NowIwillclamberthroughthewindow，andyoumustfollowmeifyoucan，ifnotIwillreturntoyouandwewillendthismasquerade。’
　　Thenshepassedthroughtheholeswiftly，forOtomiewasagileandstrongasanocelot，andmountingthestoolImadeshifttofollowheraswellasmyhurtswouldallow。
　　IntheendIwasabletothrowmyselfuponthesillofthewindow，andthereIwasstretchedoutlikeadeadcattillshedrewmeacrossit，andIfellwithhertothegroundonthefurtherside，andlaygroaning。
　　Sheliftedmetomyfeet，orrathertomyfoot，forIcouldusebutoneofthem，andwestaredroundus。
　　Noonewastobeseen，andthesoundofrevelryhaddiedaway，forthecrestofPopowasalreadyredwiththesunlightandthedawngrewinthevalley。
　　’Whereto？’Isaid。
　　NowOtomiehadbeenallowedtowalkinthecampwithhersister，thewifeofGuatemoc，andotherAztecladies，andshehadthisgiftincommonwithmostIndians，thatwhereshehadoncepassedthereshecouldpassagain，eveninthedarkestnight。
　　’Tothesouthgate，’shewhispered；’perhapsitisunguardednowthatthewarisdone，attheleastIknowtheroadthither。’
　　Sowestarted，Ileaningonhershoulderandhoppingonmyrightfoot，andthusverypainfullywetraversedsomethreehundredyardsmeetingnobody。
　　Butnowourgoodluckfailedus，forpassingroundthecornerofsomebuildings，wecamefacetofacewiththreesoldiersreturningtotheirhutsfromamidnightrevel，andwiththemsomenativeservants。
　　’Whomhavewehere？’saidthefirstofthese。
　　’Yourname，comrade？’
　　’Good-night，brother，good-night，’IansweredinSpanish，speakingwiththethickvoiceofdrunkenness。
　　’Goodmorning，youmean，’hesaid，forthedawnwasbreaking。
　　’Yourname。
　　Idon’tknowyourface，thoughitseemsthatyouhavebeeninthewars，’andhelaughed。
　　’Youmustn’taskacomradehisname，’Isaidsolemnlyandswingingtoandfro。
　　’Thecaptainmightsendformeandhe’satemperateman。
　　Yourarm，girl；itistimetogotosleep，thesunsets。’
　　Theylaughed，butoneofthemaddressedOtomie，saying:
　　’Leavethesot，mypretty，andcomeandwalkwithus，’andhecaughtherbythearm。
　　Butsheturnedonhimwithsofiercealookthathelethergoagainastonished，andwestaggeredontillthecornerofanotherhousehidusfromtheirview。
　　HereIsanktothegroundovercomewithpain，forwhilethesoldierswereinsight，I
　　wasobligedtousemywoundedfootlesttheyshouldsuspect。
　　ButOtomiepulledmeup，saying:
　　’Alas！beloved，wemustpassonorperish。’
　　Irosegroaning，andbywhateffortsIreachedthesouthgateI
　　cannotdescribe，thoughIthoughtthatImustdiebeforeIcamethere。
　　Atlastitwasbeforeus，andaschancewouldhaveit，theSpanishguardwereasleepintheguardhouse。
　　ThreeTlascalansonlywerecrouchedoveralittlefire，theirzerapesorblanketsabouttheirheads，forthedawnwaschilly。
　　’Openthegates，dogs！’Isaidinaproudvoice。
　　SeeingaSpanishsoldieroneofthemrosetoobey，thenpausedandsaid:
　　’Why，andbywhoseorders？’
　　Icouldnotseetheman’sfacebecauseoftheblanket，buthisvoicesoundedfamiliartomeandIgrewafraid。
　　StillImustspeak。
　　’Why？——becauseIamdrunkandwishtoliewithouttillIgrowsober。
　　Bywhoseorders？
　　Bymine，Iamanofficeroftheday，andifyoudisobeyI’llhaveyoufloggedtillyouneveraskanotherquestion。’
　　’ShallIcalltheTeuleswithin？’saidthemansulkilytohiscompanion。
　　’No，’heanswered；’thelordSarcedaiswearyandgaveordersthatheshouldnotbeawakenedwithoutgoodcause。
　　Keeptheminorletthemthroughasyouwill，butdonotwakehim。’
　　Itrembledineverylimb；deGarciawasintheguardhouse！
　　Whatifheawoke，whatifhecameoutandsawme？
　　More——nowIguessedwhosevoiceitwasthatIknewagain；itwasthatofoneofthoseTlascalanswhohadaidedintormentingme。
　　Whatifheshouldseemyface？
　　Hecouldscarcelyfailtoknowthatonwhichhehadlefthismarksorecently。
　　Iwasdumbwithfearandcouldsaynothing，andhaditnotbeenforthewitofOtomie，theremystorywouldhaveended。
　　Butnowsheplayedherpartandplayeditwell，plyingthemanwiththecoarserailleryofthecamp，tillatlengthsheputhiminagoodhumour，andheopenedthegate，biddingherbegoneandmewithher。
　　Alreadywehadpassedthegatewhenasuddenfaintnessseizedme，andIstumbledandfell，rollingoverontomybackasItouchedtheearth。
　　’Up，friend，up！’saidOtomie，withaharshlaugh。
　　’Ifyoumustsleep，waittillyoufindsomefriendlybush，’andshedraggedatmetoliftme。
　　TheTlascalan，stilllaughing，cameforwardtohelpher，andbetweenthemIgainedmyfeetagain，butasIrose，mycap，whichfittedmebutill，felloff。
　　Hepickeditupandgaveittomeandoureyesmet，myfacebeingsomewhatintheshadow。
　　NextinstantIwashobblingon，butlookingback，IsawtheTlascalanstaringafteruswithapuzzledair，likethatofamanwhoisnotsureofthewitnessofhissenses。
　　’Heknowsme，’IsaidtoOtomie，’andpresentlywhenhehasfoundhiswits，hewillfollowus。’
　　’On，on！’answeredOtomie；’roundyondercornerarealoebusheswherewemayhide。’
　　’Iamspent，Icannomore；’andagainIbegantofall。
　　ThenOtomiecaughtmeasIfell，andofasuddensheputoutherstrength，andliftingmefromtheground，asamotherliftsherchild，staggeredforwardholdingmetoherbreast。
　　Forfiftypacesormoreshecarriedmethus，loveanddespairgivingherstrength，tillatlastwereachedtheedgeofthealoeplantsandtherewesanktogethertotheearth。
　　Icastmyeyesbackoverthepathwhichwehadtravelled。
　　RoundthecornercametheTlascalan，aspikedclubinhishand，seekingustosolvehisdoubts。
　　’Itisfinished，’Igasped；’themancomes。’
　　ForanswerOtomiedrewmyswordfromitsscabbardandhiditinthegrass。
　　’Nowfeignsleep，’shesaid；’itisourlastchance。’
　　Icastmyarmovermyfaceandpretendedtobeasleep。
　　PresentlyI
　　heardthesoundofamanpassingthroughthebushes，andtheTlascalanstoodoverme。
　　’Whatwouldyou？’askedOtomie。
　　’Canyounotseethathesleeps？
　　Lethimsleep。’
　　’Imustlookonhisfacefirst，woman，’heanswered，draggingasidemyarm。
　　’Bythegods，Ithoughtso！
　　ThisisthatTeulewhomwedealtwithyesterdayandwhoescapes。’
　　’Youaremad，’shesaidlaughing。
　　’Hehasescapedfromnowhere，savefromabrawlandadrinkingbout。’
　　’Youlie，woman，orifyoudonotlie，youknownothing。
　　ThismanhasthesecretofMontezuma’streasure，andisworthaking’sransom，’andheliftedhisclub。
　　’Andyetyouwishtoslayhim！
　　Well，Iknownothingofhim。
　　Takehimbackwhencehecame。
　　HeisbutadrunkensotandIshallbewellridofhim。’
　　’Wellsaid。
　　Itwouldbefoolishtokillhim，butbybearinghimalivetothelordSarceda，Ishallwinhonourandreward。
　　Come，helpme。’
　　’Helpyourself，’sheansweredsullenly。
　　’Butfirstsearchhispouch；theremaybesometrifletherewhichwecandivide。’
　　’Wellsaid，again，’heanswered，andkneelingdownhebentovermeandbegantofumbleatthefasteningsofthepouch。
　　Otomiewasbehindhim。
　　Isawherfacechangeandaterriblelightcameintohereyes，suchalightasshinesintheeyesofthepriestatsacrifice。
　　Quickasthoughtshedrewtheswordfromthegrassandsmotewithallherstrengthupontheman’sbentneck。
　　Downhefell，makingnosound，andshealsofellbesidehim。
　　Inamomentshewasonherfeetagain，staringathimwildly——thenakedswordinherhand。
　　’Up，’shesaid，’beforeotherscometoseekhim。
　　Nay，youmust。’
　　Now，againwewerestrugglingforwardthroughthebushes，mymindfilledwithagreatwonderthatgrewslowlytoawhirlingnothingness。
　　ForawhileitseemedtomeasthoughIwerelostinanevildreamandwalkingonredhotironsinmydream。
　　Thencameavisionofarmedmenwithliftedspears，andofOtomierunningtowardsthemwithoutstretchedarms。
　　Iknewnomore。
　　WhenIawokeitwastofindmyselfinacave，wherethelightshoneverydimly。
　　Otomieleantoverme，andnotfarawayamanwascookingapotoverafiremadeofdryaloeleaves。
　　’WhereamIandwhathashappened？’Iasked。
　　’Youaresafe，beloved，’sheanswered，’atleastforawhile。
　　WhenyouhaveeatenIwilltellyoumore。’
　　ShebroughtmebrothandfoodandIateeagerly，andwhenIwassatisfiedshespoke。
　　’YourememberhowtheTlascalanfollowedusandhow——Iwasridofhim？’
　　’Iremember，Otomie，thoughhowyoufoundstrengthtokillhimIdonotunderstand。’
　　’Loveanddespairgaveittome，andIpraythatImayneverhavesuchanotherneed。
　　Donotspeakofit，husband，forthisismorehorribletomethanallthathasbeenbefore。
　　Onethingcomfortsme，however；Ididnotkillhim，theswordtwistedinmyhandandI
　　believethathewasbutstunned。
　　Thenwefledalittleway，andlookingbackIsawthattwootherTlascalans，companionsofthesenselessman，werefollowingusandhim。
　　Presently，theycameuptowherehelayandstaredathim。
　　Thentheystartedonourtracks，runninghard，andverysoontheymusthavecaughtus，fornowyoucouldscarcelystir，yourmindwasgone，andIhadnomorestrengthtocarryyou。
　　Stillwestumbledontillpresently，whenthepursuerswerewithinfiftypacesofus，Isawarmedmen，eightofthem，rushingatusfromthebushes。
　　Theywereofmyownpeople，theOtomies，soldiersthathadservedunderyou，whowatchedtheSpanishcamp，andseeingaSpaniardalonetheycametoslayhim。
　　Theyverynearlydidsoindeed，foratfirstIwassobreathlessthatIcouldscarcelyspeak，butatlastinfewwordsI
　　madeshifttodeclaremynameandrank，andyoursadplight。
　　BynowthetwoTlascalanswereuponus，andIcalledtothemenoftheOtomietoprotectus，andfallingontheTlascalansbeforetheyknewthatenemieswerethere，theykilledoneofthemandtooktheotherprisoner。
　　Thentheymadealitter，andplacingyouonit，boreyouwithoutresttwentyleaguesintothemountains，tilltheyreachedthissecrethidingplace，andhereyouhavelainthreedaysandnights。
　　TheTeuleshavesearchedforyoufarandwide，buttheyhavesearchedinvain。
　　OnlyyesterdaytwoofthemwithtenTlascalans，passedwithinahundredpacesofthiscaveandIhadmuchadotopreventourpeoplefromattackingthem。
　　Nowtheyaregonewhencetheycame，andIthinkthatwearesafeforatime。
　　Soonyouwillbebetterandwecangohence。’
　　’Wherecanwegoto，Otomie？
　　Wearebirdswithoutanest。’