The herald., 1893-09-09

deliberation does not characterize mad
man--not as you picture madman.
That look must be upon his face, and
no one near.
But how? I had it. The plan was
clear enough, but difficult and very dam
gerous of execution. Others must inno-
Gently suffer, but what weight has life
to the ease of mailman? Iwould bring
him into the presence of death-his death
and would be alone with him. And
then that look would surely appear. He
would be aware that he was to die by
what the Spaniards in Anahuac most
feared-the sacrifcial stone. Yes, then
the look must appear.
The sacrifcial stone = in the bare
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-
neous attacks, each time approaching
nearer our goal. the chief temple in the
center of the city, and after each as
sault we withdrew to our respective
camps. Progress was Slow moats sur
rounded the city thestreets were narrow,
and each house was a fortifcation. 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 obeyed, because capture, we knew,
meant the sacrificial stone, our hearts q
symbolic food for pagan gods and our
bodies q material one for the religious
feast of cannibalism.
For tomorrow another attack was Or
dered-the last one, we hoped. The same
injunctions for security being repeated,
we advanced. He, as usual, was at my
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 uncanny
about their actions If retreat at all, it
was premeditated. But to our followers
it meant only the victory SO long striven
and suffered for.
My time had come. The eagerness of
our followers, which / openly encour-
aged, isolated us from the main army.
Worse yet, had the bugle sounded and
ordered a charge. All-all but he-forgot
the caution Of Cortes and answered the
signal with an onset that his prudence
could not check. The force behind
pushed us both forward. He placed his
hand al 1,rrIxr cla,,11ar 81
question my conduct and to demonstrate.
turned to answer, when there. upon
his face, was that picture of the grave.
The ruse of the heather succeeded.
Seeing our position apart from the
others, they turned and came exultingly
toward us. The deafening reverberation
of the gong in the temple, sound Of
woe to the Spaniards, sounded our death
knell. Then it was / saw that look. l
lost myself, and leaning back in my sad
die yelled to him in fendish merriment,
1.-THE sacriicial stoner' He understood,
AS my atrocity dawned upon him the
look vanished for one of hatred and fury.
He raised his sword, hissed something
like ''Traitor" and came at me.
The Spaniard is quick in anger, but
his stroke never fell. A score of barred
arms of the snakish color of copper en-
circled his body; another score bereft
him of the murderous weapon over
my head; myriad more dragged him
from his horse. The same fate befell the
rest of our band who, survived, myself
included. That night we found our
selves in the dungeon where Montezu-
ma had languished.s Thern day we
all knew we should awais' our turn at
sacrifice before lsthe i'dret8l stone. He
knew, it and r lrejoiced.ge Even mad
man can feel the joy Of triumph. Sr can he
not? .s 80 es;. 80 ,,s'..
But he should not die with the others.
That was not my plan. Igroped in the
dark to where he crouched and whis-
pered, "Escaper He jumped to his feet.
"Where? How?" "Hush; not SO loud.
Follow me-" He hesitated. "But the
others?" he asked. "It is not possible for
more than two," answered. He said
no more, but followed in silence. In
this evidence of his selishness felt a
sort of satisfaction. Though content
myself, 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-
pulsion they were given for residence
the place in which we were then con-
fined. Being with Cortes at that time. l
therefore knew our prison house well.
For me escape was easy. Through
many rooms, corridors, passages and
stairs, some known not even to the ma
tives, we fled on tiptoe. His confidence
was regained, and he followed me closely.
Finally, without hindrance, we reached
the fiat 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. 1t
was intoxication to renew his hope, a
vain hope, for | should blast it., That
night we were to gain the summit of
the temple and there light a beacon.
The besiegers outside would understand
or think they understood. The Med-
cans never expect night attacks, due to
a superstition regarding the white man,
SO that they could be easily overcome.
Assurance of life brought smile to the
face of my companion, though at the
time in looking toward the pyramidal
shaped temple or teocalli, he saw our
comrades led up the spiral steps leading