welcomemydeath，forIhavelivedtoknowshameanddefeatandtorture，andtoseemypeopletheslavesoftheTeule，butstillI
saythatGodwillrewardyouforthisdeed。’
Thentheymurderedhiminthemidstofagreatsilence。
AndsofarewelltoGuatemoc，themostbrave，thebestandthenoblestIndianthateverbreathed，andmaytheshadowofhistormentingsandshamefulendliedeepuponthefameofCortesforsolongasthenamesofbothofthemarerememberedamongmen！
FortwomoremonthsIjourneyedhomewardandatlengthIreachedtheCityofPines，wellthoughwearied，andhavinglostonlyfortymenbyvariousmisadventuresoftravel，tofindOtomieingoodhealth，andoverjoyedtoknowmesafewhomshethoughtnevertoseeagain。
ButwhenItoldherwhatwastheendofhercousinGuatemocshegrievedbitterly，bothforhissakeandbecausethelasthopeoftheAztecwasgone，andshewouldnotbecomfortedformanydays。
FormanyyearsafterthedeathofGuatemocIlivedwithOtomieatpeaceintheCityofPines。
Ourcountrywaspoorandrugged，andthoughwedefiedtheSpaniardsandpaidthemnotribute，nowthatCorteshadgonebacktoSpain，theyhadnohearttoattemptourconquest。
Savesomefewtribesthatlivedindifficultplaceslikeourselves，allAnahuacwasintheirpower，andtherewaslittletogainexcepthardblowsinthebringingofaremnantofthepeopleoftheOtomiebeneaththeiryoke，sotheyletusbetillamoreconvenientseason。
IsayofaremnantoftheOtomie，forastimewentonmanyclanssubmittedtotheSpaniards，tillatlengthweruledovertheCityofPinesaloneandsomeleaguesofterritoryaboutit。
IndeeditwasonlyloveforOtomieandrespectfortheshadowofherancientraceandname，togetherwithsomereverenceformeasoneoftheunconquerablewhitemen，andformyskillasageneral，thatkeptourfollowingtogether。
AndnowitmaybeaskedwasIhappyinthoseyears？
Ihadmuchtomakemehappy——nomancouldhavebeenblessedwithawifemorebeautifulandloving，noronewhohadexampledheraffectionbymoresignaldeedsofsacrifice。
Thiswomanofherownfreewillhadlainbymysideonthestoneofslaughter；overridingtheinstinctsofhersexshehadnotshrunkfromdippingherhandsinbloodtosecuremysafety，herwithadrescuedmeinmanyatrouble，herlovehadconsoledmeinmanyasorrow:surelythereforeifgratitudecanconquertheheartofman，mineshouldhavebeenatherfeetforeverandaday，andsoindeeditwas，andinasenseisstill。
Butcangratitude，canloveitself，oranypassionthatrulesoursouls，makeamanforgetthehousewherehewasborn？
CouldI，anIndianchiefstrugglingwithafallenpeopleagainstaninevitabledestiny，forgetmyyouthandallitshopesandfears，couldIforgetthevalleyoftheWaveneyandthatFlowerwhodwelttherein，andforswornthoughImightbe，couldIforgettheoaththatIoncehadsworn？
Chancehadbeenagainstme，circumstancesoverpoweredme，andIthinkthattherearefewwho，couldtheyreadthisstory，wouldnotfindinitexcuseforallthatIhaddone。
Certainlythereareveryfewwho，standingwhereIstood，surroundedasIwasbydoubts，difficulties，anddangers，wouldnothaveactedasIdid。
Andyetmemorywouldriseupagainstme，andtimeupontimeIwouldlieawakeatnight，evenbythesideofOtomie，andrememberandrepent，ifamanmayrepentofthatoverwhichhehasnocontrol。
ForIwasastrangerinastrangeland，andthoughmyhomewasthereandmychildrenwereaboutme，thelongingformyotherhomewasyetwithme，andIcouldnotputawaythememoryofthatLilywhomIhadlost。
Herringwasstilluponmyhand，butnothingelseofherremainedtome。
Ididnotknowifsheweremarriedorsingle，livingordead。
Thegulfbetweenuswidenedwiththewideningyears，butstillthethoughtofherwentwithmelikemyshadow；itshoneacrossthestormyloveofOtomie，Irememberediteveninmychildren’skiss。
AndworstofallIdespisedmyselffortheseregrets。
Nay，iftheworstcanhaveaworse，therewasonehere，forthoughsheneverspokeofit，IfearedthatOtomiehadreadmymind。
Hearttoheart，Thoughfarapart，
soranthewritinguponLily’sbetrothalring，andsoitwaswithme。
Farapartwewereindeed，sofarthatnobridgethatImightimaginecouldjointhatdistance，andyetIcouldnotsaythatwehadceasedfrombeing’hearttoheart。’
Herheartmightthrobnomore，butminebeatstilltowardit。
Acrosstheland，acrossthesea，acrossthegulfofdeath——ifsheweredead——stillinsecretmustIdesirethelovethatIhadforsworn。
Andsotheyearsrolledon，bringinglittleofchangewiththem，tillIgrewsurethathereinthisfarplaceIshouldliveanddie。
Butthatwasnottobemyfate。
Ifanyshouldreadthis，thestoryofmyearlylife，hewillrememberthatthetaleofthedeathofacertainIsabelladeSiguenzaispiecedintoitsmotley。
HewillrememberhowthisIsabella，inthelastmomentsofherlife，calleddownacurseuponthatholyfatherwhoaddedoutrageandinsulttohertorment，prayingthathemightalsodiebythehandsoffanaticsandinaworsefashion。
Ifmymemorydoesnotplaymefalse，Ihavesaidthatthisindeedcametopass，andverystrangely。
ForaftertheconquestofAnahuacbyCortes，amongothersthissamefierypriestcamefromSpaintoturntheIndianstotheloveofGodbytormentandbysword。
Indeed，ofallofthosewhoenteredonthismissionofpeace，hewasthemostzealous。
TheIndianpabaswroughtcrueltiesenoughwhen，tearingoutthevictim’sheart，theyoffereditlikeincensetoHuitzelortoQuetzal，buttheyatleastdismissedhissoultotheMansionsoftheSun。
WiththeChristianprieststhethumb-screwandthestaketooktheplaceofthestoneofsacrifice，butthesoulwhichtheydeliveredfromitsearthlybondagetheyconsignedtotheHouseofHell。
OfthesepriestsacertainFatherPedrowastheboldestandthemostcruel。
Toandfrohepassed，markinghispathwiththecorpsesofidolaters，untilheearnedthenameofthe’ChristianDevil。’
Atlengthheventuredtoofarinhisholyfervour，andwasseizedbyaclanoftheOtomiethathadbrokenfromourruleuponthisveryquestionofhumansacrifice，butwhichwasnotyetsubjugatedbytheSpaniards。
Oneday，itwaswhenwehadruledforsomefourteenyearsintheCityofPines，itcametomyknowledgethatthepabasofthisclanhadcapturedaChristianpriest，anddesignedtoofferhimtothegodTezcat。
Attendedbyasmallguardonly，Ipassedrapidlyacrossthemountains，purposingtovisitthecaciqueofthisclanwithwhom，althoughhehadcastoffhisallegiancetous，Istillkeptupashowoffriendship，andifIcould，topersuadehimtoreleasethepriest。
ButswiftlyasItravelledthevengeanceofthepabashadbeenmoreswift，andIarrivedatthevillageonlytofindthe’ChristianDevil’intheactofbeingledtosacrificebeforetheimageofahideousidolthatwassetuponastakeandsurroundedwithpilesofskulls。
Nakedtothewaist，hishandsboundbehindhim，hisgrizzledlockshangingabouthisbreast，hiskeeneyesfixeduponthefacesofhisheathenfoesinmenaceratherthaninsupplicationhisthinlipsmutteringprayers，FatherPedropassedontotheplaceofhisdoom，nowandagainshakinghisheadfiercelytofreehimselffromthetormentoftheinsectswhichbuzzedaboutit。
Ilookeduponhimandwondered。
Ilookedagainandknew。
SuddenlythererosebeforemymindavisionofthatgloomyvaultinSeville，ofawoman，youngandlovely，drapedincerements，andofathin-
facedblack-robedfriarwhosmoteheruponthelipswithhisivorycrucifixandcursedherforablasphemingheretic。
Therebeforemewastheman。
IsabelladeSiguenzahadprayedthatafateliketoherownfateshouldbefallhim，anditwasuponhimnow。
Norindeed，rememberingallthathadbeen，wasImindedtoavertit，evenifithadbeeninmypowertodoso。
Istoodbyandletthevictimpass，butashepassedIspoketohiminSpanish，saying:
’Rememberthatwhichitmaywellbeyouhaveforgotten，holyfather，remembernowthedyingprayerofIsabelladeSiguenzawhommanyyearsagoyoudidtodeathinSeville。’
Themanheardme；heturnedlividbeneathhisbronzedskinandstaggereduntilIthoughtthathewouldhavefallen。
Hestareduponme，withterrorinhiseye，toseeashebelievedacommonsightenough，thatofanIndianchiefrejoicingatthedeathofoneofhisoppressors。
’Whatdevilareyou，’hesaidhoarsely，’sentfromhelltotormentmeatthelast？’
’RememberthedyingprayerofIsabelladeSiguenza，whomyoustruckandcursed，’Iansweredmocking。
’SeeknottoknowwhenceIam，butrememberthisonly，nowandforever。’
Foramomenthestoodstill，heedlessoftheurgingsofhistormentors。
Thenhiscouragecametohimagain，andhecriedwithagreatvoice:’Gettheebehindme，Satan，whathaveItofearfromthee？
Irememberthatdeadsinnerwell——mayhersoulhavepeace——
andhercursehasfallenuponme。
Irejoicethatitshouldbeso，foronthefurthersideofyonderstonethegatesofheavenopentomysight。
Gettheebehindme，Satan，whathaveItofearfromthee？’
Cryingthushestaggeredforwardsaying，’OGod，intoThyhandI
commendmyspirit！’
Mayhissoulhavepeacealso，forifhewascruel，atleasthewasbrave，anddidnotshrinkbeneaththosetormentswhichhehadinflictedonmanyothers。
Nowthiswasalittlematter，butitsresultswerelarge。
HadI
savedFatherPedrofromthehandsofthepabasoftheOtomie，itislikelyenoughthatIshouldnotto-daybewritingthishistoryhereinthevalleyoftheWaveney。
IdonotknowifIcouldhavesavedhim，IonlyknowthatIdidnottry，andthatbecauseofhisdeathgreatsorrowscameuponme。
WhetherIwasrightorwrong，whocansay？
ThosewhojudgemystorymaythinkthatinthisasinothermattersIwaswrong；hadtheyseenIsabelladeSiguenzadiewithinherlivingtomb，certainlytheywouldholdthatIwasright。
Butforgoodorill，matterscameaboutasIhavewritten。
Anditcameaboutalso，thatthenewviceroysentfromSpainwasstirredtoangeratthemurderofthefriarbytherebelliousandheathenpeopleoftheOtomie，andsethimselftotakevengeanceonthetribethatwroughtthedeed。
SoontidingsreachedmethatagreatforceofTlascalanandotherIndianswerebeingcollectedtoputanendtous，rootandbranch，andthatwiththemmarchedmorethanahundredSpaniards，theexpeditionbeingunderthecommandofnoneotherthantheCaptainBernalDiaz，thatsamesoldierwhomIhadsparedintheslaughterofthenochetriste，andwhoseswordtothisdayhungatmyside。
Nowwemustneedsprepareourdefence，forouronlyhopelayinboldness。
OncebeforetheSpaniardshadattackeduswiththousandsoftheirallies，andoftheirnumberbutfewhadlivedtolookagainonthecampofCortes。
Whathadbeendonecouldbedoneasecondtime——sosaidOtomieintheprideofherunconquerableheart。
Butalas！infourteenyearsthingshadchangedmuchwithus。
Fourteenyearsagoweheldswayoveragreatdistrictofmountains，whoserudeclanswouldsenduptheirwarriorsinhundredsatourcall。
Nowtheseclanshadbrokenfromouryoke，whichwasacknowledgedbythepeopleoftheCityofPinesaloneandthoseofsomeadjacentvillages。
WhentheSpaniardscamedownonmethefirsttime，Iwasabletomusteranarmyoftenthousandsoldierstoopposethem，nowwithmuchtoilIcouldcollectnomorethanbetweentwoandthreethousandmen，andofthesesomeslippedawayasthehourofdangerdrewnigh。
StillImustputaboldfaceonmynecessities，andmakewhatplayImightwithsuchforcesaslayatmycommand，althoughinmyheartIfearedmuchfortheissue。
