welcomemydeath，forIhavelivedtoknowshameanddefeatandtorture，andtoseemypeopletheslavesoftheTeule，butstillI
　　saythatGodwillrewardyouforthisdeed。’
　　Thentheymurderedhiminthemidstofagreatsilence。
　　AndsofarewelltoGuatemoc，themostbrave，thebestandthenoblestIndianthateverbreathed，andmaytheshadowofhistormentingsandshamefulendliedeepuponthefameofCortesforsolongasthenamesofbothofthemarerememberedamongmen！
　　FortwomoremonthsIjourneyedhomewardandatlengthIreachedtheCityofPines，wellthoughwearied，andhavinglostonlyfortymenbyvariousmisadventuresoftravel，tofindOtomieingoodhealth，andoverjoyedtoknowmesafewhomshethoughtnevertoseeagain。
　　ButwhenItoldherwhatwastheendofhercousinGuatemocshegrievedbitterly，bothforhissakeandbecausethelasthopeoftheAztecwasgone，andshewouldnotbecomfortedformanydays。
　　FormanyyearsafterthedeathofGuatemocIlivedwithOtomieatpeaceintheCityofPines。
　　Ourcountrywaspoorandrugged，andthoughwedefiedtheSpaniardsandpaidthemnotribute，nowthatCorteshadgonebacktoSpain，theyhadnohearttoattemptourconquest。
　　Savesomefewtribesthatlivedindifficultplaceslikeourselves，allAnahuacwasintheirpower，andtherewaslittletogainexcepthardblowsinthebringingofaremnantofthepeopleoftheOtomiebeneaththeiryoke，sotheyletusbetillamoreconvenientseason。
　　IsayofaremnantoftheOtomie，forastimewentonmanyclanssubmittedtotheSpaniards，tillatlengthweruledovertheCityofPinesaloneandsomeleaguesofterritoryaboutit。
　　IndeeditwasonlyloveforOtomieandrespectfortheshadowofherancientraceandname，togetherwithsomereverenceformeasoneoftheunconquerablewhitemen，andformyskillasageneral，thatkeptourfollowingtogether。
　　AndnowitmaybeaskedwasIhappyinthoseyears？
　　Ihadmuchtomakemehappy——nomancouldhavebeenblessedwithawifemorebeautifulandloving，noronewhohadexampledheraffectionbymoresignaldeedsofsacrifice。
　　Thiswomanofherownfreewillhadlainbymysideonthestoneofslaughter；overridingtheinstinctsofhersexshehadnotshrunkfromdippingherhandsinbloodtosecuremysafety，herwithadrescuedmeinmanyatrouble，herlovehadconsoledmeinmanyasorrow:surelythereforeifgratitudecanconquertheheartofman，mineshouldhavebeenatherfeetforeverandaday，andsoindeeditwas，andinasenseisstill。
　　Butcangratitude，canloveitself，oranypassionthatrulesoursouls，makeamanforgetthehousewherehewasborn？
　　CouldI，anIndianchiefstrugglingwithafallenpeopleagainstaninevitabledestiny，forgetmyyouthandallitshopesandfears，couldIforgetthevalleyoftheWaveneyandthatFlowerwhodwelttherein，andforswornthoughImightbe，couldIforgettheoaththatIoncehadsworn？
　　Chancehadbeenagainstme，circumstancesoverpoweredme，andIthinkthattherearefewwho，couldtheyreadthisstory，wouldnotfindinitexcuseforallthatIhaddone。
　　Certainlythereareveryfewwho，standingwhereIstood，surroundedasIwasbydoubts，difficulties，anddangers，wouldnothaveactedasIdid。
　　Andyetmemorywouldriseupagainstme，andtimeupontimeIwouldlieawakeatnight，evenbythesideofOtomie，andrememberandrepent，ifamanmayrepentofthatoverwhichhehasnocontrol。
　　ForIwasastrangerinastrangeland，andthoughmyhomewasthereandmychildrenwereaboutme，thelongingformyotherhomewasyetwithme，andIcouldnotputawaythememoryofthatLilywhomIhadlost。
　　Herringwasstilluponmyhand，butnothingelseofherremainedtome。
　　Ididnotknowifsheweremarriedorsingle，livingordead。
　　Thegulfbetweenuswidenedwiththewideningyears，butstillthethoughtofherwentwithmelikemyshadow；itshoneacrossthestormyloveofOtomie，Irememberediteveninmychildren’skiss。
　　AndworstofallIdespisedmyselffortheseregrets。
　　Nay，iftheworstcanhaveaworse，therewasonehere，forthoughsheneverspokeofit，IfearedthatOtomiehadreadmymind。
　　Hearttoheart，Thoughfarapart，
　　soranthewritinguponLily’sbetrothalring，andsoitwaswithme。
　　Farapartwewereindeed，sofarthatnobridgethatImightimaginecouldjointhatdistance，andyetIcouldnotsaythatwehadceasedfrombeing’hearttoheart。’
　　Herheartmightthrobnomore，butminebeatstilltowardit。
　　Acrosstheland，acrossthesea，acrossthegulfofdeath——ifsheweredead——stillinsecretmustIdesirethelovethatIhadforsworn。
　　Andsotheyearsrolledon，bringinglittleofchangewiththem，tillIgrewsurethathereinthisfarplaceIshouldliveanddie。
　　Butthatwasnottobemyfate。
　　Ifanyshouldreadthis，thestoryofmyearlylife，hewillrememberthatthetaleofthedeathofacertainIsabelladeSiguenzaispiecedintoitsmotley。
　　HewillrememberhowthisIsabella，inthelastmomentsofherlife，calleddownacurseuponthatholyfatherwhoaddedoutrageandinsulttohertorment，prayingthathemightalsodiebythehandsoffanaticsandinaworsefashion。
　　Ifmymemorydoesnotplaymefalse，Ihavesaidthatthisindeedcametopass，andverystrangely。
　　ForaftertheconquestofAnahuacbyCortes，amongothersthissamefierypriestcamefromSpaintoturntheIndianstotheloveofGodbytormentandbysword。
　　Indeed，ofallofthosewhoenteredonthismissionofpeace，hewasthemostzealous。
　　TheIndianpabaswroughtcrueltiesenoughwhen，tearingoutthevictim’sheart，theyoffereditlikeincensetoHuitzelortoQuetzal，buttheyatleastdismissedhissoultotheMansionsoftheSun。
　　WiththeChristianprieststhethumb-screwandthestaketooktheplaceofthestoneofsacrifice，butthesoulwhichtheydeliveredfromitsearthlybondagetheyconsignedtotheHouseofHell。
　　OfthesepriestsacertainFatherPedrowastheboldestandthemostcruel。
　　Toandfrohepassed，markinghispathwiththecorpsesofidolaters，untilheearnedthenameofthe’ChristianDevil。’
　　Atlengthheventuredtoofarinhisholyfervour，andwasseizedbyaclanoftheOtomiethathadbrokenfromourruleuponthisveryquestionofhumansacrifice，butwhichwasnotyetsubjugatedbytheSpaniards。
　　Oneday，itwaswhenwehadruledforsomefourteenyearsintheCityofPines，itcametomyknowledgethatthepabasofthisclanhadcapturedaChristianpriest，anddesignedtoofferhimtothegodTezcat。
　　Attendedbyasmallguardonly，Ipassedrapidlyacrossthemountains，purposingtovisitthecaciqueofthisclanwithwhom，althoughhehadcastoffhisallegiancetous，Istillkeptupashowoffriendship，andifIcould，topersuadehimtoreleasethepriest。
　　ButswiftlyasItravelledthevengeanceofthepabashadbeenmoreswift，andIarrivedatthevillageonlytofindthe’ChristianDevil’intheactofbeingledtosacrificebeforetheimageofahideousidolthatwassetuponastakeandsurroundedwithpilesofskulls。
　　Nakedtothewaist，hishandsboundbehindhim，hisgrizzledlockshangingabouthisbreast，hiskeeneyesfixeduponthefacesofhisheathenfoesinmenaceratherthaninsupplicationhisthinlipsmutteringprayers，FatherPedropassedontotheplaceofhisdoom，nowandagainshakinghisheadfiercelytofreehimselffromthetormentoftheinsectswhichbuzzedaboutit。
　　Ilookeduponhimandwondered。
　　Ilookedagainandknew。
　　SuddenlythererosebeforemymindavisionofthatgloomyvaultinSeville，ofawoman，youngandlovely，drapedincerements，andofathin-
　　facedblack-robedfriarwhosmoteheruponthelipswithhisivorycrucifixandcursedherforablasphemingheretic。
　　Therebeforemewastheman。
　　IsabelladeSiguenzahadprayedthatafateliketoherownfateshouldbefallhim，anditwasuponhimnow。
　　Norindeed，rememberingallthathadbeen，wasImindedtoavertit，evenifithadbeeninmypowertodoso。
　　Istoodbyandletthevictimpass，butashepassedIspoketohiminSpanish，saying:
　　’Rememberthatwhichitmaywellbeyouhaveforgotten，holyfather，remembernowthedyingprayerofIsabelladeSiguenzawhommanyyearsagoyoudidtodeathinSeville。’
　　Themanheardme；heturnedlividbeneathhisbronzedskinandstaggereduntilIthoughtthathewouldhavefallen。
　　Hestareduponme，withterrorinhiseye，toseeashebelievedacommonsightenough，thatofanIndianchiefrejoicingatthedeathofoneofhisoppressors。
　　’Whatdevilareyou，’hesaidhoarsely，’sentfromhelltotormentmeatthelast？’
　　’RememberthedyingprayerofIsabelladeSiguenza，whomyoustruckandcursed，’Iansweredmocking。
　　’SeeknottoknowwhenceIam，butrememberthisonly，nowandforever。’
　　Foramomenthestoodstill，heedlessoftheurgingsofhistormentors。
　　Thenhiscouragecametohimagain，andhecriedwithagreatvoice:’Gettheebehindme，Satan，whathaveItofearfromthee？
　　Irememberthatdeadsinnerwell——mayhersoulhavepeace——
　　andhercursehasfallenuponme。
　　Irejoicethatitshouldbeso，foronthefurthersideofyonderstonethegatesofheavenopentomysight。
　　Gettheebehindme，Satan，whathaveItofearfromthee？’
　　Cryingthushestaggeredforwardsaying，’OGod，intoThyhandI
　　commendmyspirit！’
　　Mayhissoulhavepeacealso，forifhewascruel，atleasthewasbrave，anddidnotshrinkbeneaththosetormentswhichhehadinflictedonmanyothers。
　　Nowthiswasalittlematter，butitsresultswerelarge。
　　HadI
　　savedFatherPedrofromthehandsofthepabasoftheOtomie，itislikelyenoughthatIshouldnotto-daybewritingthishistoryhereinthevalleyoftheWaveney。
　　IdonotknowifIcouldhavesavedhim，IonlyknowthatIdidnottry，andthatbecauseofhisdeathgreatsorrowscameuponme。
　　WhetherIwasrightorwrong，whocansay？
　　ThosewhojudgemystorymaythinkthatinthisasinothermattersIwaswrong；hadtheyseenIsabelladeSiguenzadiewithinherlivingtomb，certainlytheywouldholdthatIwasright。
　　Butforgoodorill，matterscameaboutasIhavewritten。
　　Anditcameaboutalso，thatthenewviceroysentfromSpainwasstirredtoangeratthemurderofthefriarbytherebelliousandheathenpeopleoftheOtomie，andsethimselftotakevengeanceonthetribethatwroughtthedeed。
　　SoontidingsreachedmethatagreatforceofTlascalanandotherIndianswerebeingcollectedtoputanendtous，rootandbranch，andthatwiththemmarchedmorethanahundredSpaniards，theexpeditionbeingunderthecommandofnoneotherthantheCaptainBernalDiaz，thatsamesoldierwhomIhadsparedintheslaughterofthenochetriste，andwhoseswordtothisdayhungatmyside。
　　Nowwemustneedsprepareourdefence，forouronlyhopelayinboldness。
　　OncebeforetheSpaniardshadattackeduswiththousandsoftheirallies，andoftheirnumberbutfewhadlivedtolookagainonthecampofCortes。
　　Whathadbeendonecouldbedoneasecondtime——sosaidOtomieintheprideofherunconquerableheart。
　　Butalas！infourteenyearsthingshadchangedmuchwithus。
　　Fourteenyearsagoweheldswayoveragreatdistrictofmountains，whoserudeclanswouldsenduptheirwarriorsinhundredsatourcall。
　　Nowtheseclanshadbrokenfromouryoke，whichwasacknowledgedbythepeopleoftheCityofPinesaloneandthoseofsomeadjacentvillages。
　　WhentheSpaniardscamedownonmethefirsttime，Iwasabletomusteranarmyoftenthousandsoldierstoopposethem，nowwithmuchtoilIcouldcollectnomorethanbetweentwoandthreethousandmen，andofthesesomeslippedawayasthehourofdangerdrewnigh。
　　StillImustputaboldfaceonmynecessities，andmakewhatplayImightwithsuchforcesaslayatmycommand，althoughinmyheartIfearedmuchfortheissue。