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Montezuma's Daughter by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard
page 288 of 478 (60%)
As for de Garcia I could not learn what had become of him, nor whether
he was dead or living.



CHAPTER XXV

THE BURYING OF MONTEZUMA'S TREASURE


Cuitlahua was crowned Emperor of the Aztecs in succession to his brother
Montezuma, while I lay sick with the wound given me by the sword of
de Garcia, and also with that which I had received on the altar of
sacrifice. This hurt had found no time to heal, and in the fierce
fighting on the Night of Fear it burst open and bled much. Indeed it
gave me trouble for years, and to this hour I feel it in the autumn
season. Otomie, who nursed me tenderly, and so strange is the heart
of woman, even seemed to be consoled in her sorrow at the loss of her
father and nearest kin, because I had escaped the slaughter and won
fame, told me of the ceremony of the crowning, which was splendid
enough. Indeed the Aztecs were almost mad with rejoicing because the
Teules had gone at last. They forgot, or seemed to forget, the loss of
thousands of their bravest warriors and of the flower of their rank, and
as yet, at any rate, they did not look forward to the future. From
house to house and street to street ran troops of young men and maidens
garlanded with flowers, crying, 'The Teules are gone, rejoice with
us; the Teules are fled!' and woe to them who were not merry, ay, even
though their houses were desolate with death. Also the statues of the
gods were set up again on the great pyramid and their temples rebuilt,
the holy crucifix that the Spaniards had placed there being served as
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