Moreover, some will be there seeking vengeance on us.'
Otomie was right, for as the morning drew on towards mid-day, I saw the
dwellers in the City of Pines gathering in thousands, till the space
between the steps of the palace and the face of the pyramid was black
with them. Now Otomie combed her curling hair and placed flowers in it,
and set a gleaming feather cloak about her shoulders, so that it hung
down over her white robes, and on her breast that splendid necklace of
emeralds which Guatemoc had given to me in the treasure chamber, and
which she had preserved safely through all our evil fortune, and a
golden girdle about her waist. In her hand also she took a little
sceptre of ebony tipped with gold, that was in the palace, with other
ornaments and emblems of rank, and thus attired, though she was worn
with travel and suffering, and grief had dimmed her beauty for a while,
she seemed the queenliest woman that my eyes have seen. Next she caused
me to be laid upon my rude litter, and when the hour of noon was come,
she commanded those soldiers who had borne me across the mountains to
carry me by her side. Thus we issued from the wide doorway of the palace
and took our stand upon the platform at the head of the steps. As we
came a great cry rose from the thousands of the people, a fierce cry
like that of wild beasts howling for their prey.
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