and lifting the
ebony sceptre she stood silent, the sunlight beating on her lovely face
and form. But the multitude screamed a thousand taunts and threats at
us, and still the tumult grew. Once they rushed towards her as though
to tear her to pieces, but fell back at the last stair, as a wave falls
from a rock, and once a spear was thrown that passed between her neck
and shoulder.

Now the soldiers who had carried me, making certain that our death was
at hand, and having no wish to share it, set my litter down upon the
stones and slipped back into the palace, but all this while Otomie never
so much as moved, no, not even when the spear hissed past her. She stood
before them stately and scornful, a very queen among women, and little
by little the majesty of her presence and the greatness of her courage
hushed them to silence. When there was quiet at length, she spoke in a
clear voice that carried far.

'Am I among my own people of the Otomie?' she asked bitterly, 'or have
we lost our path and wandered perchance among some savage Tlascalan
tribe? Listen, people of the Otomie. I have but one voice and none can
reason with a multitude. Choose you a tongue to speak for you, and let
him set out the desire of your hearts.'

Now the tumult began again, for some shouted one name and some another,
but in the end a priest and noble named Maxtla stepped forward, a man
of great power among the Otomie, who, above all had favoured an alliance
with the Spaniards and opposed the sending of an army to aid Guatemoc
in the defence of Tenoctitlan. Nor did he come alone, for with him were
four chiefs, whom by their dress I knew to be Tlascalans and envoys from
Cortes. Then my heart sank, for it was not difficult to guess the object
of their coming.

'Speak on, Maxtla,' said Otomie, 'for we must hear what there is for us
to answer, and you, people of the Otomie, I pray you keep silence, that
you may judge between us when there is an end of talking.'

Now a great silence fell upon the multitude, who pressed together like
sheep in a pen, and strained their ears to catch the words of Maxtla.

'My speech with you, princess, and the Teule your outlawed husband,
shall be short and sharp,' he began roughly. 'A while hence you came
hither to seek an army to aid Cuitlahua, Emperor of the Aztecs, in his
struggle with the Teules, the sons of Quetzal. That army was given you,
against the wishes of many of us, for you won over the council by the
ho