As they held me a yell
fiercer and longer than any which had gone before, told that the
Spaniards had got foot upon the last stair of the ascent. Scarcely had
my body been set upon the centre of the great stone, when that of Otomie
was laid beside it, so close that our sides touched, for I must lie in
the middle of the stone and there was no great place for her. Then the
moment of sacrifice not being come, the priests made us fast with cords
which they knotted to copper rings in the pavement, and turned to watch
the progress of the fray.
For some minutes we lay thus side by side, and as we lay a great wonder
and gratitude grew in my heart, wonder that a woman could be so brave,
gratitude for the love she gave me, sealing it with her life-blood.
Because Otomie loved me she had chosen this fearful death, because she
loved me so well that she desired to die thus at my side rather than
to live on in greatness and honour without me. Of a sudden, in a moment
while I thought of this marvel, a new light shone upon my heart and it
was changed towards her. I felt that no woman could ever be so dear to
me as this glorious woman, no, not even my betrothed. I felt--nay, who
can say what I did feel? But I know this, that the tears rushed to my
eyes and ran down my painted face, and I turned my head to look at her.
She was lying as much upon her left side as her hands would allow, her
long hair fell from the stone to the paving where it lay in masses, and
her face was towards me.
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