CHAPTER XXX.
THE ESCAPE Now Otomie put the rope off her neck, and descending from the stool, stood before Marina.
'You are Marina,' she said coldly and proudly, 'and you come to save us, you who have brought ruin on the land that bore you, and have given thousands of her children to death, and shame, and torment.

Now, if I had my way, I would have none of your salvation, nay, I would rather save myself as I was about to do.' Thus Otomie spoke, and never had she looked more royal than in this moment, when she risked her last chance of life that she might pour out her scorn upon one whom she deemed a traitress, no, one who was a traitress, for had it not been for Marina's wit and aid, Cortes would never have conquered Anahuac.

I trembled as I heard her angry words, for, all I suffered notwithstanding, life still seemed sweet to me, who, ten seconds ago, had stood upon the verge of death.

Surely Marina would depart and leave us to our doom.

But it was not so.