, and, though Ixtli clearly
hesitated before imparting the asked-for information, persistence won
the point; and then--

Imperfectly though that discovery was set forth, Gillespie contrived
to gather this much: Tlacopa decreed that the Sun Children should be
brought to trial, if not to actual execution, when the morning sun
arose!

"Never!" fiercely vowed Bruno, all on fire, as he recalled that more
than fair face. "Never,--while I live and draw breath!"

CHAPTER XXVIII. BROUGHT BEFORE THE GODS.

Once again Aztotl, the Red Heron, was bowing humbly before the Children
of the Sun God, but now there was stern grief impressed upon his visage,
rather than pure devotion, such as one might feel at the feet of a
divinity.

And the face of Victo was unusually pale, her lips tightly compressed to
keep them from trembling too visibly, while her arm clasped Gladys with
almost fierce love in its warm strength.

Aztotl glanced upwards for a moment, then slowly spoke:

"Such are the commands laid upon thy captain of guards, Daughter of
Quetzal', the Fair God. He hath been commanded to fetch Victo and Glady
to the teocalli, there to be--no!" with an outbreak of fierce rebellion,
drawing his superb figure erect, and gripping javelin until the springy
ash quivered, as though suddenly winning life for itself. "The gods lie!
They are speaking falsely, or--or the paba lies, when trying to thus
interpret the oracle!"

Gladys shrunk away, but her mother stood firm, seeming to gain in
coolness and nerve what this ardent servant was losing.

"It must be thus, my good friend," she spoke, in low, even tones. "The
word hath come to a soldier, and obedience is his first duty."

"Not when obedience means leading to sacrifice--"

"That may never come, good Aztotl. We have committed no sin, in deed or
in thought. The Mother of Gods will not lay claim to an innocent victim.
Or, even then, the right shall triumph! Tlacopa is powerful, but hath
Victo no influence? Lord Hua may throw HIS influence to the wrong side,
but hath truth no answer?"

"If not truth, then death!" sternly vowed the captain of the body-guard.
"If Tonatiuh fails to punish the enemies of his daughter, then this
right arm shall hurl the false prince down to Mictlanteuctli, grim lord
of the under-world!"

"What is it all about, mother?" murmured Gladys, clinging in sore
affright to the side of her Amazonian relative. "Surely the people will
not--surely we need not g