A while went by and I saw that we had left the city, and were passing up a steep hill beneath the shadow of mighty cedar trees.  Presently we halted in a courtyard and here I was bidden to alight.  Then the prince Guatemoc led me into a wondrous house, of which all the rooms were roofed with cedar wood, and its walls hung with richly-coloured cloths, and in that house gold seemed as plentiful as bricks and oak are with us in England.  Led by domestics who bore cedar wands in their hands, we went through many passages and rooms, till at length we came to a chamber where other domestics were awaiting us, who washed us with scented waters and clothed us in gorgeous apparel.  Thence they conducted us to a door where we were bidden to remove our shoes, and a coarse coloured robe was given to each of us to hide our splendid dress.  The robes having been put on, we were suffered to pass the door, and found ourselves in a vast chamber in which were many noble men and some women, all standing and clad in coarse robes.  At the far end of this chamber was a gilded screen, and from behind it floated sounds of sweet music.

Now as we stood in the great chamber that was lighted with sweet-smelling torches, many men advanced and greeted Guatemoc the prince, and I noticed that all of them looked upon me curiously.  Presently a woman came and I saw that her beauty was great.  She was tall and stately, and beneath her rough outer robe splendidly attired in worked and jewelled garments.  Weary and bewildered as I was, her loveliness seized me as it were in a vice, never before had I seen such loveliness.  For her eye was proud and full like the eye of a buck, her curling hair fell upon her shoulders, and her features were very noble, yet tender almost to sadness, though at times she could seem fierce enough.  This lady was yet in her first youth, perchance she may have seen some eighteen years, but her shape was that of a full-grown woman and most royal.

‘Greeting, Guatemoc my cousin,’ she said in a sweet voice; ’so you are come at last.  My royal father has awaited you for long and will ask questions as to your delay.  My sister your wife has wondered also why you tarried.’

Now as she spoke I felt rather than saw that this lady was searching me with her eyes.

‘Greeting, Otomie my cousin,’ answered the prince.  ’I have been delayed by the accidents of travel.  Tobasco is far away, also my charge and companion, Teule,’ and he nodded towards me, ’met with an accident on the road.’

‘What was the accident?’ she asked.

’Only this, that he saved me from the jaws of a puma at the risk of his life when all the others fled from me, and was somewhat hurt in the deed.  He saved me thus—­’ and in few words he told the story.

She listened and I saw that her eyes sparkled at the tale.  When it was done she spoke again, and this time to me.

‘Welcome, Teule,’ she said smiling.  ’You are not of our people, yet my heart goes out to such a man.’  And still smiling she left us.