the Emperor.

"But you must remember that, as yet, we do not know that the
priests will decide against him. I myself shall go with him, and I
have already, as I have told you, taken some steps to incline the
priests in his favor. When I arrive there tomorrow, I will exert
myself personally. I have many friends among the highest at
Montezuma's court, and will also pray these to use their influence.

"Should I fail, all will not be lost. It is likely that, if they
decide upon sacrificing you, Roger, they will make you the victim
to the god Tezcatlepoca, 'the soul of the world.' For him is always
chosen the captive most distinguished for his appearance. For a
year he is treated as the representative of the god. He is nobly
cared for, he is attended by a train of royal pages, is worshiped
by the people as he passes through the street, and is feasted at
the tables of the nobles. Were you selected for this, as we
consider it, great honor, there would be at least a year before
you; and you might then, in some manner, make your escape beyond
our boundaries. At any rate, some time is sure to elapse before
your fate will be determined upon; and I can promise that I will do
all in my power to aid you to escape, should you determine upon
flight."

"I thank you most heartily," Roger said. "I have no fear of death
in battle, but to me it would be very horrible to be put to death
as a victim, on a festival; and I would rather escape and drown
myself in the lake, than that such should be my fate. Still, if it
must be so, it must; and I trust that I may behave as befits an
Englishman, in such an extremity."

Amenche here stepped forward to her brother, and spoke earnestly in
his ear.

"My sister reminds me," he said, "that we have sometimes another
form of sacrifice; and that if I can do naught else, I might be
able to persuade the priests to pronounce in favor of that. It is
only adopted in the case of a captive of distinction; who, instead
of being sacrificed, is sometimes matched against a number of
Mexicans. The combat takes place on a great circular stone, in the
sight of the whole city. The captive is provided with arms, and
meets his opponents one by one. If he defeat them all--which has
more than once happened in our history--he is allowed to go free."

"That would suit me best, by far," Roger said eagerly. "I have no
doubt but that I should be killed, still, I should die in fair
fighting against numbers; and it would b