The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-10-24

der at discretion. To this I answered that
sooner than do so we would Gle where we
were. Their reply was that if we would
give over all who had any part in the hui
man sacrifice the rest Of us might go free
To this I said that the sacrifice had been
carried out by women and some few men,
and that all of these were dead by their
own hands. They asked if Otonie was
also dead I told them no, but that 1
would never surrender unless they swore
that neither she nor her son should be
harmed, but rather that together with my
self they should be given safe conduct to
20 whittier we wi1led. This was refused,
but in the end won I the day, and a parch-
ment was thrown up to me on the point OF
lance This parchment, which was
signed by the Captain Bernal Diaz, set out
that, in consideration Of the part that I
and some men Of the Otomie had played
in rescuing the Spanish captives from
death by sacrifice, a pardon was granted
to me- my wife and child and all upon the
teocal1i, with liberty to go whithersoever
we would unharmed, our lands and wealth
being, however, declared forfeit to the
viceroy.
With these terms I was well content;
indeed I had never hoped to win any that
would leave us our lives and liberty. And
yet for my part death had been almost as
welcome, for now Otomie had built a wall
between US that could never climb, and
I was bound to her, to woman who: will
ingly or no, had stained her hands with
sacrifice. Well, my son was left to me,
and with him I must be satisfed-at the
| least, he knew nothing Of his mothers
shame. Oh, thought to myself, as
climbed the teocalli-oh, that could but
escape far from this accursed land and bear
him with me to the English shores-aye,
and Otomie also, for there she might for
get that once she had been savage! Alas,
it could scarcely be!
Coming to the temple, and those with
me told the good tidings to our compan-
ions, who received it silently. Men Of
| white race would have rejoiced thus to es-
cape, for when death is near all other loss
aeems as nothing. But with these Indian
! people it is not so. since when fortune
frowns upon them they do not cling to
life These men Of the Otomie had lost
their country, their wives, their wealth,
their brethren and their homes. Therefore
| life, with freedom to wander whittier they
would, seemed no great thing to them. So
they met the boon that had won from the
mercy Of our foes, as had matters gone
otherwise they would have met the bane,
in su1lcn silence.
I came to Otomie, and to her also told
the news.
"1 had hoped to die where am, !" she
| answered. But so be it. Death is always
to be found. /"
Only my son rejoiced, because he knew
that God had saved us all from death BY
sword or hunger Father" he said, the
Spaniards have given us life, but they take
our country and drive US out Of 1T.
Where, then, shall we go?"
ST do not know, my son, answered
Father" the Lad said again, ''let us
leave this land of Anahuac, where there is
nothing but Spaniards and sorrow. Letus
find ship and sail across the seas to Eng
land, our own country.
The boy spoke my very thought, and
my heart lcaped at his words, though
had no plan to bring the matter about.
pondered moment, looking at Otomie.
1.-The thought is good, Teule, +" she said,
answering my unspokcn question. FOR
you and for your son there is no better, but
for myself will answer in the proverb OF
INV people, The earth that bears us lies
lightest on our bones.
! Then she turned, making ready to quit
the storehouse of the temple, where we had
been lodged during the siege, and no more
was said about the matter.
Before the sun set weary throng OF
men, with some few women and children,
were marching across the courtyard that
surrounded the pyramid, for bridge OF
timbers taken from the temple had been
made over the breach in the roadway that
wound about it's side. .
At the gates the Spaniards were wait
ing to receive us We were sorted out. The
men Of small condition, together with the
children, were taken from the ruined city
by an escort and turned loose upon the
mountains, while those Of note were
brought to the Spanish camp, to be ques-
toned there before they were set free l.
| with my wife and son, was led to the pal
ace, our old home, there to learn the will
Of the Captain Diaz.
It Is but little way to go, and yet
there was something to be seen in the
path, for as we walked I looked up, and
before me- standing with folded arms and
apart from all men, was De Garcia. I had
scarcely thought of him for some days, SO
full had my mind been of other matters,
but at the sight of his evil face remem-
bered that while this man lived sorrow and
danger must be my bedfellows.
he watched US pass, taking note OF all.
Then he called to me, who walked last:
Farewell, Cousin Wingaeld. You have
lived through this bout also and won a
free pardon, you, your woman and your
brat together II the old warhorse who Is
set over US as captain had listened tome,
you should have burned at the stake, every
one of you, but so it is. Farewell for
awhile, friend. am away to Mexico to
report these matters to the viceroy, who
may have word to say
made no answer, but asked OF our con-
ductor-that same Spaniard whom I had
saved from the sacrifce-what the senior
meant by his words.
"This, Teule: That there has been a
Quarrel between our conrade Sarceda and
our captain. The former would have grant
ed you no terms, or failing this would have
decoyed you from your stronghold with
false promises and then have put you to
IT, ~