"The warriors are very angry, yet the Great Eagle is alive. He cannot go among them in safety, unless as their friend." "And who," said Juan, "shall warrant me of safety, if I go even as a friend?" He deemed it now the period to commence acting upon his scheme of escape, yet hesitated, stung with shame at the thought of the duplicity to which he was descending.--"It is better to die on the dikes than to pine in the dungeon." Guatimozin's eye gleamed with a sudden fire: "Does my brother jest with me?" he said. "If my brother think it wrong to strike a Spaniard, he shall not be called upon to fight. He can teach me the things it is needful to know; and be in no fear." "When did Guatimozin see me afraid?" cried Juan, stifling as well as he could the sense of humiliation and disgust, with which he began the office of a deceiver. "To give you counsel how to resist or attack, will make me as much a renegade as to draw sword at once. If I do become apostate, it shall be boldly, and with the sword. Prince, I have thought over this thing: my heart is grieved with your distress; and for my sister, and for Zelahualla, I will do what my conscience condemns. Does the king know what shall be my fate, if I am found fighting by the Spaniards?" "Twenty chosen warriors shall circle my brother round about, and he shall keep aloof from the van of battle." "If I fight, it shall be in the van," said Juan, his self-condemnation giving a character of sullenness to his tones. "But what, if I fall,--what shall become of my sister?" "She shall be the sister of Guatimozin and of Zelahualla," said Guatimozin, with energy, yet with doubt; for he could hardly believe that Juan was speaking seriously. "Let the king say _this_, and I will go out with him to battle:--If I die, he will cause my sister and the princess to be delivered into the hands of Cortes." "The Spanish lady shall be sent to Malintzin; but the Centzontli shall remain with her brother the king. It is better she should die with him than dwell with the Spaniards. Why shouldst thou think it? Are there not more Guzmans than one?" Juan muttered painfully to himself, "Perhaps it _is_ better. Heaven will protect her, for she has acknowledged her Redeemer.--Will the king swear, then, if his brother falls, that Magdalena shall be sent to the Spaniards?" "He will swear," said Guatimozin, ardently. "It is better for the Spanish lady; for she knows not our speech, and she pines away with grief. And if the king prevails over his enemies, the king will remember what Juan says of her." "Now, then, let the king tell me the truth, and mislead me not. How much longer can he maintain the city?"