and their allies; that is, being in a state of treason you have murdered
them. Wingfield, your life is forfeit and I condemn you to die by
hanging as a traitor and an apostate.'

'Then there is nothing more to be said,' I answered quietly, though a
cold fear froze my blood.

'There is something,' answered Cortes. 'Though your crimes have been so
many, I am ready to give you your life and freedom upon a condition.
I am ready to do more, to find you a passage to Europe on the first
occasion, where you may perchance escape the echoes of your infamy if
God is good to you. The condition is this. We have reason to believe
that you are acquainted with the hiding place of the gold of Montezuma,
which was unlawfully stolen from us on the night of the noche triste.
Nay, we know that this is so, for you were seen to go with the canoes
that were laden with it. Choose now, apostate, between a shameful death
and the revealing to us of the secret of this treasure.'

For a moment I wavered. On the one hand was the loss of honour with life
and liberty and the hope of home, on the other a dreadful end. Then I
remembered my oath and Otomie, and what she would think of me living or
dead, if I did this thing, and I wavered no more.

'I know nothing of the treasure, general,' I answered coldly. 'Send me
to my death.'

'You mean that you will say nothing of it, traitor. Think again. If you
have sworn any oaths they are broken by God. The empire of the Aztecs
is at an end, their king is my prisoner, their great city is a ruin. The
true God has triumphed over these devils by my hand. Their wealth is my