nowledge of their customs and mode of warfare, which
we lack, and I think that he may be able to give us good counsel in our
strait.'

'The counsel of the wolf to the deer perhaps,' said Cuitlahua, coldly;
'counsel that shall lead us to the fangs of the Teules. Who shall answer
for this foreign devil, that he will not betray us if we trust him?'

'I will answer with my life,' answered Guatemoc.

'Your life is of too great worth to be set on such a stake, nephew. Men
of this white breed are liars, and his own word is of no value even if
he gives it. I think that it will be best to kill him and have done with
doubts.'

'This man is wed to Otomie, princess of the Otomie, Montezuma's
daughter, your niece,' said Guatemoc again, 'and she loves him so well
that she offered herself upon the stone of sacrifice with him. Unless I
mistake she will answer for him also. Shall she be summoned before you?'

'If you wish, nephew; but a woman in love is a blind woman, and
doubtless he has deceived her also. Moreover, she was his wife according
to the rule of religion only. Is it your desire that the princess should
be summoned before you, comrades?'

Now some said nay, but the most, those whose interest Otomie had gained,
said yea, and the end of it was that one of their number was sent to
summon her.

Presently she came, looking very weary, but proud in mien and royally
attired, and bowed before the council.

'This is the question, princess,' said Cuitlahua. 'Whether this Teule
shall be slain forthwith, or whether he shall be sworn as one of us,
should he be willing to take the oath? The prince Guatemoc here vouches
for him, and he says, moreover, that you will vouch for him also. A
woman can do this in one way only, by taking him she vouches as her
husband. You are already wed to this foreigner by the rule of religion.
Are you willing to marry him according to the custom of our land, and to
answer for his faith with your own life?'

'I am willing,' Otomie answered quietly, 'if he is willing.'

'In truth it is a great honour that you would do this white dog,' said
Cuitlahua. 'Bethink you, you are princess of the Otomie and one of our
master's daughters, it is to you that we look to bring back the mountain
clans of the Otomie, of whom you are chieftainess, from their unholy
alliance with the accursed Tlascalans, the slaves of the Teules. Is not
your life too precious to be set on such a stake as this foreigner's
faith? for l