The Portland daily press., 1893-08-28

their fate with his own hopes-hls hopes!
How exulted in the deception!
Night drew on, and we heard the
sounds of loathsome revelry, made more
hideous by our knowledge OF, its nature.
The great temple, or teocalli, though,
was deserted. All were at the feast of
human flesh. Our opportunity had come.
In safety we reached the street and
scaled the walls Of the temple. We eau
tiously climbed the steps of the teocalli,
though with difficulty, for we frequently
slipped upon the Shiny gore and fell
cluznsily into pools of blood. The stencil,
too, was deathly, but we kept on, on, un-
til the suinn1it was reached.
We paused after our exertions. ]
looked around. My victim was stand
ing at the foot of the sacrifcial stone,
his back turned toward Tiny oppor-
tunisy exactly. Horrible? Yes, but I
did i'll was mad, you must remember.
WITH my entire weight sprang upon
him. He stepped back and stumbled,
We fell together, he underneath, upon
the cold stone, now made soft by pulpy
flesh upon it. With little difficulty I
secured his wrists and ankles by the
manacles fastened in the huge block of
jasper.
The next thing was to make sure Of
safety for myself, and then could COM
plete my work and take pleasure in it.
With finder we had brought I lighted a
beacon. Each division Of the army see
ing it would think the city taken by the
other two divisions and advance to give
aid.
This signal given. all was safe. My
victim dare not cry out lest the natives
be around. The beacon was rendered
unnoticed to the inhabitants by their
nauseous banquet below. No precau-
tions mountaineering except to COM
plete my designs. Joyously l tore from
his protruding breast all armor and Gov
ering, seized the sacrifcial knife and
raised my arm to strike. The fire of the
beacon sputtered upward and cast
glare over his face. My arm paused,
the glittering blade fell ringing upon the
stone floor, and trembled, powerless-
the look was not there, nothing but in
tense anguish. I was foiled. I had ex-
pected that look.
But he must die. Yes, that was de-
cided. No one was near, and why would
that look not come? But it must appear,
and soon, or the Spaniards would find
him living. He would tell, and they
would kill me.
seized the knife once more, though
with a weakened grasp, and leaned over
him with intent expectation, waiting SO
intently for that look. Not happiness
alone now, but life itself was in the bal
ance. Neither could be preserved unless
his tongue be silenced. Already the
Spaniards must be near the city, yet
even with exposure SO near / could not
kill him unless that look appear. That
which before wrecked my happiness /
now longed for to save my life. Would
that look never come?
I now heard the Spaniards entering
the city. They must not approach too
near. remembered the gong, the one
sounded to arouse the city by the priests
in time of peril. I would call the ma
lions to arms, and my countrymen would
be repulsed. I seized the huge hammer,
swung it over my head, and frantically
hurled it at the gong. It sounded for
miles, The banquet became as silent as
it's lifeless victims in the caldrons, and
then a tumult louder than the previous
revelry prevailed as the savages hurried
ly sought for weapons. Now the Span
iards would be repulsed, I hoped. They
would not see me in crime. Further
than that, of my treason or of my fate
afterward, had no thoughts.
The laundering of the conflict grew
palmer and palmer. The Mexicans,
stupefed by drink, fell back and broke
into precipitate retreat My last hope
was gone; the city was taken. The clash
of arms was in my ears, the conquerors
were at the temple, upon its stone steps.
Another instant they would reach us,
find me free and him bound. In fear
for myself had forgotten him; unaware
Of the knife still in my hand, stood
looking in terror to where the Spaniards
must soon appear.
The fire again blazed and cast away
the shadows that hid his face. Saved!
The look was there. Why had l not
thought of it before?- bloodshed, battle,
bloodshed, of course the look was there.
It was nothing but mere expression,
but twas that which brought his death.
It was centered in the eye, more espe-
cially the left one. Yes, there, there at
last was that living picture of the grave.
Every cord radiating from the eye-the
left one-was drawn and frightened in
agony. There, where the light flickered,
was the film, of steel blue hue, such as
one sometimes sees enveloping the eye of
| q cat.
| was calm now. That look was upon
his face, and no one to tell the tale.
Again my arm was raised; again the
knife lowered over him. made a step
forward to drive the blow, but stepped
in slushy pool Of blood and fell upon
his body. The descending knife by my
weight buried itself to the hilt in his
breast, piercing the heart and forever
annihilating all looks, all expressions.
was found lying unconscious in his
lo,J Ioxy;xcr cty,,o1y Tho o1r IN