Hualpa answered swiftly,—
“Well said! The gods speak not directly to those whom they would admonish or favor. And if this be the handiwork of Huitzil’,—and what more likely?—should we not inquire if it have a meaning? It may be a message. Is there a reader of pictures among you, friends?”
“Here is one!”
“Let him come! Make way for him!”
A citizen, from his dress a merchant, was pushed forward.
“What experience have you?”
“I studied in the calmecac!”[45]
The man raised his eyes to the head on the lance, and they became transfixed with horror.
“Look, then, to what we have here, and, saying it is a message from the holy Huitzil’, read it for us. Speak out, that all may hear.”
The citizen was incapable of speech, and the people cried out, “He is a shame to the heroic god! Off with him, off with him!”