The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-10-24


cape from the campo of Cortes, and she had
spoken to Marina Of that robe, and the
second when on the same day she had
played her part TO the Tlascalan and had
struck him down with her own hand as he
bent over me.
All this and much more passed through
nv mind in that brief moment, while
Otornie marked the time Of the death
chant and tho pabas dragged the 1lasca-
Ian to his doom.
The next was at her side.
s.What passes here?" I asked sternly.
Otomie looked on me with cold Won
der and with empty eyes, as though she
did not know me.
$50 back, white man" she answered
ssIt is not lawful for strangers to mingle
in our rites. y
I stood bewildered, not knowing what
to do, while the flame burned and the
chant went up before the efigy of Huitzel,
Of the demon Huitzel awakened after many
years Of sleep.
Again and yet again the solemn chant
arose, Otomie beating time with her little
rod of ebony, and again, yet again, the cry
Of triumph rose to the silent stars
Now I awoke from my dream, for as an
evil dream it seemed to me, and drawing
my sword I rushed toward the priest at
the altar to cut him down. But though
the nen stood still the women were too
quick for me- Before could lit the
sword, before could even speak word,
they had sprung upon me, like the jaguars
of their own forests, and, like 1aguars,
they hissed and growled il 20 my ear:
t'Get you gone, Teule, !" they said, lest
we stretch you on the stone with your
brethren" And still Kissing they pushed
me thence.
1 drew back and thought for awhile in
the shadow of the temple. My eye fell
upon the long line of victims awaiting
their turn Of sacrifice. They were thirty
and one Of them still alive, and of these
five were Spaniards. noted that the
Spaniards were chained the last Of all the
line. It seemed that the murderers would
keep them till the end Of the feast; indeed
I discovered that they were to be offered
up at the rising Of the sun. How could l
save them, wondered. Ny power was
gone. The women could not be moved
from their work Of vengeance. They were
mad with their sufferings. As well might
man try to snatch her prey from puma
robbed of her whelps as to turn them
from their purpose With the men it was
otherwise, however. Some Of them min
gled in the orgie indeed, but more stood
aloof watching with q fearful joy the spec
tacle I'm which they did not share. Near
me was man, q. noble Of the Otomie, OF
something more than my own age. He
had always been my friend, and after me
ho commanded the warriors Of the tribe.
went to him and said, Friend, Tor the
sake Of the honor Of your people, help me
to end this. -
'sI cannot, Teule,'' he answered, land
beware how you meddle in the play, for
none will stand by you Now the women
/ .ve power, and you see they use it. They
are about to die, but before they die they
will do as their Gathers did, for their strait
is sore, and though they have been put
aside the old customs are not forgotten. +"
''At the least, can we not save these
Teules:" answered.
"Why should you wish to save the
Teules? Will they save US some few days
hence, when we are in their power?"
s'Perhaps not,'' said, "but If we must
die let us die clean from this shame"
.What, then, do you wish me to do,
Teuleg''
"This: would have you find some three
or four men who are not fallen into this
madness, and with them aid me to loose
the Teules, for we cannot save the others.
# this may be done, surely we can lower
them with ropes from that point where the
road is broken away down to the path be-
meath, and thus they may escape to their
own people"
II will 1y," he answered, Struggling
his shoulders, mot from any tenderness
toward the accursed Teules, whom could
well bear to see stretched upon the stone,
but because it Is your wish, and for the
sake Of the friendship between u.s. .
Then be went, and presently I saw sew
eral men place themselves, as though by
chance between the spot where the last OF
che line Of Indian prisoners and the first
Of the Spaniards were made fast, In such
fashion as to hide them from the sight OF
the rnaddened women engrossed as they
were in their orgies-
Now crept up to the Spaniards- They
were squatted upon the ground, bound by
their hands and feet to the copper rings in
the pavement. There they sat silently
awatting the dreadful doom, their faces
gray with terror, and their eyes starting
from their sockets
t.Histp' whispered in Spanish into the
ear Of the first, an old man whom knew
as one who had taken part in the war OF
Coctes. t'Would you be saved?"
he looked up quickly and said in a
hoarse voice:
'Who are you that talks Of saving us?
Who can cave us from these she devilss"
II am Teule, man Of white blood
and Christian, and, alas that must say
it! the captain Of this savage people. With
the aid Of some few men who are faithful
to me, purpose to cut your bonds, and
afterward you shall see. Know, Spaniard,
that I do this at great risk, for II we are
caught it is chance but that myself
shall have to suffer those things from
which hope to rescue you
"Be assured, Teule," answered the
Spaniard, THAT If we should get safe away
we shall not forget this service. Save our
lives now, and the time may come when
we shall pay you back with yours. But
even II we arc loosed, how can we Cross the
open space in this moonlight and escape
tho .,4,oo ~ Those fI1rtoS?>'