’Makeready！’Ianswered。
　　Thensheroseandsoonwasbusywiththeropes。
　　Atlengthallwaspreparedandthemomentofdeathwasathand。
　　’Youmustaidme，Otomie，’Isaid；’Icannotwalkbymyself。’
　　Shecameandliftedmewithherstrongandtenderarms，tillI
　　stooduponastoolbeneaththewindowbars。
　　Theresheplacedtheropeaboutmythroat，thentakingherstandbymeshefittedthesecondropeuponherown。
　　Nowwekissedinsolemnsilence，fortherewasnothingmoretosay。
　　YetOtomiesaidsomething，asking:
　　’Ofwhomdoyouthinkinthismoment，husband？
　　Ofmeandofmydeadchild，orofthatladywholivesfaracrossthesea？
　　Nay，I
　　willnotask。
　　Ihavebeenhappyinmylove，itisenough。
　　Nowloveandlifemustendtogether，anditiswellforme，butforyouIgrieve。
　　Say，shallIthrustawaythestool？’
　　’Yes，Otomie，sincethereisnohopebutdeath。
　　IcannotbreakmyfaithwithGuatemoc，norcanIlivetoseeyoushamedandtortured。’
　　’Thenkissmefirstandforthelasttime。’
　　Wekissedagainandthen，asshewasintheveryactofpushingthestoolfrombeneathus，thedooropenedandshut，andaveiledwomanstoodbeforeus，bearingatorchinonehandandabundleintheother。
　　Shelooked，andseeingusandourdreadfulpurpose，rantous。
　　’Whatdoyou？’shecried，andIknewthevoiceforthatofMarina。
　　’Areyouthenmad，Teule？’
　　’Whoisthiswhoknowsyousowell，husband，andwillnotevensufferthatwedieinpeace？’askedOtomie。
　　’IamMarina，’answeredtheveiledwoman，’andIcometosaveyouifIcan。’
　　E
　　NowOtomieputtheropeoffherneck，anddescendingfromthestool，stoodbeforeMarina。
　　’YouareMarina，’shesaidcoldlyandproudly，’andyoucometosaveus，youwhohavebroughtruinonthelandthatboreyou，andhavegiventhousandsofherchildrentodeath，andshame，andtorment。
　　Now，ifIhadmyway，Iwouldhavenoneofyoursalvation，nay，IwouldrathersavemyselfasIwasabouttodo。’
　　ThusOtomiespoke，andneverhadshelookedmoreroyalthaninthismoment，whensheriskedherlastchanceoflifethatshemightpouroutherscornupononewhomshedeemedatraitress，no，onewhowasatraitress，forhaditnotbeenforMarina’switandaid，CorteswouldneverhaveconqueredAnahuac。
　　ItrembledasIheardherangrywords，for，allIsufferednotwithstanding，lifestillseemedsweettome，who，tensecondsago，hadstooduponthevergeofdeath。
　　SurelyMarinawoulddepartandleaveustoourdoom。
　　Butitwasnotso。
　　Indeed，sheshrankandtrembledbeforeOtomie’scontempt。
　　Theywereastrangecontrastintheirdifferentlovelinessastheystoodfacetofaceinthetortureden，anditwasstrangealsotoseethespiritoftheladyofroyalblood，threatenedasshewaswithashamefuldeath，orstillmoreshamefullife，triumphovertheIndiangirlwhomto-dayfortunehadsetasfaraboveherasthestars。
　　’Say，royallady，’askedMarinainhergentlevoice，’forwhatcausedidyou，iftalesaretrue，liebythesideofyonderwhitemanuponthestoneofsacrifice？’
　　’BecauseIlovehim，Marina。’
　　’AndforthissamecausehaveI，Marina，laidmyhonouruponadifferentaltar，forthissamecauseIhavestrivenagainstthechildrenofmypeople，becauseIloveanothersuchashe。
　　ItisforloveofCortesthatIhaveaidedCortes，thereforedespisemenot，butletyourlovepleadformine，seeingthat，touswomen，loveisall。
　　Ihavesinned，Iknow，butdoubtlessinitsseasonmysinshallfindafittingpunishment。’
　　’Ithadneedbesharp，’answeredOtomie。
　　’Mylovehasharmednone，seebeforeyoubutonegrainofthecountlessharvestofyourown。
　　InyonderchairGuatemocyourkingwasthisdaytorturedbyyourmasterCortes，whosworetotreathimwithallhonour。
　　ByhissidesatTeule，myhusbandandyourfriend；himCortesgaveovertohasprivateenemy，deGarcia，whomyounameSarceda。
　　Seehowhehaslefthim。
　　Nay，donotshudder，gentlelady；looknowathiswounds！
　　Considertowhatapasswearedrivenwhenyoufindusabouttodiethuslikedogs，he，myhusband，thathemaynotlivetoseemehandledashehasbeen，andIwithhim，becauseaprincessoftheOtomieandofMontezuma’sbloodcannotsubmittosuchashamewhiledeathhasonedoorthroughwhichtocreep。
　　Itisbutasinglegrainofyourharvest，outcastandtraitress，theharvestofmiseryanddeaththatisstoredyonderintheruinsofTenoctitlan。
　　HadImywill，ItellyouthatIhadsoonerdieascoreoftimesthantakehelpfromahandsostainedwiththebloodofmypeopleandofyours——I——’
　　’Oh！cease，lady，cease，’groanedMarina，coveringhereyeswithherhand，asthoughthesightofOtomieweredreadfultoher。
　　’Whatisdoneisdone；donotaddtomyremorse。
　　Whatdidyousay，thatyou，theladyOtomie，werebroughtheretobetortured？’
　　’Evenso，andbeforemyhusband’seyes。
　　WhyshouldMontezuma’sdaughterandtheprincessoftheOtomieescapethefateoftheemperoroftheAztecs？
　　Ifherwomanhooddoesnotprotecther，hassheanythingtohopeofherlostrank？’
　　’Cortesknowsnothingofthis，Iswearit，’saidMarina。
　　’Totheresthehasbeendrivenbytheclamourofthesoldiers，whotaunthimwithstealingtreasurethathehasneverfound。
　　Butofthislastwickednessheisinnocent。’
　　’ThenlethimaskhistoolSarcedaofit。’
　　’AsforSarceda，Ipromiseyou，princess，thatifIcanIwillavengethisthreatuponhim。
　　Buttimeisshort，IamcomeherewiththeknowledgeofCortes，toseeifIcanwinthesecretofthetreasurefromTeule，yourhusband，andformyfriendship’ssakeI
　　amabouttobetraymytrustandhelphimandyoutofly。
　　Doyourefusemyaid？’
　　Otomiesaidnothing，butIspokeforthefirsttime。
　　’Nay，Marina，Ihavenoloveforthisthief’sfateifIcanescapeit，buthowisittobedone？’
　　’Thechanceispoorenough，Teule，butIbethoughtmethatonceoutofthisprisonyoumightslipawaydisguised。
　　Fewwillbestirringatdawn，andofthemthemostwillnotbekeentonoticemenorthings。
　　See，IhavebroughtyouthedressofaSpanishsoldier；
　　yourskinisdark，andinthehalflightyoumightpassasone；andfortheprincessyourwife，Ihavebroughtanotherdress，indeedI
　　amashamedtoofferit，butitistheonlyonethatwillnotbenotedatthishour；also，Teule，Ibringyouasword，thatwhichwastakenfromyou，thoughIthinkthatonceithadanotherowner。’
　　NowwhileshespokeMarinaundidherbundle，andthereinitwerethedressesandthesword，thesamethatIhadtakenfromtheSpaniardDiazinthemassacreofthenochetriste。
　　Firstshedrewoutthewoman’srobeandhandedittoOtomie，andIsawthatitwassucharobeasamongtheIndiansiswornbythewomenwhofollowcamps，arobewithredandyellowinit。
　　Otomiesawitalsoanddrewback。
　　’Surely，girl，youhavebroughtagarmentofyourowninerror，’
　　shesaidquietly，butinsuchafashionasshowedmoreofthesavageheartthatisnativetoherracethansheoftensufferedtobeseen；’attheleastIcannotwearsuchrobes。’
　　’ItseemsthatImustbeartoomuch，’answeredMarina，growingwrothatlast，andstrivingtokeepbackthetearsthatstartedtohereyes。
　　’Iwillawayandleaveyou；’andshebegantorollupherbundle。
　　’Forgiveher，Marina，’Isaidhastily，forthedesiretoescapegrewonmeeveryminute；’sorrowhassetanedgeuponhertongue。’
　　ThenturningtoOtomieIadded，’Iprayyoubemoregentle，wife，formysakeifnotforyourown。
　　Marinaisouronlyhope。’
　　’Wouldthatshehadleftustodieinpeace，husband。
　　Well，sobeit，foryoursakeIwillputonthesegarmentsofadrab。
　　Buthowshallweescapeoutofthisplaceandthecamp？
　　Willthedoorbeopenedtous，andtheguardsremoved，andifwepassthem，canyouwalk，husband？’
　　’Thedoorswillnotbeopened，lady，’saidMarina，’forthosewaitwithout，whowillseethattheyarelockedwhenIhavepassedthem。
　　Buttherewillbenothingtofearfromtheguard，trusttomeforit。
　　See，thebarsofthiswindowarebutofwood，thatswordwillsoonseverthem，andifyouareseenyoumustplaythepartofadrunkensoldierbeingguidedtohisquartersbyawoman。
　　FortherestIknownothing，savethatIrungreatriskforyoursakes，sinceifitisdiscoveredthatIhaveaidedyou，thenIshallfindithardtosoftentherageofCortes，who，thewarbeingwon，’andshesighed，’doesnotneedmenowsomuchasoncehedid。’
　　’Icanmakeshifttohoponmyrightfoot，’Isaid，’andfortherestwemusttrusttofortune。
　　Itcangiveusnoworsegiftsthanthosewehavealready。’
　　’Sobeit，Teule，andnowfarewell，forIdarestaynolonger。
　　I
　　candonothingmore。
　　Mayyourgoodstarshineonyouandleadyouhenceinsafety；andTeule，ifwenevermeetagain，Iprayyouthinkofmekindly，fortherearemanyintheworldwhowilldootherwiseinthedaystocome。’
　　’Farewell，Marina，’Isaid，andshewasgone。
　　Weheardthedoorsclosebehindher，andthedistantvoicesofthosewhoboreherlitter，thenallwassilence。
　　Otomielistenedatthewindowforawhile，buttheguardsseemedtobegone，whereorwhyIdonotknowtothishour，andtheonlysoundwasthatofdistantrevelryfromthecamp。
　　’Andnowtothework，’IsaidtoOtomie。
　　’Asyouwish，husband，butIfearitwillbeprofitless。
　　Idonottrustthatwoman。
　　Faithlessinall，withoutdoubtshebetraysus。
　　Stillattheworstyouhavethesword，andcanuseit。’
　　’Itmatterslittle，’Ianswered。
　　’Ourplightcannotbeworsethanitisnow；lifehasnogreaterevilsthantormentanddeath，andtheyarewithusalready。’
　　ThenIsatuponthestool，andmyarmsbeingleftsoundandstrong，Ihackedwiththesharpswordatthewoodenbarsofthewindow，severingthemonebyonetilltherewasaspacebigenoughforustocreepthrough。
　　Thisbeingdoneandnoonehavingappearedtodisturbus，OtomiecladmeintheclothesofaSpanishsoldierwhichMarinahadbrought，forIcouldnotdressmyself。
　　WhatI
　　sufferedinthedonningofthosegarments，andmoreespeciallyinthepullingofthelongbootontomyburntfoot，canneverbetold，butmorethanonceIstopped，ponderingwhetheritwouldnotbebettertodieratherthantoenduresuchagonies。
　　Atlastitwasdone，andOtomiemustputontheredandyellowrobe，agarbofshamesuchasmanyhonestIndianwomenwoulddiesoonerthanbeseenin，andIthinkthatasshedidthis，heragonywasgreaterthanmine，thoughofanothersort，fortoherproudheart，thatdresswasaveryshirtofNessus。
　　Presentlyshewasclad，andmincedbeforemewithsavagemockery，saying:
　　’Prithee，soldier，doIlookmypart？’
　　’Apeacetosuchfooling，’Ianswered；’ourlivesareatstake，whatdoesitmatterhowwedisguiseourselves？’
　　’Itmattersmuch，husband，buthowcanyouunderstand，whoareamanandaforeigner？