And did any doubt remain, it is removed by the direct statement in the echo of this tradition preserved by the Kiches of Guatemala, wherein it is plainly said that the four hundred youths who were put to death by Zipacna, and restored to life by Hunhun Ahpu, "rose into the sky and became the stars of heaven."[1] [Footnote 1: _Popol Vuh, Le Livre Sacre des Quiches_, p.

193.] Indeed, these same ancient men whose explanations I have been following added that the four hundred men whom Tezcatlipoca created continued yet to live in the third heaven, and were its guards and watchmen.

They were of five colors, yellow, black, white, blue and red, which in the symbolism of their tongue meant that they were distributed around the zenith and to each of the four cardinal points.[1] [Footnote 1: See H.de Charencey, _Des Couleurs Considerees comme Symboles des Points de l'Horizon chez les Peuples du Nouveau Monde_, in the _Actes de la Societe Philologiques_, Tome vi.No.

3.] Nor did these sages suppose that the struggle of the dark Tezcatlipoca to master the Light-God had ceased; no, they knew he was biding his time, with set purpose and a fixed certainty of success.

They knew that in the second heaven there were certain frightful women, without flesh or bones, whose names were the Terrible, or the Thin Dart-Throwers, who were waiting there until this world should end, when they would descend and eat up all mankind.[1] Asked concerning the time of this destruction, they replied that as to the day or season they knew it not, but it would be "when Tezcatlipoca should steal the sun from heaven for himself"; in other words, when eternal night should close in upon the Universe.[2] [Footnote 1: These frightful beings were called the _Tzitzimime_, a word which Molina in his Vocabulary renders "cosa espantosa o cosa de aguero." For a thorough discussion of their place in Mexican mythology, see _Anales del Museo Nacional_, Tom.