Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-09-05
CHAPTER XIX.
THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS.

THE TRIUMPH Ot IhE ShOSS.
"Otomie, I said presently, when will
they kill usS"
s'When the point of light lies within the
ring that is painted over your heart, she
answered.
Now turned my head from her and
looked at the sunbeam which pierced the
shadow above us like golden pencil. 1t
rested at my side about six inches from
me, and I reckoned that it would lie in
the scarlet ring painted upon my breast
within some IL minutes. Meanwhile the
clamor Of battle grew louder and nearer.
Shifting myself so far as the cords would
allow, I strained my head upward and
saw that the Spaniards had gained the
crest Of the pyramid, since the battle now
ragged upon it's edge, and have rarely
seen so terrible fight, for the Aztecs
fought with tho fury Of despair, thinking
little of their own lives If they could only
bring Spaniard to his death. But for
the most part their rude weapons would
not pierce the coats of mail, SO that there
remained only one way to compass their
desire-nameiy, by casting the white men
over the edge of the teocalli to be crushed
like eggshells upon the pavement 200 feet
below. Thus the fray broke itself up into
groups Of foes, who rent and tore at each
other upon the brink Of the pyramid, now
and again to vanish down its side, 10 or
10 Of them together. Some Of the priests
also joined In the fight, thinking less Of
their own deaths than Of the desecration
Of their temples, for I saw one OF them,
man Of huge strength and stature, seize
Spanish soldier round the middle and leap
with him Into space Still. though very
slowly, the Spaniards and Tlascalans
forced their way toward the center of the
platform, and as they came the danger OF
this dreadful end grew less, for the Aztecs
must drag them farther.
Now, the fight drew near to the stone OF
sacrifice, and all who remained alive o.
the Aztecs, perhaps some $50 OF them, BE-
sides the priests, ranged Themselves round
us end 1t In circle; nlso the outer rim
Of the sunbeam that fell through the gold
en- funnel, creeping on reporselessly,
touched my painted side, which 1t seemed
to burn as hot iron might, for, alas, could
not command the sun TO stand sti1l while
the battle ragged, as did Joehua IN the val
ley Of Ajalon. When 1t touched me, f7e
priests seized my limbs and h0ad, and the
father of them, he who had conducted me
from the palace, clasped his flint knife IN
both hands. Now deathly sickness took
me, and shut my eyes, dreaming that all
was done, but at that moment heard q
wild eyed man, whom had noted stand
ing by, call out to the minister Of death:
mot yet, o priest Of Tezcatl If you
smite before tho sunbeam lies upon the
victims heart, your gods ure doomed, and
doomed are the people Of Anahuac-
The priest gnashed lis teeth with rage
and glared first at the orceptng point OF
light and then over his shoulder at the ad-
yancing battle. Slowly the ring OF war
riors closed in upon Us, slowly the golden
ray crept up my breast till It's outer lin
touched tho red circle painted upon my
heart. Again the priest heaved up his
awful knife, again shut my eyes, end
again I heard the shrill scream Of the as
tronnmer: mot yet, Tot yet, or your
gods are doomedp'
Then 1 heard another sound. 1t was
the voice of Otomie crying for help.
.tSaye us, Teules! They murder us!'
she shrieked in so piercing noto that 1t
reached the ears Of the Spaniards, for one
shouted in answer and in the Castihan
tongue: "On, my comrades, on! The"dogs
do murder on their altars!"
Then there was mighty rush, and the
defending Aztecs were swept in upon the
altar, lifting the priest Of sacrifice from
his feet and throwing him across my booJ.
Thrice that rush came, like rush OF tho
sea, and each time tho stand Of the Aztecs
weakened. Now their circle was broken,
and the swords Of the Spaniards flashed
up on every side, and now the red ray lay
within the ring upon my heart.
"Smite, priest of Tezcat," screamed the
voice of the astronomer. "Smite homo
for the glory of your god!'
With fearful YELL the priest lifted the
knife. T saw the golden sunbeam that
rested full upon my heart shine on 1t.
Then as it was descending saw the Same
sunbeam shine upon yard Of steel that
flashed across me and lost itself IN the
breast of the murderer priest. Down came
the great flint ..n:fe, but its aim was lost.
It struck indeed, hut not upon my bosom,
though 1 did not escape 1t altogether.
Full upon the altar of sacrifice it fell ann
was shattered there, piercing between my
side and thaS Of Otomie and gashing the
flesh of both 80 that our blood was min
yled upon the 5tcne, making lis one IN
deed. Down. too. came the uriest -acrosa