Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-11-07


mo told the good tidings to our oompan-
ions, who received it silently. Men OF
white race would have rejoiced thus to es-
cape, for when death is near all other loss
seems as nothing. But with these Indian
people IN is not so, since when fortune
frowns upon them they do not cling TO
life. These men of the Otomic had lost
their country, their wives, their wealth,
their brethren and their homes Therefore
life, with freedom to wander whittier they
would, seemed no great thing to them. so
they met the boon that had won from the
mercy of our foes, as had matters gone
otherwise they would have met the bane,
in sullen silence.
I came to Otomic, and to her I also told
the news.
''I had hoped to die where I am, " she
answered. But so be it. Death is always
to be found.
Only my son rcjoiced, because he knew
that God had saved us all from death by
sword or hunger Father" ho said, tho
Spaniards have given us life, but they take
our country and drive US out OF 1t.
Where, then, shall we go?"
IT do not know, my son, answered.
s'Father," the lad said again, let US
leave this land of Anahuac, where there Is
nothing but Spaniards and sorrow. Lctus
find ship and sail across the seas to Eng
land, our own country"
The boy spoke my very thought, and
nv heart leaped at his words, though l
had no plan to bring the matter about.
pondered moment, looking at Otomie.
Tho thought is good, Teulc, she said,
answering my unspoken question. For
YOU and for your son there is no better, but
for myself I will answer in the prorerb OF
my people, Tho earth that bears us lies
lightest on our bones.
Then she turned, making ready to quit
the storehouso of the temple, where we had
been lodged during the siege, and no more
was said about the matter.
Before the sun set o weary throng OF
men, with some few women and children,
were marching across the courtyard that
surrounded the pyramid for bridge OF
timbers taken from tho temple had been
made over the breach in the roadway that
wound about its side.
At the gates the Spaniards were wait
ing to receive us. Wo We're sorted out The
men of small condition, together with the
children, were taken from the ruined city
by an escort ard turned loose upon the
mountains, while those Of note were
brought to the Spanish camp, to be qucs-
toned there before they were set free. l,
with my wife and son, was led to the pal
ace, our old home there TO learn the Will
of the Captain Diaz.
It is but . little way to 80, and yet
there was something TO bo seen In the
path, for as we walked l looked up, and
before me, standing with folded arms and
apart from all men, was Dc Garcia. l had
scarcely thought Of him for some days, so
full had my mind been OF other matters,
but at the sight Of his evil face remcm-
bered that while this man lived sorrow and
danger must be my bedfellows.
He watched US pass, taking note of all.
Then he called to me, who walked last:
Farewell, Cousin Wingfeld. You have
lived through this bout also and won
free pardon, you, your woman and your
brat together. II the old warhorse who is
set over us as captain had listened TO me,
Won should have burned at the stake, every
one Of you, but so It is. Farewell for
awhile friend. I am away to Mexico to
report these matters to the viceroy, who
may have word to say"
I made no answer, but asked of our con-
ductor-that same Spaniard whom I had
saved from the sacrifce-what tho senior
meant by his words
'sThis, Teule: That there has been
quarrel between our conlrade Sarccda and
our captain The former would have grant
ed you no terms, Or failing this would have
decoyed you from your stronghold with
false promises and then have put you to
the sword as infdels with whom no oath
is binding. But the captain would not
have it so, for he said that faith must be
kept even with the heathen and we whom
you had saved cried shame on him. And
so words ran high, and in the end the Sc
nor Sarccda, who is third IL command
among us, declared that he would be no
party to this peaccmaking, but would DC
gone to Mexico with his servants, there to
report 10 the viceroy. Then the Captain
Diaz hade him bcgone to hell if he wished
and report to the devil, saying that he had
always believed that he had escaped thence
by mistake, and they parted in wrath who,
since the day Of noche tristc, never loved
each other much, the end Of it being that
Sarceda rides for Mexico within an hour
to make what mischief he can at the vice
roy's court, and think that you are wei
rid Of him."
Father said my son to me, who is
that Spaniard who looks so cruelty upon
usf''
'That is he of whom I have told you,
son, De Garcia, who has been the curse OF
our race for two generations, who betrayed
your grandfather to the holy office and
murdered your grandmother, who put me
to torture, and whose i'll deeds are not
done with yet Beware Of him, son, now
and over, beseech you"
Now we were como to the palace, almost
the only house that was left standing in
the City of Pines Here an apartment was
given to us at the end of the long building
and presently command was brought to
us that and my wife should wait upon
the Spanish Captain Diaz.
So We went, though Otomie desired Inc
to stay behind, leaving our son alone In
the chamber where food had been brought
to him Iremember that kissed him be-
fore I left, though I do not know what
moved mo to do SO, unless it was because
I thought that he might be asleep when
returned Tho Captain Diaz had his quar-
ters at the other end of tho palace, some
200 PAGES away. Presently we stood before
him. He was rough looking, thickset
man well in years, with bright eyes and
an honest face, like the face of peasant
who has toilcd lifetime in all weathers,
only the fields that Diaz titled wero fields
Of war, and his harvest had been the lives
Of men. Just then no was Joking with
some common soldiers in u strain scarcely
suited to nice ears, but so soon as he saw
us he ceased and came forward. I saluted
him, after the Indian fashion, by touching
the earth with my hand, for what was
but an indian captive?
Your sword" he said briefly as nc
scanned me with his quick eyes.
unbuckled it from my side and handed
it to him, saying in Spanish:
Take it, captain, for you have con-
quered; also it does but come back to It's
owner" For this was the same sword
that I had captured from one Bernal Diaz
in the fray Of the nochc tristc.
He looked at it; then sworc great oath
and said.