rm, then glancing further to
leave an ugly smear upon the daughter's shoulder ere falling among the
eager multitude, who fought and struggled to secure at least a morsel of
the hideous thing.

"Behold! the gods hath marked their own!" cried the high priest, his
harsh tones fairly filling the Hall of Sacrifice. "They are guilty of
all crimes laid at their door. They merit death, a thousandfold. The
Mother of Gods hath spoken!"

"To whom but thou, Tlacopa?" sternly cried the captain of the guards, as
he stood firm in spite of the ominous sounds which were rising from the
rear, as well as from either side.

"She hath spoken unto me, as her worthy representative on earth."

"And there are those who say much religion hath turned thy brain, good
Tlacopa," retorted Aztotl, holding his temper fairly well under control,
yet with blazing eyes and stiffening sinews. "Are thy ears alone to
receive such important communications as--"

"Silence, thou scoffer!" fiercely cried the high priest, lifting
quivering hands on high as though about to call down the thunders of
an outraged deity upon that impious head. "She who hath spoken once may
deign to speak again. Harken,--hear the oracle!"

Doubtless this was cue for the slave of the temple to repeat the words
placed within its mouth, but that slave was literally unable to speak
a word for himself, let alone others. Yet,--the oracle was not wholly
silenced!

"Talk out, or I will!" fiercely muttered Bruno, giving Ixtli a violent
punch in the side, "talk out for the Sun Children!"

The young Aztec needed no further prompting, loving Victo and Glady as
he did, hating and despising the high priest. And in shrill, clear tones
came the wondrous oracle:

"Tlacopa lies! Tlacopa is an evil dog! The Mother of the Gods loves and
will defend her friends, the Children of the great and good Quetzal'."

How much more Ixtli might have said, had he been granted further grace,
will never be known. Tlacopa shrank away from the speaking statue as
from a living death, but then he rallied, savagely thundering:

"'Tis a lying oracle! 'Tis an evil impostor who has--An omen! A true
omen, my children! The evil ones hath been branded for the knife! Seize
them! To the sacrifice!"

That vicious cry was swiftly taken up, but the body-guard closed in
around the menaced women, presenting arms to all that maddened horde,
while their captain sternly warned all good people to fall aside and
make way for the