Thiswasmyshareinthevictoryofthenochetriste。
Alas！itwasabarrentriumph，thoughmorethanfivehundredoftheSpaniardswereslainandthousandsoftheirallies。
FortherewasnowarlikeskillordisciplineamongtheAztecs，andinsteadoffollowingtheSpaniardstillnotoneofthemremainedalive，theystayedtoplunderthedeadanddragawaythelivingtosacrifice。
AlsothisdayofrevengewasasadonetoOtomie，seeingthattwoofherbrothers，Montezuma’ssonswhomtheSpaniardsheldinhostage，perishedwiththeminthefray。
AsfordeGarciaIcouldnotlearnwhathadbecomeofhim，norwhetherhewasdeadorliving。
CuitlahuawascrownedEmperoroftheAztecsinsuccessiontohisbrotherMontezuma，whileIlaysickwiththewoundgivenmebytheswordofdeGarcia，andalsowiththatwhichIhadreceivedonthealtarofsacrifice。
Thishurthadfoundnotimetoheal，andinthefiercefightingontheNightofFearitburstopenandbledmuch。
Indeeditgavemetroubleforyears，andtothishourIfeelitintheautumnseason。
Otomie，whonursedmetenderly，andsostrangeistheheartofwoman，evenseemedtobeconsoledinhersorrowatthelossofherfatherandnearestkin，becauseIhadescapedtheslaughterandwonfame，toldmeoftheceremonyofthecrowning，whichwassplendidenough。
IndeedtheAztecswerealmostmadwithrejoicingbecausetheTeuleshadgoneatlast。
Theyforgot，orseemedtoforget，thelossofthousandsoftheirbravestwarriorsandofthefloweroftheirrank，andasyet，atanyrate，theydidnotlookforwardtothefuture。
Fromhousetohouseandstreettostreetrantroopsofyoungmenandmaidensgarlandedwithflowers，crying，’TheTeulesaregone，rejoicewithus；theTeulesarefled！’andwoetothemwhowerenotmerry，ay，eventhoughtheirhousesweredesolatewithdeath。
Alsothestatuesofthegodsweresetupagainonthegreatpyramidandtheirtemplesrebuilt，theholycrucifixthattheSpaniardshadplacedtherebeingservedastheidolsHuitzelandTezcathadbeenserved，andtumbleddownthesidesoftheteocalli，andthataftersacrificeofsomeSpanishprisonershadbeenofferedinitspresence。
ItwasGuatemochimselfwhotoldmeofthissacrilege，butnotwithanyexultation，forIhadtaughthimsomethingofourfaith，andthoughhewastoosturdyaheathentochangehiscreed，insecrethebelievedthattheGodoftheChristianswasatrueandmightyGod。
Moreover，thoughhewasobligedtocountenancethem，becauseofthepowerofthepriests，likeOtomie，Guatemocneverlovedthehorridritesofhumansacrifice。
NowwhenIheardthistalemyangerovercamemyreason，andIspokefiercely，saying:
’Iamsworntoyourcause，Guatemoc，mybrother，andIammarriedtoyourblood，butItellyouthatfromthishouritisanaccursedcause；becauseofyourbloodstainedidolsandyourpriests，itisaccursed。
ThatGodwhomyouhavedesecrated，andthosewhoserveHimshallcomebackinpower，andHeshallsitwhereyouridolssatandnoneshallstirHimforever。’
ThusIspoke，andmywordsweretrue，thoughIdonotknowwhatputthemintomyheart，sinceIspokeatrandominmywrath。
Forto-
dayChrist’sChurchstandsuponthesiteoftheplaceofsacrificeinMexico，asignandatokenofHistriumphoverdevils，andthereitshallstandwhiletheworldendures。
’Youspeakrashly，mybrother，’Guatemocanswered，proudlyenough，thoughIsawhimquailattheevilomenofmywords。
’Isayyouspeakrashly，andwereyouoverheardtherearethose，notwithstandingtherankwehavegivenyou，thehonourwhichyouhavewoninwarandcouncil，andthatyouhavepassedthestoneofsacrifice，whomightforceyoutolookagainuponthefacesofthebeingsyoublaspheme。
WhatworsethinghasbeendonetoyourChristianGodthanhasbeendoneagainandagaintoourgodsbyyourwhitekindred？
Butletustalknomoreofthismatter，andI
prayyou，mybrother，donotuttersuchill-omenedwordstomeagain，lestitshouldstrainourlove。
DoyouthenbelievethattheTeuleswillreturn？’
’Ay，Guatemoc，sosurelyasto-morrow’ssunshallrise。
WhenyouheldCortesinyourhandyoulethimgo，andsincethenhehaswonavictoryatOtompan。
Isheaman，thinkyou，tosheathetheswordthathehasoncedrawn，andgodownintodarknessanddishonour？
BeforeayearispasttheSpaniardswillbebackatthegatesofTenoctitlan。’
’Youarenocomforterto-night，mybrother，’saidGuatemoc，’andyetIfearthatyourwordsaretrue。
Well，ifwemustfight，letusstrivetowin。
Now，atleast，thereisnoMontezumatotakethevipertohisbreastandnurseittillitstingshim。’
Thenheroseandwentinsilence，andIsawthathisheartwasheavy。
OnthemorrowofthistalkIcouldleavemybed，andwithinaweekIwasalmostwell。
NowitwasthatGuatemoccametomeagain，sayingthathehadbeenbiddenbyCuitlahuatheemperor，tocommandmetoaccompanyhim，Guatemoc，onaserviceoftrustandsecrecy。
AndindeedthenatureoftheserviceshowedhowgreataconfidencetheleadersoftheAztecsnowplacedinme，foritwasnoneotherthanthehidingawayofthetreasurethathadbeenrecapturedfromtheSpaniardsontheNightofFear，andwithitmuchmorefromthesecretstoresoftheempire。
Atthefallofdarknesswestarted，someofthegreatlords，GuatemocandI，andcomingtothewater’sedge，wefoundtenlargecanoes，eachladenwithsomethingthatwashiddenbycottoncloths。
Intothesecanoesweenteredsecretly，thinkingthatnonesawus，threetoacanoe，fortherewerethirtyofusinall，andledbyGuatemoc，wepaddledfortwohoursormoreacrosstheLakeTezcuco，tillwereachedthefurthershoreataspotwherethisprincehadafairestate。
Herewelanded，andtheclothswerewithdrawnfromthecargoesofthecanoes，whichweregreatjarsandsacksofgoldandjewels，besidesmanyotherpreciousobjects，amongthemalikenessoftheheadofMontezuma，fashionedinsolidgold，whichwassoheavythatitwasasmuchasGuatemocandIcoulddotoliftitbetweenus。
Asforthejars，ofwhich，ifmymemoryservesme，therewereseventeen，sixmenmustcarryeachofthembythehelpofpaddleslashedoneitherside，andthenthetaskwasnotlight。
Allthispricelessstuffweboreinseveraljourneystothecrestofarisesomesixhundredpacesdistantfromthewater，settingitdownbythemouthofashaftbehindtheshelterofamoundofearth。
Wheneverythingwasbroughtupfromtheboats，Guatemoctouchedmeandanotherman，agreatAztecnoble，bornofaTlascalanmother，ontheshoulder，askingusifwewerewillingtodescendwithhimintothehole，andtheretodisposeofthetreasure。
’Gladly，’Ianswered，forIwascurioustoseetheplace，butthenoblehesitatedawhile，thoughintheendhecamewithus，tohisill-fortune。
ThenGuatemoctooktorchesinhishand，andwasloweredintotheshaftbyarope。
Nextcamemyturn，anddownIwent，hangingtothecordlikeaspidertoitsthread，andtheholewasverydeep。
AtlengthIfoundmyselfstandingbythesideofGuatemocatthefootoftheshaft，roundwhich，asIsawbythelightofthetorchhecarried，anedgingofdriedbrickswasbuiltuptotheheightofamanaboveourheads。
Restingonthisedgingandagainstthewalloftheshaft，wasamassiveblockofstonesculpturedwiththepicturewritingoftheAztecs。
Iglancedatthewriting，whichI
couldnowreadwell，andsawthatitrecordedtheburyingofthetreasureinthefirstyearofCuitlahua，EmperorofMexico，andalsoamostfearfulcurseonhimwhoshoulddaretostealit。
Beyondusandatrightanglestotheshaftrananotherpassage，tenpacesinlengthandhighenoughforamantowalkin，whichledtoachamberhollowedintheearth，aslargeasthatwhereinIwriteto-dayatDitchingham。
Bythemouthofthischamberwereplacedpilesofadobebricksandmortar，muchastheblocksofhewnstonehadbeenplacedinthatundergroundvaultatSevillewhereIsabelladeSiguenzawasbrickedupliving。
’Whodugthisplace？’Iasked。
’Thosewhoknewnotwhattheydug，’answeredGuatemoc。
’Butsee，hereisourcompanion。
Now，mybrother，Ichargeyoubesurprisedatnothingwhichcomestopass，andbeassuredIhavegoodreasonforanythingthatImaydo。’
BeforeIcouldspeakagaintheAztecnoblewasatourside。
Thenthoseabovebegantolowerthejarsandsacksoftreasure，andastheyreachedusonebyone，Guatemocloosedtheropesandcheckedthem，whiletheAztecandIrolledthemdownthepassageintothechamber，ashereinEnglandmenrollacaskofale。
Fortwohoursandmoreweworked，tillatlengthallweredownandthetalewascomplete。
Thelastparceltobeloweredwasasackofjewelsthatburstopenasitcame，anddescendeduponusinaglitteringrainofgems。
Asitchanced，agreatnecklaceofemeraldsofsurpassingsizeandbeautyfellovermyheadandhunguponmyshoulders。
’Keepit，brother，’laughedGuatemoc，’inmemoryofthisnight，’
andnothingloth，Ihidthebaubleinmybreast。
ThatnecklaceI
haveyet，anditwasastoneofit——thesmallestsaveone——thatI
gavetoourgraciousQueenElizabeth。
Otomieworeitformanyyears，andforthisreasonitshallbeburiedwithme，thoughitsvalueispriceless，sosaythosewhoareskilledingems。
Butpricelessorno，itisdoomedtolieinthemouldofDitchinghamchurchyard，andmaythatsamecursewhichisgraveduponthestonethathidesthetreasureoftheAztecsfalluponhimwhostealsitfrommybones。
Now，leavingthechamber，wethreeenteredthetunnelandbegantheworkofbuildingtheadobewall。
Whenitwasofaheightofbetweentwoandthreefeet，Guatemocpausedfromhislabourandbademeholdatorchaloft。
Iobeyedwonderingwhathewishedtosee。
ThenhedrewbacksomethreepacesintothetunnelandspoketotheAztecnoble，ourcompanion，byname。
’Whatisthefateofdiscoveredtraitors，friend？’hesaidinavoicethat，quietthoughitwas，soundedveryterrible；and，ashespoke，heloosedfromhissidethewarclubsetwithspikesofglassthathungtherebyathong。
NowtheAztecturnedgreybeneathhisduskyskinandtrembledinhisfear。
’Whatmeanyou，lord？’hegasped。
’YouknowwellwhatImean，’answeredGuatemocinthesameterriblevoice，andliftedtheclub。
Thenthedoomedmanfelluponhiskneescryingformercy，andhiswailingsoundedsoawfulinthatdeepandlonelyplacethatinmyhorrorIwentneartolettingthetorchfall。
’ToafoeIcangivemercy——toatraitor，none，’answeredGuatemoc，andwhirlingtheclubaloft，herusheduponthenobleandkilledhimwithablow。
Then，seizingthebodyinhisstrongembrace，hecastitintothechamberwiththetreasure，andthereitlaystillanddreadfulamongthegemsandgold，thearms，asitchanced，beingwoundabouttwoofthegreatjarsasthoughthedeadmanwouldclaspthemtohisheart。
NowIlookedatGuatemocwhohadslainhim，wonderingifmyhourwasathandalso，forIknewwellthatwhenprincesburytheirwealththeyholdthatfewshouldsharethesecret。
’Fearnot，mybrother，’saidGuatemoc。