Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-09-12
CHAPTER. XXI.

THE BURYlNG OF MONTEZUMA' TREASURE.
Cuitlahua was crowned emperor of the
Aztecs, in succession of his brother Mon
tezuma, while 1 lay sick with the wound
given me by the sword of De Garcia and
also with that which had received on the
altar of sacrifice. This hurt had found no
time to heal and in the fierce fighting on
the night of fear it burst open and bled
much. Indeed it gave me trouble for years,
and to this hour feel it in the autumn
season. Otomie, who nursed me tenderly,
and, so strange is tho heart of woman, even
seemed to be consoled in her sorrow at the
loss of her father and nearest kin, because
had escaped the slaughter and won fame,
told me Of the ceremony of tho crowning,
which was splendid enough. Indeed the
Aztecs were almost mad with rejoicing be-
cause the Teules were gone at last. They
forgot or seemed to forget tho loss OF
thousands of their bravest warriors and of
tho flower of their rank, and as yet, ut any
rate, they did not look forward to the fu-
ture. From house to house and street to
street ran troops Of young men and maid
ems garlanded with flowers, crying: 1.-The
Teules are gone; rejoice with US! The
Teules arc ded!'' and woe to them who
were not merry-aye even though their
houses were desolate with death Also the
statues of the gods were set up again on
the great pyramid and their temples re-
built, the holy crucifix that the Spaniards
had placed there being served as the idols
Huitzel and Tezcat had been served, and
tumbled down the sides Of the tcocalli, and
that after sacrifice Of some Spanish prison
ers who had been offered In Its presence.
It was Guatemoc himself who told me of
this sacrilege, but not with any exulta-
tion, for had taught him something of
our faith, and though he was too good
heathen to change his creed, In secret no
believed that the God of the Christians
was true and mighty God Moreover,
though he was obliged to countenanco
them, like Otomie, Guatemoc never loved
the horrld rites Of human sacrifice.
Now, when heard this talo my anger
overcame my reason, and spoke fercely,
saying:
''I am sworn to your cause, Guatemoc,
nv brother, and I am married to your
blood, but tell you that from this hour
1t Is an accursed cause. Because Of your
blood stained idols and your priests it is
accursed. That God whom you have desc
Grated and those who servo him shall
como back in power, and he shall sit
where your idols sat, and mono shall stir
him forever"
Thus spoke, and my words wcro true,
though did not know what put them in
to my heart, since spoke at random in
Th,.ic oh
stands upon the site Of the place of sacri-
flce in Mexico, sign and token of his
triumph over devils, and there it shall
stand whilo tho world cndurcs.
''You speak rashly, my BROTHER Gua-
temoc answered proudly enough, though
/ SOW him quail at tho evil omen of my
words. II say you speak rashly, and were
you overheard there arc those, notwith-
standing tho rank we have given you, the
honor which you have won in war and
council, and that you have passed the
stone Of sacrifice, who might force you to
look again upon. the faces of tho beings
you blaspheme. What worse thing has
been done to your Christian God than has
been done again and again to our gods by
your white kindrcdf But let us talk no
more Of this matter, and prny you, my
brother, do not utter such Ill omencd
words to me again, lest 1t should strain
QUE love. Do you, then, bclicvc that the
Teules will rcturn'"
"Aye, Guutcmoc, SO surely as tomor-
rows sun shall rise. When You held Cor.
tcs IN your hand, YOU let him 60, and
since then he has won victory at Otonl-
pan. Is ho man, think you, to sheath
the sword that he has onco drawn and 20
down into darkness and dishonorf Be
fore year is past the SpaniarIs will bo
back Mt tho gates of Tcnoctitian.
!"You arc no comforter tonight, my
brother" said Guatcmoc, land yet ] fear
that your words aro true. Well, II We
must fight, let us strive to win. Now, at
least, thcro is no Montczuma to take the
viper to his breast and nurse 1t till 1t
stlngs him." Then he roso and went In