I
know him well; he is brave and loyal, as I have proved, moreover, he is
not all a Teule, but half of another race that hates them as he hates
them. Also he has knowledge of their customs and mode of warfare, which
we lack, and I think that he may be able to give us good counsel in our
strait.'
'The counsel of the wolf to the deer perhaps,' said Cuitlahua, coldly;
'counsel that shall lead us to the fangs of the Teules. Who shall answer
for this foreign devil, that he will not betray us if we trust him?'
'I will answer with my life,' answered Guatemoc.
'Your life is of too great worth to be set on such a stake, nephew. Men
of this white breed are liars, and his own word is of no value even if
he gives it. I think that it will be best to kill him and have done with
doubts.'
'This man is wed to Otomie, princess of the Otomie, Montezuma's
daughter, your niece,' said Guatemoc again, 'and she loves him so well
that she offered herself upon the stone of sacrifice with him. Unless I
mistake she will answer for him also. Shall she be summoned before you?'
'If you wish, nephew; but a woman in love is a blind woman, and
doubtless he has deceived her also. Moreover, she was his wife according
to the rule of religion only. Is it your desire that the princess should
be summoned before you, comrades?'
Now some said nay, but the most, those whose interest Otomie had gained,
said yea, and the end of it was that one of their number was sent to
summon her.
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