ent anger, while the
princess Otomie stood terrified and amazed at my blasphemies, and the
flutes piped and the dancers danced behind us. And as I raved I saw that
the mind of Otomie wandered from my words, for she was staring towards
the east like one who sees a vision. Then I looked also towards the east
and saw that the sky was alight there. For from the edge of the horizon
to the highest parts of heaven spread a fan of pale and fearful light
powdered over with sparks of fire, the handle of the fan resting on the
earth as it were, while its wings covered the eastern sky. Now I ceased
my cursing and stood transfixed, and as I stood, a cry of terror arose
from all the precincts of the palace and people poured from every door
to gaze upon the portent that flared and blazed in the east. Presently
Montezuma himself came out, attended by his great lords, and in that
ghastly light I saw that his lips worked and his hands writhed over each
other. Nor was the miracle done with, for anon from the clear sky that
hung over the city, descended a ball of fire, which seemed to rest upon
the points of the lofty temple in the great square, lighting up the
teocalli as with the glare of day. It vanished, but where it had been
another light now burned, for the temple of Quetzal was afire.

Now cries of fear and lamentation arose from all who beheld these
wonders on the hill of Chapoltepec and also from the city below. Even I
was frightened, I do not know why, for it may well be that the blaze
of light which we saw on that and after nights was nothing but the
brightness of a comet, and that the fire in the temple was caused by
a thunderbolt. But to these people, and more especially to Montezuma,
whose mind was filled already with rumours of the coming of a strange
white race, which, as it was truly prophesied, would bring his empire to
nothingness, the omens seemed very evil. Indeed, if they had any doubt
as to their meaning, it was soon to be dispelled, in their minds at
least. For as we stood wonder-struck, a messenger, panting and soiled
with travel, arrived among us and prostrating himself before the majesty
of the emperor, he drew a painted scroll from his robe and handed it to
an attendant noble. So desirous was Montezuma to know its contents,
that contrary to all custom he snatched the roll from the hands of the
counsellor, and unrolling it, he began to read the picture writing
by the baleful light of the blazing sky and temple. Pr