ButwiththeseIndianpeopleitisnotso，sincewhenfortunefrownsuponthemtheydonotclingtolife。
ThesemenoftheOtomiehadlosttheircountry，theirwives，theirwealth，theirbrethren，andtheirhomes；thereforelife，withfreedomtowanderwhithertheywould，seemednogreatthingtothem。
SotheymettheboonthatIhadwonfromthemercyofourfoes，ashadmattersgoneotherwisetheywouldhavemetthebane，insullensilence。
IcametoOtomie，andtoheralsoItoldthenews。
’IhadhopedtodieherewhereIam，’sheanswered。
’Butsobeit；
deathisalwaystobefound。’
Onlymysonrejoiced，becauseheknewthatGodhadsavedusallfromdeathbyswordorhunger。
’Father，’hesaid，’theSpaniardshavegivenuslife，buttheytakeourcountryanddriveusoutofit。
Wherethenshallwego？’
’Idonotknow，myson，’Ianswered。
’Father，’theladsaidagain，’letusleavethislandofAnahuacwherethereisnothingbutSpaniardsandsorrow。
LetusfindashipandsailacrosstheseastoEngland，ourowncountry。’
Theboyspokemyverythoughtandmyheartleaptathiswords，thoughIhadnoplantobringthematterabout。
Iponderedamoment，lookingatOtomie。
’Thethoughtisgood，Teule，’shesaid，answeringmyunspokenquestion；’foryouandforoursonthereisnobetter，butformyselfIwillanswerintheproverbofmypeople，“Theearththatbearsuslieslightestonourbones。“’
Thensheturned，makingreadytoquitthestorehouseofthetemplewherewehadbeenlodgedduringthesiege，andnomorewassaidaboutthematter。
Beforethesunsetawearythrongofmen，withsomefewwomenandchildren，weremarchingacrossthecourtyardthatsurroundedthepyramid，forabridgeoftimberstakenfromthetemplehadbeenmadeoverthebreachintheroadwaythatwoundaboutitsside。
AtthegatestheSpaniardswerewaitingtoreceiveus。
Someofthemcursedus，somemocked，butthoseofthenoblersortsaidnothing，fortheypitiedourplightandrespectedusforthecouragewehadshowninthelaststruggle。
TheirIndianalliesweretherealso，andthesegrinnedlikeunfedpumas，snarlingandwhimperingforourlives，tilltheirmasterskickedthemtosilence。
ThelastactofthefallofAnahuacwasasthefirsthadbeen，dogstillatedog，leavingthegoodlyspoiltothelionwhowatched。
Atthegatesweweresortedout；themenofsmallcondition，togetherwiththechildren，weretakenfromtheruinedcitybyanescortandturnedlooseuponthemountains，whilethoseofnotewerebroughttotheSpanishcamp，tobequestionedtherebeforetheyweresetfree。
I，withmywifeandson，wasledtothepalace，ouroldhome，theretolearnthewilloftheCaptainDiaz。
Itisbutalittlewaytogo，andyettherewassomethingtobeseeninthepath。
ForaswewalkedIlookedup，andbeforeme，standingwithfoldedarmsandapartfromallmen，wasdeGarcia。
I
hadscarcelythoughtofhimforsomedays，sofullhadmymindbeenofothermatters，butatthesightofhisevilfaceIrememberedthatwhilethismanlived，sorrowanddangermustbemybedfellows。
Hewatcheduspass，takingnoteofall，thenhecalledtomewhowalkedlast:
’Farewell，CousinWingfield。
Youhavelivedthroughthisboutalsoandwonafreepardon，you，yourwomanandyourbrattogether。
Iftheoldwar-horsewhoissetoverusasacaptainhadlistenedtomeyoushouldhavebeenburnedatthestake，everyoneofyou，butsoitis。
Farewellforawhile，friend。
IamawaytoMexicotoreportthesematterstotheviceroy，whomayhaveawordtosay。’
Imadenoanswer，butaskedofourconductor，thatsameSpaniardwhomIhadsavedfromthesacrifice，whatthesenormeantbyhiswords。
’This，Teule；thattherehasbeenaquarrelbetweenourcomradeSarcedaandourcaptain。
Theformerwouldhavegrantedyounoterms，orfailingthiswouldhavedecoyedyoufromyourstrongholdwithfalsepromises，andthenhaveputyoutotheswordasinfidelswithwhomnooathisbinding。
Butthecaptainwouldnothaveitso，forhesaidthatfaithmustbekeptevenwiththeheathen，andwewhomyouhadsavedcriedshameonhim。
Andsowordsranhigh，andintheendtheSenorSarceda，whoisthirdincommandamongus，declaredthathewouldbenopartytothispeacemaking，butwouldbegonetoMexicowithhisservants，theretoreporttotheviceroy。
ThentheCaptainDiazbadehimbegonetohellifhewishedandreporttothedevil，sayingthathehadalwaysbelievedthathehadescapedthencebymistake，andtheypartedinwrathwho，sincethedayofnochetriste，neverlovedeachothermuch；
theendofitbeingthatSarcedaridesforMexicowithinanhour，tomakewhatmischiefhecanattheviceroy’scourt，andIthinkthatyouarewellridofhim。’
’Father，’saidmysontome，’whoisthatSpaniardwholookssocruellyuponus？’
’ThatisheofwhomIhavetoldyou，son，deGarcia，whohasbeenthecurseofourracefortwogenerations，whobetrayedyourgrandfathertotheHolyOffice，andmurderedyourgrandmother，whoputmetotorture，andwhoseilldeedsarenotdonewithyet。
Bewareofhim，son，nowandever，Ibeseechyou。’
Nowwewerecometothepalace，almosttheonlyhousethatwasleftstandingintheCityofPines。
Hereanapartmentwasgiventousattheendofthelongbuilding，andpresentlyacommandwasbroughttousthatIandmywifeshouldwaitupontheSpanishcaptainDiaz。
Sowewent，thoughOtomiedesiredtostaybehind，leavingoursonaloneinthechamberwherefoodhadbeenbroughttohim。
I
rememberthatIkissedhimbeforeIleft，thoughIdonotknowwhatmovedmetodoso，unlessitwasbecauseIthoughtthathemightbeasleepwhenIreturned。
TheCaptainDiazhadhisquartersattheotherendofthepalace，sometwohundredpacesaway。
Presentlywestoodbeforehim。
Hewasarough-looking，thick-setmanwelloninyears，withbrighteyesandanuglyhonestface，likethefaceofapeasantwhohastoiledalifetimeinallweathers，onlythefieldsthatDiaztilledwerefieldsofwar，andhisharvesthadbeenthelivesofmen。
Justthenhewasjokingwithsomecommonsoldiersinastrainscarcelysuitedtoniceears，butsosoonashesawusheceasedandcameforward。
IsalutedhimaftertheIndianfashionbytouchingtheearthwithmyhand，forwhatwasIbutanIndiancaptive？
’Yoursword，’hesaidbriefly，ashescannedmewithhisquickeyes。
Iunbuckleditfrommysideandhandedittohim，sayinginSpanish:
’Takeit，Captain，foryouhaveconquered，alsoitdoesbutcomebacktoitsowner。’
ForthiswasthesameswordthatIhadcapturedfromoneBernalDiazinthefrayofthenochetriste。
Helookedatit，thensworeagreatoathandsaid:
’Ithoughtthatitcouldbenootherman。
Andsowemeetagainthusaftersomanyyears。
Well，yougavememylifeonce，andIamgladthatIhavelivedtopaythedebt。
HadInotbeensurethatitwasyou，youhadnotwonsucheasyterms，friend。
Howareyounamed？
Nay，IknowwhattheIndianscallyou。’
’IamnamedWingfield。’
’FriendWingfieldthen。
ForItellyouthatIwouldhavesatbeneathyonderdevil’shouse，’andhenoddedtowardstheteocalli，’tillyoustarveduponitstop。
Nay，friendWingfield，takebackthesword。
Isuitedmyselfwithanothermanyyearsago，andyouhaveusedthisonegallantly；neverhaveIseenIndiansmakeabetterfight。
AndsothatisOtomie，Montezuma’sdaughterandyourwife，stillhandsomeandroyal，Isee。
Lord！
Lord！itismanyyearsago，andyetitseemsbutyesterdaythatIsawherfatherdie，aChristian-heartedman，thoughnoChristian，andonewhomwedealtillwith。
MayGodforgiveusall！
Well，Madam，nonecansaythatYOUhaveaChristianheart。
IfacertaintalethatIhaveheardofwhatpassedyonder，somethreenightssince，istrue。
Butwewillspeaknomoreofit，forthesavagebloodwillshow，andyouarepardonedforyourhusband’ssakewhosavedmycomradesfromthesacrifice。’
ToallthisOtomielistened，standingstilllikeastatue，butsheneveransweredaword。
Indeedshehadspokenveryrarelysincethatdreadfulnightofherunspeakableshame。
’Andnow，friendWingfield，’wentontheCaptainDiaz，’whatisyourpurpose？
Youarefreetogowhereyouwill，whitherthenwillyougo？’
’Idonotknow，’Ianswered。
’Yearsago，whentheAztecemperorgavememylifeandthisprincessmywifeinmarriage，Isworetobefaithfultohimandhiscause，andtofightforthemtillPopoceasedtovomitsmoke，tilltherewasnokinginTenoctitlan，andthepeopleofAnahuacwerenomoreapeople。’
’Thenyouarequitofyouroath，friend，forallthesethingshavecomeabout，andtherehasbeennosmokeonPopoforthesetwoyears。
Now，ifyouwillbeadvisedbyme，youwillturnChristianagainandentertheserviceofSpain。
Butcome，letustosupper，wecantalkofthesemattersafterwards。’
SowesatdowntoeatbythelightoftorchesinthebanquetinghallwithBernalDiazandsomeotheroftheSpaniards。
Otomiewouldhaveleftus，andthoughthecaptainbadeherstaysheatenothing，andpresentlyslippedawayfromthechamber。
