The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-08-22
cosYR.aht. ssss. ~ rdE AUTHOR.

labe-'-S
ee.ra.as.. '.s'. 'r r'.t Aor''o.-
cha PIER XIII.
,rHoMks BECOMES GoDs
Little did I, plain Thomas Wingfeld,
gentleman, know when I rose that morn
ina that before sunset I should be god,
and, after Montezuma, the emperor, the
moss honored man, OK rather god, in the
City Of Mexico.
It came about thus: When I had break
tasted with the household Of the Prince
Guatemoc, I was led to the hall of justice,
which was named the tribunal of God. {"
Here on golden throne sat Montezuma,
administering justice In such pomp as I
cannot describe About him were his
oounselors and great lords, and before him
was placed q human skull crowned with
emeralds SO large that blaze OF light went
up from them. In his hand also he held
an arrow for q scepter. Certain chiefs or ca
ziques were on their trial for treason, nor
were they left long in doubt as to their
fate, for when some evidence had been
heard they wem askedEhat they had to
say in their defense. Each of them told
LIS tale m fewwordsand shofts hen
nnin& WHO TILE EHoN had ssaad and
dsnes nothinE took The paintedscfol of
their indictmAufs and cked with the
arrow in his hand where the picture OF
each prisoner appeared upon the scroll.
Then. they wereled away to death, but how
they died I do not know.
When this trial was finished, certain
priests entered the hall clothed In sable
robes, their matted hair hanging down
their backs TheX we're fierce, Wild eyed
men of great dignity, and shlvered when
I saw them I noticed also that they
alone made small reverence tofhe majesty
of Montezuma. The counselors and no
bles having fallen back, thesepriests en-
tered mt6 talk with The emperor. and
presentlytwoof them came forward, and
taking me from the custody of the guards
led me forward before the throne. Then
Of sudden Twas commanded to strip my
self Of my garments, and I did, With
NO little shame, I'LL stood naked before
them all Now the priests came forward
and examined every part OF me closely.
On my arms were the scars left by De Gar
cia'ssword, and on my breast the scarcely
healed marks of the puma's teeth and
claws. These wounds they scanned, ask
ing how HAD come by them Ftoid them,
and ihereupon they carried on adiscussion
among themselves and out Of my bearing
which grew so warm that at length they
appealed to the emperor to decide the point.
He thought awhile, and heard him say:
ssThe blemishes do not come from with
in the body, norwere they upon it at birth,
but have been inflicted by the violence Of
man and beast.
Then the priests consulted together
again, and presently their leader spoke
some words into the ear of Montezuma.
He nodded, and rising from his throne
came toward me, who stood naked and
shivering before him, for the air of Mexi-
co is keen. AS. he advanced he loosed a
chain of emeralds and gold that hung
about his neck and unclasped the royal
cloak from his shoulders. Then with his
own hand he put the chain about my
throat and the cloak upon my shoulders,
and having humbly bent the knee before
NE, as though in alteration, he cast his
arms about me and embraced me.
'sHail, most blessed, % he said, ''divine
cat, soul of the world, creator Of the
world What have we done that you
should honorsus thus with your presence
for q seasans WHIST can we do to pay the
honor back? You created us and all this
country; behold, while you tarry with u.s.
it is yours, and We are nothing but your
servants! Order and your commands shall
be obeyed; think and your thought shall
be executed before It can pass your lips
O Tezcat, I, Montezuma, your servant, Of
fer you my. alteration and through me the
alteration Of an my people" and again he
bowed the knee.
1--WE adore you, o Tezeatp' chimed in
the priests.
NowI remained silent and bewildered
for Of all this foolery could understand
nothing, and while I stood thus Montezu-
ma clapped his hands and women entered,
bearing beautiful clothing with them and
a wreath Of flowers The clothing they
put upon my body and the wreath Of dow-
ers On my head, worshiping me the while
and saying: .Tezcat, who died yesterday,
is comaagaJn. Be joyful; Tezcat has come
agafndn the body of the captive Teule'
Then .anderstood that I was now a
god ana the greatest of gods, though at
that moment within myself felt more Of
a fool than I had ever been before.
And now men appeared, grave and rev.
erend in appearance, bearing 1utes in their
hands was told that these were my
tutors, and with them a train Of royal
pages, who were to be my servants. They
led me forth from the hall, making music
as they went, and before me marched 9
herald, calling out that this was the god
Tezcat, soul of the world, creator of the
world, who had come again to visit his
people. They led me through all the courts
and endless chambers of the palace, and
wherever went man, woman and child
bowed themselves to the earth before me
and worshiped me, Thomas Wingdeld OF
buckingham, in the county of Norfolk,
till thought that must be mad.
Then they placed me in litter and car
ried me down the hill Chapoltepec and
along causeways and through streets till
we came to the great square Of the temple.