'Say,' he said to me in Castilian, 'are you that renegade, that traitor
who has aided these Aztecs against us?'

'I am no renegade and no traitor, general,' I answered boldly, for the
food and wine had put new life into me. 'I am an Englishman, and I have
fought with the Aztecs because I have good cause to hate you Spaniards.'

'You shall soon have better, traitor,' he said furiously. 'Here, lead
this man away and hang him on the mast of yonder ship.'

Now I saw that it was finished, and made ready to go to my death, when
Marina spoke into the ear of Cortes. All she said I could not catch, but
I heard the words 'hidden gold.' He listened, then hesitated, and spoke
aloud: 'Do not hang this man to-day. Let him be safely guarded. Tomorrow
I will inquire into his case.'



CHAPTER XXVIII

THOMAS IS DOOMED


At the words of Cortes two Spaniards came forward, and seizing me one
by either arm, they led me across the roof of the house towards the
stairway. Otomie had heard also, and though she did not understand the
words, she read the face of Cortes, and knew well that I was being taken
to imprisonment or death. As I passed her, she started forward, a terror
shining in her eyes. Fearing that she was about to throw herself upon
my breast, and thus to reveal herself as my wife, and bring my fate upon