Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-08-15

! ma spoke co NeZu Or Ife matter OF tne
omens and Of tho coming of the Teules,
asking him to tighten the darkness by his
wisdom. Then Neza pulled his long gray
beard and answered that heavy Us the
heart of Montezuma might be it must
grow still heavier before the end.
'See, lord, he said, IT am so sure that
the days of our empire are numbered that
I will play you at dice for my kingdoms
which you and your forcfathers have ever
desired to win. -
For what wager?" asked Montezuma
''I will play you thus, answered Neza-
"You shall stake three fighting cocks Of
which, should 1 win, ask the spurs only
set them against all the wide empire of
Tezcuoo."
"a small stake, said Montezuma-
Cooks are many, and Kingdoms are few"
"Still it shall serve our turn" answer
ed the aged king, for know that we play
against fate. AS the game goes, SO shall
the issue be. If you win my kingdoms, all
is well; If win the cocks, then goodby to
the glory of Anahuac, for Its people will
cease to be a people, and strangers shall
possess the land.
"Let us play and see," said Montezums.
And they went down to the place that is
called tlachco, where the games arc set.
Here they began the match with dice, and
at first all went well for Montzeuma, SO
that he called aloud that already he was
lord of Tezcuco.
MAY it be so, answered the aged Neza,
and from that moment the chance changed,
for, strive as he would, Montezuma could
not win another point, and presently the
set was finished; and Neza had won the
cocks. Now the music played, and court.
iers came forward to give the king hon.
age on his success But he rose, sighlng,
and said:
IT would far sooner lose my Kingdoms
than have won these fowls for II had
lost my Kingdoms they would still have
passed into the hands of one Of my own
race. Now, alasl my possessions and his
must come under tho hand Of strangers,
who shall cast down our gods and bring
our names to nothing"
And having spoken thus, he rose, and
taking farewell of the emperor he departed
for his own land, where, as 1t CHANGED, he
died very shortly without living to see the
| IOlullQcQG OF MS I6arS.
On the morrow of his departure came
further accounts of the doings OF the
Spaniards that plunged Montezuma into
still greater alarm. In his terror he sent
for an astronomer noted throughout the
land for the truth Of his divinations. The
astronomer came and was received by the
emperor privately. What he told him do
not know, but at least 1t was nothing
pleasant, for that very night men were
commanded to pull down the house of this
sage who was buried in It's ruins.
Two days after the death of the astron-
omer Montezuma bethought him that, as
he believed also was a Teule and could
give him information. So at the hour OF
sunset he sent for nc, bidding me walk
with him in the gardens went thither,
followed by my musicians and attendants,
who would never leave me in peace, but
he commanded that all should stand aside,
as no wished to speak with Inc alone.
Then he began to walk beneath tho mighty
cedar trees, and with him, but keeping
one pace behind.
"Teule," he said at length, ''tell me Of
your countrymen and why they have come
to these shores See that you speak truth. !"
"They are no countrymen of mine,
Montezuma," answered. though my
mother was one of them. "
did not bid you speak the truth,
Teule? If your mother was one Of them,
must you not also be of them, for arc you
not of your mothers bone and bloodf'
"As the king pleases," answered, bow.
ing. Then began and told him of the
Spaniards-of their country, their great
ness, their cruelty and their greed of gold,
and he listened eagerly, though I think
that he believed little Of what I said, for
his fear had made him very suspicious.
When had done, he spoke and said:
''Why do they come here to Anahuacf"
II fear, o king that they come to take
the land, or at the least to rob it Of oil Its
treasure and to destroy It's faiths"
"What, then, is your counsel, Teules
How can I defend myself against these
mighty men, who are clothed in metal
and ride upon fierce wild beasts who have
instruments and make noise like thun-
der, at tho sound Of which their adverse
ries fall dead by hundreds, and who bear
weapons Of shining silver in their hands'
Alas, there Is no defense possible, for they
are the children Of Quetzal come back to
take the landl From my childhood have
known that this evil overshadowed me,
and now it is at my door"
1T I, who am only god, may venture
TO speak to the lord Of the earth" an
swered, "I say that the reply is easy. Meet
force by force. The Teulcs are few, and
you can muster 1000 soldiers for every
one Of theirs Fall on them at once; do
not hesitate till their prowess finds them
friends, but crush them"
"Such Is the counsel Of one whose moth
Or was o Teule, " the emperor answered,
with sarcasm and bitter meaning. "Toll
Lme now, counselor, how am I to know
that tinsaghtings against them shall not
be fighting againsts the gods;s hoWssyen am
/ to learn the truo wishes and purposes sf
men or gods who cannot speak my tongue
and whose tongue I cannot speak"
ut is easy, o Montezuma," answered.
IT can speak their tongue. Send me to
discover for you"
Now, as spoke thus, my heart bounded
with hope, for II once could come among
the Spaniards perhaps I might escape the
altar of sacrifice; also they seemed link
between me and home. They had sailed
hither in ships, and ships can retrace their
path, for though at present my lot was
not all sorrow it will be guessed that l
should have been glad indeed to find my
self once more among Christian men.
Montezuma looked at me awhile and
answered:
"You must think me very foolish,
Teule. What shall I send you to tell my
fears and weakness to your oountrymen
and to show them the joints In my har-
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