The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-09-19

hands and then holding the hand above
the head, but think that the horse rode
caused them more wonder than I did, for
the most of them had never seen horse
and looked on it as q monster or q demon.
So we went on through the shouting mass.
followed and preceded by thousands Of
warriors, many Of them decked in glitter
ing feather mail and bearing broidered BAN
ners, till we had passed the pyramid, where
saw the priests at their cruel work above
us. and were come to the palace gates.
And here, In a strange chamber sculptured
with grinning demons, we found rest for
awhile.
On the morrow In the great hall of the
palace was held a council of the chiefs
and headmen Of the Otomie clans to the
number Of 100 or more. When all were
gathered, dressed as an Aztec noble Of the
first rank, I came out with Otomie, who
wore royal robes and looked most beaut1-
full in. them, and the council rose to greet
us. Otomie bade them be seated and adj
dressed them thus:
Clear me, you chiefs and captains OF
my mothers race, who am your princess
by right Of blood, the last Of your ancient
rulers, and who am, moreover, the daugh-
ter Of Montezuma, emperor Of Anahuac,
now dead to US, but living evermore IN the
mansions of the sun. First, / present to
you this, my husband, the Lord Teule, to
whom was given in marriage when he
held the sp.rit of the god Tezcat, and
whom, when he had passed the altar OF
the god, being chosen by heaven to aid us
In our war, welded anew after the fash
ion Of the earth and by the will of my
royal brethren. Know, chiefs and cap
tains, that this lord, my husband, is not
of our Indian blood, nor is he altogether
OF the blood of the Teules, with whom we
are at war, but rather Of that Of the true
children Of Quetzal, the dwellers in far
off northern sea, who aref foes to she Teules-
And as they are foes, so this, my lord, is
their foe, and, as doubtless You have heard,
Of all the deeds of arms that We're wrought
upon the night of the slayins: Of the Teules
none were greater than his, and it was he
who first discovered their retreat.
'sChiefs and captains Of the great and
ancient people Of the Otomie, ], your prln-
cess, have been sent to you by Cuitlahua,
my king and yours, together with my lord,
TO plead with you on certain matter:
Our king has heard, and also have heard
with shame, that many Of the warriors OF
our blood have joined the Tlascalans, who
were ever foes to the Aztecs, in their un-
holy alliance with the Teules. Now for
awhile the white men are beaten back,
but they have touched the gold they covet,
and they will return again like bees to g
half drained flower They will return,
vet of themselves they can do nothing
against the glory of Tenoctitlan. But how
shall it 20 if with them come thousands
and tens Of thousands Of the Indian peo-
plese know well that now In this time
of trouble, when kingdoms crumble, when
the air is full Of portents and the very.
rods seem impotent, there are many who
would seize the moment and turn 1t TO
their profit. There are many men and
tribes who remember ancient wars and
wrongs, and who cry: Now is the hour OF
vengeance. Now we will think on the wld-
ows that the Aztec spears have made, on
the tribute which they have wrung from
our poverty to swell their wealth and on
the captives who have decked the altars
of their sacrificed
ssIs it not sos Aye, it is so, and can
not wonder at it. Yet ask you to remem-
Der this-that the yoke you would help to
set upon the neck of the queen Of cities
will fit your neck also. Oh, foolish men,
do you think that you shall be spared
when by your aid Tenoctitlan is ruin and
the Aztecs are no more people? say to
YOU, never! The sticks that the Teules use
to beat shall be broken one by one and cast
into the fire to burn. If she Aztecs fall,
then, early or late, every tribe within this
wide land shall fall. They shall be slain,
their cities shall be stamped flat, their
wealth shall be wrung from them, and their
children shall cat the bread Of slavery s.hd
drink the water of af1icticn. Choose, ye
people Of the Otomie Will you stand by
the men of your own customs and country,
though they have been your foes at times,
or Will you throw in your lot with the
stranger? Choose, ye people of the Oto-
mie, and know this-that on your choice
and that of the other men Of Anahuac de-
pends the fate Of Anahuac. am your
princess, and you should obey me, but to-
day issue no command. say choose be-
tween tho alliance Of the Aztec and the
yoke Of the Teule, and may the God above
the gods, the Almighty, the invisible God,
direct your choice. "
Otomie ceased, and a murmur of ap-
plause went round the hall. Alas, can
do no justice to the fire OF her words any
more than can describe the dignity and
loveliness of her person as it seemed In
that hour But they went to the hearts
Of the rude chieftains who listened. Many
Of them despised the Aztecs as woman1sh
people Of the plains and the lakes, people
Of commerce. Many Of them had blood
feuds against them dating back for gener-
ations. But still they knew that their
princess spoke truth, and that the triumph
of the Teule in Tenoctitlan would mean
his triumph over every city throughout the
land. So then and there they chose, though
in after days in the stress of defeat and
trouble many went back upon their choice,
as is the fashion of men.
'sOtomie," cried the spokesman after
they had taken counsel together, I'VE have
chosen. Princess, your words have con-
ouered us. We throw in our lot with the
Aztecs and will fight to the last for free
dom from the Teule. :"
''Now see that you are indeed my peo-