The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-01-16

DIy, l. SAID; GnerG Will speak to you. "
WeWent to the hall, where the members
OF the council were already gathered. So
soon as the most of them were assembled
there were but eight in ALL repeated to
them the words of De Garcia without COM
ment. Then Otomie spoke, as, being the
first in rank, she had right to do Twice
before had heard her address the people
of the Otomie upon these questions of de-
Tense against the Spaniards. The first
time, it may be remembered, was when
we came as ENJOYS from Cuitlahua Monte
zuma's Cher father's) successor, to pray the
aid of the children of the mountain against
Cortes and the Teules The second time
was when, some IA years ago. we had re-
turned to the City of Pines as fugitives aft
or the fall of Tenoctitlan, and the populace,
moved to fury by the destruction of nearly
10000 of their soldiers, would have deliv-
cred us as peace Offering into the hands
of the Spaniards.
On each of these occasions Otom1e had
triumphed by her eloquence, by the great
ness of her name and the majesty Of her
presence Now things were far otherwise,
and even had she not scorned to use them
such arts would have awaited us nothing
In their extremity. Now her great name
was but shadow. one of many waning
shadows cast by an empire whose glory
had gone forever. Now she used no pas
sionate appeal to the pride and traditions
of a doomed race, now she was no longer
young, and the first splendor of her wom-
anhood had departed from her. And yet,
as with her son and mine by her side, she
rose to address those seven councillors, who,
haggard with fear and hopeless in the
grasp of fate, crOuched in silence before
her, their faces buried in their hands, I
thought that Otomie had never seemed
more beautiful, and that her words, sim
pie as they were, had never been more elo-
quent.
''Friends," she said ''you know the dis
aster that has overtaken us. My husband
has given you the message of the Teules.
Our case is desperate. We have but 1000
men at most to defend this city, the home
of our forefathers, and we alone of all the
people of AQahuac dare to stand in arms
against the white men. Years ago l said
to you, Choose between death with honor
and life with shame! Today again say
to you, Choose! For me and mine there is
no choice left since whatever you decide
death must be our portion. But with you
it is otherwise. Will you die fighting, or
will you and your children serve your re-
naming years as slaves?'
For awhile the seven consulted together;
then their spokesman answered.
"Otomie, and you, Teule, we have fol
lowed your counsels for many years, and
they have brought us but little luck We
do not blame you, for the gods of Anahuac
have deserted us as we have deserted
them, and the gods alone stand between
men and their evil destiny. Whatever mis-
fortunes we may have borne, you have
shared in them, and so it is now at the
end. Nor will we go back upon our words
in this the last hour of the people of the
Otomie. We have chosen; we have lived
free with you, and still free we will die
with you, for like you we hold that it is
better for us and ours to perish as free
men than to drag out our days beneath the
yoke of the Teule. -
1T is we'll, - said Otomie. Nov moth
ing remains for me except to seek death
so glorious that it shall be sung of in after
days. Husband, you have heard the answer
of the council. Let the Spaniards hear it
Also"
So went back to the wall, white flag
in my hand and presently an envoy ad
vanced from the Spanish camp to speak to
me-nOt De Garcia, but another. | told
him in few words that those who remain
ed alive of the people of the OtOmie would
die beneath the ruins Of their city like the
children of Tcnoctitlan before them, but
that while they had Il spear to throw and
an arm to throw it they would never yield
to the tender mercies of the Spaniard
The envoy returned to the camp, and
within an hour the attack began. Bring
ing UP their pieces of ordnance, the Span