Loosening the blocks of stone that
formed the edge of the roadway, we rolled them down the sides of the
pyramid, and so laboured on removing layer upon layer of stones and
of the earth beneath, till where the path had been, was nothing but a
yawning gap thirty feet or more in width.
'Now,' I said, surveying our handiwork by the light of the rising moon,
'that Spaniard who would win our nest must find wings to fly with.'
'Ay, Teule,' answered one at my side, 'but say what wings shall WE
find?'
'The wings of Death,' I said grimly, and went on my upward way.
It was near midnight when I reached the temple, for the labour of
levelling the road took many hours and food had been sent to us from
above. As I drew nigh I was amazed to hear the sound of solemn chanting,
and still more was I amazed when I saw that the doors of the temple of
Huitzel were open, and that the sacred fire which had not shone there
for many years once more flared fiercely upon his altar. I stood still
listening. Did my ears trick me, or did I hear the dreadful song of
sacrifice? Nay, again its wild refrain rang out upon the silence:
To Thee we sacrifice! Save us, O Huitzel, Huitzel, lord god!
I rushed forward, and turning the angle of the temple I found myself
face to face with the past, for there as in bygone years were the
pabas clad in their black robes, their long hair hanging about their
shoulders, the dreadful knife of glass fixed in their girdles; there to
the right of the stone of sacrifice were those destined to the god, and
there being led towards it was the first victim, a Tlascalan prisoner,
his limbs held by men clad in the dress of priests.
Pages:
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487