The Slave Sculptor — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

88 THE SLAVE SCULPTOR. hard stone pavement. While still contemplating the event, his ears were saluted with a wild laugh, and on looking up again, he beheld Meztli, with her flowing robe, long waving hair, and a short lance in her hand, standing upon the very summit from which the old no- ble had fallen. , Maxtla eagerly watched the movements of Meztli. Soon a heavy hand was laid upon bis shoulder. Turning, he beheld the strange priest, standing directly in front of him. ** Mazina!’ exclaimed Maxtla. ‘* Where is she?” ‘*Safe!’’ was the reply. ‘*Haveno fear of her. She is beyond the reach of her persecutors.’’ ** Dead ?’’ quickly interposed Maxtla, ‘* No! she is alive and well; but more of this hereafter. You must now aid the Spaniards to subdue the city.”’ Maxtla was confounded. ‘* Why aid the Spaniards?’ he repeated. ** Because,”’ answered the priest, ‘‘in their triumph is your peace; their defeat is for you @ prison and the sacrificial knife.’ In as few words as possible, Maxtla, in answer to the priest’s in- quiries, related all that had oceurred to him since the time he was seized by Cruzilli in Lord Ahuitzol’s park, _ While they were yet talking, the battle raged with great fary. There was a continual roar of cannon, a sharp crackling of musket- ry, and the fierce yelis of the Aztos, as they rushed madly to the CHAPTER XIX. THE HASTENING OF EVENTS, OF SYORY AND HISTORY. On the fourth evening following Monteruma’s death, Mazina was walking slowly to and froin her lonely home. Her mind was troubled with painful forebodings. Maxtla had been gone many — many months, and no tidings came from him, One long week had Ton- atiuh been gone. She promised to return in two days. What could have detained her? as she too taken from her? Had all her friends been snatched away? What could shedo? Where could she fly? Alas! nowhere! She had no place of refuge. Tonatiuh had exacted of her a solemn promise not to leave the chambers under any circumstance, until she returned, Thus far, she had kept her word, but could she always? She had heard the roar of cannon, and watched the smoke as if settled down upon the city and lake apparent- ly to conceal the work of death and destruction that was going on; while, at night the conflagration of burning buildings presented s grand, yet awful scene coml{cbooks.com