At the dedication of the great temple for Huitzilopotchli, just thirty years ago, seventy thousand captives were put to death." "They must have been miserable creatures," Roger said indignantly, "to have submitted tamely to such a fate.

They might, at least, have rushed upon their guards, however numerous, and died fighting." Roger said little more during that day's journey.

The admiration he had at first felt, for the arts and civilization of these people, had been succeeded by a feeling of abhorrence.

He had heard, from Malinche, that all victims sacrificed to the gods were afterwards cooked and eaten; and although he had scarcely believed the girl, in spite of her solemn assurances, he could now, after seeing the vast pile of human skulls, quite believe that it was true..