Itvanished，butwhereithadbeenanotherlightnowburned，forthetempleofQuetzalwasafire。
NowcriesoffearandlamentationarosefromallwhobeheldthesewondersonthehillofChapoltepecandalsofromthecitybelow。
EvenIwasfrightened，Idonotknowwhy，foritmaywellbethattheblazeoflightwhichwesawonthatandafternightswasnothingbutthebrightnessofacomet，andthatthefireinthetemplewascausedbyathunderbolt。
Buttothesepeople，andmoreespeciallytoMontezuma，whosemindwasfilledalreadywithrumoursofthecomingofastrangewhiterace，which，asitwastrulyprophesied，wouldbringhisempiretonothingness，theomensseemedveryevil。
Indeed，iftheyhadanydoubtastotheirmeaning，itwassoontobedispelled，intheirmindsatleast。
Foraswestoodwonder-struck，amessenger，pantingandsoiledwithtravel，arrivedamongusandprostratinghimselfbeforethemajestyoftheemperor，hedrewapaintedscrollfromhisrobeandhandedittoanattendantnoble。
SodesirouswasMontezumatoknowitscontents，thatcontrarytoallcustomhesnatchedtherollfromthehandsofthecounsellor，andunrollingit，hebegantoreadthepicturewritingbythebalefullightoftheblazingskyandtemple。
Presently，aswewatchedandheread，Montezumagroanedaloud，andcastingdownthewritinghecoveredhisfacewithhishands。
AsitchanceditfellneartowhereIstood，andIsawpaintedoveritrudepicturesofshipsoftheSpanishrig，andofmenintheSpanisharmour。
ThenIunderstoodwhyMontezumagroaned。
TheSpaniardshadlandedonhisshores！
Nowsomeofhiscounsellorsapproachedhimtoconsolehim，buthethrustthemaside，saying:
’Letmemourn——thedoomthatwasforetoldisfallenuponthechildrenofAnahuac。
ThechildrenofQuetzalmusteronourshoresandslaymypeople。
Letmemourn，Isay。’
Atthatmomentanothermessengercamefromthepalace，havinggriefwrittenonhisface。
’Speak，’saidMontezuma。
’Oking，forgivethetonguethatmusttellsuchtidings。
YourroyalsisterPapantzinwasseizedwithterroratyonderdreadfulsight，’andhepointedtotheheavens；’sheliesdyinginthepalace！’
Nowwhentheemperorheardthathissisterwhomhelovedwasdying，hesaidnothing，butcoveringhisfacewithhisroyalmantle，hepassedslowlybacktothepalace。
Andallthewhilethecrimsonlightgleamedandsparkledintheeastlikesomemonstrousandunnaturaldawn，whilethetempleofQuetzalburnedfiercelyinthecitybeneath。
Now，IturnedtotheprincessOtomie，whohadstoodbymysidethroughout，overcomewithwonderandtrembling。
’DidInotsaythatthiscountrywasaccursed，princessoftheOtomie？’
’Yousaidit，Teule，’sheanswered，’anditisaccursed。’
Thenwewentintothepalace，andeveninthishouroffear，aftermecametheminstrelsasbefore。
OnthemorrowPapantzindied，andwasburiedwithgreatpompthatsameeveningintheburial-groundatChapoltepec，bythesideoftheemperor’sroyalancestors。
But，aswillbeseen，shewasnotcontentwiththeircompany。
Onthatdayalso，Ilearnedthattobeagodisnotallpleasure，sinceitwasexpectedofmethatImustmastervariousarts，andchieflythehorridartofmusic，towhichIneverhadanydesire。
Stillmyownwisheswerenotallowedtoweighinthematter，fortherecametometutors，agedmenwhomighthavefoundbetteremployment，toinstructmeintheuseofthelute，andonthisinstrumentImustlearntostrum。
Otherstherewerealso，whotaughtmeletters，poetry，andart，astheywereunderstoodamongtheAztecs，andallthisknowledgeIwasgladof。
StillIrememberedthewordsofthepreacherwhichtellusthathewhoincreasethknowledgeincreasethsorrow，andmoreoverI
couldseelittleuseinacquiringlearningthatwastobelostshortlyonthestoneofsacrifice。
AstothismatterofmysacrificeIwasatfirstdesperate。
ButreflectiontoldmethatIhadalreadypassedmanydangersandcomeoutunscathed，andthereforeitwaspossiblethatImightescapethisonealso。
Atleastdeathwasstillalongwayoff，andforthepresentIwasagod。
SoIdeterminedthatwhetherIdiedorlived，whileIlivedIwouldlivelikeagodandtakesuchpleasuresascametomyhand，andIactedonthisresolve。
Nomaneverhadgreaterormorestrangeopportunities，andnomancanhaveusedthembetter。
Indeed，haditnotbeenforthesorrowfulthoughtsofmylostloveandhomewhichwouldforcethemselvesuponme，Ishouldhavebeenalmosthappy，becauseofthepowerthatI
wieldedandthestrangenessofallaroundme。
ButImusttomytale。
DuringthedaysthatfollowedthedeathofPapantzinthepalaceandthecityalsowereplungedinferment。
Themindsofmenwereshakenstrangelybecauseoftherumoursthatfilledtheair。
Everynightthefieryportentblazedintheeast，everydayanewwonderoromenwasreported，andwithitsomewildtaleofthedoingsoftheSpaniards，whobymostwereheldtobewhitegods，thechildrenofQuetzal，comebacktotakethelandwhichtheirforefatherruled。
Butofallthatweretroubled，nonewereinsuchbadcaseastheemperorhimself，who，duringtheseweeksscarcelyateordrankorslept，soheavywerehisfearsuponhim。
Inthisstraithesentmessengerstohisancientrival，thatwiseandseveremanNeza，thekingofthealliedstateofTezcuco，beggingthathewouldvisithim。
Thiskingcame，anoldmanwithafierceandgleamingeye，andIwaswitnesstotheinterviewthatfollowed，forinmyqualityofgodIhadfulllibertyofthepalace，andeventobepresentatthecouncilsoftheemperorandhisnobles。
Whenthetwomonarchshadfeastedtogether，MontezumaspoketoNezaofthematteroftheomensandofthecomingoftheTeules，askinghimtolightenthedarknessbyhiswisdom。
ThenNezapulledhislonggreybeardandansweredthatheavyastheheartofMontezumamightbe，itmustgrowstillheavierbeforetheend。
’See，Lord，’hesaid，’Iamsosurethatthedaysofourempirearenumbered，thatIwillplayyouatdiceformykingdomswhichyouandyourforefathershaveeverdesiredtowin。’
’Forwhatwager？’askedMontezuma。
’Iwillplayyouthus，’answeredNeza。
’Youshallstakethreefightingcocks，ofwhich，shouldIwin，Iaskthespursonly。
I
setagainstthemallthewideempireofTezcuco。’
’Asmallstake，’saidMontezuma；’cocksaremanyandkingdomsfew。’
’Still，itshallserveourturn，’answeredtheagedking，’forknowthatweplayagainstfate。
Asthegamegoes，soshalltheissuebe。
Ifyouwinmykingdomsalliswell；ifIwinthecocks，thengood-byetothegloryofAnahuac，foritspeoplewillceasetobeapeople，andstrangersshallpossesstheland。’
’Letusplayandsee，’saidMontezuma，andtheywentdowntotheplacethatiscalledtlachco，wherethegamesareset。
HeretheybeganthematchwithdiceandatfirstallwentwellforMontezuma，sothathecalledaloudthatalreadyhewaslordofTezcuco。
’Mayitbeso！’answeredtheagedNeza，andfromthatmomentthechancechanged。
Forstriveashewould，Montezumacouldnotwinanotherpoint，andpresentlythesetwasfinished，andNezahadwonthecocks。
Nowthemusicplayed，andcourtierscameforwardtogivethekinghomageonhissuccess。
Butherosesighing，andsaid:
’Ihadfarsoonerlosemykingdomsthanhavewonthesefowls，forifIhadlostmykingdomstheywouldstillhavepassedintothehandsofoneofmyownrace。
Nowalas！mypossessionsandhismustcomeunderthehandofstrangers，whoshallcastdownourgodsandbringournamestonothing。’
Andhavingspokenthus，herose，andtakingfarewelloftheemperor，hedepartedforhisownland，where，asitchanced，hediedveryshortly，withoutlivingtoseethefulfilmentofhisfears。
OnthemorrowofhisdeparturecamefurtheraccountsofthedoingsoftheSpaniardsthatplungedMontezumaintostillgreateralarm。
Inhisterrorhesentforanastronomer，notedthroughoutthelandforthetruthofhisdivinations。
Theastronomercame，andwasreceivedbytheemperorprivately。
WhathetoldhimIdonotknow，butatleastitwasnothingpleasant，forthatverynightmenwerecommandedtopulldownthehouseofthissage，whowasburiedinitsruins。
Twodaysafterthedeathoftheastronomer，Montezumabethoughthimthat，ashebelieved，IalsowasaTeule，andcouldgivehiminformation。
Soatthehourofsunsethesentforme，biddingmewalkwithhiminthegardens。
Iwentthither，followedbymymusiciansandattendants，whowouldneverleavemeinpeace，buthecommandedthatallshouldstandaside，ashewishedtospeakwithmealone。
Thenhebegantowalkbeneaththemightycedartrees，andIwithhim，butkeepingonepacebehind。
’Teule，’hesaidatlength，’tellmeofyourcountrymen，andwhytheyhavecometotheseshores。
Seethatyouspeaktruth。’
’Theyarenocountrymenofmine，OMontezuma，’Ianswered，’thoughmymotherwasoneofthem。’
’DidInotbidyouspeakthetruth，Teule？
Ifyourmotherwasoneofthem，mustyounotalsobeofthem；forareyounotofyourmother’sboneandblood？’
’Asthekingpleases，’Iansweredbowing。
ThenIbeganandtoldhimoftheSpaniards——oftheircountry，theirgreatness，theircrueltyandtheirgreedofgold，andhelistenedeagerly，thoughI
thinkthathebelievedlittleofwhatIsaid，forhisfearhadmadehimverysuspicious。
WhenIhaddone，hespokeandsaid:
’WhydotheycomeheretoAnahuac？’
’Ifear，Oking，thattheycometotaketheland，orattheleasttorobitofallitstreasure，andtodestroyitsfaiths。’
’Whatthenisyourcounsel，Teule？
HowcanIdefendmyselfagainstthesemightymen，whoareclothedinmetal，andrideuponfiercewildbeasts，whohaveinstrumentsthatmakeanoiselikethunder，atthesoundofwhichtheiradversariesfalldeadbyhundreds，andwhobearweaponsofshiningsilverintheirhands？
Alas！thereisnodefencepossible，fortheyarethechildrenofQuetzalcomebacktotaketheland。
FrommychildhoodIhaveknownthatthisevilovershadowedme，andnowitisatmydoor。’
’IfI，whoamonlyagod，mayventuretospeaktothelordoftheearth，’Ianswered，’Isaythatthereplyiseasy。
Meetforcebyforce。
TheTeulesarefewandyoucanmusterathousandsoldiersforeveryoneoftheirs。
Fallonthematonce，donothesitatetilltheirprowessfindsthemfriends，butcrushthem。’
’SuchisthecounselofonewhosemotherwasaTeule；’theemperoranswered，withsarcasmandbittermeaning。
’Tellmenow，counsellor，howamItoknowthatinfightingagainstthemIshallnotbefightingagainstthegods；howevenamItolearnthetruewishesandpurposesofmenorgodswhocannotspeakmytongueandwhosetongueIcannotspeak？’
’Itiseasy，OMontezuma，’Ianswered。
’Icanspeaktheirtongue；
sendmetodiscoverforyou。’