y, and remain your friend. But I cannot be put
aside like a dancing girl, the companion of a month, I, Montezuma's
daughter, a lady of my own land. Should you wed me, it must be for my
life, Teule, and that is perhaps more than you would wish to promise,
though you could kiss me on yonder stone and there is blood fellowship
between us,' and she glanced at the red stain in the linen robe that
covered the wound upon her side.

'And now, Teule, I leave you a while, that I may find Guatemoc, if he
still lives, and others who, now that the strength of the priests is
shattered, have power to protect you and advance you to honour. Think
then on all that I have said, and do not be hasty to decide. Or would
you make an end at once and fly to the white men if I can find a means
of escape?'

'I am too weary to fly anywhere,' I answered, 'even if I could.
Moreover, I forget. My enemy is among the Spaniards, he whom I have
sworn to kill, therefore his friends are my foes and his foes my
friends. I will not fly, Otomie.'

'There you are wise,' she said, 'for if you come among the Teules that
man will murder you; by fair means or foul he will murder you within a
day, I saw it in his eyes. Now rest while I seek your safety, if there
is any safety in this blood-stained land.'

CHAPTER XXIII

THOMAS IS MARRIED

Otomie turned and went. I watched the golden curtains close behind her;
then I sank back upon the couch and instantly was lost in sleep, for
I was faint and weak, and so dazed with weariness, that at the time I
scarcely knew what had happened, or the purpose of our talk. Afterwards,
however, it came back to me. I must have slept for many hours, for when
I awoke it was far on into the night. It was night but not dark, for
through the barred window places came the sound of tumult and fighting,
and red rays of light cast by the flames of burning houses. One of these
windows was above my couch, and standing on the bed I seized the sill
with my hands. With much pain, because of the flesh wound in my side, I
drew myself up till I could look through the bars. Then I saw that the
Spaniards, not content with the capture of the teocalli, had made a
night attack and set fire to hundreds of houses in the city. The glare
of the flames was that of a lurid day, and by it I could see the white
men retreating to their quarters, pursued by thousands of Aztecs, who
hung upon their flanks, shooting at them with stones and arrows.

Now