"But there is no dishonor in that," Roger replied. "No men could defend themselves more bravely than you have done, and there is no disgrace in being vanquished by superior arms. I trust that you may live, and be happy, yet." "Let us not stand here talking," the young cazique said. "It is not as it was before. Then you might walk through the city at midnight, without meeting with a single person. We sleep no longer now, but make nightly attacks on the Spaniards; and at any moment bodies of troops may come along." The little party moved forward, and in a minute descended the steps. Bathalda took his place in a small canoe lying there. "Here is a weapon which will suit you better than that sword and javelin," he said, handing him a war club, a heavy weapon, with pieces of sharp-pointed obsidian fixed in it. Roger helped Amenche into the canoe, wrung Cuitcatl warmly by the hand, and then stepped in. "Go," the latter exclaimed. "I can hear troops approaching." So saying, he bounded swiftly away. Bathalda sat listening for a moment, to discover the direction from which the troops were coming. As soon as he made out the soft tread of the shoeless feet, he dipped his paddle in the water, and the boat glided noiselessly away. It was not long before they emerged from the narrow water way on to the lake; and then the boat's head was turned in the direction in which lay the Tlacopan causeway. Presently Amenche, who had been sitting nestled close to Roger--too happy even to speak--sat up and said: "Hush!" Bathalda ceased rowing. "There is a large canoe coming up behind us," he said, listening intently. "I can hear others on the lake, beyond us." "We had better make into the shore again," Roger said, "and let them pass us." The canoe, however, was not very far behind; and those on board caught sight of the little craft, as she rowed in towards shore. It was unusual to see so small a boat at night. The idea that it might contain a spy occurred to them, and they shouted to them to stop. Bathalda exerted himself to the utmost, but the canoe came rapidly up to them. As the command to stop was again disregarded, a volley of javelins was discharged. "We cannot escape," Bathalda said. "They will be upon us, before we can land." "Cease rowing," Roger said. "Amenche, lie still, dear, at the bottom of the boat. I will deal with them." Seeing that the oarsmen had stopped paddling, the volley of javelins ceased; and the canoe, which contained some twenty men, ran alongside.