Then with a smile Guatemoc drew forth a ring having a dull blue stone set in its bezel, on which was engraved a strange device.

With the ring he drew out also a scroll of picture-writing, and held them both before the eyes of the pabas.

Now the ring was the ring of Montezuma, and the scroll was signed by the great high priest of Tenoctitlan, and those who looked on the ring and the scroll knew well that to disobey the mandate of him who bore them was death and dishonour in one.

So without more ado they seized their chief and held him.

Then Guatemoc spoke again and shortly: 'Lay him on the stone and sacrifice him to the god Quetzal.' Now he who had taken such fierce joy in the death of others on this same stone, began to tremble and weep, for he did not desire to drink of his own medicine.
'Why must I be offered up, O prince ?' he cried, 'I who have been a faithful servant to the gods and to the Emperor.' 'Because you dared to try to offer up this Teule,' answered Guatemoc, pointing to me, 'without leave from your master Montezuma, and because of the other evils that you have done, all of which are written in this scroll.