ButwiththeseIndianpeopleitisnotso，sincewhenfortunefrownsuponthemtheydonotclingtolife。
　　ThesemenoftheOtomiehadlosttheircountry，theirwives，theirwealth，theirbrethren，andtheirhomes；thereforelife，withfreedomtowanderwhithertheywould，seemednogreatthingtothem。
　　SotheymettheboonthatIhadwonfromthemercyofourfoes，ashadmattersgoneotherwisetheywouldhavemetthebane，insullensilence。
　　IcametoOtomie，andtoheralsoItoldthenews。
　　’IhadhopedtodieherewhereIam，’sheanswered。
　　’Butsobeit；
　　deathisalwaystobefound。’
　　Onlymysonrejoiced，becauseheknewthatGodhadsavedusallfromdeathbyswordorhunger。
　　’Father，’hesaid，’theSpaniardshavegivenuslife，buttheytakeourcountryanddriveusoutofit。
　　Wherethenshallwego？’
　　’Idonotknow，myson，’Ianswered。
　　’Father，’theladsaidagain，’letusleavethislandofAnahuacwherethereisnothingbutSpaniardsandsorrow。
　　LetusfindashipandsailacrosstheseastoEngland，ourowncountry。’
　　Theboyspokemyverythoughtandmyheartleaptathiswords，thoughIhadnoplantobringthematterabout。
　　Iponderedamoment，lookingatOtomie。
　　’Thethoughtisgood，Teule，’shesaid，answeringmyunspokenquestion；’foryouandforoursonthereisnobetter，butformyselfIwillanswerintheproverbofmypeople，“Theearththatbearsuslieslightestonourbones。“’
　　Thensheturned，makingreadytoquitthestorehouseofthetemplewherewehadbeenlodgedduringthesiege，andnomorewassaidaboutthematter。
　　Beforethesunsetawearythrongofmen，withsomefewwomenandchildren，weremarchingacrossthecourtyardthatsurroundedthepyramid，forabridgeoftimberstakenfromthetemplehadbeenmadeoverthebreachintheroadwaythatwoundaboutitsside。
　　AtthegatestheSpaniardswerewaitingtoreceiveus。
　　Someofthemcursedus，somemocked，butthoseofthenoblersortsaidnothing，fortheypitiedourplightandrespectedusforthecouragewehadshowninthelaststruggle。
　　TheirIndianalliesweretherealso，andthesegrinnedlikeunfedpumas，snarlingandwhimperingforourlives，tilltheirmasterskickedthemtosilence。
　　ThelastactofthefallofAnahuacwasasthefirsthadbeen，dogstillatedog，leavingthegoodlyspoiltothelionwhowatched。
　　Atthegatesweweresortedout；themenofsmallcondition，togetherwiththechildren，weretakenfromtheruinedcitybyanescortandturnedlooseuponthemountains，whilethoseofnotewerebroughttotheSpanishcamp，tobequestionedtherebeforetheyweresetfree。
　　I，withmywifeandson，wasledtothepalace，ouroldhome，theretolearnthewilloftheCaptainDiaz。
　　Itisbutalittlewaytogo，andyettherewassomethingtobeseeninthepath。
　　ForaswewalkedIlookedup，andbeforeme，standingwithfoldedarmsandapartfromallmen，wasdeGarcia。
　　I
　　hadscarcelythoughtofhimforsomedays，sofullhadmymindbeenofothermatters，butatthesightofhisevilfaceIrememberedthatwhilethismanlived，sorrowanddangermustbemybedfellows。
　　Hewatcheduspass，takingnoteofall，thenhecalledtomewhowalkedlast:
　　’Farewell，CousinWingfield。
　　Youhavelivedthroughthisboutalsoandwonafreepardon，you，yourwomanandyourbrattogether。
　　Iftheoldwar-horsewhoissetoverusasacaptainhadlistenedtomeyoushouldhavebeenburnedatthestake，everyoneofyou，butsoitis。
　　Farewellforawhile，friend。
　　IamawaytoMexicotoreportthesematterstotheviceroy，whomayhaveawordtosay。’
　　Imadenoanswer，butaskedofourconductor，thatsameSpaniardwhomIhadsavedfromthesacrifice，whatthesenormeantbyhiswords。
　　’This，Teule；thattherehasbeenaquarrelbetweenourcomradeSarcedaandourcaptain。
　　Theformerwouldhavegrantedyounoterms，orfailingthiswouldhavedecoyedyoufromyourstrongholdwithfalsepromises，andthenhaveputyoutotheswordasinfidelswithwhomnooathisbinding。
　　Butthecaptainwouldnothaveitso，forhesaidthatfaithmustbekeptevenwiththeheathen，andwewhomyouhadsavedcriedshameonhim。
　　Andsowordsranhigh，andintheendtheSenorSarceda，whoisthirdincommandamongus，declaredthathewouldbenopartytothispeacemaking，butwouldbegonetoMexicowithhisservants，theretoreporttotheviceroy。
　　ThentheCaptainDiazbadehimbegonetohellifhewishedandreporttothedevil，sayingthathehadalwaysbelievedthathehadescapedthencebymistake，andtheypartedinwrathwho，sincethedayofnochetriste，neverlovedeachothermuch；
　　theendofitbeingthatSarcedaridesforMexicowithinanhour，tomakewhatmischiefhecanattheviceroy’scourt，andIthinkthatyouarewellridofhim。’
　　’Father，’saidmysontome，’whoisthatSpaniardwholookssocruellyuponus？’
　　’ThatisheofwhomIhavetoldyou，son，deGarcia，whohasbeenthecurseofourracefortwogenerations，whobetrayedyourgrandfathertotheHolyOffice，andmurderedyourgrandmother，whoputmetotorture，andwhoseilldeedsarenotdonewithyet。
　　Bewareofhim，son，nowandever，Ibeseechyou。’
　　Nowwewerecometothepalace，almosttheonlyhousethatwasleftstandingintheCityofPines。
　　Hereanapartmentwasgiventousattheendofthelongbuilding，andpresentlyacommandwasbroughttousthatIandmywifeshouldwaitupontheSpanishcaptainDiaz。
　　Sowewent，thoughOtomiedesiredtostaybehind，leavingoursonaloneinthechamberwherefoodhadbeenbroughttohim。
　　I
　　rememberthatIkissedhimbeforeIleft，thoughIdonotknowwhatmovedmetodoso，unlessitwasbecauseIthoughtthathemightbeasleepwhenIreturned。
　　TheCaptainDiazhadhisquartersattheotherendofthepalace，sometwohundredpacesaway。
　　Presentlywestoodbeforehim。
　　Hewasarough-looking，thick-setmanwelloninyears，withbrighteyesandanuglyhonestface，likethefaceofapeasantwhohastoiledalifetimeinallweathers，onlythefieldsthatDiaztilledwerefieldsofwar，andhisharvesthadbeenthelivesofmen。
　　Justthenhewasjokingwithsomecommonsoldiersinastrainscarcelysuitedtoniceears，butsosoonashesawusheceasedandcameforward。
　　IsalutedhimaftertheIndianfashionbytouchingtheearthwithmyhand，forwhatwasIbutanIndiancaptive？
　　’Yoursword，’hesaidbriefly，ashescannedmewithhisquickeyes。
　　Iunbuckleditfrommysideandhandedittohim，sayinginSpanish:
　　’Takeit，Captain，foryouhaveconquered，alsoitdoesbutcomebacktoitsowner。’
　　ForthiswasthesameswordthatIhadcapturedfromoneBernalDiazinthefrayofthenochetriste。
　　Helookedatit，thensworeagreatoathandsaid:
　　’Ithoughtthatitcouldbenootherman。
　　Andsowemeetagainthusaftersomanyyears。
　　Well，yougavememylifeonce，andIamgladthatIhavelivedtopaythedebt。
　　HadInotbeensurethatitwasyou，youhadnotwonsucheasyterms，friend。
　　Howareyounamed？
　　Nay，IknowwhattheIndianscallyou。’
　　’IamnamedWingfield。’
　　’FriendWingfieldthen。
　　ForItellyouthatIwouldhavesatbeneathyonderdevil’shouse，’andhenoddedtowardstheteocalli，’tillyoustarveduponitstop。
　　Nay，friendWingfield，takebackthesword。
　　Isuitedmyselfwithanothermanyyearsago，andyouhaveusedthisonegallantly；neverhaveIseenIndiansmakeabetterfight。
　　AndsothatisOtomie，Montezuma’sdaughterandyourwife，stillhandsomeandroyal，Isee。
　　Lord！
　　Lord！itismanyyearsago，andyetitseemsbutyesterdaythatIsawherfatherdie，aChristian-heartedman，thoughnoChristian，andonewhomwedealtillwith。
　　MayGodforgiveusall！
　　Well，Madam，nonecansaythatYOUhaveaChristianheart。
　　IfacertaintalethatIhaveheardofwhatpassedyonder，somethreenightssince，istrue。
　　Butwewillspeaknomoreofit，forthesavagebloodwillshow，andyouarepardonedforyourhusband’ssakewhosavedmycomradesfromthesacrifice。’
　　ToallthisOtomielistened，standingstilllikeastatue，butsheneveransweredaword。
　　Indeedshehadspokenveryrarelysincethatdreadfulnightofherunspeakableshame。
　　’Andnow，friendWingfield，’wentontheCaptainDiaz，’whatisyourpurpose？
　　Youarefreetogowhereyouwill，whitherthenwillyougo？’
　　’Idonotknow，’Ianswered。
　　’Yearsago，whentheAztecemperorgavememylifeandthisprincessmywifeinmarriage，Isworetobefaithfultohimandhiscause，andtofightforthemtillPopoceasedtovomitsmoke，tilltherewasnokinginTenoctitlan，andthepeopleofAnahuacwerenomoreapeople。’
　　’Thenyouarequitofyouroath，friend，forallthesethingshavecomeabout，andtherehasbeennosmokeonPopoforthesetwoyears。
　　Now，ifyouwillbeadvisedbyme，youwillturnChristianagainandentertheserviceofSpain。
　　Butcome，letustosupper，wecantalkofthesemattersafterwards。’
　　SowesatdowntoeatbythelightoftorchesinthebanquetinghallwithBernalDiazandsomeotheroftheSpaniards。
　　Otomiewouldhaveleftus，andthoughthecaptainbadeherstaysheatenothing，andpresentlyslippedawayfromthechamber。