We went slowly through the press, treading on a path of flowers, till we came across the courtyard to the base of the pyramid.  Here at the outer gate there was a halt because of the multitude of the people, and while we waited a warrior thrust his way through the crowd and bowed before me.  Glancing up I saw that it was Guatemoc.

‘Teule,’ he whispered to me, ‘I leave my charge yonder,’ and he nodded towards the force who strove to break a way into the palace of Axa, ’to bid you farewell.  Doubtless we shall meet again ere long.  Believe me, Teule, I would have helped you if I could, but it cannot be.  I wish that I might change places with you.  My friend, farewell.  Twice you have saved my life, but yours I cannot save.’

‘Farewell, Guatemoc,’ I answered ’heaven prosper you, for you are a true man.’

Then we passed on.

At the foot of the pyramid the procession was formed, and here one of my wives bade me adieu after weeping on my neck, though I did not weep on hers.  Now the road to the summit of the teocalli winds round and round the pyramid, ever mounting higher as it winds, and along this road we went in solemn state.  At each turn we halted and another wife bade me a last good-bye, or one of my instruments of music, which I did not grieve to see the last of, or some article of my strange attire, was taken from me.  At length after an hour’s march, for our progress was slow, we reached the flat top of the pyramid that is approached by a great stair, a space larger than the area of the churchyard here at Ditchingham, and unfenced at its lofty edge.  Here on this dizzy place stood the temples of Huitzel and of Tezcat, soaring structures of stone and wood, within which were placed the horrid effigies of the gods, and dreadful chambers stained with sacrifice.  Here, too, were the holy fires that burned eternally, the sacrificial stones, the implements of torment, and the huge drum of snakes’ skin, but for the rest the spot was bare.  It was bare but not empty, for on that side of it which looked towards the Spanish quarters were stationed some hundreds of men who hurled missiles into their camp without ceasing.  On the other side also were gathered a concourse of priests awaiting the ceremony of my death.  Below the great square, fringed round with burnt-out houses, was crowded with thousands of people, some of them engaged in combat with the Spaniards, but the larger part collected there to witness my murder.

Now we reached the top of the pyramid, two hours before midday, for there were still many rites to be carried out ere the moment of sacrifice.  First I was led into the sanctuary of Tezcat, the god whose name I bore.  Here was his statue or idol, fashioned in black marble and covered with golden ornaments.  In the hand of this idol was a shield of burnished gold on which its jewelled eyes were fixed, reading there, as his priests fabled, all that passed upon the earth he had created.  Before him also was a plate of gold, which with muttered invocations the head priest cleansed as I watched, rubbing it with his long and matted locks.  This done he held it to my lips that I might breathe on it, and I turned faint and sick, for I knew that it was being made ready to receive the heart which I felt beating in my breast.