The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-08-22
SsCF5APTER XIII.
ruo,f ES pEf,naES 4 con-
coevasenr, ssss, sy rHE AvrHoR.

sCHA PIER XIII.
.THoMks BECOMES GOD.
Little did /, plain Thomas Wingfeld,
gentleman, know when I rose that morn
ina that before sunset should be a god,
and, after Montezuma, the emperor, the
most honofed man, or 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
counselors and great lords, and before him
was placed human skull crowned with
esneralds 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 were askedMhat they had to
say in their defense. zach of them told
LIS Sale M hHwordsand shodts hen
Monuuma Who tllsnoY had said and
dime nothing Sok tlss paintedascsos Of
their mdictmAnfs and dEifked it 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 do not know.
When this trial was finished, certain
priests entered the hall clothed in sable
robes, their matted hair hanging down
their backs, They were fierce, Wild eyed
men of great dignity, and shivered when
I saw them I noticed also that they
alone made small reverence t1fhe majesty
Of Montezuma The counselors and no
tered into talk with the emperor, and
presently twoof them came forward, and
taking me from the custody of the guards
led me forward before the throne. Then
of sudden was commanded to strip my
self of my garments, and this did with
no little shame, till I.Sstood 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
c1a's; sword, 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 tafan. Itold them;
and thereupon they carried on adiscussion
among themselves and out Of my bearing,
which grew so waEm that at length they
appealed to the emperor to decide the point
He thought awhile, and I heard him say:
'sThe blemishes do not come from with
in the body, nor were 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 o
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,
me, as though in alteration, he cast his
arms about me and embraced me.
'tHail, most blessed, % he said, ''divine
son Of Quetzal, holder of the spirit of Tez-
cat, soul Of the world, creator of the
world What have we done that you
should honorus thus with your presence
for season. Whist can we do to pay the
honor back? You created us and all this
country; behold, while you tarry with US,
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.
@ Tezcat, /, MonteZuna, your servant, Of
fer you my alteration and through me the
alteration of allmy people and again he
bowed the knee.
1--WE adore you, o Tezcatp chimed in
the priests.
Now I remained silent and bewildered.
for Of all this foolery could understand
nothing, and while 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 flow
ers on my head, worshiping me the while
and saying: ''Tezcat, who died yesterday,
is come again. Be joyful; Tezcat has come
again IA the body of the captive Teule.
Then understood that I YVES now a
god ana the greatest'of gods, though at
that moment within myself felt more OF
a fool than had ever been before.
And now men appeared, grave and rev
erend in appearance, bearing lutes in their
hands. I was told that these were my
tutors, and with them 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 MS
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 Wingheld OF
Ditchingham, in the county of Norfolk
till I thought that must be mad.
Then they placed me in a litter and car
ried me down the hill Chapoltepec and
along causeways and through streets till
~ Of the fqTnnle