ow, and next instant the air was filled with huge
fragments of marble, that whizzed over us and past us as though a mine
of powder had been fired beneath our feet, tearing the rocks from their
base. The god Tezcat had burst into a score of pieces, and these fell
round us like a flight of arrows, and yet we were not touched. My head
was grazed by his head, his feet dug a pit before my feet, but I stood
there unhurt, the false god had no power over the victim who had escaped
him!

After that I remember nothing till I found myself once more in my
apartments in Montezuma's palace, which I never hoped to see again.
Otomie was by me, and she brought me water to wash the paint from my
body and the blood from my wound, which, leaving her own untended, she
dressed skilfully, for the cut of the priest's knife was deep and I had
bled much. Also she clothed herself afresh in a white robe and brought
me raiment to wear, with food and drink, and I partook of them. Then I
bade her eat something herself, and when she had done so I gathered my
wits together and spoke to her.

'What next?' I said. 'Presently the priests will be on us, and we shall
be dragged back to sacrifice. There is no hope for me here, I must fly
to the Spaniards and trust to their mercy.'

'To the mercy of that man with the sword? Say, Teule, who is he?'

'He is that Spaniard of whom I have spoken to you, Otomie; he is my
mortal enemy whom I have followed across the seas.'

'And now you would put yourself into his power. Truly, you are foolish,
Teule.'

'It is better to fall into the hands of Christian men than into those of
your priests,' I answered.

'Have no fear,' she said; 'the priests are harmless for you. You have
escaped them and there's an end. Few have ever come alive from their
clutches before, and he who does so is a wizard indeed. For the rest I
think that your God is stronger than our gods, for surely He must have
cast His mantle over us when we lay yonder on the stone. Ah! Teule, to
what have you brought me that I should live to doubt my gods, ay, and to
call upon the foes of my country for succour in your need. Believe me, I
had not done it for my own sake, since I would have died with your kiss
upon my lips and your word of love echoing in my ears, who now must live
knowing that these joys have passed from me.'

'How so?' I answered. 'What I have said, I have said. Otomie, you would
have died with me, and you saved my life by your wit in ca