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

passed them But there will be nothing to
fear from the guard-trust to me for It,
See, the bars of this window are but OF
wood. That sword viii soon sever them,
and if you are seen you must play the part
of drunken soldier being guided to his
quarters by woman. For the rest know
nothing, save that run great risk for your
sakes, since, if it is discovered that I had
aided you, then I shall find it hard to sof-
ten the rage of Cortes, who, the war being
won,' and she sighed, .'does not need me
now so much as once lie did
..I can make SHIFT TO hop on my right
foot, % said, ssand for the rest we must
trust to fortune It can give US no worse
gifts than those we have already.
$50 be it, Teule, and now farewell, for
dare stay no longer. can do nothing
more. May your good star shine on you
and lead you hence in safety, and, Teuie,
IL we never meet again, pray you think
of me kindly, for there are many in the
world who will do otherwise in the days
to come. -
Farewell, Marina I said, and she
was gone.
We heard the doors close behind her and
the distant voices of those who bore her
litter; then all was silence. Otomie listen
ed at the window for awhile, but the
guards seemed to be gone, where or why
do not know to this hour, and the only
sound was that Of distant revelry from the
camp.
And now to the work, !" I said to Oto-
mie
..As you wish, husband, but I fear it
viii be profltless. lido not trust that wo-
man. Faithless in ali, without doubt she
besrays us. Still at the worst you have
the sword and can use it.
ssIt matters little, answered Our
plight cannot be worse than it is now.
Life has no greater evils than torment and
death, and they are with US already.
Then sat upon the stool, and my arms
being left sound and strong hacked with
the sharp sword at the wooden bars Of the
window, severing them one by enc till
there was a space big enough for us to
creep through This being done and no
one having appeared to disturb us, Otomle
clad me in the clothes of Spanish sol
dier which Marina had brought, for
could not dress myself. What suffered
in the donning of those garments and
more especially In pulling Of the long boot
on to my burned foot can never be told,
but more than once stopped, pondering
whether it would not be better to die rath-
er than to endure such agonies. At last.
it was done, and Otomie must put on the
red and yellow robe, garb Of shame such
. az many an honest Indian woman would
die sooner tnan be seen in, and think
AZ :: "a Sc ho,, ma eY,oofoH
than mine, thoughof another sort, for to
her proud heart that dress was very shirt
Of Nessus. Presently shewas clad and
minced before me with q savage mockery,
saying: ,;.:-ss-.sssas :s-s.ss =.
"a peace to such fooling, II answered.
s<Our lives are at stake. How does it mat
ter how we disguise ourselves?''5
.sIt matters much, husband, but how
can you understand, who are q man and
foreigner? Now-1 will Chamber through
the window, and you must follow me it
you can. If not, will return to you, and
we will end this masquerade"
Then she passed through the hole swift
II, for Otomie was agile and strong as an
ocelot, and mounting the stool I made
shift to follow her as well as my hurts
would allow In the end was able to
throw myself upon the sill Of the window,
and there was stretched out like dead
cat till she drew me across 1t, and fell
with her to the ground on the farther side
and lay groaning She lifted me to my
feet, or rather to my foot, for coulG use
but one of them, and we stared round US.
No one was to be seen, and the sound OF
revelry had died away, for the crest Of Po-
DO was already red with the sunlight, and
the dawn grew in the valley.
Where to?'' said.
Now, Otomie had been allowed to walk
in the camp with her sister, the wife OF
Guatemoc, and other Aztec ladies, and
she had. this gift in common with most
Indians-that where she had once passed
there she could pass again, even in the
darkest night.
.eTo the south gate she whispered.
Perhaps it is unguarded now that the
war is done. At the least, know the road
thither''
So we started, I leaning ON her shoulder
and hopping on my right foot, and thus
very painfully we traversed some 800 yards,
meeting nobody. But now our good lueS
failed US, for passing round the corner OF
some buildings we came face to face with
three soldiers returning to their huts from
midnight revcl and with them some ma
tive servants.
''Whom have we here?" said the first Of
these. Your name, comrade
Good night, brother, good night, l
answered in Spanish, speaking with the
thick voice of drunkenness
Good morning, you mean," he said,
for the dawn was breaking Your name?
I don't know your face, though it seems
that you have been in the wars" And he
laughed
.tYou mustn't ask comrade his name, "
I said solemnly and swinging to and fro.
1.-The captain might send for me, and he's
temperate man. Your arm, girl 1t is
time to go to slee;.. The.sun sets. -
They laughed, but one Of them address
ed Otomie, saying: