When it was of a height of between two and three feet, Guatemoc paused from his labour and bade me hold a torch aloft.

I obeyed wondering what he wished to see.

Then he drew back some three paces into the tunnel and spoke to the Aztec noble, our companion, by name.
'What is the fate of discovered traitors, friend ?' he said in a voice that, quiet though it was, sounded very terrible; and, as he spoke, he loosed from his side the war club set with spikes of glass that hung there by a thong.
Now the Aztec turned grey beneath his dusky skin and trembled in his fear.
'What mean you, lord ?' he gasped.
'You know well what I mean,' answered Guatemoc in the same terrible voice, and lifted the club.
Then the doomed man fell upon his knees crying for mercy, and his wailing sounded so awful in that deep and lonely place that in my horror I went near to letting the torch fall.
'To a foe I can give mercy--to a traitor, none,' answered Guatemoc, and whirling the club aloft, he rushed upon the noble and killed him with a blow.

Then, seizing the body in his strong embrace, he cast it into the chamber with the treasure, and there it lay still and dreadful among the gems and gold, the arms, as it chanced, being wound about two of the great jars as though the dead man would clasp them to his heart.
Now I looked at Guatemoc who had slain him, wondering if my hour was at hand also, for I knew well that when princes bury their wealth they hold that few should share the secret.
'Fear not, my brother,' said Guatemoc.

'Listen: this man was a thief, a dastard, and a traitor.