Quetzal, the god
to whom this Teule is to be offered, was a white man,* and it may well
happen that this man is one of his children. Will it please the god
that his child should be offered to him? At the least, if the god is not
angered, Montezuma will certainly be wroth, and wreak a vengeance on you
and on the priests.'
* Quetzal, or more properly Quetzalcoatl, was the divinity
who is fabled to have taught the natives of Anahuac all the
useful arts, including those of government and policy, he
was white-skinned and dark-haired. Finally he sailed from
the shores of Anahuac for the fabulous country of Tlapallan
in a bark of serpents' skins. But before he sailed he
promised that he would return again with a numerous progeny.
This promise was remembered by the Aztecs, and it was
largely on account of it that the Spaniards were enabled to
conquer the country, for they were supposed to be his
descendants. Perhaps Quetzalcoatl was a Norseman! Vide
Sagas of Eric the Red and of Thorfinn Karlsefne.--AUTHOR.
Now when the cacique heard this he saw that Marina spoke truth, and
hurrying up the teocalli, he caught the knife as it was in the act of
falling upon me. At first the head priest was angered and called out
that this was sacrilege, but when the cacique had told him his mind,
he understood that he would do wisely not to run a risk of the wrath of
Montezuma.
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