Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-09-26
After that we wept ourselves to sleep in
each Others arms, Otomie murmuring

from time to time "Oh, my husband, L
would that we were asleep and forgotten,
we and the babe together"
REST now," answered, "for death Is
very near to u.s."
The morrow came, and with 1t dead
lier fray than any that had gone before,
and after it more morrows and more
Deaths but still we lived on, for Guatemoc
gave us of his food. Then Cortes sent his
heralds demanding our surrender, and now
three-fourths of the city was ruin, and
three-fourths Of it's defenders were dead
The dead were heaped in the houses like
bees stifed in a hive, and in the streets
they lay so thick that we walked upon
them.
The council was summoned, fierce men,
haggard with hunger and with war, and
they considered tho offer of Cortes.
''What is your word, yGuatemoc!' said
their spokesman at last.
"Am I Montczuma, that you ask me? l
swore to defend this city to the last, " he
answered hoarScly, land, for my part, l
will defend it, Better that we should all
die than that we should fall living into
the hands of the Teules.
$50 say We" they replied. And the war
went OH.
At length there camc day when the
Spaniards made new attack and gained
another portion Of the city. There the
people were huddled together like sheep M
o pen. We strovc to defend them, but our
arms were weak with famine. They fired
into us with their pieces, moving US down
like corn before sickle. Then tho Tlasca-
lans were looscd upon us, like fierce
hounds upon defenseless buck, and on
this day it is said that there died 4O, O0O
people, for none was spared. On the NOR
row-it was the last day of the siege-calne
fresh embassy from Cortes, asking that
Guatemoc should meet him. The answer
was the same, for nothing could conquer
that noble spirit.
"Tell him." said Guatemoc, "that will
die where am, but that I will hold no
parley with him. We are helpless; let
Cortes work his pleasure on us.
BY now all the city was destroyed, and
we who remained alive within its bounds
were gathered on the causeways and be-
hind the ruins of walls, men, women and
children together.
Here they attacked us again. The great
drum on the teocalli beat for the last time,
and for the last time the wild scream of
the Aztec warriors went up to heaven. We
fought our best. killed four men that
day with my arrows, which Otomie, who
was at my side, handed me as shot. But
the most Of US had not tho strength OF
child, and what could we dor They came
among US like seamen among flock OIL
seals and slaughtered us by hundreds.
They drove US into tho canals and trod us
to death there till bridges were made of
our bodies. How we escaped do not
know.
At length party of us, among whom
was Guatemoc, with his wife, Tecuichpo,
werc driven to the shores of the lake, where
lay canoes, and into these VIC entered,
scarcely knowing what we did, but think
ing that we might escape, for now all the
city was taken The brigantines saw US
and sailed after US with favoring wind
the wind always favored the foe in that
war-and, row as we would, one of them
came up with us and began to fire into us.
Then Guatemoc stood up and spoke, say
ing:
IT am Guatemoc Bring me to Malin-
che. But spare those of my people who re-
main alive"
Now" I said to Otomie OF my side,
"my hour has csme, for the Spaniards
will surely hang me, and 1t Is in my mind,
wife, that I should do we'll to kill myself.
30 that I may be saved from death OF
shame"
NAY, husband" she answered sadly,
las said in bygone days, while you live
there Is hope, but the dead come back no
moro. Fortune may favor as yet; still. u
you think otherwise, l am ready to die"
THAT I will not suffer, Otomie."
'Then you must hold your hand hus-
band, for now, as always, where you go !
follow"
Listen, u whispered. "Do not let 1t
be known that you arc my wife Pass
yourself as one of the ladies Of Tecuiohpo,
the queen, your sister. II we are separat-
ed, and If by any chance I escape, will
try to make my way to the City Of Pines.
There among your own people, We may
find refuge"
$50 be it, beloved" she answered, snil-
ing sadly. But I do not know how the
Otomie will receive me, who have led co.
900 Of their bravest men to dreadful
death
Now We were on the deck of the brigan-
tine and must stop talking, and thence.
after the Spaniards had quarreled over US
for awhile, we were taken ashore and led
to the top of house which still stood,
where Cortes had made ready hurriedly to
receive his royal prisoner. Surrounded by
his escort, the Spanish general stood, cap
In hand, and by his side was Marina,
grown more lovely than before whom
now met for the first time since we had
parted in Tabasco.
Our eyes met, and she started, thereby
showing that she knew me again, though
10 must have been hard for Marina to rec
osniMI her friend Teulo in the blood
stained, starving and tattered wretch who
could scarcely find strength to climb the
szoteeL But at that time no words passed
between US, for all eyes were bent ON tho
meeting between Cortes and Guatemoo.
between the conqueror and the conquered.
Still proud and defiant, though he
seemed but living skeleton, Guatemoo
walked straight to where the Spaniard
stood and spoke, Marina translating his
words:
II am Guatemoc, the emperor, Malin-
che" he said. ''What man might do to
defend his people have done. Look on
tho fruits of my labor, and he pointed to
the blackened ruins of Tenoctitlan that
stretched on every side as far as the eye
could reach. "Now 1 have como to this
pass, for the gods themselves have been
against me. Deal with mo as you will, but
1t will be best that you kill me now, " aud
he touched the dagger Of Cortes with his
hand, land thus rid me swiftly OF the
misery of life. I"
FEAR not, Guatemoc, answered Cor
ties. ''You have fought like brave man,
and such honor. With Inc you are safe,
for we Spaniards love gallant foe See,
here Is food and he pointed to table
spread with such viands as we had not
seen for many week. Eat, you and
your companions together for you must