Maxtla was found in his private apartments, walking back and forth across the floor in a disturbed and agitated state of mind. It might well have been said of him: "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown."

He was beginning to realize that his course would prove disastrous to his authority should he fail in his designs upon the life of his rival.

He was angered to the verge of desperation by the humiliation and chagrin he felt in consequence of the failure of all his attempts to destroy the prince. The good Itzalmo had, indeed, fallen under calamitous circ.u.mstances, and could expect only the direst consequences because of his loyalty to his royal pupil.

The king's slaves were near at hand, listening for his slightest command, ready to execute it instantly.

The messenger was announced, and, on coming into the presence of his master, prostrated himself before him, at the same time delivering the message.

"Arise," said Maxtla, "and return; say that the king will attend."

The messenger withdrew, and the king, after summoning his council, followed. He entered the audience hall, and ascended to his seat on the throne. A moment later his advisers filed in, and took their accustomed places about him. Itzalmo's official conductor now advanced before the throne, and, making his obeisance, said:

"The orders of the king, with reference to the old instructor of the Tezcucan prince, have been obeyed. He has refused to impart to your servant the information asked for, and has been brought here to appear before your majesty. What is my master's pleasure, concerning him?"

"We would question the old Tezcucan. You will present him before us."

When Itzalmo's official conductor went forward to learn the king's pleasure with reference to the disposal of his charge he left him in care of the two soldiers. While awaiting the officer's return the tired prisoner was permitted to sit down. The journey had left its impress of weariness upon him, and even a moment off his feet was a welcome relief.

The old man entertained no hope of clemency, for it was not in his nature to be else than loyal to his young master, which would bring upon him the infliction of a most terrible doom--a death of purposely protracted agony. Yet, as he sat there dumb and motionless, he presented a perfect picture of stoicism. If a thought in antic.i.p.ation of his impending fate disturbed his mind he did not show it. Such a mind as his, however, could not possibly avoid dwelling upon the possibilities of the hour; and it naturally followed that, under the exhibition of supreme indifference which he presented, there was an active intelligence present, the run of which no move or sign attested.

The officer presently returned, and Itzalmo was told to arise and follow. A few steps brought him to the throne, where he was presented before the king and his council. He appeared haggard and worn, yet his bearing was firm and dignified. He did not forget his duty as a subject, though an unwilling one, but saluted the king in the usual manner.

Maxtla bade him rise, and said:

"We are told that you are Itzalmo, the person who has been tutor and counselor to the prince of Tezcuco. Are we correctly informed?"

"Itzalmo is before the king. He has been the preceptor and servant of Hualcoyotl, the prince," he answered, decorously.

"We know what your relation to the prince has been, and think you have served him well," replied Maxtla, rather mildly for him. He had an object, however, in dealing thus with his prisoner. "We also have reason to believe that his present place of concealment is known to you," he continued. "Your presence here is by our order, and the council's approval. We would obtain from you information which will lead to the royal fugitive's apprehension. Will you give it?" he concluded, a little more firmly.

"I am before your majesty because your officer failed to gain the information you want. Itzalmo is not a woman. Let that suffice for his answer," he replied fearlessly.

"You will give us the information we want, or suffer the consequence of your obstinacy," returned the king, his anger rising. "Your hand, old man, has been the one to defeat, in every instance, the efforts made to destroy the disturber of our peace. You have forfeited our clemency; yet if you will tell us where the prince may be found, your life shall be spared; you shall go free, and have great riches beside. Will you speak the words which shall give you life, liberty, and wealth, or will you persist in being obstinate, and bring upon yourself the consequences of your treasonable conduct?"

"Maxtla is a mighty king; Itzalmo an old man, whose life is of little account to anyone, least of all to himself. Was his life a thousand times more valuable than it is, it would yet be as many times too small a price to purchase that which you ask. Itzalmo has lived true to his prince, and will die as he has lived. Let Maxtla do his worst; I have spoken," was the heroic reply of the old Tezcucan.

"You forget, old man, in whose presence you are, and to whom you speak.

Know you, that a word from us would consign you to the sacrifice? Have a care, or your age may not save you," said the tyrant, his face darkening with suppressed pa.s.sion. He paused and looked with an angry scowl upon the brave and silent man before him. "Hark you, Itzalmo," he continued, "and mark well what I say; if you give us not the information we have asked for, it is our decree that you shall starve; yes, rot, in the lowest and foulest dungeon at our disposal. For the last time I ask, will you divulge the prince's hiding place?" The rising wrath of the tyrant was fearful to behold, and would have shaken the firmness of a less courageous man than Itzalmo; but his answer was in keeping with his character.

"The threats of Maxtla are to Itzalmo as the play of the idle winds,"

said he. "The king may kill, but he can not force Itzalmo to turn traitor to his prince. Clemency I do not expect, but death. I am done."

"Take the insolent traitor hence, and put him where the light of the sun will never reach him. There let him die the death, if he will, inch by inch. Away with him ere in our wrath we strike him dead," fairly roared the infuriated and disappointed despot.

Itzalmo was half dragged from the presence of the king and his council, out of the audience chamber, and down a ma.s.sive stairway to a wide hall below; thence back to a narrow, paved court at the rear of the palace.

A flight of stairs led from this court to a hallway below, which ran far back under the building. The old Tezcucan was hurried down these stairs and along the hall to another stairway, which led still lower down to a subterranean pa.s.sage. Here a light was obtained, and the party descended. When the pa.s.sageway was gained, a turn to the left was made, and directly another. They went quite a distance before changing their course again, when they entered a narrow avenue leading to the right, at the end of which were located a number of dungeon cells. Into one of these Itzalmo was thrust, and informed that nothing but death or a compliance with the king's demands would deliver him from it.

CHAPTER X.

The prince left Zelmonco villa with an added weight to the gloom which burdened his soul and saddened immeasurably his heart. A new feeling possessed him--a feeling which had been awakened by the charm of a contact with the object of his boyhood's affections. It seemed to have suddenly become a part of his being, arousing within him almost a sense of bitterness at his unhappy lot. His good sense, however, came to his support. While the sentiment which had aroused the disturbing feelings that oppressed him was not adverse to his sensibilities, but, on the contrary, one that he would have gladly encouraged; still, to yield to it at such a time, he felt, was unworthy of his manhood. He accordingly set his face toward the mountains, and turned his back upon the attractions which lured him from his purpose, and went forward to achieve the object for which he had started out--the present security of his person and life, and the ultimate liberation of his people.

It was several leagues from the villa to the home of the loyal Tezcucan; yet, under ordinary circ.u.mstances, the distance could have been covered easily before morning, with time to spare; for the natives were a people who traveled very rapidly when the occasion required it.

But the prince was a fugitive, fleeing from the emissaries of his relentless foe, and had to be continually on his guard against surprise. As a consequence his progress was greatly impeded, and daylight found him still on the road. However, he was not discovered, and his journey of the night finally ended in safety.

By lying over through one day, and traveling one more night, the fugitives would arrive at a point where discovery by recognition was considered a very remote probability. This being the case, the balance of the journey could then be pursued by daylight with little fear of detection. Accordingly the prince and his companion rested and refreshed themselves at the house of the former's friend, until evening, when their journey was resumed.

Another night on the road was gone through, which carried them well on their way toward the mountains. At the approach of the morning's dawn a secluded spot off from the highway was looked for, where a few hours'

sleep could be had without fear of molestation. Such a spot was found, and the tired and travel-worn sojourners gave themselves over to recuperation in the forgetfulness of slumber.

The sun was well up toward the meridian when they awoke from a refreshing sleep and resumed their journey.

At the end of a league or more they came to a small hamlet where much-needed refreshments were procured. Being greatly invigorated by having partaken of a substantial meal, they proceeded on their way with increased confidence.

Several leagues were covered without interruption, and the wayfarers were beginning to feel quite free from anxiety, when, about the third or fourth hour of the afternoon, their fancied security was disturbed and grave apprehension aroused by the appearance, in front of them, of a party of six Tepanec soldiers. They were near a bend in the road, and the approach of the soldiers was not observed until too late to avoid meeting them by turning aside. To have done this after being seen would have aroused suspicion in the minds of the advancing troop, and caused the immediate detention and possible recognition of the fugitives.

Their only safety, under the circ.u.mstances, lay in going straightforward and taking the chances of discovery. When they came face to face with the soldiers, great was the prince's surprise and perturbation at recognizing in a member of the band one of his guests of the day on which he fled the palace. Should he be recognized he could scarcely hope to escape, as the only, means of defense he carried was a stout walking-stick, while Oza did not have even a stick. He realized fully the peril of the moment, and felt it to be more critical than any he had been called upon to pa.s.s through. Walking boldly forward, he pa.s.sed the soldiers. That strange sense of uneasiness and uncertainty which is produced by the mingling of hope and apprehension--a feeling often experienced by those who are on the border between danger and safety, was upon him.

"Halt!" came the stern command which broke the spell, and caused him to look back. "You are the one addressed," continued one of the soldiers, who appeared to be the leader of the band, in answer to the prince's inquiring look.

"From whom comes the authority for halting a traveler thus on the highway?" demanded the prince, in return.

"That, you shall quickly learn," answered the soldier. "From Maxtla, the king, comes the authority for halting you. You are the fugitive prince, Hualcoyotl, whom we have orders to secure, dead or alive. I now command you, in the king's name, to surrender. If you are not Prince Hualcoyotl, you will be quickly restored to liberty."

"What reason have you for supposing that you now address the person of Prince Hualcoyotl?" inquired he.

"This man," said the soldier, pointing to the one previously recognized by the prince, "is my informant. He saw you at your palace, he says, the day you escaped from the king's officer."

"He is mistaken," returned the prince. "I am a chief, going on important business. You will do well not to detain me."

As he said this, Hualcoyotl turned to move on.

"Halt! or we will make your body a target for our arrows," called the soldier, imperatively, and his men brought their bows to place, to carry the threat into execution. At the same time the speaker advanced in the direction of the prince.

"Stop, soldier!" exclaimed Hualcoyotl, in a voice of command which caused the warrior to pause. "Advance farther at your peril," he continued, swinging his heavy stick into position to defend himself.

"The life of him who approaches me with evil intent shall pay the penalty of his temerity."

"You can not escape us, Prince Hualcoyotl. The orders are to secure you, and you will have to yield," said the soldier.

"Never! except by force. If you want me, take me," was the prince's defiant answer.

"Then take you we will; alive if we can, dead if we must. Forward, men!" Two of the soldiers gave their attention to Oza, while the other four advanced quickly but cautiously upon the prince. A determined effort was made to get in on him, but without avail.

Hualcoyotl was a strong man, vigorous and skillful, and being forewarned was not to be taken without a desperate struggle. The stout stick in his trained hand was a weapon to be feared. He succeeded in beating off his a.s.sailants, and stood eyeing them like a fierce animal at bay, grim and defiant.

Oza was quickly secured by the two soldiers, who now came to the a.s.sistance of their comrades. Another advance was made upon the prince, the soldiers approaching him from every point. He met them with heavy, telling blows, and one of their number went down under his stick to rise no more. It was a fiercely contested struggle, and had the stick in the prince's hand been a more formidable weapon the soldiers would have found in him more than a match. But skill, backed by only a heavy walking stick, though wielded by a strong right arm, could not long hold out against such odds. He saw that he would be compelled to yield, and was about to do so, when, to his great astonishment, and the amazement of his a.s.sailants, a shout rang out upon the air at their very ears, which staggered the soldiers for the moment with confusion.

Before they could recover they were attacked with the deadly Indian sword, the _maquahuitl_, in the hands of one who evidently knew how to use it. The struggle was quickly terminated. The suddenness of the onslaught, and its fatal result to two of the party, who were placed _hors de combat_, filled the survivors with consternation, which caused them to seek safety in flight. A number of arrows were sent after them by the newcomer, which had the effect of facilitating their departure, and they were soon out of sight.