The Lost Treasure of Montezuma, Part I [pp. 409-417; system: 408-417]

THE LOST TREA4SURE OF MONTEZUMA.
THE LOST TREASURE OF MQNTEZUMA.
IN TWO PARTS.-PART FIRST.
REAT rejoicing was there in the
sacred city of the Aztecs, in the
third month of the fourteenth year of the
reign of Montezuma Xocojotzin, for a signal victory had been won by his loyal
subjects over their old and powerful enemies, the Tlaxcaltecas, the only tribe
within many hundred miles which had
not owned its allegiance to the throne of
Mexico. And now even this was subdued, and many hundreds of its sons,
made prisoners during the war, were
to be sacrificed to the gods, in bloody
thanksgiving, by the haughty conquerors.
Montezuma, in all his state, sat in the
lofty atrium of the temple, in which
were gathered thousands of the rich and
powerful of his subjects, and listened
with joy to the acclamations of the plebeian throng that crowded the streets
and besieged the temple-doors. Suddenly there was a great hush, as the captives, in single file, marched around the
court of the vast building, and, entering
the principal door-way, passed in review
before the pleased and practiced eyes of
Montezuma and his courtiers.
"By Huitzilopochtli," cried the former,
"a goodly sight! Here are brave and
famous men enough to conciliate the
plumed god for many a long month; but
I care not even to see these fierce and
insolent warriors bend before me, while
I still lack homage from the haughty
Tlahuicole. Why comes he not?'"
"Behold, my lord, he is here!" answered one of the courtiers, as twenty
of the newly made prisoners appeared,
bearing upon their shoulders an enormous cage, made of massive wooden
VOL. VII.- 27.
bars. This, with great difficulty, they
set upon the ground before the king,
and disclosed to his anxious gaze the
form of his mighty enemy, Tlahuicole.
Mighty, though fallen, as haughty and
unconquerable in his narrow cage as
when he freely roamed his native plains,
the giant chief slowly arose and gazed
upon his conqueror.
"Tlahiuicole," said Montezuma, "at
last I behold thee! I gaze upon that
stately form which hath so often arisen
in the midst of my people, and hath caused them to fall like leaves at the breath
of the whirlwind. Bravest among the
brave of the earth, mightiest of the
mighty, lift up thy sword which no other man can lift, gather up thine arrows
which no other hath strength to wing
from thy massive bow! Behold, I unfasten thy prison-door! Step forthreturn to thy people! Thou art free!"
There was a great shout from the assembled multitude-of disappointment,
of admiration, and perhaps of fear-as,
with his own hand, Montezuma undidithe
curious fastenings, and threw wide the
prison - door.
The giant prisoner stepped forth, and
knelt before the king; but, even as he
knelt, so great was he in stature, he overtopped the courtiers standing around the
throne; and these, beholding his youth
and manly beauty, and remembering his
fame, scarce wondered at the clemency
of the king.
Tlahuicole, great as was his renown,
had not yet numbered thirty years. His
features were regular, his skin of a much
lighter hue than was usual among either
his own countrymen or his captors, and
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