Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-10-31

! going forward on the crest of the teocalli.
A veil of horror arose from them, and in
stantly they opened fire upon us with their
pieces and arquebuses, though, because
of the shape of the pyramid md OF their
| position beneath 1t, the storm Of shot swept
over us, doing little or no hurt; also a
great company of them poured across the
courtyard, hoping to storm the temple, for
they did not know that the road had been
broken away.
Now, though the rites of sacrifice never
ceased, what with the roar Of cannon, the
shouts Of rage and terror from tho Span
iards, the hiss of musket balls and the
cracking of flames from houses which
they had fired to give them more light,
and the sound of chanting, the turmoil
and confusion grew so great as to render
the carrying out of my purpose easier than
I had hoped. By this time my friend, the
captain Of the Otomie, was at my side,
and with him several men whom he could
! trust. STOPPING down, with few swift
blows of knife I out tho ropes which
bound the Spaniards. Then we gathered
ourselves into knot, 12 Of US or more,
and In the center Of the knot we set the
five Spaniards. This done, I drew my
sword and cried:
"The Teules storm the temple!'' which
was true, for already their long line was
rushing up tho winding path. The
Teules storm the tempiel 60 to stop
them, ~ and straightway we sped across
| the open space.
None saw us, or, If they saw US, none
hindered us, for all the company were IN
tent upon the contamination Of fresh
sacrifice. Moreover, the tumult was such,
as T afterward discovered, that we were
scarcely noticed Two minutes passed,
and our feet were set upon the winding
way, and now I breathed again, for we
were beyond the sight Of the women. On
we rushed swiftly as the cramped limbs OF
the Spaniards would carry them till pres
entity we reached that angle in the path
where the breach began. The attacking
spaniards had already come to the farther
| side of the gap, for though we could not
see them we could hear their cries OF rage
and despair as they halted helplessly and
understood that their comrades were be-
yond their aid
"Now we are sped,' said the Spaniard
with whom had spoken. "The road is
gone, and it must be certain death to try
the side of the pyramid.
tNot So" I answered. "Some 80 feet
below the path still runs, and one by one
we will lower you to it with this rope.
Then we set to work Making the cord
fast beneath the arms of soldier, we let
him down gently till he came to the path
and was received there by his comrades as
a man returning from the dead. Tho last
| to be lowered was that Spaniard with
whom had spoken.
Farewell, he said, land may the
blessing of God be on you for this act OF
mercy, renegade though you are. Say,
now, will you not come with me' set
my life and honor in pledge for your safe
ty You tell mo that you are still Chris.
tian man. Is that place for Christians"
and he pointed upward.
mo, indeed" I answered, "out still l
cannot come, for my wife and son are
there, and must return to die with them
If need be. If you bear me any gratitude
strive in return to save their lives, since
for nv own caro- but little. "
''That I WILL he said, and let him
down among his friends, whom he reached
in safety.
Now we returned to the temple giving
it out that the Spaniards were in retreat,
| having failed to cross the breach in the
roadway. Here before the temple The orgle
still went on. But two Indians remained
alive, and the priests of sacrifice grew
weary.
where arc the Teules?" cried voice
"Swift, strip them for the altar"
But tho Teules were gone, nor, search
where they would, could they find them.
"Their God has taken them beneath his
wing" said, speaking from the shadow
and in feigned voice. "Huitzel cannot
prevail before the God of the Teules."
Then T slipped aside, so that none knew
that it was who hsd spoken, but the cry
| was caught up and echoed far and wide
1.-The GOD Of the Christians has hidden
them beneath his wing. Let us make
merry with those whom he rejects, " said
the cry, and the last of the captives were
dragged away.
Now thought that all was finished,
but this was not so. I have spoken Of the
secret purpose which I had read in the
cullen eyes of the Indian women as they
| labored at the barricades, and was about
to sec its execution Madness still burned
In the hearts of these women. They had
accomplished their sacrifice, but their fes-
tiyal was still to come They drew them
selves away to the farther side Of the pyra-
mid, and needless Of the shots which now
and again pierced tho breast of ono of
them-for hero they were exposed to the
Spanish fre-remained awhile in prepara-
tion. With them went the priests of sac
rifce, but now, as before, the rest Of the
men stood in sullen groups, watching
what befel, but lifting no hand or voice
to hinder its hellishness
One woman did not go with them, and
that woman was Otomie, my wife.
She stool by the stone of sacrifice, q
piteous sight to soc, for her frenzy, or rath-
er her madness, had outworn itself, and
she was as she had ever been. There stood
Otomie, gazing with wide and horror
stricken eyes now at the tokens Of this un-
holy rite and now at her own hands, as
though she thought to see them red and
shuddored at the thought. drew near to
her and touched her on the shoulder. She
turned swiftly, gasping:
Husband, husbandP'
SIT is l." answered, ''but call me hus-
band no more. ~
"Oh, what have I doneP" she walled and
| fe11 senen1eSS in my arms