoke and fire, till there is no king in Tcnoctitlan, till no priest serves thc altars of the gods and thc people of Anahuac arc no more a people. ' " - r*k? When I had sworn, Guatemoc came for? ward and embraced me, saying: "Wel? come, Teule, my brother in blood and: heart Now you are one of us, and we look to you for help and counsel. Conie, , be seated by mc." I looked toward Cuitlahua doubtfully, but he smiled graciously and said: 4 4 Teule, your trial is over. We have accepted you, and you have sworn the solemn oath of brotherhood, to break which is to die hor? ribly in this world and to be tortured through eternity in the next Forget all that may have been said in thc hour of your weighing, for the balance is in your favor, and be sure that if you give us n< cause to doubt you, you shall find none to doubt us. Now, as the husband of Otomie, you are a lord, among the lords, having honor and great possessions, and as such be seated by your brother Guatemoc and join our council " I did as he bade me, and Otomie with? drew from our presence. Then Cuitlahua spoke again, no longer of me and my mat? ters, but of the urgent affairs of state. He j spoke in slow words and weighty, and j more than once Iiis voice broke in his sor ! row. Ho told of the grievous misfortunes j that had overcome thc country, of the ! death of hundreds of its bravest warriors, j of thc slaughter of the priests and soldiers ; that day on the teocalli and the desecra I tion of his nation's gods. What was to be j done in this extremity? h*? asked. Monte? zuma lay dying, a prisoner in thc camp of 1 the Teules, and thc fire that lie had nursed ! with his breath devoured the land. No ef i forts of theirs could break the iron strength I of these white devils, armed with strange j and terrible weapons. Day by day dis? aster overtook the anns of the Aztecs. What wisdom liad they now that the pro? tecting gods were shattered in their very shrines, when the altars ran red with the blood of their ministering priests, when tho oracles were dumb or answered only in the accents of despair? Then one by one princes and generals I arose and gave counsel according to their { lights. At length all had spoken, and i Cuitlahua said, looking toward me: 4*Wo have a new counselor among us ! who is skilled in the warfare and customs i of tho white man, who till an hour ago j was himself a white man. Has he no word of comfort for us?" ?ver.-Latest U. S. Gov't Report I Baking i Powder fELY H?BE