Thenhavingbeencleansedandclothed，I
　　wasledintothesanctuaryofthegodQuetzalandstoodfacetofacewiththehideousimagethere，staringatthegoldencenserthatwastohavereceivedmyheartwhilethepriestsutteredprayers。
　　ThenceIwassupporteddownthewindingroadofthepyramidtillIcametoitsfoot，wheremycaptorthecaciquetookmebythehandandledmethroughthepeoplewho，itseemed，nowregardedmewithsomestrangeveneration。
　　ThefirstpersonthatI
　　sawwhenwereachedthehousewasMarina，wholookedatmeandmurmuredsomesoftwordsthatIcouldnotunderstand。
　　ThenIwassufferedtogotomychamber，andthereIpassedtherestofthedayprostratedbyallthatIhadundergone。
　　TrulyIhadcometoalandofdevils！
　　AndnowIwilltellhowitwasthatIcametobesavedfromtheknife。
　　Marinahavingtakensomelikingtome，pitiedmysadfate，andbeingveryquick-witted，shefoundawaytorescueme。
　　ForwhenIhadbeenledofftosacrifice，shespoketothecacique，herlord，bringingittohismindthat，bycommonreportMontezuma，theEmperorofAnahuac，wasdisturbedastotheTeulesorSpaniards，anddesiredmuchtoseeone。
　　Now，shesaid，IwasevidentlyaTeule，andMontezumawouldbeangered，indeed，ifIweresacrificedinafar-offtown，insteadofbeingsenttohimtosacrificeifhesawfit。
　　Tothisthecaciqueansweredthatthewordswerewise，butthatsheshouldhavespokenthembefore，fornowthepriestshadgotholdofme，anditwashopelesstosavemefromtheirgrip。
　　’Nay，’answeredMarina，’thereisthistobesaid。
　　Quetzal，thegodtowhomthisTeuleistobeoffered，wasawhiteman，*anditmaywellhappenthatthismanisoneofhischildren。
　　Willitpleasethegodthathischildshouldbeofferedtohim？
　　Attheleast，ifthegodisnotangered，Montezumawillcertainlybewroth，andwreakavengeanceonyouandonthepriests。’
　　*Quetzal，ormoreproperlyQuetzalcoatl，wasthedivinitywhoisfabledtohavetaughtthenativesofAnahuacalltheusefularts，includingthoseofgovernmentandpolicy，hewaswhite-skinnedanddark-haired。
　　FinallyhesailedfromtheshoresofAnahuacforthefabulouscountryofTlapallaninabarkofserpents’skins。
　　Butbeforehesailedhepromisedthathewouldreturnagainwithanumerousprogeny。
　　ThispromisewasrememberedbytheAztecs，anditwaslargelyonaccountofitthattheSpaniardswereenabledtoconquerthecountry，fortheyweresupposedtobehisdescendants。
　　PerhapsQuetzalcoatlwasaNorseman！
　　VideSagasofErictheRedandofThorfinnKarlsefne——AUTHOR。
　　NowwhenthecaciqueheardthishesawthatMarinaspoketruth，andhurryinguptheteocalli，hecaughttheknifeasitwasintheactoffallinguponme。
　　Atfirsttheheadpriestwasangeredandcalledoutthatthiswassacrilege，butwhenthecaciquehadtoldhimhismind，heunderstoodthathewoulddowiselynottorunariskofthewrathofMontezuma。
　　SoIwasloosedandledintothesanctuary，andwhenIcameoutthepabaannouncedtothepeoplethatthegodhaddeclaredmetobeoneofhischildren，anditwasforthisreasonthatthenandthereaftertheytreatedmewithreverence。
　　NowafterthisdreadfuldayIwaskindlydealtwithbythepeopleofTobasco，whogavemethenameofTeuleorSpaniard，andnolongersoughttoputmetosacrifice。
　　Farfromitindeed，Iwaswellclothedandfed，andsufferedtowanderwhereIwould，thoughalwaysunderthecareofguardswho，hadIescaped，wouldhavepaidforitwiththeirlives。
　　Ilearnedthatonthemorrowofmyrescuefromthepriests，messengersweredespatchedtoMontezuma，thegreatking，acquaintinghimwiththehistoryofmycapture，andseekingtoknowhispleasureconcerningme。
　　ButthewaytoTenoctitlanwasfar，andmanyweekspassedbeforethemessengersreturnedagain。
　　MeanwhileIfilledthedaysinlearningtheMayalanguage，andalsosomethingofthatoftheAztecs，whichI
　　practisedwithMarinaandothers。
　　ForMarinawasnotaTobascan，havingbeenbornatPainalla，onthesoutheasternbordersoftheempire。
　　ButhermothersoldhertomerchantsinorderthatMarina’sinheritancemightcometoanotherchildofhersbyasecondmarriage，andthusintheendthegirlfellintothehandsofthecaciqueofTobasco。
　　AlsoIlearnedsomethingofthehistoryandcustoms，andofthepicturewritingoftheland，andhowtoreadit，andmoreoverI
　　obtainedgreatreputeamongtheTobascansbymyskillinmedicine，sothatintimetheygrewtobelievethatIwasindeedachildofQuetzal，thegoodgod。
　　AndthemoreIstudiedthispeoplethelessIcouldunderstandofthem。
　　InmostwaystheywereequaltoanynationofourownworldofwhichIhadknowledge。
　　Nonearemoreskilledinthearts，fewarebetterarchitectsorboastpurerlaws。
　　Moreover，theywerebraveandhadpatience。
　　Buttheirfaithwasthecankerattherootofthetree。
　　Inpreceptitwasnobleandhadmuchincommonwithourown，suchastheriteofbaptism，butI
　　havetoldwhatitwasinpractice。
　　Andyet，whenallissaid，isitmorecrueltoofferupvictimstothegodsthantotorturetheminthevaultsoftheHolyOfficeortoimmuretheminthewallsofnunneries？
　　WhenIhadlivedamonthinTobascoIhadlearnedenoughofthelanguagetotalkwithMarina，withwhomIgrewfriendly，thoughnomore，anditwasfromherthatIgatheredthemostofmyknowledge，andalsomanyhintsastotheconductnecessarytomysafety。
　　InreturnItaughthersomethingofmyownfaith，andofthecustomsoftheEuropeans，anditwastheknowledgethatshegainedfrommewhichafterwardsmadehersousefultotheSpaniards，andpreparedhertoaccepttheirreligion，givingherinsightintothewaysofwhitepeople。
　　SoIabodeforfourmonthsandmoreinthehouseofthecaciqueofTobasco，whocarriedhiskindnesstowardsmetothelengthofofferingmehissisterinmarriage。
　　TothisproposalIsaidnoasgentlyasImight，andhemarvelledatit，forthegirlwasfair。
　　Indeed，sowellwasItreated，thathaditnotbeenthatmyheartwasfaraway，andbecauseofthehorribleritesoftheirreligionwhichIwasforcedtowitnessalmostdaily，Icouldhavelearnedtolovethisgentle，skilled，andindustriouspeople。
　　Atlength，whenfullfourmonthshadpassedaway，themessengersreturnedfromthecourtofMontezuma，havingbeenmuchdelayedbyswollenriversandotheraccidentsoftravel。
　　SogreatwastheimportancethattheEmperorattachedtothefactofmycapture，andsodesirouswashetoseemeathiscapital，thathehadsenthisownnephew，thePrinceGuatemoc，tofetchmeandagreatescortofwarriorswithhim。
　　NevershallIforgetmyfirstmeetingwiththisprincewhoafterwardsbecamemydearcompanionandbrotherinarms。
　　WhentheescortarrivedIwasawayfromthetownshootingdeerwiththebowandarrow，aweaponintheuseofwhichIhadsuchskillthatalltheIndianswonderedatme，notknowingthattwiceIhadwontheprizeatthebuttsonBungayCommon。
　　Ourpartybeingsummonedbyamessenger，wereturnedbearingourdeerwithus。
　　Onreachingthecourtyardofthecacique’shouse，Ifounditfilledwithwarriorsmostgorgeouslyattired，andamongthemonemoresplendidthantherest。
　　Hewasyoung，verytallandbroad，mosthandsomeinface，andhavingeyeslikethoseofaneagle，whilehiswholeaspectbreathedmajestyandcommand。
　　Hisbodywasencasedinacuirassofgold，overwhichhungamantlemadeofthemostgorgeousfeathers，exquisitelysetinbandsofdifferentcolours。
　　Onhisheadheworeahelmetofgoldsurmountedbytheroyalcrest，aneagle，standingonasnakefashionedingoldandgems。
　　Onhisarms，andbeneathhisknees，heworecircletsofgoldandgems，andinhishandwasacopper-bladedspear。
　　Roundthismanweremanynoblesdressedinasomewhatsimilarfashion，exceptthatthemostofthemworeavestofquiltedcottoninplaceofthegoldcuirass，andajewelledpanacheoftheplumesofbirdsinsteadoftheroyalsymbol。
　　ThiswasGuatemoc，Montezuma’snephew，andafterwardsthelastemperorofAnahuac。
　　SosoonasIsawhimIsalutedhimintheIndianfashionbytouchingtheearthwithmyrighthand，whichI
　　thenraisedtomyhead。
　　ButGuatemoc，havingscannedmewithhiseyeasIstood，bowinhand，attiredinmysimplehunter’sdress，smiledfranklyandsaid:
　　’Surely，Teule，ifIknowanythingofthelooksofmen，wearetooequalinourbirth，asinourage，foryoutosalutemeasaslavegreetshismaster。’
　　Andheheldhishandtome。
　　Itookit，answeringwiththehelpofMarina，whowaswatchingthisgreatlordwitheagereyes。
　　’Itmaybeso，prince，butthoughinmyowncountryIamamanofreputeandwealth，hereIamnothingbutaslavesnatchedfromthesacrifice。’
　　’Iknowit，’hesaidfrowning。
　　’Itiswellforallherethatyouweresosnatchedbeforethebreathoflifehadleftyou，elseMontezuma’swrathhadfallenonthiscity。’
　　Andhelookedatthecaciquewhotrembled，suchinthosedayswastheterrorofMontezuma’sname。
　　ThenheaskedmeifIwasaTeuleorSpaniard。
　　ItoldhimthatI
　　wasnoSpaniardbutoneofanotherwhiteracewhohadSpanishbloodinhisveins。
　　Thissayingseemedtopuzzlehim，forhehadneversomuchasheardofanyotherwhiterace，soItoldhimsomethingofmystory，atleastsomuchofitashadtodowithmybeingcastaway。
　　WhenIhadfinished，hesaid，’IfIhaveunderstoodaright，Teule，yousaythatyouarenoSpaniard，yetthatyouhaveSpanishbloodinyou，andcamehitherinaSpanishship，andIfindthisstorystrange。
　　Well，itisforMontezumatojudgeofthesematters，soletustalkofthemnomore。
　　Comeandshowmehowyouhandlethatgreatbowofyours。
　　Didyoubringitwithyouordidyoufashionithere？
　　Theytellme，Teule，thatthereisnosucharcherintheland。’
　　SoIcameupandshowedhimthebowwhichwasofmyownmake，andwouldshootanarrowsomesixtypacesfurtherthananythatIsawinAnahuac，andwefellintotalkonmattersofsportandwar，Marinahelpingoutmywantoflanguage，andbeforethatdaywasdonewehadgrownfriendly。
　　ForaweektheprinceGuatemocandhiscompanyrestedinthetownofTobasco，andallthistimewethreetalkedmuchtogether。
　　SoonIsawthatMarinalookedwitheyesoflongingonthegreatlord，partlybecauseofhisbeautyrankandmight，andpartlybecausesheweariedofhercaptivityinthehouseofthecacique，andwouldshareGuatemoc’spower，forMarinawasambitious。
　　Shetriedtowinhisheartinmanyways，butheseemednottonoticeher，sothatatlastshespokemoreplainlyandinmyhearing。
　　’Yougohenceto-morrow，prince，’shesaidsoftly，’andIhaveafavourtoaskofyou，ifyouwilllistentoyourhandmaid。’
　　’Speakon，maiden，’heanswered。
　　’Iwouldaskthis，thatifitpleasesyou，youwillbuymeofthecaciquemymaster，orcommandhimtogivemeuptoyou，andtakemewithyoutoTenoctitlan。’
　　Guatemoclaughedaloud。
　　’Youputthingsplainly，maiden，’hesaid，’butknowthatinthecityofTenoctitlan，mywifeandroyalcousin，Tecuichpo，awaitsme，andwithherthreeotherladies，whoasitchancesaresomewhatjealous。’
　　NowMarinaflushedbeneathherbrownskin，andforthefirstandlasttimeIsawhergentleeyesgrowhardwithangerassheanswered:
　　’Iaskedyoutotakemewithyou，prince；Ididnotasktobeyourwifeorlove。’
　　’Butperchanceyoumeantit，’hesaiddryly。
　　’WhateverImayhavemeant，prince，itisnowforgotten。
　　Iwishedtoseethegreatcityandthegreatking，becauseIwearyofmylifehereandwouldmyselfgrowgreat。
　　Youhaverefusedme，butperhapsatimewillcomewhenIshallgrowgreatinspiteofyou，andthenImayremembertheshamethathasbeenputuponmeagainstyou，prince，andallyourroyalhouse。’
　　AgainGuatemoclaughed，thenofasuddengrewstern。
　　’Youareover-bold，girl，’hesaid；’forlesswordsthanthesemanyaonemightfindherselfstretcheduponthestoneofsacrifice。
　　ButIwillforgetthem，foryourwoman’sprideisstung，andyouknownotwhatyousay。
　　Doyouforgetthemalso，Teule，ifyouhaveunderstood。’
　　ThenMarinaturnedandwent，herbosomheavingwithangerandoutragedloveorpride，andasshepassedmeIheardhermutter，’Yes，prince，youmayforget，butIshallnot。’