178 THE WHITE CONQUERORS.

swiftly after it. As he ran, so it fled, always almost,
but not quite, within reach. A touch of its fluttering
garments led him to believe that the chase was nearly
ended, and in his exultation he failed to notice that
he had passed through a wide gateway. Again, as he
was about to grasp the figure, it darted through an
open door; but here the pursuer paused. He would
follow no further.

At that moment there came a shrill scream from
within. It was a woman’s voice, and it seemed to

1?

ery: “Huetzin! oh, Huetzin!” Impulsively the young
man sprang forward. He had hardly passed the dark
portal, when he was seized by several pairs of strong
hands and thrown to the ground. A minute later he
was led away, helplessly bound, through the dark-
ness. At length he was rudely thrust into a wooden
cage, such as were used for captives destined for
sacrifice, and there left to his own sorrowful reflec-
tions.

He could no longer doubt that he had been recog-
nized, his every movement watched, and his capture
devised by means of the simple trap to which he had
fallen so easy a victim. Fortunately for him, Topil,
the chief priest, had that day gone on a secret mission
to Tezcuco. He did not return until near noon of the
following day. As soon as he reached the temple he
was informed that the young Tlascalan, upon whom