Ay，theymustdie，butattheleasttheywouldseektheMansionsoftheSunmadeholybythebloodoftheaccursedTeule。
　　Ihavesaidthatitwasthewomenwhosangthischantandglaredsofiercelyuponthevictims，butIhavenotyettoldallthehorrorofwhatIsaw，forinthefore-frontoftheircircle，cladinwhiterobes，theneckletofgreatemeralds，Guatemoc’sgift，flashinguponherbreast，theplumesofroyalgreensetinherhair，givingthetimeofthedeathchantwithalittlewand，stoodMontezuma’sdaughter，Otomiemywife。
　　NeverhadIseenherlooksobeautifulorsodreadful。
　　ItwasnotOtomiewhomIsaw，forwherewasthetendersmileandwherethegentleeyes？
　　HerebeforemewasalivingVengeancewearingtheshapeofwoman。
　　InaninstantI
　　guessedthetruth，thoughIdidnotknowitall。
　　Otomie，whoalthoughshewasnotofit，hadeverfavouredtheChristianfaith，Otomie，whoforyearshadneverspokenofthesedreadfulritesexceptwithanger，whoseeveryactwasloveandwhoseeverywordwaskindness，wasstillinhersoulanidolaterandasavage。
　　Shehadhiddenthissideofherheartfrommewellthroughalltheseyears，perchancesheherselfhadscarcelyknownitssecret，forbuttwicehadIseenanythingoftheburiedfiercenessofherblood。
　　ThefirsttimewaswhenMarinahadbroughtheracertainrobeinwhichshemightescapefromthecampofCortes，andshehadspokentoMarinaofthatrobe；andthesecondwhenonthissamedayshehadplayedherparttotheTlascalan，andhadstruckhimdownwithherownhandashebentoverme。
　　Allthisandmuchmorepassedthroughmymindinthatbriefmoment，whileOtomiemarkedthetimeofthedeathchant，andthepabasdraggedtheTlascalantohisdoom。
　　ThenextIwasatherside。
　　’Whatpasseshere？’Iaskedsternly。
　　Otomielookedonmewithacoldwonder，andemptyeyesasthoughshedidnotknowme。
　　’Goback，whiteman，’sheanswered；’itisnotlawfulforstrangerstomingleinourrites。’
　　Istoodbewildered，notknowingwhattodo，whiletheflameburnedandthechantwentupbeforetheeffigyofHuitzel，ofthedemonHuitzelawakenedaftermanyyearsofsleep。
　　Againandyetagainthesolemnchantarose，Otomiebeatingtimewithherlittlerodofebony，andagainandyetagainthecryoftriumphrosetothesilentstars。
　　NowIawokefrommydream，forasanevildreamitseemedtome，anddrawingmyswordIrushedtowardsthepriestatthealtartocuthimdown。
　　Butthoughthemenstoodstillthewomenweretooquickforme。
　　BeforeIcouldliftthesword，beforeIcouldevenspeakaword，theyhadsprunguponmelikethejaguarsoftheirownforests，andlikejaguarstheyhissedandgrowledintomyear:
　　’Getyougone，Teule，’theysaid，’lestwestretchyouonthestonewithyourbrethren。’
　　Andstillhissingtheypushedmethence。
　　Idrewbackandthoughtforawhileintheshadowofthetemple。
　　Myeyefelluponthelonglineofvictimsawaitingtheirturnofsacrifice。
　　Therewerethirtyandoneofthemstillalive，andofthesefivewereSpaniards。
　　InotedthattheSpaniardswerechainedthelastofalltheline。
　　Itseemedthatthemurdererswouldkeepthemtilltheendofthefeast，indeedIdiscoveredthattheyweretobeofferedupattherisingofthesun。
　　HowcouldIsavethem，Iwondered。
　　Mypowerwasgone。
　　Thewomencouldnotbemovedfromtheirworkofvengeance；theyweremadwiththeirsufferings。
　　Aswellmightamantrytosnatchherpreyfromapumarobbedofherwhelps，astoturnthemfromtheirpurpose。
　　Withthemenitwasotherwise，however。
　　Someofthemmingledintheorgieindeed，butmorestoodaloofwatchingwithafearfuljoythespectacleinwhichtheydidnotshare。
　　Nearmewasaman，anobleoftheOtomie，ofsomethingmorethanmyownage。
　　Hehadalwaysbeenmyfriend，andaftermehecommandedthewarriorsofthetribe。
　　Iwenttohimandsaid，’Friend，forthesakeofthehonourofyourpeople，helpmetoendthis。’
　　’Icannot，Teule，’heanswered，’andbewarehowyoumeddleintheplay，fornonewillstandbyyou。
　　Nowthewomenhavepower，andyouseetheyuseit。
　　Theyareabouttodie，butbeforetheydietheywilldoastheirfathersdid，fortheirstraitissore，andthoughtheyhavebeenputaside，theoldcustomsarenotforgotten。’
　　’AttheleastcanwenotsavetheseTeules？’Ianswered。
　　’WhyshouldyouwishtosavetheTeules？
　　Willtheysaveussomefewdayshence，whenWEareintheirpower？’
　　’Perhapsnot，’Isaid，’butifwemustdie，letusdiecleanfromthisshame。’
　　’Whatthendoyouwishmetodo，Teule？’
　　’This:Iwouldhaveyoufindsomethreeorfourmenwhoarenotfallenintothismadness，andwiththemaidmetoloosetheTeules，forwecannotsavetheothers。
　　Ifthismaybedone，surelywecanlowerthemwithropesfromthatpointwheretheroadisbrokenaway，downtothepathbeneath，andthustheymayescapetotheirownpeople。’
　　’Iwilltry，’heanswered，shrugginghisshoulders，’notfromanytendernesstowardstheaccursedTeules，whomIcouldwellbeartoseestretcheduponthestone，butbecauseitisyourwish，andforthesakeofthefriendshipbetweenus。’
　　Thenhewent，andpresentlyIsawseveralmenplacethemselves，asthoughbychance，betweenthespotwherethelastofthelineofIndianprisoners，andthefirstoftheSpaniardsweremadefast，insuchafashionastohidethemfromthesightofthemaddenedwomen，engrossedastheywereintheirorgies。
　　NowIcreptuptotheSpaniards。
　　Theyweresquattedupontheground，boundbytheirhandsandfeettothecopperringsinthepavement。
　　Theretheysatsilentlyawaitingthedreadfuldoom，theirfacesgreywithterror，andtheireyesstartingfromtheirsockets。
　　’Hist！’IwhisperedinSpanishintotheearofthefirst，anoldmanwhomIknewasonewhohadtakenpartinthewarsofCortes。
　　’Wouldyoubesaved？’
　　Helookedupquickly，andsaidinahoarsevoice:
　　’Whoareyouthattalkofsavingus？
　　Whocansaveusfromtheseshedevils？’
　　’IamTeule，amanofwhitebloodandaChristian，andalasthatI
　　mustsayit，thecaptainofthissavagepeople。
　　Withtheaidofsomefewmenwhoarefaithfultome，Ipurposetocutyourbonds，andafterwardsyoushallsee。
　　Know，Spaniard，thatIdothisatgreatrisk，forifwearecaught，itisachancebutthatImyselfshallhavetosufferthosethingsfromwhichIhopetorescueyou。’
　　’Beassured，Teule，’answeredtheSpaniard，’thatifweshouldgetsafeaway，weshallnotforgetthisservice。
　　Saveourlivesnow，andthetimemaycomewhenweshallpayyoubackwithyours。
　　Butevenifweareloosed，howcanwecrosstheopenspaceinthismoonlightandescapetheeyesofthosefuries？’
　　’Wemusttrusttochanceforthat，’Ianswered，andasIspoke，fortunehelpedusstrangely，forbynowtheSpaniardsintheircampbelowhadperceivedwhatwasgoingforwardonthecrestoftheteocalli。
　　Ayellofhorrorrosefromthemandinstantlytheyopenedfireuponuswiththeirpiecesandarquebusses，though，becauseoftheshapeofthepyramidandoftheirpositionbeneathit，thestormofshotsweptoverus，doinguslittleornohurt。
　　Alsoagreatcompanyofthempouredacrossthecourtyard，hopingtostormthetemple，fortheydidnotknowthattheroadhadbeenbrokenaway。
　　Now，thoughtheritesofsacrificeneverceased，whatwiththeroarofcannon，theshoutsofrageandterrorfromtheSpaniards，thehissofmusketballs，andthecracklingofflamesfromhouseswhichtheyhadfiredtogivethemmorelight，andthesoundofchanting，theturmoilandconfusiongrewsogreatastorenderthecarryingoutofmypurposeeasierthanIhadhoped。
　　Bythistimemyfriend，thecaptainoftheOtomie，wasatmyside，andwithhimseveralmenwhomhecouldtrust。
　　Stoopingdown，withafewswiftblowsofaknifeIcuttheropeswhichboundtheSpaniards。
　　Thenwegatheredourselvesintoaknot，twelveofusormore，andinthecentreoftheknotwesetthefiveSpaniards。
　　Thisdone，Idrewmyswordandcried:
　　’TheTeulesstormthetemple！’whichwastrue，foralreadytheirlonglinewasrushingupthewindingpath。
　　’TheTeulesstormthetemple，Igotostopthem，’andstraightwaywespedacrosstheopenspace。
　　Nonesawus，oriftheysawus，nonehinderedus，forallthecompanywereintentupontheconsummationofafreshsacrifice；
　　moreover，thetumultwassuch，asIafterwardsdiscovered，thatwewerescarcelynoticed。
　　Twominutespassed，andourfeetweresetuponthewindingway，andnowIbreathedagain，forwewerebeyondthesightofthewomen。
　　OnwerushedswiftlyasthecrampedlimbsoftheSpaniardswouldcarrythem，tillpresentlywereachedthatangleinthepathwherethebreachbegan。
　　TheattackingSpaniardshadalreadycometothefurthersideofthegap，forthoughwecouldnotseethem，wecouldheartheircriesofrageanddespairastheyhaltedhelplesslyandunderstoodthattheircomradeswerebeyondtheiraid。
　　’Nowwearesped，’saidtheSpaniardwithwhomIhadspoken；’theroadisgone，anditmustbecertaindeathtotrythesideofthepyramid。’
　　’Notso，’Ianswered；’somefiftyfeetbelowthepathstillruns，andonebyonewewillloweryoutoitwiththisrope。’
　　Thenwesettowork。
　　Makingthecordfastbeneaththearmsofasoldierwelethimdowngently，tillhecametothepath，andwasreceivedtherebyhiscomradesasamanreturnedfromthedead。
　　ThelasttobeloweredwasthatSpaniardwithwhomIhadspoken。
　　’Farewell，’hesaid，’andmaytheblessingofGodbeonyouforthisactofmercy，renegadethoughyouare。
　　Say，now，willyounotcomewithme？
　　Isetmylifeandhonourinpledgeforyoursafety。
　　YoutellmethatyouarestillaChristianman。
　　IsthataplaceforChristians？’andhepointedupwards。
　　’No，indeed，’Ianswered，’butstillIcannotcome，formywifeandsonarethere，andImustreturntodiewiththemifneedbe。
　　Ifyoubearmeanygratitude，striveinreturntosavetheirlives，sinceformyownIcarebutlittle。’
　　’ThatIwill，’hesaid，andthenwelethimdownamonghisfriends，whomhereachedinsafety。
　　Nowwereturnedtothetemple，givingitoutthattheSpaniardswereinretreat，havingfailedtocrossthebreachintheroadway。
　　Herebeforethetempletheorgiestillwenton。
　　ButtwoIndiansremainedalive；andthepriestsofsacrificegrewweary。
　　’WherearetheTeules？’criedavoice。
　　’Swift！stripthemforthealtar。’
　　ButtheTeulesweregone，nor，searchwheretheywould，couldtheyfindthem。
　　’TheirGodhastakenthembeneathHiswing，’Isaid，speakingfromtheshadowandinafeignedvoice。
　　’HuitzelcannotprevailbeforetheGodoftheTeules。’
　　ThenIslippedaside，sothatnoneknewthatitwasIwhohadspoken，butthecrywascaughtupandechoedfarandwide。
　　’TheGodoftheChristianshashiddenthembeneathHiswing。
　　LetusmakemerrywiththosewhomHerejects，’saidthecry，andthelastofthecaptivesweredraggedaway。
　　NowIthoughtthatallwasfinished，butthiswasnotso。
　　IhavespokenofthesecretpurposewhichIreadinthesulleneyesoftheIndianwomenastheylabouredatthebarricades，andIwasabouttoseeitsexecution。