Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-10-03

sons Of Quetzal9 You know that There Is
nothing left except the ruins Of our cities
and the bones Of our dead"
Here he ceased suddenly, for the demon
who tormentei him struck him across the
mouth, saying, "Silonce, dogl"
But 7 understood, and sworo IN my
heart that I would die ero revealed my
brothers secret. This was the last triumph
! that Guatemoc could win, to keep his gold
from the grasp of the greedy Spaniard,
and that victory at least he should not lose
through me. So I swore, and very soon
my oath must be put to the test, for at a
motion from Do Garcia the Tlascalans
seized me and bound mo to tho third chair.
Then he spoke into my car in Castilian:
"Strango are the ways of Providence,
Cousin Wingfeld. You have hunted mo
across the world, and several times we havo
met, always to your sorrow. I thought I
had you In tho slaveship, thought that
the sharks had you in the water, but some
how you escaped me whom you came to
hunt. When I knew 1t, grievcd, but
now I grieve no more, for I SEQ that you
were reserved for this moment. Cousin
Wingfeld, 1t shall go hard If you escape
me this time, and yet think that wc shall
spend some days together before wo part.
Now will bo courteous with you. You
may havc choice Of evils. How shall we
begin2 The resources at my command are
not all that wo could wish, alas; the holy
office Is not yet hero with It's unholy mr.
mory, but still havo done my best. These
fellows do not understand their art. Hot
Goals aro their only inspiration. I, you
sec, have several, T" and he pointed to vari-
Gus instruments Of torture. (which will
you select?"
made no answer, for had determined
that I would speak no word and utter no
CRY, do what they might with mo.
''Lct me think, let me think, went on
Dc Garcia, smoothing his beard. "Ah,
have it! Here slaves"
Now I will not renew my own agonlcs
or awake the horror of any who may
chance to read what I have written by de-
scribing what bcfcll me after this. Suffice
it TO say that for two hours and moro this
devil, helped in his task by tho Tlascalans,
worked his wicked will upon me. One By
one torIncnts were administered to mo
with skill and ingenuity that cannot Of
ten have been surpassed, and when at
times I tainted was recovered by cold
water being dashed upon me and spirits
poured down my throat. And yet, say
1t with some pride during those two
dreadful hours I uttered no groan, how
ever great my sufferings, and spoke no
word, good or bad.
Nor was it only bodily pain that must
bear, for all this while my enemy Knocked
mo with bitter words, which tormcntcd
my soul as his instruments and hot Goals
tormented my body. At length he paused
exhausted and cursed me for an obstinate
pig of an Englishman, and at that mo-
ment Cortes entered the shamblcs, and
with him Marina.
''How goes it?' he said lightly, though
his face turned pale at the sight of horror.
"The cazique of Tacuba has confessed
that gold Is buried in his garden. Tho 9TH
er two have said nothing, general. " the
clerk answered, glancing down his paper.
''Brave mon, indeedp' I heard Cortes
mutter to himself. Then said aloud: LET
tho caziquc be carried tomorrow to the
garden Of which no speaks, that he may
point out the gold. AS for the other two,
cease tormenting them for this day. Per-
haps they may find another mind before
tomorrow. trust so-for their own sakes
trust sol"
Then he drew to the corner Of tho room
and consulted with Sarceda and the other
torturers, leaving Marina face to face with
Guatemoc and mo. For awhile she stared
at the prince as though in horror; then
strange light came into her beautiful eyes,
and she spoke to him in O low voice, say
ing in the Aztec tongue:
EDo you remember how once you reject
cd me down yonder in Tabasco, Guatcmoc,
and what told you then-that I should
grow great in spite Of you? You sec, it has
all como true and more than true, and you
are brought to this. Are you not sorry,
Guatemoc? am sorry though were as
some women are pcrchancc I might re-
joice to see you thus
Woman" tho prince answered in O
thick voice, "you have betrayed your coun-
try, and you have brought me to shame
and torment Yes; had it not been for you
these things had never been. am sorry,
indeed am sorry-that did not kill you.
For the rest, may your name be shameful
forever In the cars Of honest men and your
soul be eTerlastingly accursed, and may
you yourself, even before you die, know
the bitterness Of dishonor and betrayal!
Your words were fulfilled, and so shall
mino be Also"
She heard and turned away, trembling,
and for awhile was silent. Then her
glance fell upon me, and she began to
weep.
"Alas, poor manl' she said. "Alas my
fricndl"
'Wccp not over me, Marina" I an
swcrcd, speaking IN Aztec, ''for your tears
arc of no worth, but help me If you may. ="
''Ah, that could!' she sobbcd, and
turning fled from the place, followed pres
emily by Cortcs.
Now tho Spaniarls camc in again and
removed Guatcmoc and the caziquc of Ia
cuba, carrying them in their arms, for
they could not walk, and indeed the ca
ziquo was in n swoon.
Farewell, Teulc," said Guatcmoc as he
passed me. "You are indeed true son of
Quctzal and gallant man. May the gods
reward you In times to come for all that
you have suffered for me and mine, since
I cannot
Then he was bornc out, and these were
the last words that ever heard him utter.
t.; Now was left alone with the TlaScalans
and De Garcia, who Knocked mo rs before
"A l,ttlo tired, eh, friend Wingflcldf'
he said, snccring. well, tho play Is rough
till you get used to it. A nights sleep
will refresh you, and tomorrow you will bo
@ new man. Perhaps you believe that l
have done my worst Fool, this Is but q
beginning Also you think doubtless that
your obstlnacy angcrs me- Wrong again,
my friend. only pray that you may keep
your lips scaled to the last. Gladly would
I give my share of this hidden gold In pay
mcnt for two more such days with you. /
have still much to pay you back, and, look
you, I have found q way to do 1t. There
arc moro ways of hurting man than
through his own flcsh-for instance, when
I wished to bo rcvcnged upon your father,
I struck him through her whom he loved.
Now havo touched you, and you wondor
what mean. Well, will tell you. Per
| haps you may know an Aztec Indy OF royal
blood who is named Otomic5"
"Otomic what Of herr" I cried, speak