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Sagas of Eric the Red and of Thorfinn Karlsefne.--AUTHOR.
Now when the cacique heard this he saw that Marina spoke truth, and
hurrying up the teocalli, he caught the knife as it was in the act of
falling upon me. At first the head priest was angered and called out
that this was sacrilege, but when the cacique had told him his mind,
he understood that he would do wisely not to run a risk of the wrath of
Montezuma. So I was loosed and led into the sanctuary, and when I came
out the paba announced to the people that the god had declared me to be
one of his children, and it was for this reason that then and thereafter
they treated me with reverence.
CHAPTER XIV
THE SAVING OF GUATEMOC
Now after this dreadful day I was kindly dealt with by the people of
Tobasco, who gave me the name of Teule or Spaniard, and no longer sought
to put me to sacrifice. Far from it indeed, I was well clothed and fed,
and suffered to wander where I would, though always under the care of
guards who, had I escaped, would have paid for it with their lives. I
learned that on the morrow of my rescue from the priests, messengers
were despatched to Montezuma, the great king, acquainting him with the
history of my capture, and seeking to know his pleasure concerning me.
But the way to Tenoctitlan was far, and many weeks passed before the
messengers returned again. Meanwhile I filled the days in learning
the Maya language, and also something of that of the Aztecs, which I
practised with Marina and others. For Marina was not a Tobascan, having
been born at Painalla, on the southeastern borders of the empire. But
her mother sold her to merchants in order that Marina's inheritance
might come to another child of hers by a second marriage, and thus in
the end the girl fell into the hands of the cacique of Tobasco.
Also I learned something of the history and customs, and of the picture
writing of the land, and how to read it, and moreover I obtained great
repute among the Tobascans by my skill in medicine, so that in time they
grew to believe that I was indeed a child of Quetzal, the good god. And
the more I studied this people the less I could understand of them. In
most ways they were equal to any nation of our own world of which I had
knowledge. None are more skilled in the arts, few are better architects
or boast purer laws. Moreover, they were brave and had patience. But
their faith was the canker at the root of the tree. In precept it
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