The Slave Sculptor — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

84 THE SLAVE SCULPTOR. hung loose around her shoulders; her robe was neat, but no orna ments were upon her person, except a gold locket and chain on her neck. She had been seated one day, in a long reverie, from which, with apparent effort, she aroused herself, while these words dropped slowl fed her lips : — “ Oh, this suspense is dreadful! Seven long months since I have heard a word from Maxtla, and he cannot be found in the whole capital, I fear—I know evil has befallen him. Tonatiuh says the priest made use of every effort in his power to learn where the sculptor is. Ithink hehas been killed. Tj rful to contemplate, but | am sure that he has been murdered, else he would have sought for me here. This would not have occurred but for the Spaniards in the capital. Montezuma was once my warm friend, and I believe he is now, but he isa prisoner and has little time to attend to petty domestic affairs. O tla! where are you? Why doyou not °— She was interrupted by Tonatiuh, having just returned from the capital, came suddenly into the apartment, and exclaimed : ** Mazina! there are fearful times in the city. A very large army of Spaniards entered it yesterday, and the people are preparing to attack them in their garrison. It will be an awful moment, and I should not wonder if half the capital were destroyed.”” ** And what of Maxtla?’’ Mazina inquired. “Not a word of him or Meztli; you remember she disappeared about the same time. I saw the fricet but I could not obtain an portunity to speak with him. He appeared terribly excited and all en with the stirring events. Ile isastrange man. I wish I yar a his face.” 4 . It will be remembered that Maxtla was sold into slavery by Crn- zilli without being allowed to partake of food or water, he was ro blindfolded, and hurried forward between two stalwart men. traveled many leagues in this manner, when his conductors halted, and held a short consultation. A peculiar sound, as of a bird chirp- ing was heard, when one of the men caught hold of his prisoner’s arm, and dragged him down a flight of stone steps into a narrow, damp passage. Still they hurried forward over a rough course, uatil they had, apparently, reached a distance of several hundred feet in- t» the very bowels of the earth. Presently they came to another halt, when the bandage was removed from his eyes, the gag from his mouth, and, from exhaustion, he fell helpless on the stone floor. One moment and he was alone in a dark cell, with a heavy door clos- ei upon him. His face and wrists were swollen and very painful, and his system greatly reduced from loss of proper nourishment; still, he r to rise to his feet, and moved around in the dark caye to learn if ible the situation and condition of his present q Ere fags door opened and a flood of light from a flaming torch, lit up conmmclbooks.com