Itza’s touch drew my eyes from the marvelous scene, and again I crushed her to me, drank deep of the sweetness of her lips and felt the thrill of her responsive love. Then, side by side, we stepped from the opening in the mountain and, in the strange, soft purplish light, moved forward along the highway towards the city. Our presence was already noted. Before we had gone fifty feet, the faint, far-away sound of horns, of booming drums, of shouting voices were borne to us from the city, and from the summits of the five temples lambent flames shot to the zenith, shifting from gold to white, to red, to green, like a display of the Aurora. Ahead of us the wide road was filled with hurrying, thronging, shouting people. Men, women and children came dancing, laughing towards us. All were golden-skinned, all were clad in richly woven cotton garments, all were figures that might have stepped bodily from some ancient Mayan sculpture. Prostrating themselves as we approached, strewing the road with gorgeous flowers, chanting songs, they formed a lane through which we passed. Now and then I caught a word, a sentence, amid the confusion of shouts, laughter and songs: “He comes! The bearer of the symbol comes!” “Look upon the son of Kukulcan!” “Beseech his blessings!” “Itza leads him to us!” “Blessed by the gods is Itza!” “Our day is at hand!” “Behold the deliverance of Mictolan!” “Welcome to thee, O son of the Plumed Serpent!” “Great is our rejoicing O, our lord!” “Long have we awaited thee, but thou hast come at last!” “Lo, the prophecy has been fulfilled!” Then, as we passed where the crowd was still closer, I heard someone exclaim: “May he who bears the token choose Itza for his bride!” “Hush! speak not so,” warned another. “Know you not she is betrothed to Kinich Ahau? She weds at the coming of Tonalmatl.” “And what of that?” persisted the first speaker, and at his words my heart went out to him and I stared into the sea of faces striving to identify him--a tall serious-looking young fellow in a dark red costume and a plumed golden casque--“What of that?” he repeated. “Who dares say the bearer of the token nay? Can aught prevail against the power of the lord of Kukulcan?” The reply was lost as we passed on and the welcoming din increased. Never had a man a more vociferous, a more whole-hearted, a more triumphant welcome. Itza touched my arm. “Look, my lord!” she exclaimed in a whisper. “He comes, Kinchi Haman comes forth to welcome my lord. My task is done, my lord. I must leave thee. But O, my lord, that I might be forever at thy side! Oh, but thy caresses are very sweet, my lord!” I grasped her almost roughly by the arm. “Go not!” I commanded her. “Your tasks are but just commenced. I, too, desire you forever at my side, and none--no, not even your Kinchi Haman, dare dispute the commands of him who bears the token of Kukulcan.”