The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-10-17

precipiees Of the pass. They knew that re-
sistanee would be useless and that their
doom was at hand, but no cry arose among
them OF surrender to the SpaniaNls Those
Of them who spoke Of the matter at all
said, with Otomie, that it was better to die
free than to live as slaves, but the most
did not speak. The old and the young,
mother, wife, widow and maid, they La
bored in silence, and the children laborvd
at their sides.
Looking at them, it came into my mind
that these silent, patient women were in.
spired by some common and desperate pur-
pose that all knew OF, but which none of
them chose to tell.
.'Win you work so hard for your mas
ters, the Teules:" cried a man in bitter
mockery as file Of them toiled past be-
meath their loads of stone.
..Fooll'' answered their leader, young
and lovely lady of rank. '.do the dead Ia
bor?''
.sNay,'' said this Ill jester, ''but such as
you are too fair tor the Teules to kill, and
your years Of slavery will be many. Say,
how shall you escape them"
ssFool!" answered the lady again, ''does
fire die from lack Of fuel only, and must
every man live till age takes him? We
shall escape them thus, and casting down
the torch she carried she trod 1t into the
earth with her sandal and went on with
her load. Then was sure that they had
some purpose, though did not guess how
desperate it was, and Otomie would tell
me nothing of this woman's secret.
ssOtomie, % said to her that night when
we met by chance, II have Ill news for
you.''
1T must be bad indeed, husband, to be
named In such an hour, she answered.
s.De Garcia Is among our foes. !"
ST knew it, husband.
ssHow did you know it?''
s.By the hate written in your eyes, - she
answered
SIT seems that his hour of triumph is at
hand, said.
IN Nay, beloved, not his, but yours. You
shall triumph over De Garcia, but victory
will cost you dear. know it in my heart.
Ask me not how or why. See, the queen
puts on her crown" and she pointed to
the yolcan Xaca, whose SHOWS grew rosy
with the dawn, land you must go to the
gate, for the Spaniards will soon be stir
ring"
As Otom1e spoke heard trumpet
blare without the walls. Hurying to the
gates by the first light Of day, could see
that the Spaniards were mastering their
forces for attack. They did not come at
once, however, but delayed till the sun
was well up. Then they began to pour
furious fire upon our defenses that reduced
the shattered beams of the gates to pow
der and even shook down the crest OF the
earthwork beyond them. Suddenly the
firing ceased, and again trumpet called.
Now they charged US in column, thou.
sand or more Tlascalans leading the van,
followed by the Spanish force. In two
minutes I, who waited them beyond II,
together with some 800 warriors OF the
Otomie, saw their heads appear over the
crest Of the earthwork, and the fight be-
gan. Thrice we drove them back with our
spears and our Arrows, but at the fouSth
charge the wave Of men swept over our de-
fense and poured into the dry ditch beyond.
Now we were forced to fly to the next
earthwork, for we could not hope to fight
so many in the open street, whittier, SO
soon as passage had been made for their
horses and ordnance, the enemy 1ouoWeo
us. Here the fight was renewed, and this
barricade being very strong We held it for
hard upon two hours, with much loss to
ourselves and to the Spanish force Again
we retreated, and again we were assaifed,
and so the struggle went on throughout
the uvelong day. Every hour our numbers
grew fewer and fewer and our arms faint
er, but still we fought on desperately. At
the last two barricades hundreds Of the
women Of the Otomie fought by the sides
of their husbands and their brothers.
Tho last earthwork was captured BY the
Spariards just as the sun sank, and under
the shadow Of approaching darkness those
Of Us that remained alive fed to the refuge
which we had prepared under the teocalli,
nor was there any further fighting during
that 0ight.
[To BE CONTINUED.