The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-10-03
CHAPTER XIV
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CHAPTER XIV.
1HOMAsIs DOOMED.
At the words Of Cortes two Spaniards
came forward, and seizing me one by
either arm they led me across the roof OF
the house toward the stairway. .Otomie
had heard also, and though she did not
understand the words she read the face OF
Cortes and knew well that / was being
taken to imprisonment or death. AS
nassed her she started forward, terror
shining in her eyes. Fearing that she was
about to throw herself upon my breast,
and thus reveal herself as my wife and
bring my fate upon her, I glanced at her
warning3y, then made pretense to Stun
bile, and as though with fear and exhaustion
Ifell at her feet The soldiers who led me
laughed brutally, and one Of them kicked
me with his heavy boot. But Otomle
stopped down and held her hand to me to
help me- rise, and as I did so we spoke low
and swiftly
Farewell, wife,'' I said. Whatever
happens, keep silent. y
Farewell" she answered IF you
must die, await me in the gates Of death,
for win join you there. y
Nay, live Gu Time shall bring COM
1ort.
.sYou are my life, beloved. With you
time ends for me. -
NowIw ON my feet again, and think
shat none noted our whispered words, for
all were listening to Cortes, who rated the
man that had kicked me-.
81 bade you guard this traitor-not to
kick him. he said angrily in Castilian.
ssWin you put us to open shame before
these savagess Do SO once more, and you
shall pay for 1t smartly. Learn lesson in
eentleness from that woman. She is starv-
ing, yet she leaves her food to help your
prisoner to his feet. Now take him away
to camp and see that he comes to no harm,
for he can tell me much. %
Then the soldiers led me away, grum-
bling as they went, and the last thing 1
saw was the despairing face of Otomie,
my wife, as she gazed after me, faint with
the secret agony of our parting. But when
came to the head of the stairway Guate-
moe, who stood near, took my hand and
shook it
Farewell, my BROTHER he said, with q
0c6tJ LILO $S<A4ikO We paw ~
eether is finished, and now it is time for
us to rest I thank you for your valor and
your aid -
Farewell, Guatemoc, I answered.
'.You are fallen, but let this comfort you
In your tall you have found immortal
fame
ION, on*'' growled the soldiers, and I
went, little thinking how Guatemoc and
should meet again.
They took me to q canoe, and we were
padd3ed across the lake by Tlascalans t1ll
at length we came to the Spanish camp.
The room Of the stone house where they
prisoned me had window secured by
bars OF wood, and through these bars I
could see and hear the reyelfngs Of the sol
diers during the time Of my confinement.
All day long, when they were not on duty,
and most ct the night also, they gambled
and drank, stalking tens Of pesos on a sim
Rle throw, which the loser must pay out
Of his share Of the countless treasures O.
the Aztecs. Little did they care If they
won or lost, they were 80 sure Of plumber,
but played on till drink overpowered them
and they rolled senseless beneath the Ia
bles, or tiu they sprang up and danced
wildly to and fro, catching at the sunbeams
and screaming. 'sGold, gold, goldH'
Listening at this window also gath
cred some of the Hdfngs Of the camp. I
learned that Cortes had come back, bring
ing Guatemoc and several of the princes
with him, together with many of the noble
Aztec ladies'. Indeed saw and heard the
soldiers gambling for these women when
they were weary Of their play for money,
a description Of each of them being writ
ten on piece Of paper. One OF these la
dies answered well to Otomie, my wife,
and she was put up to auction by the brute
who won her in the gamble and sold to
common soldier for hundred pesos, for
these men never doubted but that the
women and the gold would be handed over
to them.
Thus things went for several days, dur
ing which sat and slept in my prison un-
troubled by any, except the native woman
who waited on me and brought me food
I'm plenty. During those davs I ate as
have never eaten before since, and
slept much. for my sorrows could lot rid
my body Of it's appetites and commanding
need for food and rest. Indeed I verify
believe that at the end of week had in
creased In weight by full half. Also my
WEAKNESS was conquered at length, and I
was strong again.
But when was neither sleeping nor
eating watched at my window, hoping,
though in vain, to catch some sight OF
Otonoie or Guatemoc If I might not see
my friends, however, az least I saw my
foe, for one evening De Garcia came and
stared at my prison. He could not see me,
but saw him, and the devilish smile that
flickered on his face as he went away like
a wolf made me shiver with a presage OF
woes to come For 10 minutes or more he
stood gazing at my window hungrily, as