NowIwillclamberthroughthewindow，andyoumustfollowmeifyoucan，ifnotIwillreturntoyouandwewillendthismasquerade。’
Thenshepassedthroughtheholeswiftly，forOtomiewasagileandstrongasanocelot，andmountingthestoolImadeshifttofollowheraswellasmyhurtswouldallow。
IntheendIwasabletothrowmyselfuponthesillofthewindow，andthereIwasstretchedoutlikeadeadcattillshedrewmeacrossit，andIfellwithhertothegroundonthefurtherside，andlaygroaning。
Sheliftedmetomyfeet，orrathertomyfoot，forIcouldusebutoneofthem，andwestaredroundus。
Noonewastobeseen，andthesoundofrevelryhaddiedaway，forthecrestofPopowasalreadyredwiththesunlightandthedawngrewinthevalley。
’Whereto？’Isaid。
NowOtomiehadbeenallowedtowalkinthecampwithhersister，thewifeofGuatemoc，andotherAztecladies，andshehadthisgiftincommonwithmostIndians，thatwhereshehadoncepassedthereshecouldpassagain，eveninthedarkestnight。
’Tothesouthgate，’shewhispered；’perhapsitisunguardednowthatthewarisdone，attheleastIknowtheroadthither。’
Sowestarted，Ileaningonhershoulderandhoppingonmyrightfoot，andthusverypainfullywetraversedsomethreehundredyardsmeetingnobody。
Butnowourgoodluckfailedus，forpassingroundthecornerofsomebuildings，wecamefacetofacewiththreesoldiersreturningtotheirhutsfromamidnightrevel，andwiththemsomenativeservants。
’Whomhavewehere？’saidthefirstofthese。
’Yourname，comrade？’
’Good-night，brother，good-night，’IansweredinSpanish，speakingwiththethickvoiceofdrunkenness。
’Goodmorning，youmean，’hesaid，forthedawnwasbreaking。
’Yourname。
Idon’tknowyourface，thoughitseemsthatyouhavebeeninthewars，’andhelaughed。
’Youmustn’taskacomradehisname，’Isaidsolemnlyandswingingtoandfro。
’Thecaptainmightsendformeandhe’satemperateman。
Yourarm，girl；itistimetogotosleep，thesunsets。’
Theylaughed，butoneofthemaddressedOtomie，saying:
’Leavethesot，mypretty，andcomeandwalkwithus，’andhecaughtherbythearm。
Butsheturnedonhimwithsofiercealookthathelethergoagainastonished，andwestaggeredontillthecornerofanotherhousehidusfromtheirview。
HereIsanktothegroundovercomewithpain，forwhilethesoldierswereinsight，I
wasobligedtousemywoundedfootlesttheyshouldsuspect。
ButOtomiepulledmeup，saying:
’Alas！beloved，wemustpassonorperish。’
Irosegroaning，andbywhateffortsIreachedthesouthgateI
cannotdescribe，thoughIthoughtthatImustdiebeforeIcamethere。
Atlastitwasbeforeus，andaschancewouldhaveit，theSpanishguardwereasleepintheguardhouse。
ThreeTlascalansonlywerecrouchedoveralittlefire，theirzerapesorblanketsabouttheirheads，forthedawnwaschilly。
’Openthegates，dogs！’Isaidinaproudvoice。
SeeingaSpanishsoldieroneofthemrosetoobey，thenpausedandsaid:
’Why，andbywhoseorders？’
Icouldnotseetheman’sfacebecauseoftheblanket，buthisvoicesoundedfamiliartomeandIgrewafraid。
StillImustspeak。
’Why？——becauseIamdrunkandwishtoliewithouttillIgrowsober。
Bywhoseorders？
Bymine，Iamanofficeroftheday，andifyoudisobeyI’llhaveyoufloggedtillyouneveraskanotherquestion。’
’ShallIcalltheTeuleswithin？’saidthemansulkilytohiscompanion。
’No，’heanswered；’thelordSarcedaiswearyandgaveordersthatheshouldnotbeawakenedwithoutgoodcause。
Keeptheminorletthemthroughasyouwill，butdonotwakehim。’
Itrembledineverylimb；deGarciawasintheguardhouse！
Whatifheawoke，whatifhecameoutandsawme？
More——nowIguessedwhosevoiceitwasthatIknewagain；itwasthatofoneofthoseTlascalanswhohadaidedintormentingme。
Whatifheshouldseemyface？
Hecouldscarcelyfailtoknowthatonwhichhehadlefthismarksorecently。
Iwasdumbwithfearandcouldsaynothing，andhaditnotbeenforthewitofOtomie，theremystorywouldhaveended。
Butnowsheplayedherpartandplayeditwell，plyingthemanwiththecoarserailleryofthecamp，tillatlengthsheputhiminagoodhumour，andheopenedthegate，biddingherbegoneandmewithher。
Alreadywehadpassedthegatewhenasuddenfaintnessseizedme，andIstumbledandfell，rollingoverontomybackasItouchedtheearth。
’Up，friend，up！’saidOtomie，withaharshlaugh。
’Ifyoumustsleep，waittillyoufindsomefriendlybush，’andshedraggedatmetoliftme。
TheTlascalan，stilllaughing，cameforwardtohelpher，andbetweenthemIgainedmyfeetagain，butasIrose，mycap，whichfittedmebutill，felloff。
Hepickeditupandgaveittomeandoureyesmet，myfacebeingsomewhatintheshadow。
NextinstantIwashobblingon，butlookingback，IsawtheTlascalanstaringafteruswithapuzzledair，likethatofamanwhoisnotsureofthewitnessofhissenses。
’Heknowsme，’IsaidtoOtomie，’andpresentlywhenhehasfoundhiswits，hewillfollowus。’
’On，on！’answeredOtomie；’roundyondercornerarealoebusheswherewemayhide。’
’Iamspent，Icannomore；’andagainIbegantofall。
ThenOtomiecaughtmeasIfell，andofasuddensheputoutherstrength，andliftingmefromtheground，asamotherliftsherchild，staggeredforwardholdingmetoherbreast。
Forfiftypacesormoreshecarriedmethus，loveanddespairgivingherstrength，tillatlastwereachedtheedgeofthealoeplantsandtherewesanktogethertotheearth。
Icastmyeyesbackoverthepathwhichwehadtravelled。
RoundthecornercametheTlascalan，aspikedclubinhishand，seekingustosolvehisdoubts。
’Itisfinished，’Igasped；’themancomes。’
ForanswerOtomiedrewmyswordfromitsscabbardandhiditinthegrass。
’Nowfeignsleep，’shesaid；’itisourlastchance。’
Icastmyarmovermyfaceandpretendedtobeasleep。
PresentlyI
heardthesoundofamanpassingthroughthebushes，andtheTlascalanstoodoverme。
’Whatwouldyou？’askedOtomie。
’Canyounotseethathesleeps？
Lethimsleep。’
’Imustlookonhisfacefirst，woman，’heanswered，draggingasidemyarm。
’Bythegods，Ithoughtso！
ThisisthatTeulewhomwedealtwithyesterdayandwhoescapes。’
’Youaremad，’shesaidlaughing。
’Hehasescapedfromnowhere，savefromabrawlandadrinkingbout。’
’Youlie，woman，orifyoudonotlie，youknownothing。
ThismanhasthesecretofMontezuma’streasure，andisworthaking’sransom，’andheliftedhisclub。
’Andyetyouwishtoslayhim！
Well，Iknownothingofhim。
Takehimbackwhencehecame。
HeisbutadrunkensotandIshallbewellridofhim。’
’Wellsaid。
Itwouldbefoolishtokillhim，butbybearinghimalivetothelordSarceda，Ishallwinhonourandreward。
Come，helpme。’
’Helpyourself，’sheansweredsullenly。
’Butfirstsearchhispouch；theremaybesometrifletherewhichwecandivide。’
’Wellsaid，again，’heanswered，andkneelingdownhebentovermeandbegantofumbleatthefasteningsofthepouch。
Otomiewasbehindhim。
Isawherfacechangeandaterriblelightcameintohereyes，suchalightasshinesintheeyesofthepriestatsacrifice。
Quickasthoughtshedrewtheswordfromthegrassandsmotewithallherstrengthupontheman’sbentneck。
Downhefell，makingnosound，andshealsofellbesidehim。
Inamomentshewasonherfeetagain，staringathimwildly——thenakedswordinherhand。
’Up，’shesaid，’beforeotherscometoseekhim。
Nay，youmust。’
Now，againwewerestrugglingforwardthroughthebushes，mymindfilledwithagreatwonderthatgrewslowlytoawhirlingnothingness。
ForawhileitseemedtomeasthoughIwerelostinanevildreamandwalkingonredhotironsinmydream。
Thencameavisionofarmedmenwithliftedspears，andofOtomierunningtowardsthemwithoutstretchedarms。
Iknewnomore。
WhenIawokeitwastofindmyselfinacave，wherethelightshoneverydimly。
Otomieleantoverme，andnotfarawayamanwascookingapotoverafiremadeofdryaloeleaves。
’WhereamIandwhathashappened？’Iasked。
’Youaresafe，beloved，’sheanswered，’atleastforawhile。
WhenyouhaveeatenIwilltellyoumore。’
ShebroughtmebrothandfoodandIateeagerly，andwhenIwassatisfiedshespoke。
’YourememberhowtheTlascalanfollowedusandhow——Iwasridofhim？’
’Iremember，Otomie，thoughhowyoufoundstrengthtokillhimIdonotunderstand。’
’Loveanddespairgaveittome，andIpraythatImayneverhavesuchanotherneed。
Donotspeakofit，husband，forthisismorehorribletomethanallthathasbeenbefore。
Onethingcomfortsme，however；Ididnotkillhim，theswordtwistedinmyhandandI
believethathewasbutstunned。
Thenwefledalittleway，andlookingbackIsawthattwootherTlascalans，companionsofthesenselessman，werefollowingusandhim。
Presently，theycameuptowherehelayandstaredathim。
Thentheystartedonourtracks，runninghard，andverysoontheymusthavecaughtus，fornowyoucouldscarcelystir，yourmindwasgone，andIhadnomorestrengthtocarryyou。
Stillwestumbledontillpresently，whenthepursuerswerewithinfiftypacesofus，Isawarmedmen，eightofthem，rushingatusfromthebushes。
Theywereofmyownpeople，theOtomies，soldiersthathadservedunderyou，whowatchedtheSpanishcamp，andseeingaSpaniardalonetheycametoslayhim。
Theyverynearlydidsoindeed，foratfirstIwassobreathlessthatIcouldscarcelyspeak，butatlastinfewwordsI
madeshifttodeclaremynameandrank，andyoursadplight。
BynowthetwoTlascalanswereuponus，andIcalledtothemenoftheOtomietoprotectus，andfallingontheTlascalansbeforetheyknewthatenemieswerethere，theykilledoneofthemandtooktheotherprisoner。
Thentheymadealitter，andplacingyouonit，boreyouwithoutresttwentyleaguesintothemountains，tilltheyreachedthissecrethidingplace，andhereyouhavelainthreedaysandnights。
TheTeuleshavesearchedforyoufarandwide，buttheyhavesearchedinvain。
OnlyyesterdaytwoofthemwithtenTlascalans，passedwithinahundredpacesofthiscaveandIhadmuchadotopreventourpeoplefromattackingthem。
Nowtheyaregonewhencetheycame，andIthinkthatwearesafeforatime。
Soonyouwillbebetterandwecangohence。’
’Wherecanwegoto，Otomie？
Wearebirdswithoutanest。’