The National tribune., 1899-03-30
sci of their fears, and retreat, without de
lay, TO their quarters.

sci of their fears, and retreat, without de
lay, to their quarters.
While they stood yetfhesitating, and il
some confusion, suddenly, and with &
tone that pierced to their .inmost souls
there came a hoIrid shrek from the toI
of the pyramid; and 30 Castilian voices
exclaimed: "a SACRIFICED! human sacri
ficc!-and under the cross of Christ, thai
we raised on the temple"
"The place of God is siefiled by the rites
of hellH' cried CorteZ, .furious!y, his .ip
prehensions vanishing, at once, before
Couch your lances.. draw your swords
and if any resist, call on God, and slayv
l So saying, lie drew his sword, spurred his
dun steed, and rushed towards the tenn
pie.
The half naked herds fled, yelling
away from the infuriated Christian, open
ing him a free path to the walls; and had
that fearful cry been repeated, there is nc
doubt he would have led his followers
even within the Coatepantli, though al
the risk of irretrievable and universal de,
struction. Before. however, he had yet
reached the wall, he had time ior renee.
ton; and, though greatly excited, ne
could no longer conceal from himself the
consequences OF provoking the paganS Al
their very temple, and during the worship
of their god.
He was, at this moment, well befriend-
ed, and numerously, indeed; but at a dis
tance from the GARRISON, without cannon,
and almost without musketry. surrounded
by enemies whom the eye could not num-
ber, and who had not feared to assaIi him,
even when fortified in situation almost
| impregnable, and assisted by three times
his present force, as we'll as several thou
sand bold Tlascalans; and in addition to
oil u there came
neither such sound of trumpets nor such
distant commotion among the Indians as
might admonish him OF the approach OF
Sandoval.
He checked his horse. and waving to
his followers to halt, again cast his eyes
around on the multitude, as if TO deter
mine in what manner to begin his retreat,
for he felt that this measure could be no
longer delayed The Mexicans gazcd
upon him with angry vlsages, but sun IN
silence. Not an arm was yet raised; and
they seemed prepared to give him passage
whichever way he might choose to direct
his course.
While hesitating an instant, Don Her
nando perceived stir among the crowds,
close under the Wall of Serpents, accom-
panied by low but general murmur OF
voices; and Immediately the eyes OF the
pagans were turned from him towards the
dS IL W Salth " VI '''i'iN
sight still more attractive and important.
His first thought was that these move
mentS indicated the sudden presence OF
Sandoval and his party; concert that
was, however, Immediately put to flight
by the events which ensued.
The murmurS Of the multitude were
soon stilled, and the pagans that covered
the pyramid were seen to cast their eyes
earnestly down to the square, as The
sound of many flutes. and other soft
wind instruments rose on the air, and
crept, not unmusically, along the Wall OF
Serpents, and thence 10 the ears of the
Spaniards. Before these had yet time to
EXPRESS their wonder at the presence OF
such peaceful music amidst scene of
war and sacrifice, the crowds slowly part
ed asunder, and they plainly beheld Gcr
the Mexicans had opened a wide vista to
the principal gate) procession. SEEM
ingly, of little children, clad i'll white gar
ments, waving pots OF incense, conducted
by priests, in gowns of black and flame
color, and headed by musicians and men
bearing little flags, issue from the throng,
and bend their steps towards the savage
portal. -
In the center of the train, on a sort of
litter, veryI rich and gorgeous, borne on
mems shoulders, and sheltered by royal
canopy of green and crimson feathers,
stood a figure, which might have been
some maiden princess, arrayed for the
festival or as she seemed to one or two OF
the more superstitiOus CSiStilians, some
fendish goddess, coriuged up by the
diaholical arts of the priests, to add the
inspiration OF her presen.S~to the Wild
fury OF her adOrers. She stood erect, her
body concealed in long fier ing vestments
of white, on which were embroidered SER
pents, Of some green material; In her
hand she held rod, initiative of the same
reptile; and on her forehead was coro
net of feathers, surrounding what seemed
a knot of little snakes, writhing round
star, or sun; of FURNISHED gold. -.
AS this fair apparitien was carried
through their ranks, between the great
wall and the House of Skulls, the Mexl-
cans were seen to throw themselves rev
erently on the earth as If TO divinity;
and those that stood most remote, no
sooner beheld her, than they bowed their
heads with the deepest humility.
Meanwhile the Spaniards gazed on
with both admiration and wonder, until
the train had reached the open portal; at
which place, and lust as she was about
to he concealed from them forever, the
divinity, priestess, or princess, which
ever she was, turned her bcdy slowly
round, and revealed TO them "a face OF Il
paler hue than any theyhad yet seen in
the new world, and, as they afterwards
affirmed, of the most Incompatible and
rayishing beauty.
At this sight, all uttered exclamations
of surprise, which were carried to the
cars OF the vision hut Don Amador dc
Leste, fetching cry that thrilled through
the hearts of ALL broke from the ranks, as
if beset by some sudden demon, and
dashed madly towards the apparltion.