Is it not best that he be put away forthwith ?' Now several of the council nodded their heads, but others sat silent, making no sign.
'Come,' said Cuitlahua, 'we have no time to waste over this man when the lives of thousands are hourly at stake.

The question is, Shall the Teule be slain ?' Then Guatemoc rose and spoke, saying: 'Your pardon, noble kinsman, but I hold that we may put this prisoner to better use than to kill him.

I know him well; he is brave and loyal, as I have proved, moreover, he is not all a Teule, but half of another race that hates them as he hates them.

Also he has knowledge of their customs and mode of warfare, which we lack, and I think that he may be able to give us good counsel in our strait.' 'The counsel of the wolf to the deer perhaps,' said Cuitlahua, coldly; 'counsel that shall lead us to the fangs of the Teules.

Who shall answer for this foreign devil, that he will not betray us if we trust him ?' 'I will answer with my life,' answered Guatemoc.
'Your life is of too great worth to be set on such a stake, nephew.