Arizona silver belt., 1893-12-09


 to the ease of nadnan? Iwoald bring him into the presence of death -his death --and would he alone with him, And then that book would surely appear He would be aware that he was to die by what the Spamards in Anahuac most feared the sacriieial stone. Yes, then the lock must appear.
 The sacrificial stone = in tie baro words even there was fascination for me; around this legalized and sanctified agent of slaughter my plot centered. The plan, briefly, was this: The Spanish forces, in three divisions, were besieging the City of Mexico. We made simulta- neons attacks, each time approaching nearer our goal. the chief temple in the center of the city, and after each as- sauit we withdrew to our respective camps. Progress was slow; meats sur rounded the city thostreots were narrow, and each house was fortihcation, The besiegers could advance no step until the preceding one was secured for re- treat; each house must be razed. each moat filed These were orders and were o5aycd, because capture, we knew, meant the sacriGcial stone, our hearts a symbolic food for pagan gods and our bodies a material one for the religious feast of canuibalism.
 For tomorrow another attack was or, dered-the last one we hoped The same iujunctions for security being repeated, vo advanced He, as usual, was at nay side The first resistance of the natives was easily overcome, and we entered the city House after house was demolished The mass of Aztecs before us gave way as of one accord and broke into retreat. To me there was something uncauny about their actions If retreat at all, it was prcmeditated. But to our followers it meant only tho victory 50 long striyen and suffered for,
 Ny time had come. The eagerness of our followers, which ] openly Cueour. aged. isolated us from the main army. Worse yet, had Che bnglc sounded and ordered charge, Au-all but he forgot the caution of C9rtes and answered the signal with an onset that his prudence could not check The force behind pushed us both forward, He placed his hand strongly upon my shoulder to question my conduct and toremonstrate l turned to answer, when there, upon his face, WAS that picture of the grave. The ruso of the heatheu succeeded
 Seeing our position apart from tho others, they turned and came eSulHngly toward us The deafeniug reyerberation of the gong in the temple, q sound of woe to the Spaniqrds, sounded our death kncn. Then 1t was l saw that look lost myself, and leaning back in my sad de yelled to him in fendish merriment, 'The saCriiciai stJner He understood As my atrocity dawned upon him the look vanished for one of hatred and fury. He raised his sword hissej something hke Traitor" and came at me.
 The Spauiard is quick iu anger, but his stroke never fell A score Of barred arms of the sualdsh color of copper en- circled bi4 body another score bereft him of tho mJrlerOus weapon over iuy head; 8 myriad more dragged him from his horse. The same fate befell tue rest of our band whU survived, myself included. That night We found cur selves ia the dungeon where M0ntezu- ma had lauguished The next day we all knew we should await our turn at sacrifice before the dread stone. He knew, it and I rejoiced. Even a mad man can feel the joy of triumph, can he uots
 But be should not die with the others That was not my plan. groped in the dark to where be crOuched and whis pered, Escape! He jumped to his feet. "Whereg H0w:' "Hush not 50 loud. Follow me He hesitated. But the others" he asked Tt is not possible for more th,su two, answered. lie said no more, but followed in silence. h this evidence of his selhshness felt a sort of satisfaction. Though content myself, I cannot help but feel grateful to anything that may aid in justifying his death to normal minds.
 During the unwelcome stay of the Spaniards in the city before their ex- pulsioa they were given for residence the place in which we were then con fined Being with Cortes at that time. therefore knew our prison house we'll For me escape was easy. Through many rooms, corridors, passages and stairs, some known not even to the na- tiyes, we fled on tiptoe His confidence was regained, and hefollowed neclosely. Finally, without hindrauce, NC reached the flat roof Here behind the walls, extending few feet above the roof we could hide in safety and here indeed we waited throughout the next day
 told him my idea of final escape It was iutoxicatioa to renew his hope, a vain hope, for I should blast it, That night we were to gain tho summit of the temple and there light beacon. The besiegers outside would understand or think they understood The Mexi- cans never expect night attacks, due to a superstition regarding the white man, so that they could Dc sasily overcome. Assurance of life brought a smile to the face of my companion though at the lime in looking toward the pyramidal shaped temple or teocalli, he saw our comrades led up the spiral steps leading to the summit, saw them one by one bound by the priests to the sacrifcial stone, saw over each raised the stone knife, saw it descend into the trembling breast, saw the quiyering heart torn out and offered to the gods upon golden salver.
 He saw the gore spattered upon the walks and upon the dark robes of the priests. He saw lhe bodies carried by slaves to the banqueting hall, there to supply that nights revol, All this, l say, passed before his eyes, yet it served only to deepen the smile as he contrasted their fate with his own hopes-his hopes! How 1 exllied in the deceptionl
 Night drew on, and we heard the qofIulg of lootheo1np Tpvelf.v made moro