CHAPTER IV.
GUATAMOZIN AT HOME.
Guatamozin inherited a great fortune, ducal rank, and an estate nearIztapalapan. Outside the city, midst a garden that extended for milesaround, stood his palace, built in the prevalent style, one story high,but broad and wide enough to comfortably accommodate several thousandmen. His retainers, a legion in themselves, inhabited it for the mostpart; and whether soldier, artisan, or farmer, each had his quarters,his exclusive possession as against every one but the 'tzin.
The garden was almost entirely devoted to the cultivation of fruits andflowers. Hundreds of slaves, toiling there constantly under tastefulsupervision, made and kept it beautiful past description. Rivulets ofpure water, spanned by bridges and bordered with flowers, ran throughevery part over beds of sand yellow as gold. The paths frequently led toartificial lagoons, delightful for the coolness that lingered aboutthem, when the sun looked with his burning eye down upon the valley; forthey were fringed with willow and sycamore trees, all clad with vines aswith garments; and some were further garnished with little islands,plumed with palms, and made attractive by kiosks. Nor were these all.Fountains and cascades filled the air with sleepy songs; orange-grovesrose up, testifying to the clime they adorned; and in every path small_teules_, on pedestals of stone, so mingled religion with the lovelinessthat there could be no admiration without worship.
Io' and Hualpa, marvelling at the beauty they beheld, pursued a path,strewn with white sand, and leading across the garden, to the palace. Afew armed men loitered about the portal, but allowed them to approachwithout question. From the antechamber they sent their names to the'tzin, and directly the slave returned with word to Io' to follow him.
The study into which the prince was presently shown was furnished withsevere plainness. An arm-chair, if such it may be called, some rudetables and uncushioned benches, offered small encouragement to idleness.
Sand, glittering like crushed crystal, covered the floor, and, insteadof tapestry, the walls were hung with maps of the Empire, and provincesthe most distant. Several piles of MSS.,--the books of the Aztecs,--withparchment and writing-materials, lay on a table; and half concealedamongst them was a harp, such as we have seen in the hands of the royalminstrels.
"Welcome, Io', welcome!" said the 'tzin, in his full voice. "You havecome at length, after so many promises,--come last of all my friends.When you were here before, you were a child, and I a boy like you now.Let us go and talk it over." And leading him to a bench by a window,they sat down.
"I remember the visit," said Io'. "It was many years ago. You werestudying then, and I find you studying yet."
A serious thought rose to the 'tzin's mind, and his smile was clouded.
"You do not understand me, Io'. Shut up in your father's palace, yourlife is passing too dreamily. The days with you are like waves of thelake: one rolls up, and, scarcely murmuring, breaks on the shore;another succeeds,--that is all. Hear, and believe me. He who would bewise must study. There are many who live for themselves, a few who livefor their race. Of the first class, no thought is required; they eat,sleep, are merry, and die, and have no hall in heaven: but the secondmust think, toil, and be patient; they must know, and, if possible, knoweverything. God and ourselves are the only sources of knowledge. I wouldnot have you despise humanity, but all that is from ourselves is soonlearned. There is but one inexhaustible fountain of intelligence, andthat is Nature, the God Supreme. See those volumes; they are of men,full of wisdom, but nothing original; they are borrowed from the book ofdeity,--the always-opened book, of which the sky is one chapter, andearth the other. Very deep are the lessons of life and heaven theretaught. I confess to you, Io', that I aspire to be of those whose livesare void of selfishness, who live for others, for their country. Yourfather's servant, I would serve him understandingly; to do so, I must bewise; and I cannot be wise without patient study."
Io's unpractised mind but half understood the philosophy to which helistened; but when the 'tzin called himself his father's servant,Acatlan's words recurred to the boy.
"O 'tzin," he said, "they are not all like you, so good, so true. Therehave been some telling strange stories about you to the king."
"About me?"
"They say you want to be king,"--the listener's face was passive,--"andthat on Quetzal's day you were looking for opportunity to attack myfather." Still there was no sign of emotion. "Your staying at home, theysay, is but a pretence to cover your designs."
"And what more, Io'?"
"They say you are taking soldiers into your pay; that you give money,and practise all manner of arts, to become popular in Tenochtitlan; andthat your delay in entering the arena on the day of the combat hadsomething to do with your conspiracy."
For a moment the noble countenance of the 'tzin was disturbed.
"A lying catalogue! But is that all?"
"No,"--and Io's voice trembled,--"I am a secret messenger from the queenTecalco, my mother. She bade me say to you, that last night Iztlil', theTezcucan, had audience with the king, and asked Tula for his wife."
Guatamozin sprang from his seat more pallid than ever in battle.
"And what said Montezuma?"
"This morning he came to the queen, my mother, and told her about it;on your account she objected; but he became angry, spoke harshly of you,and swore Tula should not wed with you; he would banish you first."
Through the silent cell the 'tzin strode gloomily; the blow weakenedhim. Mualox was wrong; men cannot make themselves almost gods; by havingmany ills, and bearing them bravely, they can only become heroes. Aftera long struggle he resumed his calmness and seat.
"What more from the queen?"
"Only, that as she was helpless, she left everything to you. She daresnot oppose the king."
"I understand!" exclaimed the 'tzin, starting from the bench again. "TheTezcucan is my enemy. Crossing the lake, night before the combat, hetold me he loved Tula, and charged me with designs against the Empire,and cursed the king and his crown. Next day he fought under mychallenge. The malice of a mean soul cannot be allayed by kindness. Butfor me the _tamanes_ would have buried him with the Tlascalans. I senthim to my house; my slaves tended him; yet his hate was only sharpened."
He paced the floor to and fro, speaking vehemently.
"The ingrate charges me with aspiring to the throne. Judge me, holygods! Judge how willingly I would lay down my life to keep the crownwhere it is! He says my palace has been open to men of the army. It wasalways so,--I am a warrior. I have consulted them about the Empire, butalways as a subject, never for its ill. Such charges I laugh at; butthat I sought to slay the king is too horrible for endurance. On the dayof the combat, about the time of the assemblage, I went to the Cu ofQuetzal' for blessing. I saw no smoke or other sign of fire upon thetower. Mualox was gone, and I trembled lest the fire should be dead. Iclimbed up, and found only a few living embers. There were no fagots onthe roof, nor in the court-yard; the shrine was abandoned, Mualox old.The desolation appealed to me. The god seemed to claim my service. Ibroke my spear and shield, and flung the fragments into the urn, thenhastened to the palace, loaded some _tamanes_ with wood, and went backto the Cu. I was not too late there; but, hurrying to the _tianguez_, Ifound myself almost dishonored. So was I kept from the arena; thatservice to the god is now helping my enemy as proof that I was waitingon a housetop to murder my king and kinsman! Alas! I have only slaves tobear witness to the holy work that kept me on the temple. Much I fearthe gods are making the king blind for his ruin and the ruin of us all.He believes the strangers on the coast are from the Sun, when they arebut men. Instead of war against them, he is thinking of embassies andpresents. Now, more than ever, he needs the support of friends; but hedivides his family against itself, and confers favors on enemies. I seethe danger. Unfriendly gods are moving against us, not in the strangers,but in our own divisions. Remember the prophecy of Mualox, 'The race ofAzatlan is ended forever.'"
The speaker stopped his walking, and his voice became low and tremulous.
"Yet I love him; he has been kind; he gave me command; through hisgraciousness I have dwelt unmolested in this palace of my father. I ambound to him by love and law. As he has been my friend, I will be his;when his peril is greatest, I will be truest. Nothing but ill from himto Anahuac can make me his enemy. So, so,--let it pass. I trust thefuture to the gods."
Then, as if seeking to rid himself of the bitter subject, he turned toIo'. "Did not some one come with you?"
The boy told what he knew of Hualpa.
"I take him to be no common fellow; he has some proud ideas. I think youwould like him."
"I will try your hunter, Io'. And if he is what you say of him, I willaccept his service."
And they went immediately to the antechamber, where Hualpa saluted the'tzin. The latter surveyed his fine person approvingly, and said, "I amtold you wish to enter my service. Were you ever in battle?"
The hunter told his story with his wonted modesty.
"Well, the chase is a good school for warriors. It trains the thews,teaches patience and endurance, and sharpens the spirit's edge. Let usto the garden. A hand to retain skill must continue its practice; like agood memory, it is the better for exercise. Come, and I will show youhow I keep prepared for every emergency of combat." And so saying, the'tzin led the visitors out.
They went to the garden, followed by the retainers lounging at the door.A short walk brought them to a space surrounded by a copse oforange-trees, strewn with sand, and broad enough for a mock battle; afew benches about the margin afforded accommodation to spectators; astone house at the northern end served for armory, and was full of armsand armor. A glance assured the visitors that the place had beenprepared expressly for training. Some score or more of warriors, in themilitary livery of the 'tzin, already occupied a portion of the field.Upon his appearance they quitted their games, and closed around him withrespectful salutations.
"How now, my good Chinantlan!" he said, pleasantly. "Did I not award youa prize yesterday? There are few in the valley who can excel you inlaunching the spear."
"The plume is mine no longer," replied the warrior. "I was beaten lastnight. The winner, however, is a countryman."
"A countryman! You Chinantlans seem born to the spear. Where is theman?"
The victor stepped forward, and drew up before the master, who regardedhis brawny limbs, sinewy neck, and bold eyes with undisguisedadmiration; so an artist would regard a picture or a statue. Above thefellow's helm floated a plume of scarlet feathers, the trophy of hissuperior skill.
"Get your spear," said the 'tzin. "I bring you a competitor."
The spear was brought, an ugly weapon in any hand. The head was ofcopper, and the shaft sixteen feet long. The rough Chinantlan handled itwith a loving grip.
"Have you such in Tihuanco?" asked Guatamozin.
Hualpa balanced the weapon and laughed.
"We have only javelins,--mere reeds to this. Unless to hold an enemy atbay, I hardly know its use. Certainly, it is not for casting."
"Set the mark, men. We will give the stranger a lesson. Set it to thefarthest throw."
A pine picket was then set up a hundred feet away, presenting a targetof the height and breadth of a man, to which a shield was boltedbreast-high from the sand.
"Now give the Chinantlan room!"
The wearer of the plume took his place; advancing one foot, he liftedthe spear above his head with the right hand, poised it a moment, thenhurled it from him, and struck the picket a palm's breadth below theshield.
"Out, out!" cried the 'tzin. "Bring me the spear; I have a mind to wearthe plume myself."
When it was brought him, he cast it lightly as a child would toss aweed; yet the point drove clanging through the brazen base of theshield, and into the picket behind. Amid the applause of the sturdywarriors he said to Hualpa,--
"Get ready; the hunter must do something for the honor of his nativehills."
"I cannot use a spear in competition with Guatamozin," said Hualpa,with brightening eyes; "but if he will have brought a javelin, a goodcomely weapon, I will show him my practice."
A slender-shafted missile, about half the length of the spear, wasproduced from the armory, and examined carefully.
"See, good 'tzin, it is not true. Let me have another."
The next one was to his satisfaction.
"Now," he said, "set the target thrice a hundred feet away. If thedainty living of Xoli have not weakened my arm, I will at least strikeyon shield."
The bystanders looked at each other wonderingly, and the 'tzin waspleased. He had not lost a word or a motion of Hualpa's. The featundertaken was difficult and but seldom achieved successfully; but theaspirant was confident, and he manifested the will to which allachievable things are possible.
The target was reset, and the Tihuancan took the stand. Resting theshaft on the palm of his left hand, he placed the fingers of his rightagainst the butt, and drew the graceful weapon arm-length backward. Itdescribed an arc in the air, and to the astonishment of all fell in theshield a little left of the centre.
"Tell me, Hualpa," said Guatamozin, "are there more hunters in Tihuancowho can do such a deed? I will have you bring them to me."
The Tihuancan lowered his eyes. "I grieve to say, good 'tzin, that Iknow of none. I excelled them all. But I can promise that in my nativeprovince there are hundreds braver than I, ready to serve you to thedeath."
"Well, it is enough. I intended to try you further, and with otherweapons, but not now. He who can so wield a javelin must know to bend abow and strike with a _maquahuitl_. I accept your service. Let us to thepalace."
Hualpa thrilled with delight. Already he felt himself in the warrior'spath, with a glory won. All his dreams were about to be realized. Inrespectful silence he followed Guatamozin, and as they reached theportal steps, Io' touched his arm:
"Remember our compact on the lake," he whispered.
The hunter put his arm lovingly about the prince, and so they enteredthe house. And that day Fate wove a brotherhood of three hearts whichwas broken only by death.