watched，rubbingitwithhislongandmattedlocks。
ThisdoneheheldittomylipsthatImightbreatheonit，andIturnedfaintandsick，forIknewthatitwasbeingmadereadytoreceivetheheartwhichIfeltbeatinginmybreast。
NowwhatfurtherceremoniesweretobecarriedoutinthisunholyplaceIdonotknow，foratthatmomentagreattumultaroseinthesquarebeneath，andIwashurriedfromthesanctuarybythepriests。
ThenIperceivedthis:galledtomadnessbythestormofmissilesraineduponthemfromitscrest，theSpaniardswereattackingtheteocalli。
Alreadytheywerepouringacrossthecourtyardinlargecompanies，ledbyCorteshimself，andwiththemcamemanyhundredsoftheiralliestheTlascalans。
OntheotherhandsomethousandsoftheAztecswererushingtothefootofthefirststairwaytogivethewhitemenbattlethere。
Fiveminutespassedandthefightgrewfierce。
Againandagain，coveredbythefireofthearquebusiers，theSpaniardschargedtheAztecs，buttheirhorsesslippinguponthestonepavement，atlengththeydismountedandcontinuedthefrayonfoot。
SlowlyandwithgreatslaughtertheIndianswerepushedbackandtheSpaniardsgainedafootingonthefirststairway。
Buthundredsofwarriorsstillcrowdedtheloftywindingroad，andhundredsmoreheldthetop，anditwasplainthatiftheSpaniardswonthroughatall，thetaskwouldbeahardone。
StillafiercehopesmotemelikeablowwhenIsawwhatwastoward。
IftheSpaniardstookthetempletherewouldbenosacrifice。
Nosacrificecouldbeofferedtillmidday，soOtomiehadtoldme，andthatwasnotforhardupontwohours。
Itcametothisthen，iftheSpaniardswerevictoriouswithintwohours，therewasachanceoflifeforme，ifnotImustdie。
NowwhenIwasledoutofthesanctuaryofTezcat，IwonderedbecausetheprincessOtomie，orratherthegoddessAtlaasshewasthencalled，wasstandingamongthechiefpriestsanddisputingwiththem，forIhadseenherbowherheadatthedooroftheholyplace，andthoughtthatitwasintokenoffarewell，seeingthatshewasthelastofthefourwomentoleaveme。
OfwhatshedisputedIcouldnothearbecauseofthedinofbattle，buttheargumentwaskeenanditseemedtomethatthepriestsweresomewhatdismayedatherwords，andyethadafiercejoyinthem。
Itappearedalsothatshewonhercause，forpresentlytheybowedinobeisancetoher，andturningslowlysheswepttomysidewithapeculiarmajestyofgaitthateventhenInoted。
Glancingupatherfacealso，Isawthatitwasalightasthoughwithagreatandholypurpose，andmoreoverthatshelookedlikesomehappybridepassingtoherhusband’sarms。
’Whyareyounotgone，Otomie？’Isaid。
’Nowitistoolate。
TheSpaniardssurroundtheteocalliandyouwillbekilledortakenprisoner。’
’Iawaittheendwhateveritmaybe，’sheansweredbriefly，andwespokenomoreforawhile，butwatchedtheprogressofthefray，whichwasfierceindeed。
GrimlytheAztecwarriorsfoughtbeforethesymbolsoftheirgods，andinthesightofthevastconcourseofthepeoplewhocrowdedthesquarebeneathandstaredatthestruggleinsilence。
TheyhurledthemselvesupontheSpanishswords，theygrippedtheSpaniardswiththeirhandsandscreamingwithragedraggedthemtothesteepsidesoftheroadway，purposingtocastthemover。
Sometimestheysucceeded，andaballofmenclingingtogetherwouldrolldowntheslopeandbedashedtopiecesonthestoneflooringofthecourtyard，aSpaniardbeinginthecentreoftheball。
Butdowhattheywould，likesomevastandwrithingsnake，stillthelongarrayofTeulescladintheirglitteringmailplougheditswayupwardthroughthestormofspearsandarrows。
Minutebyminuteandstepbysteptheycrepton，fightingasmenfightwhoknowthefatethatawaitsthedesecratorsofthegodsofAnahuac，fightingforlife，andhonour，andsafetyfromthestoneofsacrifice。
Thusanhourwentby，andtheSpaniardswerehalfwayupthepyramid。
Louderandloudergrewthefearfulsoundsofbattle，theSpaniardscheeredandcalledontheirpatronsaintstoaidthem，theAztecsyelledlikewildbeasts，thepriestsscreamedinvocationstotheirgodsandcriesofencouragementtothewarriors，whileaboveallrosetherattleofthearquebusses，theroarofthecannon，andthefearfulnoteofthegreatdrumofsnake’sskinonwhichahalf-nakedpriestbeatmadly。
Onlythemultitudesbelownevermoved，norshouted。
Theystoodsilentgazingupward，andIcouldseethesunlightflashonthethousandsoftheirstaringeyes。
NowallthiswhileIwasstandingnearthestoneofsacrificewithOtomieatmyside。
Roundmewerearingofpriests，andoverthestonewasfixedasquareofblackclothsupporteduponfourpoles，whichweresetinsocketsinthepavement。
Inthecentreofthisblackclothwassewnagoldenfunnelmeasuringsixinchesorsoacrossatitsmouth，andthesunbeamspassingthroughthisfunnelfellinabrightpatch，thesizeofanapple，uponthespaceofpavementthatwasshadedbythecloth。
Asthesunmovedintheheavens，sodidthisringoflightcreepacrosstheshadowtillatlengthitclimbedthestoneofsacrificeandlayuponitsedge。
Thenatasignfromtheheadpriest，hisministerslaidholdofmeandpluckedwhatwereleftofmyfineclothesfrommeascruelboyspluckalivingbird，tillIstoodnakedexceptforthepaintuponmybodyandaclothaboutmyloins。
NowIknewthatmyhourhadcome，andstrangetotell，forthefirsttimethisdaycourageenteredintome，andIrejoicedtothinkthatsoonIshouldhavedonewithmytormentors。
TurningtoOtomieIbegantobidherfarewellinaclearvoice，whentomyamazeIsawthatasIhadbeenservedsoshewasbeingserved，forhersplendidrobesweretornoffherandshestoodbeforemearrayedinnothingexceptherbeauty，herflowinghair，andabroideredcottonsmock。
’Donotwonder，Teule，’shesaidinalowvoice，answeringthequestionmytonguerefusedtoframe，’Iamyourwifeandyonderisourmarriagebed，thefirstandlast。
Thoughyoudonotloveme，to-dayIdieyourdeathandatyourside，asIhavetherighttodo。
Icouldnotsaveyou，Teule，butatleastIcandiewithyou。’
AtthemomentImadenoanswer，forIwasstrickensilentbymywonder，andbeforeIcouldfindmytonguethepriestshadcastmedown，andforthesecondtimeIlayuponthestoneofdoom。
Astheyheldmeayellfiercerandlongerthananywhichhadgonebefore，toldthattheSpaniardshadgotfootuponthelaststairoftheascent。
Scarcelyhadmybodybeensetuponthecentreofthegreatstone，whenthatofOtomiewaslaidbesideit，soclosethatoursidestouched，forImustlieinthemiddleofthestoneandtherewasnogreatplaceforher。
Thenthemomentofsacrificenotbeingcome，thepriestsmadeusfastwithcordswhichtheyknottedtocopperringsinthepavement，andturnedtowatchtheprogressofthefray。
Forsomeminuteswelaythussidebyside，andaswelayagreatwonderandgratitudegrewinmyheart，wonderthatawomancouldbesobrave，gratitudefortheloveshegaveme，sealingitwithherlife-blood。
BecauseOtomielovedmeshehadchosenthisfearfuldeath，becauseshelovedmesowellthatshedesiredtodiethusatmysideratherthantoliveoningreatnessandhonourwithoutme。
Ofasudden，inamomentwhileIthoughtofthismarvel，anewlightshoneuponmyheartanditwaschangedtowardsher。
Ifeltthatnowomancouldeverbesodeartomeasthisgloriouswoman，no，notevenmybetrothed。
Ifelt——nay，whocansaywhatIdidfeel？
ButIknowthis，thatthetearsrushedtomyeyesandrandownmypaintedface，andIturnedmyheadtolookather。
Shewaslyingasmuchuponherleftsideasherhandswouldallow，herlonghairfellfromthestonetothepavingwhereitlayinmasses，andherfacewastowardsme。
Soclosewasitindeedthattherewasnotaninchbetweenourlips。
’Otomie，’Iwhispered，’listentome。
Iloveyou，Otomie。’
NowI
sawherbreastheavebeneaththebandsandthecolourcomeuponherbrow。
’ThenIamrepaid，’sheanswered，andourlipsclungtogetherinakiss，thefirst，andaswethoughtthelast。
Yes，therewekissed，onthestoneofsacrifice，beneaththeknifeofthepriestandtheshadowofdeath，andiftherehasbeenastrangerlovesceneintheworld，Ihaveneverhearditsstory。
’Oh！Iamrepaid，’shesaidagain；’Iwouldgladlydieascoreofdeathstowinthismoment，indeedIpraythatImaydiebeforeyoutakebackyourwords。
For，Teule，IknowwellthatthereisonewhoisdearertoyouthanIam，butnowyourheartissoftenedbythefaithfulnessofanIndiangirl，andyouthinkthatyouloveher。
Letmediethenbelievingthatthedreamistrue。’
’Talknotso，’Iansweredheavily，forevenatthatmomentthememoryofLilycameintomymind。
’YougiveyourlifeformeandI
loveyouforit。’
’Mylifeisnothingandyourloveismuch，’sheansweredsmiling。
’Ah！Teule，whatmagichaveyouthatyoucanbringme，Montezuma’sdaughter，tothealtarofthegodsandofmyownfreewill？
Well，Idesirenosofterbed，andforthewhyandwhereforeitwillsoonbeknownbybothofus，andwithitmanyotherthings。’
CHAPTERXXII
THETRIUMPHOFTHECROSS
’Otomie，’Isaidpresently，’whenwilltheykillus？’
’Whenthepointoflightlieswithintheringthatispaintedoveryourheart，’sheanswered。
NowIturnedmyheadfromher，andlookedatthesunbeamwhichpiercedtheshadowaboveuslikeagoldenpencil。
Itrestedatmysideaboutsixinchesfromme，andIreckonedthatitwouldlieinthescarletringpainteduponmybreastwithinsomefifteenminutes。
Meanwhiletheclamourofbattlegrewlouderandnearer。
Shiftingmyselfsofarasthecordswouldallow，IstrainedmyheadupwardsandsawthattheSpaniardshadgainedthecrestofthepyramid，sincethebattlenowrageduponitsedge，andIhaverarelyseensoterribleafight，fortheAztecsfoughtwiththefuryofdespair，thinkinglittleoftheirownlivesiftheycouldonlybringaSpaniardtohisdeath。
Butforthemostparttheirrudeweaponswouldnotpiercethecoatsofmail，sothatthereremainedonlyonewaytocompasstheirdesire，namely，bycastingthewhitemenovertheedgeoftheteocallitobecrushedlikeeggshellsuponthepavementtwohundredfeetbelow。
Thusthefraybrokeitselfupintogroupsoffoeswhorentandtoreateachotheruponthebrinkofthepyramid，nowandagaintovanishdownitsside，tenortwelveofthemtogether。
Someofthepriestsalsojoinedinthefight，thinkinglessoftheirowndeathsthanofthedesecrationoftheirtemples，forIsawoneofthem，amanofhugestrengthandstature，seizeaSpanishsoldierroundthemiddleandleapwithhimintospace。
Still，thoughveryslowly，theSpaniardsandTlascalansforcedtheirwaytowardsthecentreoftheplatform，andastheycamethedangerofthisdreadfulendgrewless，fortheAztecsmustdragthemfurther。
Nowthefightdrewneartothestoneofsacrifice，andallwhoremainedaliveoftheAztecs，perhapssometwohundredandfiftyofthem，besidesthepriests，ringedthemselvesroundusanditinacircle。
Alsotheouterrimofthesunbeamthatfellthroughthegoldenfunnel，creepingonremorselessly，touchedmypaintedsidewhichitseemedtoburnashotironmight，foralas，Icouldnotcommandthesuntostandstillwhilethebattleraged，asdidJoshuainthevalleyofAjalon。
Whenittouchedme，fivepriestsseizedmylimbsandhead，andthefatherofthem，hewhohadconductedmefromthepalace，claspedhisflintknifeinbothhands。
NowadeathlysicknesstookmeandIshutmyeyesdreamingthatallwasdone，butatthatmomentIheardawild-eyedman，thechiefoftheastronomerswhomIhadnotedstandingby，callouttotheministerofdeath:
’Notyet，OpriestofTezeat！
Ifyousmitebeforethesunbeamliesuponthevictim’sheart，yourgodsaredoomedanddoomedarethepeopleofAnahuac。’
Thepriestgnashedhisteethwithrage，andglaredfirstatthecreepingpointoflightandthenoverhisshoulderattheadvancingbattle。
Slowlytheringofwarriorsclosedinuponus，slowlythegoldenraycreptupmybreasttillitsouterrimtouchedtheredcirclepainteduponmyheart。
Againthepriestheaveduphisawfulknife，againIshutmyeyes，andagainIheardtheshrillscreamoftheastronomer，’Notyet，notyet，oryourgodsaredoomed！’
ThenIheardanothersound。
