IsawsomeSpaniardsalso，butthemostoftheseweresodrunkwithmescal，andwithjoyatthetidingsthatTenoctitlanhadfallen，andtheirlabourswereendedatlast，thattheytooknoheedofme。
NeverdidIseesuchmadnessaspossessedthem，forthesepoorfoolsbelievedthathenceforththeyshouldeattheirverybreadoffplatesofgold。
ItwasforgoldthattheyhadfollowedCortes；forgoldtheyhadbravedthealtarofsacrificeandfoughtinahundredfights，andnow，astheythought，theyhadwonit。
Theroomofthestonehousewheretheyprisonedmehadawindowsecuredbybarsofwood，andthroughthesebarsIcouldseeandheartherevellingsofthesoldiersduringthetimeofmyconfinement。
Alldaylong，whentheywerenotonduty，andmostofthenightalso，theygambledanddrank，stakingtensofpesosonasinglethrow，whichthelosermustpayoutofhisshareofthecountlesstreasuresoftheAztecs。
Littledidtheycareiftheywonorlost，theyweresosureofplunder，butplayedontilldrinkoverpoweredthem，andtheyrolledsenselessbeneaththetables，ortilltheysprangupanddancedwildlytoandfro，catchingatthesunbeamsandscreaming’Gold！gold！gold！’
ListeningatthiswindowalsoIgatheredsomeofthetidingsofthecamp。
IlearnedthatCorteshadcomeback，bringingGuatemocandseveraloftheprinceswithhim，togetherwithmanyofthenobleAztecladies。
IndeedIsawandheardthesoldiersgamblingforthesewomenwhentheywerewearyoftheirplayformoney，adescriptionofeachofthembeingwrittenonapieceofpaper。
OneoftheseladiesansweredwelltoOtomie，mywife，andshewasputuptoauctionbythebrutewhowonherinthegamble，andsoldtoacommonsoldierforahundredpesos。
Forthesemenneverdoubtedbutthatthewomenandthegoldwouldbehandedovertothem。
Thusthingswentforseveraldays，duringwhichIsatandsleptinmyprisonuntroubledbyany，exceptthenativewomanwhowaitedonmeandbroughtmefoodinplenty。
DuringthosedaysIateasI
havenevereatenbeforeorsince，andIsleptmuch，formysorrowscouldnotridmybodyofitsappetitesandcommandingneedforfoodandrest。
IndeedIverilybelievethatattheendofaweek，Ihadincreasedinweightbyafullhalf；alsomywearinesswasconqueredatlength，andIwasstrongagain。
ButwhenIwasneithersleepingnoreatingIwatchedatmywindow，hoping，thoughinvain，tocatchsomesightofOtomieorofGuatemoc。
IfImightnotseemyfriends，however，atleastIsawmyfoe，foroneeveningdeGarciacameandstaredatmyprison。
Hecouldnotseeme，butIsawhim，andthedevilishsmilethatflickeredonhisfaceashewentawaylikeawolf，mademeshiverwithapresageofwoestocome。
Fortenminutesormorehestoodgazingatmywindowhungrily，asacatgazesatacagedbird，andI
feltthathewaswaitingforthedoortobeopened，andKNEWthatitwouldsoonbeopened。
ThishappenedontheeveofthedayuponwhichIwasputtotorture。
Meanwhile，astimewenton，Inoticedthatachangecameoverthetemperofthecamp。
Thesoldiersceasedtogambleforuntoldwealth，theyevenceasedfromdrinkingtoexcessandfromtheirriotousjoy，buttooktohangingtogetherinknotsdiscussingfiercelyIcouldnotlearnofwhat。
OnthedaywhendeGarciacametolookatmyprisontherewasagreatgatheringinthesquareoppositemyprison，towhichIsawCortesrideuponawhitehorseandrichlydressed。
Themeetingwastoofarawayformetooverhearwhatpassed，butInotedthatseveralofficersaddressedCortesangrily，andthattheirspeecheswereloudlycheeredbythesoldiers。
Atlengththegreatcaptainansweredthematsomelength，andtheybrokeupinsilence。
NextmorningafterIhadbreakfasted，foursoldierscameintomyprisonandorderedmetoaccompanythem。
’Whither？’Iasked。
’Tothecaptain，traitor，’theirleaderanswered。
’Ithascomeatlast，’Ithoughttomyself，butIsaidonly:
’Itiswell。
Anychangefromthisholeisoneforthebetter。’
’Certainly，’hereplied；’anditisyourlastshift。’
ThenIknewthatthemanbelievedthatIwasgoingtomydeath。
InfiveminutesIwasstandingbeforeCortesinhisprivatehouse。
AthissidewasMarinaandaroundhimwereseveralofhiscompanionsinarms。
Thegreatmanlookedatmeforawhile，thenspoke。
’YournameisWingfield；youareofmixedblood，halfEnglishandhalfSpanish。
YouwerecastawayintheTobascoRiverandtakentoTenoctitlan。
ThereyouweredoomedtopersonatetheAztecgodTezcat，andwererescuedbyuswhenwecapturedthegreatteocalli。
SubsequentlyyoujoinedtheAztecsandtookpartintheattackandslaughterofthenochetriste。
YouwereafterwardsthefriendandcounsellorofGuatemoc，andassistedhiminhisdefenceofTenoctitlan。
Isthistrue，prisoner？’
’Itisalltrue，general，’Ianswered。
’Good。
Youarenowourprisoner，andhadyouathousandlives，youhaveforfeitedthemallbecauseofyourtreacherytoyourraceandblood。
IntothecircumstancesthatledyoutocommitthishorribletreasonIcannotenter；thefactremains。
YouhaveslainmanyoftheSpaniardsandtheirallies；thatis，beinginastateoftreasonyouhavemurderedthem。
Wingfield，yourlifeisforfeitandIcondemnyoutodiebyhangingasatraitorandanapostate。’
’Thenthereisnothingmoretobesaid，’Iansweredquietly，thoughacoldfearfrozemyblood。
’Thereissomething，’answeredCortes。
’Thoughyourcrimeshavebeensomany，Iamreadytogiveyouyourlifeandfreedomuponacondition。
Iamreadytodomore，tofindyouapassagetoEuropeonthefirstoccasion，whereyoumayperchanceescapetheechoesofyourinfamyifGodisgoodtoyou。
Theconditionisthis。
WehavereasontobelievethatyouareacquaintedwiththehidingplaceofthegoldofMontezuma，whichwasunlawfullystolenfromusonthenightofthenochetriste。
Nay，weknowthatthisisso，foryouwereseentogowiththecanoesthatwereladenwithit。
Choosenow，apostate，betweenashamefuldeathandtherevealingtousofthesecretofthistreasure。’
ForamomentIwavered。
Ontheonehandwasthelossofhonourwithlifeandlibertyandthehopeofhome，ontheotheradreadfulend。
ThenIrememberedmyoathandOtomie，andwhatshewouldthinkofmelivingordead，ifIdidthisthing，andIwaverednomore。
’Iknownothingofthetreasure，general，’Iansweredcoldly。
’Sendmetomydeath。’
’Youmeanthatyouwillsaynothingofit，traitor。
Thinkagain。
IfyouhaveswornanyoathstheyarebrokenbyGod。
TheempireoftheAztecsisatanend，theirkingismyprisoner，theirgreatcityisaruin。
ThetrueGodhastriumphedoverthesedevilsbymyhand。
Theirwealthismylawfulspoil，andImusthaveittopaymygallantcomradeswhocannotgrowrichondesolation。
Thinkagain。’
’Iknownothingofthistreasure，general。’
’Yetmemorysometimeswakens，traitor。
Ihavesaidthatyoushalldieifyoursshouldfailyou，andsoyoushalltobesure。
Butdeathisnotalwaysswift。
Therearemeans，doubtlessyouwhohavelivedinSpainhaveheardofthem，’andhearchedhisbrowsandglaredatmemeaningly，’bywhichamanmaydieandyetliveformanyweeks。
Now，lothasIamtodoit，itseemsthatifyourmemorystillsleeps，Imustfindsomesuchmeanstorouseit——
beforeyoudie。’
’Iaminyourpower，general，’Ianswered。
’Youcallmetraitoragainandagain。
Iamnotraitor。
IamasubjectoftheKingofEngland，notoftheKingofSpain。
Icamehitherfollowingavillainwhohaswroughtmeandminebitterwrong，oneofyourcompanynameddeGarciaorSarceda。
TofindhimandforotherreasonsIjoinedtheAztecs。
TheyareconqueredandIamyourprisoner。
Attheleastdealwithmeasabravemandealswithafallenenemy。
Iknownothingofthetreasure；killmeandmakeanend。’
’AsamanImightwishtodothis，Wingfield，butIammorethanaman，IamthehandoftheChurchhereinAnahuac。
Youhavepartakenwiththeworshippersofidols，youhaveseenyourfellowChristianssacrificedanddevouredbyyourbrutecomrades。
Forthisaloneyoudeservetobetorturedeternally，anddoubtlessthatwillbesoafterwehavedonewithyou。
AsforthehidalgoDonSarceda，Iknowhimonlyasabravecompanioninarms，andcertainlyIshallnotlistentotalestoldagainsthimbyawanderingapostate。
Itis，however，unluckyforyou，’andhereagleamoflightshotacrossthefaceofCortes，’thatthereshouldbeanyoldfeudbetweenyou，seeingthatitistohischargethatI
amabouttoconfideyou。
NowforthelasttimeIsaychoose。
Willyourevealthehidingplaceofthetreasureandgofree，orwillyoubehandedovertothecareofDonSarcedatillsuchtimeasheshallfindmeanstomakeyouspeak？’
Nowagreatfaintnessseizedme，forIknewthatIwascondemnedtobetortured，andthatdeGarciawastobethetorturer。
WhatmercyhadItoexpectfromhiscruelheartwhenI，hisdeadliestfoe，layinhispowertowreakhisvengeanceon？
Butstillmywillandmyhonourprevailedagainstmyterrors，andIanswered:
’Ihavetoldyou，general，thatIknownothingofthistreasure。
Doyourworst，andmayGodforgiveyouforyourcruelty。’
’DarenottospeakthatholyName，apostateandworshipperofidols，eaterofhumanflesh。
LetSarcedabesummoned。’
Amessengerwentout，andforawhiletherewassilence。
IcaughtMarina’sglanceandsawpityinhergentleeyes。
Butshecouldnothelpmehere，forCorteswasmadbecausenogoldhadbeenfound，andtheclamourofthesoldiersforrewardhadwornhimoutandbroughthimtothisshamefulremedy，hewhowasnotcruelbynature。
Stillshestrovetopleadformewithhim，whisperingearnestlyinhisear。
ForawhileCorteslistened，thenhepushedherfromhimroughly。
’Peace，Marina，’hesaid。
’What，shallIsparethisEnglishdogsomepangs，whenmycommand，andperchancemyverylife，hangsuponthefindingofthegold？
Nay，heknowswellwhereitlieshid；yousaidityourselfwhenIwouldhavehunghimforatraitor，andcertainlyhewasoneofthosewhomthespysawgooutwithituponthelake。
Ourfriendwaswiththemalso，buthecamebacknomore；
doubtlesstheymurderedhim。
Whatisthismantoyouthatyoushouldpleadforhim？
Ceasetotroubleme，Marina，amInottroubledenoughalready？’andCortesputhishandstohisfaceandremainedlostinthought。
AsforMarina，shelookedatmesadlyandsighedasthoughtosay，’Ihavedonemybest，’andIthankedherwithmyeyes。
PresentlytherewasasoundoffootstepsandIlookeduptoseedeGarciastandingbeforeme。
Timeandhardshiphadtouchedhimlightly，andthelinesofsilverinhiscurlinghairandpeakedbearddidbutadddignitytohisnoblepresence。
Indeed，whenI