Malmiztic the Toltec; and the cavaliers of the Cross

Front matter

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Chapter II. The Regatta

There were a thousand prows ploughing the blue bosom of Tezcuco in the bright glances of the morning ; here shot by, one after another, the arrowy canoes, and there the more tardy craft toiled upon the waters. In one direction came the barges laden with matter for the market, and from Xochimilco came a fleet of fairy-like boats, filled with flowers, to be sold in the great city ; they were of a thousand dyes, from the deep damask of the mountain rose, to the splendid stains of the beautifully painted tiger flower. Many of the boats were covered with boughs, in which were woven thousands of magnolia and acacia blossoms, forming beautiful bowers, beneath which some peasant boy or girl would be lying, while a brother or a father paddled the light craft on her easy way.

As the day advanced, boat after boat began to assemble in one immense fleet near the city ; from this canal could be seen some nobleman issuing forth with his beautifully bedecked shallop ; and there, some adventurous youth, ambitious to enter the race, would be driving his fragile bark towards the great centre, where those who were to contend for the prize were momentarily gathering. And now they came from every quarter ; a squadron from the south towards Iztapalapan was seen ; and now another came in view, making their westward way from Tezcuco, while from Tepejacac upon the north, and Tlacopan, as well as Chapol tepee, upon the south of the great city, numberless other vessels could be seen sheering the silver waters and hastening to the spot of attraction.

In a short time a superb gondola was seen cleaving its way along the lake shore ; it had an awning of azure, studded with stars of silver and gold, and the portions of it which hung down (26) , towards the water, like curtains, were embroided with the most brilhant and beautiful feather work. The vessel was long and graceful in its shape, and around the bow, the sides, and the stern, were various figures, elaborately and exquisitely carved; but the flashing of the eagle, holding the serpent upon a cactus, wrought in gold, on a field of violet, which was seen displayed upon a banner waving high above the gorgeous vessel, left no doubt that this bark contained the royal presence. Twelve noblemen, with even-measured stroke, pulled at the oars, which, Avith their alternate blades of gold and silver, flashed in the sunlight with each returning sweep — for by this time the sun had risen above the bright spires of Tezcuco, and over the mountain wall which barred the valley from the east. Long feathery lines of lio'ht streamed down throuo-h the forest trees and scattered

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themselves in a shower of gold upon the glassy bosom of the lake, and high upon the dizzy pinnacles of these mountain heights could be seen thousands of half-clad peasants, collected to watch this all-exciting contest.

A general stir was now visible where the craft w^ere most thickly crowded, and one by one the boats w^hicli were to enter the race came forth in a group by themselves, and the surrounding vessels scattered in all directions, and made their way as rapidly as possible across the lake towards the city of Tezcuco. A number of small boats next came up, and towed the contesting Yessels in the same direction.

In the first boat, which was an elegantly ornamented wherry, painted white and azure, with an outspread eagle stretching froin the bow, as if ready to cleave the air, sat Cuitlahua, prince of Iztapalapan ; the boat which he was now in was the Emperor Montezuma's favorite clipper, and safely might the monarch trust his interest Avith his brother, for Cuitlahua, as he sat bare, save a brilliant girdle round the loins, displayed a form well fitted for the task.

The next in the line which were taking their way across to the starting point, was Cuicuitca's vessel ; it was painted bright red, and bore a scarlet flamingo upon the bow, carved with great dehcacy and skill.

The third contained Cacama ; it was of a bright purple color,

28 MALMIZTIC, THE TOLTEC ; AKl)

studded with stars of silver, its material was bircli-bark, and so light that he could have borne it upon his broad shoulders. The utmost care was required to preserve the equilibrium of the person who undertook to stand up in it, a thing necessary, as the boats were to be propelled by paddles, and not by rowing with oars.

The fourth competitor for the prize wore a soft white cotton mantle, like a cloak, wrapped round him, and fastened at the collar and waist by a band of blue ; upon his head he wore a crest of long green and crimson feathers, which curled gracefully to one side, and looped in a sort of light bonnet, upon the other; over his face, hung a loose veil, which foiled the attempts of the multitude to penetrate the disguise. His boat was shaped like a pea-pod, or shell, long and arrowy, with an elevation both at the bow and stern, on each of which points an eagle in the act of dropping or falling could be seen. The bark was painted perfectly white, and not a spot or stain could be discerned upon any portion of it, without or within.

The fifth and last boat of the racers was a model of grace and symmetry in its construction ; its sharp bow offered no resistance to the water, and it sat upon the lake like a swan ; in hue it was as black and shining as a raven; but entirely around it, just above the line of the water, ran a bright and beautiful band of crimson and gold. In it sat a muscular man, in a mask and black domino, upon whom the eyes of the spectators at hand were as fruitlessly busy as upon the veiled occupant of the preceding bark.

The five boats were all arrived at a point in the lake where the emperor in his magnificent shallop, was already awaiting them. In a few moments the contending jft'ows were turned toward Tenochtitlan ; it was a beautiful sight, as they wheeled gracefully into line, to see the fine contrast in shape, color and adornment. The parties all stood with their blades poised, prepared, at the signal, to strike them into the yielding element. The emperor now rose from his cushioned couch, supported on either side, while before him an officer held a large drum, and, casting his eye along the prows, to see if they stood exactly even, he let fall his truncheon upon the head of the drum, and, at that instant, the blades struck the water with the exactness of a piece of machinery, and the boats sprang away like a herd of suddenly startled deer, at which a shout arose from the lake which was answered by those upon the land, and re-echoed from the mountains.

Cuicuitca's barge led the way, and at every stroke she leaped from them, as a stag springs off from his pursuers, the rest kept side by side, and still Cuicuitca's bright flamingo flew from them, leaving a broken silver track in her Avake. And now, Cacama's purple birchen bark, with its stars of silver, began to part from the rest, and shoot on after Cuicuitca ; and now, the black boat, with its crimson and gold belt, fell far behind, and a laugh was heard from the many boats which followed, at the presumption of the black dressed mask to enter such a race, and with such competitors.

*' Ay !" one would say, " a very pretty boat, and a fair oarsman, but this is no place for common-place work."

*'Yes, yes," another would reply, *'he will do very well for the fisherman's race, which comes ofl" next week, but I can tell him he need not waste his streno-th where our stout kinef of Tezcuco plies a paddle, and the still stouter Cuicuitca."

** Yes, he '11 do for the fisherman's race," laughed a dozen voices at once.

"But, neighbor of Tezcuco, let me tell you," said a voice, "that our emperor's brother will show you that Iztapalapan is the queen of this watery region — mark ! now, how the lord Cuitlahua makes the royal eagle gain upon them ! — see ! how her white and azure body leaps along the lake ; ay ! ay ! look at that ! what think you of those strides ? and where, do you suppose, we shall find these two poor, lame ducks which represent Mexico ? for, see you, he in the white cloak has also fallen far astern. Ah ! I lay my life it is some stout girl in love with the fellow in the mask."

"Ay !" said the Tezcucan, in return, it was a sensible move to hide their faces under masks, it might save them many blushes." "Ha ! Ha ! Ha !" laughed the crowd, as with a rush' of oars, and paddles they pursued the flying racers.

By this Cacama had closed with Cuicuitca, and in a moment more passed slowly by, and took the lead, and a shout of applause was heard from the Tezcucans as their champions swept ahead. And now the strength of Cuitlahua began to manifest itself, as he cleft the waters, and came up close with Cuicuitca, and, moving steadily by him, he ran side by side with Cacama ; and at this powerful push, a loud huzza was heard from the boats of Iztapalapan, and the emperor and his suite waved their hands in token of admiration. As Cacama and Cuitlahua drove their paddles with even stroke, first upon one side of their boats and then upon the other, Cacama's birchen bark dipping so low with every sweep as to plunge her thin sides under water, Cuicuitca struck fast and hard to regain his lost ground ; but it was of no avail, they led him still, and now he found those in the rear gaining slowly but surely upon him.

"Iztapalapan forever !" shouted the multitude, as their favorite pushed stoutly ahead, and led Cacama by the length of his boat. The distance to be run was seven miles, five Avere already passed, when cries were heard, of ''Well done, my White Lady !" " Bravely plied, my stout girl 1"^;— and, with this, the snowy craft darted by Cuicuitca like a sea-gull, and, holding her way finely, stroke by stroke she neared Cacama, who, marking the gain, made sturdy but fruitless efforts to retain the second position, but, finding that although he made his light bark almost leap from the water, his exertions were unavailing, he dropped unwillingly astern.

Next came the cries of "Mexico! Mexico!" and the counter cries of " Iztapalapan forever !" as the sharp white shell sho*" swiftly up alongside of Cuitlahua. But it was no trifling task to pass the emperor's favorite, as she sprang forward with each w^ell delivered stroke, the foam flashing over the bow, and showering itself upon the outstretched wings of the imperial eagle, but the dropping eagle of the Avhite bark seemed to be gazing over its razor-like bow, and scarcely broke a bubble in its cutting course ; away they sped, like arrows, and Cacama fell behind.

"By the blood of Tlaloc," shouted a young Mexican, "the White Lady leads!" " Huzza !" shouted the multitude, and scarcely had the shout gone up from the lake, when it Avas heard with ten-fold force from the shores. The white shell was now far ahead, she seemed to have risen like a frightened water-fowl, and flown away over the lake in advance of all her pursuers.

At this point, the boats Avere all at nearly the same relative position to each other, the Avhite boat in advance, then the emperor's, next Cacama ; following him came Ciiiciiitca, and immediately in his wake, the black barge brought up the rear, amid the many jests of the shouting multitude, who nearly caught up with him at different times — now a wag would offer to help him row, and another would say,

"Black domino ! shall I tow you up among the racers ?" "Nay, I have a leash of land turtles which shall haul him," cried a fisherman, and a loud laugh mocked the black mask, as he quietly and easily held his course. Suddenly a loud burst of applause was heard from those who followed, with cries of "Bravely! bravely, my black sluggard !" "By the blood of Tlaloc !" shouted the young Mexican, "the old bear has awakened after his winter's nap."

And these cries were not without cause, for the black baro-e first swept by Cuicuitca as though he were standing still, and, darting onward, the domino fiew past the birchen bark of Cacama, like a raven on the stormy blast ; and still it held unchecked its rapid course, leaving a line of bubbles in its wake. At this moment it closed with the king's craft, and the struggle was tremendous, on the part of the stout Cuitlahua, to hold his own; but vainly did he bend his sinewy back, and clasp his paddle with an iron grasp ; the raven still went on, sweep after sweep it narroAved the space between the white keel and the gold and crimson belted bark of the black domino.

The last mile was now reached, and the shouts and voices were no longer heard, the thousands of anxious spectators upon the shores maintained a breathless silence, and, from the tops of the houses, the balconies, the wharves and the quays, countless eyes were watching with intense interest the progress of the two foremost boats as they neared the land, or spot where the flag, fluttering from a buoy, marked the goal of their exertions.

The white and black boats were now coming at a tremendous speed, having left their competitors far in the distance, the white one leading the race by a short space, which distance was perceptibly diminishing, through the immense power with which the muscular man in black was propelling his almost magical bark. The contest became more and more exciting every moment, the figure in the white robe now bent forward and dextrously swept his dripping blade witli a rapid and graceful stroke through the water, and, as the light breeze, formed partly by the bark's motion, struck his loose garment, its light folds fluttered in the air, and gave an ease to his appearance, although his efforts now were of the most trying character, the long feathers of his bonnet streamed back, and mingled with his dark locks, waving in the wind ; the motions of his paddle were characterized, chiefly, by an even regularity and graceful sweep, rather than by any extraordinary display of power, or rapidity of motion. The other, in the domino, exhibited more strength, with less grace ; his endurance seemed superhuman ; and, as the two boats went on, each frail bark shivered as they were forced along at this terrific rate ; their thin ribs bent almost to breaking, as the oarsmen leaned first upon this side, and again upon tlie other.

The raven was now wing and wing with the carrier dove, and neither boat gained any longer an inch upon the other ; it was the pitch of their speed, neither power nor skill could add momentum to their impetus ; they almost buried themselves in the water by their velocity. Long, bright skeins of sparkling foam shot oft' from their bows, and a thousand bubbles rose upon the surface of the lake in their wake — as they swept their paddles from bow to stern, the water whirled and gurgled in the eddy of the oar. Every nerve of the rowers now seemed strained to its highest tension, and every eye on shore grew bright with silent but thrilling excitement. As they neared the mark of their destination, the pulse of the great crowd seemed to cease beating, the hum of voices was hushed, and one intense feeling of overpowering anxiety produced a silence as unbroken as that of a desolate desert. On they came, dashing the crystal rain from their sharp bows, and rolling oflf the white foam like the tossing mane of a flying steed ; and, as they plied the paddles, they darted onward with a lightning speed ; every timber shook, and every tendon was stretched — tlie strife was terrible, more and more fierce grew the contest, but not an inch was gained or lost, they sprang forward at the same moment, and, to a hair's breadth their bows were even at every stroke. The goal was now hard by, the task was almost over, and the black mask appeared to have concentrated all the immense power of his extraordinary physical frame for one last, desperate effort — it was tlie effort of an expiring giant, and, at this " Titan-like convulsion, the black boat leaped half her length ahead, as by a spasm, and one more blow, of like character, brought her stern upon an even line with the bow of her snowy opponent : the black giant now gathered himself for his third Herculean labor, and striking the blade of his quivering oar in the blue water, he threw the full force and weight of his whole strength upon it, when the trembling paddle snapped like a broken reed, and the white boat shot out ahead, beyond tlie black raven, and passed the buoy like a sea-gull ! whereat, the excited host sent up a shout that shook the mountains for miles around, and made the whole bosom of the lake tremble as if a thunder-bolt had burst upon the head of a neighboring peak — peal after peal of shouts came from the top of that mountain wall which girded about the valley of the lakes ; and, as the wild sounds flew over the waters, the echoes caught them up, screaming, and bore them away, captives to the far off glens of the dark mountains.

When the emperor had arrived where the parties had landed, he commanded his steward to bring forward the beautiful jewels, and presenting them to the veiled victor, demanded his name ; the last named person, loosening the blue band about his neck, and untying his veil, doffed his bonnet, and displayed the handsome head and dark, flowing locks of Guatemozin, the emperor's nephew, at which the crowd sent up loud cheers : Guatemozin bowed and received the casket containing the jewels, and, after returning his thanks for them, he turned and said to the black domino who was resting himself on a block of marble close at hand,

"Sir Mask, I know you not, but whoever you are, to you is due this prize, and I insist that you take it, for it is mine only by accident, but it is yours by desert."

"Give me your hand," answered the mask, "I only ask the true grasp of fellowship in its noble touch, and I am rewarded for my labor, for, by the stars ! a stouter gentleman than thyself it has never been my fortune to cope with !"

"Yes," said the emperor, "give him thy hand, and I will give him another casket myself. But, Sir Mask, since the sports are concluded, you cannot refuse to give me your name, that I may make it honorable."

" You have it, sire," said Malmiztic, stripping off his mask and domino, and developing his massive, magnilicent head. The mob shrank back instinctively, with evident signs of dread from his mysterious presence and its influence.

" Come hither, my good friend Malmiztic," said the emperor, *'I can give you no jewels so beautiful as you have in your cabinet ; but you will accept this casket from me as your friend ; but for my promise of making your name honorable, in honors my treasury or power has nothing in its gift which could add lustre to the name of Malmiztic."

The Toltec boAved his majestic head, clustering with its raven locks, before Montezuma, and received from his hands a box of beautiful wood and workmanship, curiously shaped and inlaid with pearls and precious stones. The emperor then entered his palanquin and was borne upon the shoulders of his nobles to the royal palace; and the populace, bending low as he passed, dispersed themselves in various directions.

Chapter III

It was a night of rejoicing in the great city of Mexico ; from numbers of palace windows countless lights were gleaming, and along the smooth stone pavements crowds of gaily- dressed citizens were strolling about in the soft night air of the south. It had been a day of feasting and gaiety, and the multitude had now come forth to listen to the many musicians who were assembled in the great park of this rich capital, which park was a square, surrounded by buildings, which would vie with oriental palaces for symmetry of architecture and elegance of appearance. The square was thickly studded with all the beautiful trees indigenous to the tropics, and was a wilderness of beauty in the heart of the city. Paths and roads wound through its shade in intricate serpentine rounds, and thousands of vines and creeping plants entAvined themselves around the forest trees, and formed bowers, beneath whose shadows thousands were sitting in various parts of these extensive grounds, talking, singing, or making the night musical by accompanying their voices with instruments which breathed forth soft and bewitching melodies ; while overhead in the branches of the trees, hidden by the polished leaves, innumerable mocking-birds 'swelled their throats to imitate the strains, and warbled forth an ever-varying minstrelsy of their own. Interspersed through the gardens were fountains of fanciful device, ornamented by grotesque figures and carvings, over whose sides cool waters fell with a thousand liquid sparkles into broad basins of stone below ; and upon these pools the moonlight rested, and the shadows from the waving trees played over their surfaces of silver, and many were the bunches of bright and crimson berries that bent sportively from the breath of the nightbreeze to dip at their shadows in the hquid mirror.

And many a maiden and lover sat in the clustering thickets where the dense foliage secured them from the eyes of the passing multitude, and where the fragrance of flowers formed an atmosphere fitted to be breathed by those whose words are warm with devotion, and whose hearts beat with the sympathetic concord of love. The gardens were the common property of all, and in the groves could be seen persons of all ranks, from the poorest peasant, dressed in the coarsest nequen, the white cloth made from the thread of the aloe, to the highest nobleman, in the finest stuffs, embroidered with feather- work, the unique but beautiful costume of the great. All took an interest in the grounds ; each felt that he had part and parcel in them, and that too much care could not be bestowed in preserving the ornaments, trees, flowers, and fountains by which they were decorated and embellished. The disposition to destroy, in those who have access to restricted spots, was here unknown, and the lowliest hand that broucrht a flower from the forest was here furnished a bed where he might plant it, to bloom as the delight of a thousand eyes. Countless dahlias bowed their purple and gold heads to hedges of ruby lipped roses. The scarlet cactus, and her many thorny sisters, stood as the guardians to protect the more delicate plants from the intruding step of the stranger ; and the fragrant daughter of the moon, the night-blooming ceres, opened her cup of incense in the darkness. Merry groups, in various parts of the garden or park, in places prepared for them, were dancing gaily to the pleasing pipings of reed flutes and the mellow and sonorous sound of horns and atabals ; and many were the sports and pastimes which were progressing in various parts of the place. One party would be gathering flowers for the fete of the morrow ; and another would be watching the gold and silver fish glide through the crystal floods of the fountains. And thus they rambled on for the evening hours through this Eden-like scene, until the quiet stars would admonish them to retire.

In a quiet, leafy, embowered nook, near the emperor's palace, in this garden, sat Tecalco, Montezuma's beautiful daughter, and by her side, carelessly lying in his dark mantle upon the mossy and velvet-like sod, was the mysterious Toltec; his dark eyes were turned upward towards her face, as he said :

** Tecalco, we have known each other long, and yet you say there is something about me which you cannot comprehend, some strange riddle yet unexplained. It is true, young friend, there are depths in my heart which are still unfathomed, and I would not have the rude world busy making their soundings therein. I do walk behind a mask, as you say, a veil, through which the peewng crowd can never penetrate ; but, Tecalco, I would have you know this seeming mystery ; it has no magic for its foundation, as the foolish w^orld think, or as the base priests would have them believe ; mine is the philosophy which strips the disguises from nature, and opens fields of beauty and knowledge upon the sterile desert. Ignorance stands blinded in the dark doorway of nature's vast temple, while the course of investigation is ever onward, and before it the barred doors fly open, and a thousand new lights burst upon the delighted vision ; we must not halt ; this glance is not enough ; it is but the taste which gives the appetite for the feast. Would you see more, Tecalco?"

** I would, Malmiztic. You, who have known me so lono- must know that my feelings for j^ou have, year by year, as my life's blossom grew, unfolded themselves, leaf after leaf, to the sunlike brightness of thy wisdom ; and, now, I blushingly bare my bosom to tell you that I have drank at the fountain of those eyes until my soul can quench its thirst at no other spring."

As Tecalco spake these words, the broad bosom of Malmiztic heaved heavily, and a sad, sweet smile stole over his countenance, as he replied :

" Young maiden, you have touched a tender point in a heart which has been growing cold for years, and warmed it into life ; but have you not some distrust of me, some secret dread that I am linked with something which is not suited to man's weal, or heaven's holier purposes?"

"No, Malmiztic," she answered, "you do me wTong to suppose that I have ever held thee other than thou art, or seemest to me. It may be that you have some evil agencies, but this heart shall never believe it ; never shall a thought of mine harbor distrust, until I find you false. I have had dread of you, but not distrust ; I have but looked upon you as I look upon the stars, with awe and admiration ; the glowing emblems which speak of something beyond their mere seeming. I have felt the strange power of your presence, but it has been with a sense of love, not fear. I would have discovered the fountain of your feelings, but a strange spirit guarded its mysterious spring, and when I Avould gaze into its well of waters, I found that spirit fixing its magic look upon me, and I became spellbound with reverential awe ; and as I have grown up from girlhood, a love for thee has grown within, me, and I have yearned to ask thee whence comes thy magical power and mysterious, sacred influence?"

" Tecalco," said Malmiztic, and his broad face grew bright with a smile, "I have lived alone in a weary world for years; my stoiy remains untold ; wherever I have Avandered, man has feared me, and woman shrank away, and from your lips I have now heard, for the first time, the confession of one who loves me for myself alone, one Avho knows me not, but relying upon the faith of affection dares to trust her heart's happiness with another. Ah ! Tecalco, I have spent years of loneliness without a face to light its solitude with one beam of love's celestial radiance. Men have stood frozen with fear, like statues, in my walk of life ; others have bowed with reverence as I have swept the sceptre of science over their heads, and by its magic touch, as with an enchanter's wand, I have called new elements into life, and given things inanimate the power of strength and being. The learned have listened to my discourses with dehght, and held my opinions in high estimation, but they have looked upon me as a mystic idol, whose voice was oracular, but whose heart was stone, and beat not with the pulsations of human hopes and sympathies. Priests have pursued me, like jackals, yelping and howling at my heels ; and if I took a stand and turned upon them, they fled as though a host of sheeted spectres had risen from the firm earth full before them ; they pursued me in packs, and if I crossed one alone, he slunk cowering into his cell, as a bat or an owl shunning the daylight. Kings and princes have feasted me in their palaces, and offered me the first places at their banquets, but no seat in their hearts have I occupied. The peasant has given me a cup of water at his cottage door, but trembled if I placed my foot across his threshold. The hand of beauty has been given to me in the dance, but if I dared to ask a feeling of sympathetic aftection, even by a look, the eyes of beauty would close like the contracting leaves of a sensitive plant, and the fair hand shrink shudderingly away. And, now, why is this, you would ask? Shall I tell you, Tecalco?"