d. But now the end is come. We must
give way before a people stronger than we; give up our land to them and
vanish."

Her voice increased in volume as she spoke, until, at the close, it was
as powerful as in former days. When she had ceased speaking, she paused,
with arm still outstretched, as though transfixed. She gazed steadily
across the level plain to the distant mountains, motionless and rigid,
while the two young Indians waited, awed and afraid, minute after
minute, for they knew not what.

After a long silence, the aged sibyl let fall her arm, and dropped back
suddenly on to the couch. The fire of prophecy in her eyes was still
undimmed; but turning toward the two waiting ones, she spoke again, yet
as if coming back to the present:

"Mota, Itatli, I am going to the distant home of our people, where all
are happy. It will be but a few hours before I shall leave you. Do you,
my son, after I am dead, go to the village, and tell the chief men
all that I have revealed to you to-night. Tell them that, with my last
breath, I spoke the truth revealed to me by the gods above. Tell them
that the only safety for them, and their children after them, is to live
with the strange white men who are come to our land; that they must
be at peace with the strangers, live with them, and do all that is
commanded them; that this is the only way they can put off the evil day
when they shall disappear forever. And it is for a time only at best;
but it is better to do that than to resist them, for they are too strong
to be driven back. But I fear they will not listen to my words which you
shall speak. And if so, you, my children, must leave here and go to the
south, through the pass in the mountains, then toward the setting sun
until you come to the river; and there you will find the strange men,
as in my vision. Put yourselves under their care, and perhaps Ouiot will
spare you, and the others there before you, from the fate of the rest of
the tribes in this land."

Her voice sank to a whisper, so that it was with difficulty they made
out her last words. Closing her eyes, she lay gasping for some minutes;
after this, she fell into a comatose state, from which she did not
revive again. Hour after hour passed, the two watchers crouching
motionless, without a word, regarding the fleeting breath of the dying
woman. Shortly before the dawn began to lighten the horizon, a tremor
passed through the body of the sufferer; a long, feeble sigh