Tikal thought for a moment, then pointed towards us and said,
“Seize these men.”
At his word a hundred or more of the nobles, who evidently had been instructed to execute his orders, rushed at us suddenly. As they came across the open space I saw the señor put his hand to his belt, and said to him:
“For the love of God! do not strike, for should you touch one of them they will certainly kill us.”
“That they will do in any case,—but as you wish,” he answered.
Then they broke on us. As they came, all those nobles who had followed Zibalbay to the crest of the pyramid gave way before their rush, leaving the three of us and the Lady Maya standing alone.
“Cowards!” said Zibalbay, glancing behind him. Then he drew his machete and with a shout cut down the foremost of those who assailed us—a great noble. In another instant the weapon was struck from him, and the señor and I were being dragged towards the altar, followed by Zibalbay and the Lady Maya, upon whom, however, our assailants laid no hand.
“What shall we do with these men?” cried Tikal again.
And again the nobles answered, “Kill them!”
So they threw us down, and men came at us with swords to make an end of us, which indeed they would have done quickly, had not the Lady Maya sprung forward, and, standing over the señor, cried, “Hold!” in so piercing a voice that they stayed their hands.