The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-09-05

+, 1894. New
-'Teu1e,:' he whispered to me, II leave
my charge yonder,' and he nodded to-
ward the force who strove to break way
into the palace of AKA, ITO bid you fa1c-
well. Doubtless we shall meet again ere
long. Believe me, Teule, would have
helped you if I could, but it cannot be. !
wish that I might change places with
you. Ny friend, farewell Twice you
have saved my life, but yours cannot
save.''
Farewell, Guatemoc, I answered
''Heaven prosper you, for you are true
man,
Then we passed on.
At the foot of the hepyra1nid the procession
was formed, and here one Of my wives
bade me adieu after weeping on my neck,
though I did not weep on hers. Now, the
road to the summit Of the teocaln winds
round and round the pyramid, every
mountain higher as it winds. and along
this road we went In solemn state. at
each turn we halted, and another wife bade
me last goodby, or one Of my instru-
ments Of music, which did not grieve to
see the last Of, or some article Of my
strange attire was taken from me. At
length, after an hours march, for our
progress was slow, we reached the fat top
Of the pyramid that is approached by
great stair, space larger than the area OF
the churchyard here at buckingham, and
unfenced at its lofty edge. Here on this
dizzy place stood the temples Of Huitzel
and Tezcat, soaring structures Of stone
and wood, within which were placed the
horrid efigies Of the gods, and dreadful
chambers stained with sacrifice. Here,
too, were the holy fires that burned eter-
nally, the sacrificial stones, the implements
Of torment and the huge drum OF snakes
skins, but for the rest the spot was bare
It was bare, but not empty, for on that
side which looked toward the Spanish
quarters were stationed some hundreds OF
men, who hurled missiles into their camp
without ceasing. On the other side were
gathered q concourse Of priests awaiting
the ceremony Of my death. Below the
great square, finged about with burnt
out houses, was crowded with thousands
Of people, some Of them engaged in COM
bat With the Spaniards, but the larger
part collected there to witness my murder.
Now, we reached the top Of the pyramid,
two hours before uidday, for there were
still many rites to be carried out ere the
moment Of sacrifice. First was led into
the sanctuary Of Tezcat, the god whose
name bore. Here was his statue or idol,
fashioned in black marble and covered
with golden ornaments. In the hands OF
this idol was shield of FURNISHED gold on
which its jeweled eyes were fixed, reading
there, as his priests tabled, all that passed
npon the earth he had created. Before him
also was plate of gold, which with NUT
tered invocations the head priest cleansed
as I watched, rubbing it with his long and
matted locks. This done he held it to my
lips that i might breathe on it, and /
turned faint and sick, for knew that It
was being made ready to receive my heart,
which felt beating in my breast.
Now, what further ceremonies were 10
be carried ont in this unholy place @do
not know, for at that moment great
tumult arose in the square beneath, and
was hurried from the sanctuary by the
priests. Then perceived this: Called to
madness by the storm Of missiles rained
upon them from its crest, the Spaniards
were attacking the teocalli. Already they
were pouring across the courtyard in large
companies, led by Cortes himself, and
with them came many hundreds Of their
allies; the Tlascalans On the other hand,
some thousands of the AZtecs were rush
ing to the foot of the first stairway to give
the white men battl, there. Five minutes
passed, and the figh5 grew fierce. Again
and again, covered by the fire Of the ar
auebusiers, the Spaniards charged the
Aztecs, but their horses slipping upon the
stone pavement at length they dismount-
ed and continued the fray on foot. Slow
" and with great slaughter the Indians
were pushed back, and the Spaniards gain
ed q footing on the first stairway. But hun
dreds of warriors still crowded the lofty
winding road, and hundreds more held the
top, and it was plain that If the Spaniards
won through at all the task would be
hard one Still fierce hope smotc me like
blow when saw what was toward II
the Spaniards took the temple, there
would be no sacrifice. No sacrifice could
be offered till midday, so Otomie had told
me, and that was not for hard upon two
hours. It came to this, then-f the Span
iarls were victorious within two hours,
there was chance for me; if not, must
die.
Now, when I was led out of the sanctu-
ary of Tezcat I wondered because the
Princess Otomie, or rather the Goddess
Alta, as she was then called, was standing
among the chief priests and disputing
with them, for had seen her bow her
head at the door Of the holy place and
thought that it was in token OF farewell,
seeing that she was the last OF the four
women to leave me. OF what she disputed
I could not hear because Of the din OF bat
tie, but the argument was keen, and it
seemed to me that the priests were some
what dismayed at her words and yet had
a fierce joy in them. 1t appeared also that
she won her cause, for presently they
bowed in obeisance to her, and turning
slowly she swept to my side with pecul-
lar majesty of gait that even then I noted.
Glancing up at her face also, 1 saw that it
was alight as though with q great and holy
purpose, and, moreover, that she looked