The herald., 1893-09-09

too, was deashly, but we kept on, ON. M
til the summit was reached.
We paused after our exertions. |
looked around. My victim was stand
ing at the foot Of the sacrificial stone,
his back turned toward tiny oppor-
tunity exactly. Horrible? Yes, but
did it'll was mad, you must remember.
With my entire weight l 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 /
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 Il.
With tinder we had brought 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. NV
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 emained-nothing except to COM
plete my designs. Joyously tore from
his protruding breast all armor and COW
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. / was foiled. 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 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 befo~e wrecked my happiness I
now longed for to save my life. Would
that look never come?
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. would call the ma
tions to arms, and my countrymen would
be repulsed. seized the huge hammer,
swung it over my head, and frantically
hurled it at the gong. 1t sounded for
miles. The banquet became rs silent as
its lifeless victims in~the caldrons, and
then tumult londer than the previous
revelry prevailed as the savages hurried
ly sought for weapons. Now the Span
iards would be repulsed, ! 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,
stupefied 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 Spaninr.ls
must sooihanpear.
Dgein blazcd and cast ss-gy
thesshaduws fiat hid his face. Sr d!
The lookgsfts there. Why had frys
'tfoughtoof hsbeforc?-b -blocdshed, b.
ble6dshed. .sofSeourae The look was ta r.
1t was nothing but mere EXPIRE t.
but twas that which brought his d j.
1t was centerel in the eye. more 80.
cially the left cne. Yes, there, til.
last was thGt living picture of the e:
Every cord radiating from the eye .
left one--wlis drawn and tighteneG
agony. There, where the light flicker.
was the film, of a steel blue hue, sucii
one sometimes sees enveloping the eye ii
cat.
was calm now. That look was urN-l
his face, and no one to tell the tai
Again my arm was raised; again ,he
knife hovered over him. l made s.,p
forward to drive the blow, but step
in slushy pool of blood and fell u.'r,
his body. The descending knife by III,
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
blood. my head having struck the edge
of the stone in falling. Through my
beacon the city was taken. This service
my countrymen remembered and forgot
the murder.
NOTE TO MSS.
After our capture of the city we had in our
palace a deranged trooper. He had killed
comrade, but being crazy we considered him
Irresponsible AS he had also aided in the Az