the next "four house," and these four elements,
representing air, water, fire, earth, would be thus repeated up to
thirteen, and then they would commence at one again, so that the
fourteenth year would be "one cane," etc., and in four of these cycles
of thirteen they would reach a cycle of fifty-two years, or, as they
called it, a "bundle," and as the twelve and one-half days additional
would end one cycle of fifty-two years at midday, and the next at
midnight, they bundled two of these together and called it "an old
age." The number fifty-two was an unlucky number, and these old
Mexicans believed that at the end of a cycle of that number of years,
at some time, the world would be depopulated, the sun put out, and,
after death and darkness had reigned awhile, it would all begin afresh
with a new race of people.

[Illustration: MASTER MONTEZUMA IS TAUGHT HOW TO FISH.]

So, when a cycle or bundle was completed, all fires were extinguished
and not rekindled during the five unlucky days. Household goods which
could no longer be of any service, dishes, household articles, etc.,
were broken; every one gave up all hope, and abandoned himself to
despair while awaiting the expected ruin.

[Illustration: MASTER MONTEZUMA IS TALKED TO BY HIS FATHER.]

On the evening of the fifth day of sorrow, the priests gathered the
people together in a procession and marched to a temple, about two
leagues from the city. Here they would sit like bumps on a log until
midnight, and then, when the constellation which we call the Pleiades
came exactly overhead, the danger was over. Two sticks were rubbed
together over the breast of a captive who had been selected for the
sacrifice, until fire was produced by the friction, the funeral pile
was lighted, the body burned, and messengers, many of whom could run
long distances, at the rate of seven or eight miles an hour, would
light their torches and spread the joyful news of danger averted,
while carrying the "new fire" into all parts of the empire. Then would
follow a regular old-fashioned frolic, something like a centennial,--a
jollification few had ever seen and most would see but once in a
life-time. There must be no drunkenness, however; that was a high
crime, in some instances punished by death. If the intemperate party,
man or woman, was over seventy years of age, however, no notice was
taken of it,--they were old, and had rights and privileges not granted
to younger members of the community.