Master M. had, for a long time, cherished a hope that some day he might press the throne as king of Mexico.  So, like the Yorkshire lad who begged salt of a stranger eating eggs near him, so as to have the salt ready in case any one should ask him to accept an egg, he prepared himself fully for the possible emergency, and became not only a military general, but a leading alfalqui.

And then he married.  I have not room to give you the whole picture, but here is the way it was done.

A lady whose position in society required her to negotiate the match, having previously made all the necessary arrangements, one evening, hoisted the happy damsel on her back, and accompanied by four young women (I have drawn only one) each bearing a torch, headed the joyous procession and marched to the house of Master M., where she dropped her cargo of precious humanity.  Then the alfalqui asked them if they were mutually agreed on matrimony, and of course, they said “yes,” when he proceeded to tie their clothes together.  Then two old patriarchs and two good old grandmothers (one of each of which I have copied for you) delivered little sermons suited to the occasion.  The new couple walked seven times round a blazing fire, partook of a feast with their friends, heard a final sort of a “ninety-ninthly and to conclude” parting word from the four old people, and then, just as all married people do, went to housekeeping, and having their own way as much as possible.  One thing they could not do.  There was no law of divorce to appeal to then; death was the only judge who could entertain the question of separation.

[Illustration:  PROTECTING THE GRAIN FROM RATS, IN THE YEAR ONE RABBIT.]

Master M. will now disappear, to re-appear as the Emperor.  In the year “ten rabbits,” or A.D. 1502, the monarch died, and the electoral college selected Master M. to supply his place.  In the household of each monarch there was an electoral board of four nobles, whose duty it was, on the death of the ruler, to elect his successor from among the sons and nephews of the crown.  Having done this, and so notified the successor, they selected four nobles to fill their own places, and vacated their electoral chairs.  Master M. when waited upon to be notified of his election to fill his uncle’s place, was very busy sweeping down the stairs in the great temple dedicated to the god of war!

Four years after becoming emperor, Montezuma, to appease the gods, made a sacrifice of a young gentleman captive by transfixing him with arrows.  This, you see, was in the year “one rabbit.”  It is recorded that in this year the rats overran the country so completely that the inhabitants had to stand guard at night with blazing torches to prevent their devouring the grain sown in the fields.

With the last picture, I take pleasure in introducing to you Master M. in his new position as Emperor of Mexico, seated in the royal halls.