The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-08-22
New Series-Vol. XIV. No. 4.

and, by Huitzel, were you not vowed to
Tezcat your heart should smoke tomorrow
on the altar of Huitzel Be warned and;
give me no more false counsels, lest your
end prove swifter than you think. Learn
that have asked these questions Of you
to purpose, and By the command OF the
gods, as it was written on the hearts OF
those sacrificed this day. This was the
purpose and this was the command that l
might discover your secret mind, and that
] should shun whatever advice you CHANGED
to give Ye1 counsel me to fight the
Teules; therefore will not fight them,
but meet them with gifts and fair words,
for know well that you would have me
to do that which would bring me to my
doom"
Thus he spoke very fercely and in low
voice.. his head held low and his arms
crossed upon his breast, and saw that he
shook with passion. Even then, though
was very much afraid, for god as was a
nod from this mighty king would have
sent me to death by torment, wonderel
at the folly of one who in everything else
was Sc wise Why should he doubt me
thus and allow superstition to drag him
down to ruin? Today I see the answer.
Montezurna lid not these things himself,
but because the hand Of destiny worked
with his hand and the voice of destiny
spoke in his voice. The gods of the Aztecs'
were false gods indeed, but for one be-
lieve that they had life and intelligence,
for those hideous shapes of, stone were the
habitations Of devils, and the priests spoke
truth when they said that the sacrifice Of
men was pleasing to their gods.
To these devils the king went for coun-
sci through the priests, and now this doom
was on them, that they must give false
counsel to their own destruction, and to-
the destruction of those who worshiped!
them, as was decreed by one more power
full than they.
Now, while we were talking the sun hsd
sunk swiftly, SO that all the world was
dark. But the light still fingered on the
snowy crests of the volcanoes Popo and
I1tac, staining them an awful red. Never
before to my sight had the shape Of the
dead woman whose everlasting bier is.
Ixtac's bulk seemed so clear and wonder
full as on that night, for either it was So
or my fancy gave it the very shape and
color of a woman's corse stepped in blood
| and laid out for burial Nor was it my
phantasy alone, for when Montezuma had
finished upbraiding me he chanoed to look;
up, and his eyes falling on the mountain
remained fixed there.
"Look now, Teule!' he said presently,
with solemn laugh; "yonder lies the
corse of the nations Of Anahuac washed
in q water of blood and made ready for
burial Is she not terrible in death?'
| As he spoke the words and turned to so,
| q sound Of doleful wailing came from the
direction Of the mountain, a very wild
and unearrhly sound that caused the blood
| in my veins to stand still. Now Monte
yuma caught my arm in his fear, and we
gazed together on ktac, and it seemed to
US that this wonder happened, for in
that red and fearful light the red figure Of
the sleeping woman arose, or appeared TO-
rise, from it's bier of stone 1t arose slow
", like one who awakes from sleep, and
presently it stood upright upon the noun
tain's brow, towering high in the air:
There it stood, a giant and awakened
corpse, its white trappings stained with
blood, and we trcmbled to see it.
| For awhile the wrath remained thus
gazing toward the city Of Tenoctitlan; then
suddenly it threw its vast arms upward as
| though in grief, and at that moment th:;
night rushed in upon it and covered it, .
while the sound of wailing died slowly
away.
''Say, Teule,' gasped the emperor, ''do
I not well to he afraid when such portents
as these meet my eyes day by day? Heark-
en- to the lamentations in the city; we,
have not seen this sight alone. Listen how
the people cry aloud with fear and the
priests beat their drums toayert the cRen.
Weep on, We people, and ye priests pray
and do sacrifice! It is very fitting, for the
day of your doom is upon you. 0 Tenoc-
titan, queen of cities, see you ruined
| and desolate your palaces blackened with,
fire, your temples desecrated, your pleas
ant gardens I. wilderness. I see your high
born women the wantons of stranger lords
and your princes their servants; the canals
run red with the blood of your children.
your gateways are blocked with their bones,
Death is about you everywhere; dishonor
is your daily bread; desolation is your por
tion. Farewell to you, queen of the Cities.
cradle of my forefathers in which. was
nursed!'
When Montezuma had made an end of
crying his prophecies asked him hum
bly, if should summon to him the lords
who were in attendance upon him, but
who stood at some distance.
Nay he answered, 'Iwould not have:
them see me thus with grief and terrvr
upon my face. Whoever fears, at least
must seem brave Walk with me awhile,
Teule, and if it is in your mind to murder
me shall not gricvc.'
made no answer, but followed him as
be led the way down the darkest of the
winding paths that run between the ce-
dar trees, where it would have been easy
for me to kill him if wished but could
not see how I should be adyartaged by
the deed; also, though / knew that Mon
tezuma was my enemy, my heart shrank
from the thought of murder. For awhile
or more he walked OH without speaking,
now beneath the shadow Of the trees, and
now through open spaces of garden plant