stance, a single
word being sufficient to post his true-hearts.

So far not a single blow had been struck by the retreating party,
although great provocation had been given them. More than one of their
number was bleeding, yet all were afoot, and still capable of holding
ranks. Then--

Bravest of the brave, a man among men in spite of his tender years,
Ixtli laid down his life in defence of his idolised Victo.

From one of that maddened rabble came a heavy stone, flung with all the
power of a sinewy arm and great sling. Smitten fairly between the
eyes, the poor lad's skull was crushed, as a giant hand might mash an
eggshell.

One gasping sigh, then the lad sunk to earth, dead ere he could fairly
measure his length thereupon.

For a single instant Aztotl seemed as one stupefied, but then an awful
uproar burst from his labouring lungs, and he hurled his heavy javelin
full at yonder murderer, winging it with a father's curses.

Swift flew the dart, but fully as quickly sank that varlet, the head of
the spear scraping his skull, to pass on and smite with death one even
more evil, if that might be.

Full in the throat Tlacopa was stricken, the broad blade of copper
tearing a passage through, and the shaft following after for the greater
portion of its length. Unable to scream, though his visage was hideously
distorted by mingled fear and agony, the high priest caught the wood in
both hands, even as he reeled to partly turn, then fall upon his face,
dead,--thrice dead!

With a wild thrill of grief and horror, Bruno Gillespie saw his red
brother reel in cruel death, and, for the moment heedless of his own
peril, which surely was doubled thereby, he sprang that way, to stoop
and catch that quivering shape in his eager hands.

Too late, save to show his comradeship. That heavy stone had only too
surely performed its grim mission. Dead! Poor lad: dead, while seeking
to save another!

With a fierce cry of angry mourning, Bruno lifted the mutilated corpse
in his arms, trying to toss it over a shoulder, to bear away from risk
of trampling under the heedless feet of the yelling heathen; but it was
not to be. Another stone smote his arm near the elbow, breaking no bone,
yet so benumbing the member as to temporarily disable it, causing that
precious burden to drop to earth once more.

Then came an awful outcry from the people, whom the sight of their
high-priest reeling in death had, for a few fleeting seconds, fairly
st