KNEWthathewasmine，bodyandmind，andthathemustanswerandtruly，sosurelyashemustdiewhenIchosetokillhim。
　　Hetriedtoshuthislips，buttheyopenedofthemselvesandwordbywordthetruthwasdraggedfromhisblackheartasthoughhestoodalreadybeforethejudgmentseat。
　　’Ilovedyourmother，mycousin，’hesaid，speakingslowlyandpainfully；’fromachildIlovedheronlyintheworld，asIlovehertothishour，butshehatedmebecauseIwaswickedandfearedmebecauseIwascruel。
　　Thenshesawyourfatherandlovedhim，andbroughtabouthisescapefromtheHolyOffice，whitherIhaddeliveredhimtobetorturedandburnt，andfledwithhimtoEngland。
　　IwasjealousandwouldhavebeenrevengedifImight，buttherewasnoway。
　　Iledanevillife，andwhennearlytwentyyearshadgoneby，chancetookmetoEnglandonatradingjourney。
　　BychanceIlearnedthatyourfatherandmotherlivednearYarmouth，andIdeterminedtoseeher，thoughatthattimeIhadnothoughtofkillingher。
　　Fortunefavouredme，andwemetinthewoodland，andIsawthatshewasstillbeautifulandknewthatI
　　lovedhermorethaneverbefore。
　　Igaveherchoicetoflywithmeortodie，andafterawhileshedied。
　　Butassheshrankupthewoodedhillsidebeforemysword，ofasuddenshestoodstillandsaid:
　　’“Listenbeforeyousmite，Juan。
　　Ihaveadeathvision。
　　AsIhavefledfromyou，soshallyouflybeforeoneofmybloodinaplaceoffireandrockandsnow，andasyoudrivemetothegatesofheaven，soheshalldriveyouintothemouthofhell。“’
　　’Insuchaplaceasthis，cousin，’Isaid。
　　’Insuchaplaceasthis，’hewhispered，glancinground。
　　’Continue。’
　　Againhestrovetobesilent，butagainmywillmasteredhimandhespoke。
　　’ItwastoolatetospareherifIwishedtoescapemyself，soI
　　killedherandfled。
　　Butterrorenteredmyheart，terrorwhichhasneverleftittothishour，foralwaysbeforemyeyeswasthevisionofhimofyourmother’sblood，beforewhomIshouldflyasshefledbeforeme，whoshalldrivemeintothemouthofhell。’
　　’Thatmustbeyonder，cousin，’Isaid，pointingwiththeswordtowardthepitofthecrater。
　　’Itisyonder；Ihavelooked。’
　　’Butonlyforthebody，cousin，notforthespirit。’
　　’Onlyforthebody，notforthespirit，’herepeatedafterme。
　　’Continue，’Isaid。
　　’AfterwardsonthatsamedayImetyou，ThomasWingfield。
　　Alreadyyourdeadmother’sprophecyhadtakenholdofme，andseeingoneofherbloodIstrovetokillhimlestheshouldkillme。’
　　’Ashewilldopresently，cousin。’
　　’Ashewilldopresently，’herepeatedlikeatalkingbird。
　　’YouknowwhathappenedandhowIescaped。
　　IfledtoSpainandstrovetoforget。
　　ButIcouldnot。
　　OnenightIsawafaceinthestreetsofSevillethatremindedmeofyourface。
　　Ididnotthinkthatitcouldbeyou，yetsostrongwasmyfearthatIdeterminedtoflytothefarIndies。
　　YoumetmeonthenightofmyflightwhenIwasbiddingfarewelltoalady。’
　　’OneIsabelladeSiguenza，cousin。
　　Ibadefarewelltoherafterwardsanddeliveredherdyingwordstoyou。
　　Nowshewaitstowelcomeyouagain，sheandherchild。’
　　Heshudderedandwenton。
　　’Intheoceanwemetagain。
　　Youroseoutofthesea。
　　Ididnotdaretokillyouatonce，Ithoughtthatyoumustdieintheslave-holdandthatnonecouldbearwitnessagainstmeandholdmeguiltyofyourblood。
　　Youdidnotdie，eventheseacouldnotdestroyyou。
　　ButIthoughtthatyouweredead。
　　IcametoAnahuacinthetrainofCortesandagainwemet；thattimeyounearlykilledme。
　　AfterwardsIhadmyrevengeandI
　　torturedyouwell；Imeanttomurderyouonthemorrow，thoughfirstIwouldtortureyou，forterrorcanbeverycruel，butyouescapedme。
　　Longyearspassed，Iwanderedhitherandthither，toSpain，backtoMexico，andelsewhere，butwhereverIwentmyfear，theghostsofthedead，andmydreamswentwithme，andIwasneverfortunate。
　　OnlytheotherdayIjoinedthecompanyofDiazasanadventurer。
　　NottillwereachedtheCityofPinesdidIlearnthatyouwerethecaptainoftheOtomie；itwassaidthatyouwerelongdead。
　　Youknowtherest。’
　　’Whydidyoumurdermyson，cousin？’
　　’Washenotofyourmother’sblood，ofthebloodthatshouldbringmydoomuponme，anddidIoweyounorewardforalltheterrorsofthesemanyyears？
　　Moreoverheisfoolishwhostrivestoslaythefatherandsparestheson。
　　HeisdeadandIamgladthatIkilledhim，thoughhehauntsmenowwiththeothers。’
　　’Andshallhauntyoueternally。
　　Nowletusmakeanend。
　　Youhaveyoursword，useitifyoucan。
　　Itwillbeeasiertodiefighting。’
　　’Icannot，’hegroaned；’mydoomisuponme。’
　　’Asyouwill，’andIcameathim，swordup。
　　Heranfrombeforeme，movingbackwardsandkeepinghiseyesfixeduponmine，asIhaveseenaratdowhenasnakeisabouttoswallowit。
　　Nowwewereupontheedgeofthecrater，andlookingoverI
　　sawanawfulsight。
　　Forthere，somethirtyfeetbeneathus，thered-hotlavaglowingsullenlybeneathashiftingpallofsmoke，rolledandspoutedlikeathingalive。
　　Jetsofsteamflewupwardsfromitwithascreamingsound，linesofnoxiousvapours，many-
　　coloured，creptandtwistedonitssurface，andahotandhorridstenchpoisonedtheheatedair。
　　HereindeedwassuchagateasI
　　couldwishfordeGarciatopassthroughtohisownabode。
　　Ilooked，pointedwithmysword，andlaughed；helookedandshriekedaloud，fornowallhismanhoodhadlefthim，sogreatwashisterrorofwhatlaybeyondtheend。
　　Yes，thisproudandhaughtySpaniardscreamedandweptandprayedformercy；hewhohaddonesomanyvillaniesbeyondforgiveness，prayedformercythathemightfindtimetorepent。
　　Istoodandwatchedhim，andsodreadfulwashisaspectthathorrorstruckmeeventhroughthecalmofmyfrozenheart。
　　’Come，itistimetofinish，’Isaid，andagainIliftedmysword，onlytoletitfall，forsuddenlyhisbraingavewayanddeGarciawentmadbeforemyeyes！
　　OfallthatfollowedIwillnotwrite。
　　Withhismadnesscouragecamebacktohim，andhebegantofight，butnotwithME。
　　Heseemedtoperceivemenomore，butneverthelesshefought，anddesperately，thrustingattheemptyair。
　　Itwasterribletoseehimthusdoingbattlewithhisinvisiblefoes，andtohearhisscreamsandcurses，asinchbyinchtheydrovehimbacktotheedgeofthecrater。
　　Herehestoodawhile，likeonewhomakesalaststandagainstoverpoweringstrength，thrustingandstrikingfuriously。
　　Twicehenearlyfell，asthoughbeneathamortalwound，butrecoveringhimself，foughtonwithNothingness。
　　Then，withasharpcry，suddenlyhethrewhisarmswide，asamandoeswhoispiercedthroughtheheart；hissworddroppedfromhishand，andhefellbackwardsintothepit。
　　Iturnedawaymyeyes，forIwishedtoseenomore；butoftenI
　　havewonderedWhoorWhatitwasthatdealtdeGarciahisdeathwound。
　　ThusthendidIaccomplishthevengeancethatIhadsworntomyfatherIwouldwreakupondeGarcia，orrather，thusdidIwitnessitsaccomplishment，forintheendhedied，terriblyenough，notbymyhandbutbythoseofhisownfears。
　　SincethenIhavesorrowedforthis，for，whenthefrozenandunnaturalcalmpassedfrommymind，Ihatedhimasbitterlyasever，andgrievedthatIlethimdieotherwisethanbymyhand，andtothishoursuchismymindtowardshim。
　　Doubtless，manymaythinkitwicked，sincewearetaughttoforgiveourenemies，buthereIleavetheforgivenesstoGod，forhowcanIpardononewhobetrayedmyfathertothepriests，whomurderedmymotherandmyson，whochainedmeintheslave-shipandformanyhourstorturedmewithhisownhand？
　　Rather，yearbyyear，doIhatehimmore。
　　Iwriteofthisatsomelength，sincethematterhasbeenatroubletome。
　　InevercouldsaythatIwasincharitywithallmenlivinganddead，andbecauseofthis，someyearssince，aworthyandlearnedrectorofthisparishtookuponhimselftorefusemetheritesofthechurch。
　　ThenIwenttothebishopandlaidthestorybeforehim，anditpuzzledhimsomewhat。
　　Buthewasamanoflargemind，andintheendherebukedtherectorandcommandedhimtoministertome，forhethoughtwithmethattheAlmightycouldnotaskofanerringman，thatheshouldforgiveonewhohadwroughtsuchevilsonhimandhis，eventhoughthatenemyweredeadandgonetojudgmentinanotherplace。
　　Butenoughofthisquestionofconscience。
　　WhendeGarciawasgoneintothepit，Iturnedmystepshomewards，orrathertowardstheruinedcitywhichIcouldseebeneathme，forIhadnohomeleft。
　　NowImustdescendtheicecap，andthisI
　　foundlesseasythanclimbingithadbeen，for，myvengeancebeingaccomplished，Ibecameasothermenare，andasadandwearyoneatthat，sosadindeedthatIshouldnothavesorrowedgreatlyifI
　　hadmadeafalsestepupontheice。
　　ButImadenone，andatlengthIcametothesnowwherethetravellingwaseasy。
　　Myoathwasfulfilledandmyvengeancewasaccomplished，butasIwentIreckonedupthecost。
　　Ihadlostmybetrothed，theloveofmyyouth；fortwentyyearsIhadlivedasavagechiefamongsavagesandmadeacquaintancewitheveryhardship，weddedtoawomanwho，althoughshelovedmedearly，anddidnotlacknobilityofmind，asshehadshowntheotherday，wasstillatheartasavageor，attheleast，athrallofdemongods。
　　ThetribethatIruledwasconquered，thebeautifulcitywhereI
　　dweltwasaruin，Iwashomelessandabeggar，andmyfortunewouldbegreatifintheissueIescapeddeathorslavery。
　　AllthisI
　　couldhaveborne，forIhadbornethelikebefore，butthecruelendofmylastsurvivingson，theonetruejoyofmydesolatelife，Icouldnotbear。
　　Theloveofthosechildrenhadbecomethepassionofmymiddleage，andasIlovedthemsotheyhadlovedme。
　　IhadtrainedthemfrombabyhoodtilltheirheartswereEnglishandnotAztec，asweretheirspeechandfaith，andthustheywerenotonlymydearchildren，butcompanionsofmyownrace，theonlyonesIhad。
　　Andnowbyaccident，bysickness，andbythesword，theyweredeadthethreeofthem，andIwasdesolate。
　　Ah！wethinkmuchofthesorrowsofouryouth，andshouldasweetheartgiveusthegobywefilltheworldwithmoansandswearthatitholdsnocomfortforus。
　　Butwhenwebendourheadsbeforetheshroudedshapeofsomelostchild，thenitisthatforthefirsttimewelearnhowterriblegriefcanbe。
　　Time，theytellus，willbringconsolation，butitisfalse，forsuchsorrowstimehasnosalves——Isayitwhoamold——astheyaresotheyshallbe。
　　Thereisnohopebutfaith，thereisnocomfortsaveinthetruththatlovewhichmighthavewitheredontheearthgrowsfastestinthetomb，toflowergloriouslyinheaven；thatnoloveindeedcanbeperfecttillGodsanctifiesandcompletesitwithHissealofdeath。
　　IthrewmyselfdownthereuponthedesolatesnowsofXaca，thatnonehadtrodbefore，andweptsuchtearsasamanmayweepbutonceinhislifedays。
　　’OmysonAbsalom，myson，mysonAbsalom！wouldGodIhaddiedforthee，OAbsalom，myson，myson！’Icriedwiththeancientking——I
　　whosegriefwasgreaterthanhis，forhadInotlostthreesonswithinasmanyyears？
　　Thenrememberingthatasthiskinghadgonetojoinhissonlongcenturiesago，soImustonedaygotojoinmine，andtakingsuchcomfortfromthethoughtasmaybefoundinit，IroseandcreptbacktotheruinedCityofPines。
　　ItwasnearsunsetwhenIcamethither，fortheroadwaslongandI
　　grewweak。
　　BythepalaceImettheCaptainDiazandsomeofhiscompany，andtheyliftedtheirbonnetstomeasIwentby，fortheyhadrespectformysorrows。
　　OnlyDiazspoke，saying:
　　’Isthemurdererdead？’