Each of them told his tale in few words and short.

Then Montezuma, who till now had said and done nothing, took the painted scroll of their indictments and pricked it with the arrow in his hand where the picture of each prisoner appeared upon the scroll.

Then they were led away to death, but how they died I do not know.
When this trial was finished certain priests entered the hall clothed in sable robes, their matted hair hanging down their backs.

They were fierce, wild-eyed men of great dignity, and I shivered when I saw them.
I noticed also that they alone made small reverence to the majesty of Montezuma.

The counsellors and nobles having fallen back, these priests entered into talk with the emperor, and presently two of them came forward and taking me from the custody of the guards, led me forward before the throne.