The Slave Sculptor — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

14 THE SLAVE SCULPTOR. heard the sound of dipping oars in the canal. He instantly crouched on the earth again. A moment more and Toluca Ahuitzol, with his long plumes and glittering robes, came stealthily toward the bower. Springing to his feet Maxtla exclaimed: ‘“ You cannot enter the arbor, Mazina is asleep, and does not wish to be disturbed.” Toluca, with a hoarse, taunting laugh, struck a powerful blow at the sculptor. Maxtla caught his arm and with apparent ease, sent him whizzing away, with such force as to bring him to the ground. The astonished ‘Toluca arose quickly, and hurried away toward the palace. These movements aroused Mazina from her slumber, and she came forth from the arbor. ‘“Why, Maxtla! you here? What has happened! Dail 1 not hear angry words? I must have fallen asleep.”’ ** *Pwas nothing serious ; but why are you thus tremulous?” ** Did I not hear the voice of Toluca? ”? *¢ He was here.”’ ** Did you offend him ? ’’ **I forbade his entering the arbor. He struck at me, and I hurled him away. Mazina moved nearer the side of her companion, and in a low Ww » replied : , aaah an te man.”’ **I do not fear him ;’’ and there was a peculiar expression u his features. ~_ ig ** Ah! Maxtla, you do not know what he may do. He has pow- erful friends, and may accomplish your ruin, perhaps, death.”’ - At that moment they were interru Three athletic men sore precipitately into the arbor, and heard the voice of ca, : ‘Secure him, dead or alive! but do not harm the lady.”’ The seulptor sprang forward, gras the right arm of the fore- most assailant, and with a quick motion wrenched from his assail-- ant’s hand a heavy maquahuitl,* or sword. Then, throwing his left arm around the waist of the frightened Mazina, he raised her from the ground, dashed furiously upon his foes, and drove them all from the arbor. . Following up their retreat, Maxtla fought with the spirit of des- paration. In the heat of the contest, the i stranger whom we saw at the sculptor’s studio, pipeered upon the scene, with one stroke of his long spear, broke the guard of the assnssins. At this i interruption the assailants fled, leaving Max- la and Mazina with the mysterious personage. There pel & ©The maquahuit]l was a formidable among the Aztees. It was a two-handed staif about three and a half feet in length, in at intervals, were inserted, transversely, sharp blades of itztli, a havd, vitreous : conmiclbooks.com