ach day was increased by the
acquisition of new and most precious facts, whereby a flood of light was
let in upon what hitherto had been hopelessly dark places in Aztec
archaeology, that I was disposed to believe as firmly as ever did the
first Napoleon in the assured ascendency of my lucky star. However, I
did not wholly permit my wits to be run away with by the joy begotten of
my truly wonderful discoveries; and I strove even to contemplate calmly
the possibility that I might myself be slain in the battle that was so
close upon us; and that thus the exceedingly valuable information which
I had acquired would be lost to the world, and to myself would be lost
the honorable fame due me for having gathered it. Yet I regret to
state--for until that time I had entertained unreservedly the belief
that I truly was a philosopher--my attempt at calm contemplation of this
dismal and far from improbable combination of evil circumstances had no
other effect upon me than to throw me into a most violent rage. It
seemed to me so stupidly unreasonable that some mere common brute of an
Indian, by the crude process of splitting my skull open, might deprive
me, and through me the scientific world, of the priceless knowledge that
with much effort I had stored within my brain.

But all thought of my own fortunes, and of this possible sudden cutting
of my life-strings, presently was thrust aside by the inroad of another
matter that was of far more serious moment to me, inasmuch as there was
involved in it a menace against the life of one of my companions; and,
indeed, this matter was one which startled our whole camp, for it was
nothing less than a formal offer on the part of the Priest Captain to
condone the rebellion, and to compromise with the rebels, on certain far
from exacting terms.

The envoy sent to treat with us came in a manner befitting his dignity
and the importance of his mission, having a considerable retinue with
him in his barge, and being himself a grave and dignified man well
advanced in years. Two of our guard-boats accompanied his barge across
the lake, and he alone was permitted to land in Huitzilan. Being led
before the Council, he delivered himself briefly of his message, and
added to it neither argument nor comment of his own. The Priest Captain,
he said, desiring to avoid the shedding of blood among brethren, was
willing to forgive the wrong already committed, and was willing even to
concede in part the demands ma