Madnessstillburnedintheheartsofthesewomen；theyhadaccomplishedtheirsacrifice，buttheirfestivalwasstilltocome。
　　Theydrewthemselvesawaytothefurthersideofthepyramid，and，heedlessoftheshotswhichnowandagainpiercedthebreastofoneofthem——forheretheywereexposedtotheSpanishfire——remainedawhileinpreparation。
　　Withthemwentthepriestsofsacrifice，butnow，asbefore，therestofthemenstoodinsullengroups，watchingwhatbefell，butliftingnohandorvoicetohinderitshellishness。
　　Onewomandidnotgowiththem，andthatwomanwasOtomiemywife。
　　Shestoodbythestoneofsacrifice，apiteoussighttosee，forherfrenzyorratherhermadnesshadoutwornitself，andshewasasshehadeverbeen。
　　TherestoodOtomie，gazingwithwideandhorror-strickeneyesnowatthetokensofthisunholyriteandnowatherownhands——asthoughshethoughttoseethemred，andshudderedatthethought。
　　Idrewneartoherandtouchedherontheshoulder。
　　Sheturnedswiftly，gasping，
　　’Husband！husband！’
　　’ItisI，’Ianswered，’butcallmehusbandnomore。’
　　’Oh！whathaveIdone？’shewailed，andfellsenselessinmyarms。
　　AndhereIwilladdwhatatthetimeIknewnothingof，foritwastoldmeinafteryearsbytheRectorofthisparish，averylearnedman，thoughoneofnarrowmind。
　　HadIknownitindeed，IshouldhavespokenmorekindlytoOtomiemywifeeveninthathour，andthoughtmoregentlyofherwickedness。
　　Itseems，sosaidmyfriendtheRector，thatfromthemostancienttimes，thosewomenwhohavebentthekneetodemongods，suchaswerethegodsofAnahuac，aresubjectatanytimetobecomepossessedbythem，evenaftertheyhaveabandonedtheirworship，andtobedrivenintheirfrenzytotheworkingofthegreatestcrimes。
　　Thus，amongotherinstances，hetoldmethataGreekpoetnamedTheocritussetsoutinoneofhisidylshowawomancalledAgave，beingengagedinasecretreligiousorgieinhonourofademonnamedDionysus，perceivedherownsonPentheuswatchingthecelebrationofthemysteries，andthereonbecomingpossessedbythedemonshefellonhimandmurderedhim，beingaidedbytheotherwomen。
　　Forthisthepoet，whowasalsoaworshipperofDionysus，gavehergreathonourandnotreproach，seeingthatshedidthedeedatthebehestofthisgod，’adeednottobeblamed。’
　　NowIwriteofthisforareason，thoughithasnothingtodowithme，foritseemsthatasDionysuspossessedAgave，drivinghertounnaturalmurder，sodidHuitzelpossessOtomie，andindeedshesaidasmuchtomeafterwards。
　　ForIamsurethatifthedevilswhomtheGreeksworshippedhadsuchpower，astillgreaterstrengthwasgiventothoseofAnahuac，whoamongallfiendswerethefirst。
　　Ifthisbeso，asIbelieve，itwasnotOtomiethatIsawattheritesofsacrifice，butratherthedemonHuitzelwhomshehadonceworshipped，andwhohadpower，therefore，toenterintoherbodyforawhileinplaceofherownspirit。
　　TakingOtomieinmyarms，Iborehertooneofthestorehousesattachedtothetemple。
　　Heremanychildrenhadbeenplacedforsafety，amongthemmyownson。
　　’Whatailsourmother，father？’saidtheboy。
　　’Andwhydidsheshutmeinherewiththesechildrenwhenitseemsthatthereisfightingwithout？’
　　’Yourmotherhasfainted，’Ianswered，’anddoubtlesssheplacedyouheretokeepyousafe。
　　NowdoyoutendhertillIreturn。’
　　’Iwilldoso，’answeredtheboy，’butsurelyitwouldbebetterthatI，whoamalmostaman，shouldbewithout，fightingtheSpaniardsatyoursideratherthanwithin，nursingsickwomen。’
　　’DoasIbidyou，son，’Isaid，’andIchargeyounottoleavethisplaceuntilIcomeforyouagain。’
　　NowIpassedoutofthestorehouse，shuttingthedoorbehindme。
　　A
　　minutelaterIwishedthatIhadstayedwhereIwas，sinceontheplatformmyeyesweregreetedbyasightmoredreadfulthananythathadgonebefore。
　　Forthere，advancingtowardsus，werethewomendividedintofourgreatcompanies，someofthembearinginfantsintheirarms。
　　Theycamesingingandleaping，manyofthemnakedtothemiddle。
　　Norwasthisall，forinfrontofthemranthepabasandsuchofthewomenthemselvesaswerepersonsinauthority。
　　Theseleaders，maleandfemale，ranandleapedandsang，callinguponthenamesoftheirdemon-gods，andcelebratingthewickednessesoftheirforefathers，whileafterthempouredthehowlingtroopsofwomen。
　　Toandfrotheyrushed，nowmakingobeisancetothestatueofHuitzel，nowprostratingthemselvesbeforehishideoussister，thegoddessofDeath，whosatbesidehimadornedwithhercarvennecklaceofmen’sskullsandhands，nowbowingaroundthestoneofsacrifice，andnowthrustingtheirbarearmsintotheflamesoftheholyfire。
　　Foranhourormoretheycelebratedthisghastlycarnival，ofwhichevenI，versedasIwasintheIndiancustoms，couldnotfullyunderstandthemeaning，andthen，asthoughsomesingleimpulsehadpossessedthem，theywithdrewtothecentreoftheopenspace，and，formingthemselvesintoadoublecircle，withinwhichstoodthepabas，ofasuddentheyburstintoachantsowildandshrillthatasIlistenedmybloodcurdledinmyveins。
　　Evennowtheburdenofthatchantwiththevisionofthosewhosangitsometimeshauntsmysleepatnight，butIwillnotwriteithere。
　　Lethimwhoreadsimagineallthatismostcruelintheheartofman，andeveryterroroftheevillestdream，addingtothesesomehorror-riddentaleofmurder，ghosts，andinhumanvengeance；then，ifhecan，lethimshapethewholeinwordsand，asinaglassdarkly，perchancehemaymirrorthespiritofthatlastancientsongofthewomenoftheOtomie，withitssobs，itscriesoftriumph，anditsdeathwailings。
　　Everastheysang，stepbysteptheydrewbackwards，andwiththemwenttheleadersofeachcompany，theireyesfixeduponthestatuesoftheirgods。
　　Nowtheywerebutasegmentofacircle，fortheydidnotadvancetowardsthetemple；backwardandoutwardtheywentwithaslowandsolemntramp。
　　Therewasbutonelineofthemnow，forthoseinthesecondringfilledthegapsinthefirstasitwidened；stilltheydrewontillatlengththeystoodonthesheeredgeoftheplatform。
　　Thenthepriestsandthewomenleaderstooktheirplaceamongthemandforamomenttherewassilence，untilatasignaloneandalltheybentthembackwards。
　　Standingthus，theirlonghairwavingonthewind，thelightofburninghousesflaringupontheirbreastsandintheirmaddenedeyes，theyburstintothecryof:
　　’SAVEUS，HUITZEL！RECEIVEUS，LORDGOD，OURHOME！’
　　Thricetheycriedit，eachtimemoreshrillythanbefore，thensuddenlytheywereGONE，thewomenoftheOtomiewerenomore！
　　Withtheirownself-slaughtertheyhadconsummatedthelastcelebrationoftheritesofsacrificethatevershallbeheldintheCityofPines。
　　Thedevilgodsweredeadandtheirworshipperswiththem。
　　Alowmurmurranroundthelipsofthemenwhowatched，thenonecried，andhisvoicerangstrangelyinthesuddensilence:’Mayourwives，thewomenoftheOtomie，restsoftlyintheHousesoftheSun，forofasuretytheyteachushowtodie。’
　　’Ay，’Ianswered，’butnotthus。
　　Letwomendoself-murder，ourfoeshaveswordsfortheheartsofmen。’
　　Iturnedtogo，andbeforemestoodOtomie。
　　’Whathasbefallen？’shesaid。
　　’Wherearemysisters？
　　Oh！surelyIhavedreamedanevildream。
　　Idreamedthatthegodsofmyforefatherswerestrongoncemore，andthatoncemoretheydrankthebloodofmen。
　　’Yourilldreamhasaworseawakening，Otomie，’Ianswered。
　　’Thegodsofhellarestillstrongindeedinthisaccursedland，andtheyhavetakenyoursistersintotheirkeeping。’
　　’Isitso？’shesaidsoftly，’yetinmydreamitseemedtomethatthiswastheirlaststrengtheretheysinkintodeathunending。
　　Lookyonder！’andshepointedtowardthesnowycrestofthevolcanXaca。
　　Ilooked，butwhetherIsawthesightofwhichIamabouttotellorwhetheritwasbutanimaginingbornofthehorrorsofthatmosthideousnight，intruthIcannotsay。
　　AttheleastIseemedtoseethis，andafterwardsthereweresomeamongtheSpaniardswhosworethattheyhadwitnesseditalso。
　　OnXaca’sloftysummit，nowasalwaysstoodapillaroffierysmoke，andwhileIgazed，tomyvisionthesmokeandthefireseparatedthemselves。
　　Outofthefirewasfashionedacrossofflame，thatshonelikelightningandstretchedformanyarodacrosstheheavens，itsbaserestingonthemountaintop。
　　Atitsfootrolledthecloudsofsmoke，andnowthesetootookformsvastandterrifying，suchformsindeedasthosethatsatinstonewithinthetemplebehindme，butmagnifiedahundredfold。
　　’See，’saidOtomieagain，’thecrossofyourGodshinesabovetheshapesofmine，thelostgodswhomto-nightIworshippedthoughnotofmyownwill。’
　　Thensheturnedandwent。
　　ForsomefewmomentsIstoodverymuchafraid，gazinguponthevisiononXaca’ssnow，thensuddenlytheraysoftherisingsunsmoteitanditwasgone。
　　NowforthreedaysmoreweheldoutagainsttheSpaniards，fortheycouldnotcomeatusandtheirshotsweptoverourheadsharmlessly。
　　DuringthesedaysIhadnotalkwithOtomie，forweshrankfromoneanother。
　　Hourbyhourshewouldsitinthestorehouseofthetempleaverypictureofdesolation。
　　TwiceI
　　triedtospeakwithher，myheartbeingmovedtopitybythedumbtormentinhereyes，butsheturnedherheadfrommeandmadenoanswer。
　　SoonitcametotheknowledgeoftheSpaniardsthatwehadenoughfoodandwaterupontheteocallitoenableustolivethereforamonthormore，andseeingthattherewasnohopeofcapturingtheplacebyforceofarms，theycalledaparleywithus。
　　Iwentdowntothebreachintheroadwayandspokewiththeirenvoy，whostooduponthepathbelow。
　　Atfirstthetermsofferedwerethatweshouldsurrenderatdiscretion。
　　TothisIansweredthatsoonerthandosowewoulddiewherewewere。
　　Theirreplywasthatifwewouldgiveoverallwhohadanypartinthehumansacrifice，therestofusmightgofree。
　　TothisIsaidthatthesacrificehadbeencarriedoutbywomenandsomefewmen，andthatalloftheseweredeadbytheirownhands。
　　TheyaskedifOtomiewasalsodead。
　　Itoldthemno，butthatIwouldneversurrenderunlesstheysworethatneithershenorhersonshouldbeharmed，butratherthattogetherwithmyselftheyshouldbegivenasafe-
　　conducttogowhitherwewilled。
　　Thiswasrefused，butintheendIwontheday，andaparchmentwasthrownuptomeonthepointofalance。
　　Thisparchment，whichwassignedbytheCaptainBernalDiaz，setoutthatinconsiderationofthepartthatIandsomemenoftheOtomiehadplayedinrescuingtheSpanishcaptivesfromdeathbysacrifice，apardonwasgrantedtome，mywifeandchild，andallupontheteocalli，withlibertytogowhither-soeverwewouldunharmed，ourlandsandwealthbeinghoweverdeclaredforfeittotheviceroy。
　　WiththesetermsIwaswellcontent，indeedIhadneverhopedtowinanythatwouldleaveusourlivesandliberty。
　　Andyetformypartdeathhadbeenalmostaswelcome，fornowOtomiehadbuiltawallbetweenusthatIcouldneverclimb，andI
　　wasboundtoher，toawomanwho，willinglyorno，hadstainedherhandswithsacrifice。
　　Well，mysonwaslefttomeandwithhimI
　　mustbesatisfied；attheleastheknewnothingofhismother’sshame。
　　Oh！IthoughttomyselfasIclimbedtheteocalli，oh！thatIcouldbutescapefarfromthisaccursedlandandbearhimwithmetotheEnglishshores，ay，andOtomiealso，forthereshemightforgetthatonceshehadbeenasavage。
　　Alas！itcouldscarcelybe！
　　Comingtothetemple，Iandthosewithmetoldthegoodtidingstoourcompanions，whoreceiveditsilently。
　　Menofawhiteracewouldhaverejoicedthustoescape，forwhendeathisnearallotherlossseemsasnothing。