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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 i^i National Libfary Bibliotheque nationals ol Canada du Canada n\>\*/ 1 ^ '^/U*vaN'^^ Canada M /; ;- sA-^" ■ BY RIGHT OF CONQUEST, i , i; ' >- I i-n- I 1 ROGER OPENS THE TREAbURE-llOARU. i^v i{i(;nT or C()N(i([|.:sT Oli. WITH ((MiTEZ IN MEXICO. ■i- Bt ^- A. HEN TV Aulh,.r»f'.\VithClh„i,.|n,Ilr. IVli,,,,,,,,,, v , ! A Nil iWO ilAfa. er, GLASGOW: BLACKIE .fe SON, LnuTEo. TOROxXTO : WILLIAM BRIGGS oo oo d. '. W >^, ( i..' 9,% -Tl'V Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in cht year onr (liousand eight hundred and oinety-itx by Blackie & Son, Limited, at the Departmeat of Agriculture 890735 PREFACE. T«ai Mir d. al the My dear Lads, The conquest of Mexico, an extensive empire with .numerous and warlike population, " a mere hand uT , Span,ards ,. one of the romances of history, indeed, a writer of ncfon would scarcely have dared to invent so ir^probabL a tory. Even the bravery of the Sp,niard. and 'he Id vantage of supenor arms would not have sufficed to g^e them he v,ctory, had it not been that Mexico was ripe fir d,srupt.o„. The A.teca, instead of conciliatin,- by wise and gentle government the peoples they had conc^eL trlt^d t em w,th such despotic harshness that they vere re^X ally then,selves with the invaders, and to join wi h them heart, ly against the central power; so that ins c u Tf batt! y net an empire single-handed, the Spaniards had rea ,y „n " TuZr " ^°" ""^' *"" "'~^ ^^ "- ™y 0^ Fortunately, the details of the extraordinary expedition was :„;::: '^"T""' °' *° '"°"°' *"^ '•-■'«. Prescott ,n h.s admirable work on the con,,uest of Me ice ha given a summary of them, an.l has drawn a most d picture of the events of the oan.paign. The book far slZ ■n merest any volun.e of fiction, and I should stron.l "e Z perasmg the whole story, of which I have only been able to Vi PREFACE, touch upon the principal events. While history is silent aa to the voyage of the Smn, it is recorded by the Spaniards that an English ship did in 1517 or 1518 appear off the port of San Domingo, and was fired at by them, and chased from the islands; but it was not until some twenty or thirty years later that the English bucaneers openly sailed to challenge the supremacy of the Spaniards among the Western Islands, and to dispute their pretensions to exclude all other flags but their own from those waters. It may, however, be well believed that the ship spoken of was not the only English craft that entered the Spanish main, and that the adventurous traders of the West country more than once despatched ships to carry on an illicit trade there. Such enterprises would necessarily be conducted ^vith great secrecy until the relations between Spain and England changed, and religious differences broke up the alliance that existed between them during the early days of Henry VIIL Yours very sincerely, G. A. HENTY. CONTENTS. Chap. I. A Startling Proposal, ^^* II. Bound to Unknown Parts III. The Voyage, IV. Among the Islands, V. Shipwrecked, .... VI. Anahuac, VII. A Wonderful Country, VIII. At Tezcuco, IX. Life in a Palace, X. News from the Coast, XI. CORTKZ, XII. The jtTuGiTivEs, XIII. The Massacre of Cholula, XIV. In Mexico, XV. Again at Tezcuco XVI. A Treasure Room XVII. The Insurrection, XVIII. The Hising in Mexico, XIX. The Passage of the Causeway, gj^ XX. At Tlascala, yyr , „ 331 AAl. A \ ICTIM FOR THE GODS, XXII. Home, . 28 . 43 . 59 . 76 . 93 , 110 126 141 160 178 190 209 225 243 261 279 297 348 367 f M ill ILLUSTRATIONS. Room opens the Treasure-hoard. r ,■ . ^"'^ rronfi.^pirce. 273 i^ooER „.oe:v.. . ,^, ,o„„,, ,^^„^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^ ^^ The P:.e o. a H^^brko Thousa.o Sku..s. ^,3 CCAKVS SrST.. E.TRKATS HXM .0. .0 .EX RoOER 00, . ' " ^55 KOUER PA.1,8 ON H,S KnEE BEFORE CoRTEZ. .... ^06 256 Tub Messenoeh returns at » p OF P.ACE.. . . "^''''"^ ""'"'''' »^ * S^'OHE 295 MaLINOHK undertakes THR rAT,^ ^ THE CARE OF THE WOUNDED AmENCHE, 365 Map of the Count;-y traverspH hv ih, a ■ , Mexico, , ^ ^P"""''^' °" ''lei'- '•oute to 10 i Cr RIGHT OF CONQUEST. CHAPTER I. A STARTLING PROPOSAL. JN March 3rd 151 fi fii„ + j- dropped JJrll':^;J::rsr'' t-^™' days be considered a tiny era t inr. .Tl^ l"" °"^ then looked upon a.s 7 T "^' ^""^ '^« ^'^ which her owner, MasterVSryBllf u7''' 1"^ °^« «^ be proud. She was only of some Lu"?' \ ^^"^ ^"^^^'^ *<> were few ships that saifed oTf /m^^*^^^^^^^^^ ^ut there B'^e; and Plyn^outh was even thTrfs^Tf "^ '^"'^^ '«^««^ Beaport, having flourished mi'hZ'Z T. 'n^Portance as a once successful rival-Fower T 7^ T *^^ *^^^"f^" °f ^ts those days, for the only clrL^ Ij ^ ^^^ T' ""^ ^^^^^'^ « and precious goods winch oSJk f'"'' ^'^^ ''^ ^«^« «««% of the Flemings, the sil£and s«f r?f " '^^^^^ ^he clotl^ Ea.t. which pL;ed fit through ^h'^ h 'f^'""' P^^'^"^^ ^^ ^^^^ Genoese merchants, and th?lL ^of Fr^' ''^.I«^^^^^^ the chief articles of commerce ^7'^"! ^f^'^'^^^^ of eighty tons was a heavy venture «^^ ?«^* ^°^ ^ ^««««1 wealth and position would thfnk of ,""'"' ^"^ merchants of Jn this respect the ^1^'^^^^^^^ ^-^ - ahead of ub, and the comme;': Jt::,,!;^^: 12 CAPTAIN REUBEN. small thing indeed in comparison with that of Flanders. In I'lymouth, however, the Swan was regarded as a goodly ship ; and Master Diggory Beggs was heartily congratulated by his acquaintances when the news came that the Swan was sailiu- up the Sound, having safely returned from a voyage to Genoa As soon as the anchor was di-opped and the sails were furled, the captain, Eeul.en Hawkshaw, a cousin of Master Beggs, took his place in the boat, accompanied by his son Roger, a lad of sixteen, and was rowed by two sailors to the landing-place. They were delayed for a few minutes there by the number ot Keubens acqi -.-intances, who tlironged round to shake him by the hand; but as soon as he had freed himself of these he strode up the narrow street from the quays to the house of Master Diggory. Eeuben Hawkshaw was a tall, powerfully- built man, weather-beaten and tanned from his many comin-'s and goings upon the sea; with a voice that could be heard In the loudest storm, and a fierce look— but, as his men knew, gentle and kind at heart, though very daring, and having, as It seemed, no fear of danger either from man or tempest. Roger was large boned and loosely jointed, and was likely some day to fill out into as big a man as his father, who stood over six- feet-two without his shoes. Reuben was wont to complain that he himself was too big for shipboard. " If a crew were men wholly of my size," he would say, « a ship would be able to carry but a scant crew; for, lie they as close as they would, there would not be room for a full complement below." For indeed in those days space was precious, and on board a ship men were packed well-nigh as close as they could lie, having small thought of comfort, and being well content if there was room to turn without angering those lying next on either side. The merchant, who was so stout and portly that he offered a strong contrast to his cousin, rose from his desk as the latter entered. "I am glad indeed to see you back, Cousin Reuben j and trust that all has fared well with you." flenj. In )dly ship ; ■ed by his as sailing to Genoa, urled, the gga, took , a lad of )lace. I number :e him by these he house of sverfully- comings heard in n knew, iving, as Roper ame day over six- too big say, " a lie they r a full ice was nigh as ort, and ngering offered e latter in; and S18 THE PILE OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND SKULLS, A 8UOORS8PUL VOTAOB. of Jtuhan goods on heard • l,„t t i ^""^ *" '=^""'' "^O'-k a small portion of l.er l.old I n, in, T'T' '^"'' *""'^ "P ^ut There I filled up with th Is ore 11^1 P^« "" °^'" ^'^^^ '"^«'^- will, I warrant me, return lod Z7 ^"'"^ ^^""'^ ^^ich them." "" ^°°^ P'ofifc on the price I paid for noultnl"""" ''^'^ "^^ ^'*^ - ---^-ta or adventures, "Not more than is useful. We hn^l « fl i . v, pirates, who coveted the goods with wr'^"' f™" ^""'"'^h guessed, we were lu.Ion • h.t weTl Zu'^' "' *''">^ '^""'b"ess io-ss of only si. .en kuied'arn'Ts ^'^e^ TT"^ ''''"^ ^ coming up the Poitu« ""y- "'''o should ,„e„.f hi3 ekte to "adXel: hta"^ '" "' '""^ °"'« » ".at »;;„;;";;/, :';;\tr i trtf rs-^- " » »"» Diy cousins are well." *^'^^ ^'«t''««« Mercy and Y Jf^tW aS ? rvet;^ ' ^^^ *^^- ^- ^--If, Roger. would fain be alone > '^^''^ "'''''''' ^ talk over, fnd Roger was glad to fisnnr,^ c house; and boding t hXs"" .' r"'"^"*^'^ --""S" which, after he had clo ed tZ ?/ f u'^ ^'*^^ *" ^^^^t stop, joom wher'; st^rnd hefZ £'^T/"'' ^^ ^« ^^^^^ ^^e " We are trnly ^Jad to ^^"fe'^'^^'s were sittinir at work " . .i-d .o ..e you, but you must ron.ember that m ROOEH'B RECEl'TION. wo Rtay-nt-honiP people are not accuHtonicil to the hnisforoui wajH of tlio Hoa." The reproof wi\h mlrriiniritored in a kirxlly tone, but Roger coloured to the liair ; for, indeed, in his doliirnt at being back again, lie had forgotten the manners that were exp-icttxl from a lad of his age on shore. However, he know that although Misticss Beggs was somewhat precise in her ways, she waa thoroughly kind, and always treated him as if he were n nophow of her own rather than a young cousin of her husband's. He therefore recovered at once from his momentary confusion, and stepped forward to receive the salute Mistress Beggs always gave him on his rc^turn from liis voyages. •' Dorothy, Agues, you remember your Cousin Roger? " The two girls who had remained seated at their work — which had however made but little progress since their father had run in two hours before to say tlia< ihe Swan was signalled in the Sound — now rose and each made a formal courtesy, and then held up her cheek to be kissed, according to the custom of the day; but there was a little smile of amusement on their faces that would have told a close observer that had their mother not been present their greeting would have been a warmer and less ceremonious one. "Well, well, Roger," Mistress Beggs went on, "it is marvellous to see how fast you grow ! Why, it is scarce six months since you sailed away, and you seem half a head taller than you were when you went ! And so the Swan has returned safely without damage or peril 1 " " No damage to speak of, Con in Mercy, save for a fow f;hot holes in her hull, and a good many patches on b i i.' •- «-i''- work of a Moorish corsair with whom we had a sharp brush by the way." " And was there loss of life, Roger ? " *' We have come back nine hands shorter than we sailed with, t. •! tl'iere are a few on board still unfit for hard work." \vu dic^ you fight, Cousin Roger?" Dorothy Beggs "1 (■* \c, what I coui with my bow until 1 got alongside, and bnisforouj but Roger being back )oct(Hl from it although ra, she waa he were a •husband's. ' confusion, ress Beggs [erl" The ■which had sr had run illed in the , and then custom of it on their had their ive been a >n, " it is scarce six head taller us returned a f»)w shot- ■ i.'.i- •■.iK. larp brush ailed with, :k." thy Beggs igside, and "a much betteu welcome." 1ft then joined in the melee as woll as I could. The heathen tou^'l.t bru.ely, but thoy wore not a mat,.h for our men, Imnu wnnhng in woight and str.M.;,'th. aud little able to stand up flgauiht the crushing blows of our axos. But they are nimble and quick with their curved swords, and the fiorcenes,s of their faces and their shouting would have put men out of countea- ance who had less reason to be contidont than ours "And the trading has gone well?" asked Mistress Becrga who was known to have a keen eye to the main chance. ' I beheve that my father's well satisfied. Cousin Mercy, and that the venture has turned out fully as well as he looked for." That IS well Roger. Do you girls go on with your work. You can sew while you are listening. I will go and see that the preparations for dinner are going on regularly, for the ttuhTZlt S "^ ^'' '' '-'' -^ «^-^p -^- '^^y ^ow As soon as she had loft the room, the two girls threw down heavily '"'''^"^ ^''°'' *° ^"^er saluted him most "That is a much better welcome," Roger said, "than the formal greetings you before gave me. I wonder what Sul Mercy would have said had she chanced to come in again." Mother guessed well enough what it would be when we t'Ckslrifrt'ot^'''^''''^ '-''' ^'^"^^^"°"- «^«"^-y thinks It light on sr^ocml occasions to keep us to our manners and to make us sure that we know how it is becoming to behr-ve; but you know well, Roger, that she is not strict lith us generally, and likes us to enjoy ourselves. When we are ^nSr 1^ f--.7^h A„„t ^eggy, she lets us run abo" as we will, and never interferes with us save when our spirits carry us away altogether. I think we should be gZ Tf wo always hved m the country. But now, Roger. l!t us hlr relhryXcktenT ''''''' ^'^^ ''' '^'^ ^^^ ^^« ^-• oJ.' own^fi?' ^°'" Y ^^^y ^'•^ "°* ^'^y '""^^^ darker than llid Th - \ r'r ""^ "'' ''■°"=^«<^ "^y *be sun and -ma. lb.ro axe black men who live somewhere neai ,ir 16 THE FIGHT WITH THE MOORS. S'sr a:^T^^- rt ;V'T ^^^^-^ ^^^ the.. ;ps and wide xnoutht I beHeve " H h 7'^' ''"' ^^^« ^^^^^k the Moors, but those who we,l^^ -th ^"^^^7 ^« ^^^^^s among a« they did, and it needed a mnn n "^ ^""^'^* ^« bravely -th the., so ngly we^tthei^ w' ^ ^'^"^ ^^^^'^ ^ ^^^gj VVere you not terrified, Roger ?■" -aknorii"|Jtfest tPS^^^^^^ ^^^ -^t a strange -^e, but it pasidTwren 2e S t"™ "^ "^X' was no time to think about it vvS? t'^T . "^"^ ^^^ *^«re even had I been frightened ever so 1 I t " ^° ""^ b^«*' ^nd not have showed it, for Zld . ^'/ ^^"^^ ^^^^ ^ ^^o^W ^y father as well as myse • bu fn t '?. t?,"^"^' ^^^^"^« "Pon ;t one way or the othL £«" hev ''"'^^' ^^*"« ^^«"* had to be driven back again .nd we^. 7? "" *^« ^^^^^ -nd Enghshmen and honest m^n an^ H , .''^""* *^" ^^^^^ like we had not very much tronbT.K""''' *° °"'' P^^«« ^nd axes once became faidy a "LZ^^!^^ ''' especially when we done by the heathen. Tmle^wS '"T '*" °"^ ^^^^^^^ ^n- three such fights than enX fer Tul "^'^r ^° ^'^'^"^'^ *- - off he coast of Portugal for fourdl ' T ' '''''' ^« ^« ^^d be lost, the waves weze of such exoLV ' u'"^'^ '^''' ^^« ^«st ^ng anything I had over seet bpfn ^"^^'^^"'^^-^^ ^^^Pasa- inouth scores of times and ol? ^^ ^'""'^ ^^s in my that she would never ^i^a 41!' "'^^ ""'^ "^^^^ ^ ^bought water that poured over her 't; T -f '"' ^"' *^« ^«%bt of which alone saved us, for I beheveSlf ^''' *be mercy of God the ship would be Uten to 1 !r ""^ ^'"^^'^^^ ^bought «how of confidence in order toT''' •.*^?^'^ ^' ^^P* "P a at the end of the fourth dav the '""TV^' ^^°- however, before the great sea wen^dot^ 'Z ''''*''' '"' '' ^^^ ^^^« regular hills which seemed to nr^ bt ""T ''""^"^ ^" ^«4 here ,n Devonshire, but smtrr^^ V^'"'^ ^^"^^ ^e have ting with them, and have thick ts slaves among ?lit as bravely eart to engago elt a strange "P the ship's You see there our best, and that I should shame upon it little about he deck, and he work like kes and axes, II7 when we friends un- ■ough two or n as we had lat we must far surpasa- was in my I thought weight of fcy of God er thouglit fept up a However, ' was days ? in long h we have while we would be ;ounting- "you should not speak so loud." 17 Koger laughed. " I should make but a poor nenmnn A a^.. I ove the sea dearly, and it is soldom't" f "rilt'S gales to meet as that, and after all it is no worso to b drown d than xt IS to come to any other death. I am well conIe".t cousin, wjth matters as they are, and would not s ay ash "re and spend my hfe in writing not to bo as rich as tho'lreatest merchant in Plymouth. I almost wi«h sometimes I htdbeo born a Spaniard or a Portugal, for then I mi.Jit have a hance of s^uhng to wondrous new countries, instead of X^! ing only in European waters voyag- Del" rSr° "' ""' ""^ ''"™ ""^'^ '" - - " ■». '^Ser," " I do not say nay to that," Roger assented ■ " hnf T Ar. * see why Spain and Portugal should da ma If] « T V V""* and West, and keep all otl.ers Jm X there " "' ^''' "But the pope has given the Indies to'them " Dorothv .ni^ "I don't see that they were the pone's to <.iv^' ' T^ ^ v .' "That n i"hf do tn,. fl,l 1 • '« Popes to give, Roger replied, inat n.i ht do tor the king and his minister Wolsev and fhA bishops, but when in time all the people have Z.7. a Master WyclifFe's Bible, they will come to see thaTtb^f "' ' ^n-antfor the authority ti pope cla^^Hnd t Jn Te l^! pe. haps take our share of these new discoveries." ^ It will take him some trouble to do ff^nf " n shrugging his shoulders. " Sti I wUl be ^ 'r f T "1'^' for I would not on any account bl J ^?,^''^^'«^"^' I>°^-°th7, But, thank Heaven, EnTand is not sT" T ^'" ''''^• for ever being tortuVed rindl^u^^nrfo^T^-rtl'-'-r^r i^ngl^h would never put up with that. ui;tZ t^ B 18 REUBEN UNFOLDS HIS PLANS. Will be persecution, but methinks it is rather those whose op|mons lead thexn to make speeches that are regardid as 1 Into rj ^ ."P *'^ P^«P'« ^"*° disconint who fall mto trouble; and that as long as folks hold their own opinions m peace and quiet, and trouble not others, neitZ king nor cardinal will seek to interfere with them. It is no so wo^^'"l' n '' "P"."."^' '^'^^'''' «"^Pi«^°° that a man or woman holds views differing from those of the priests he "s dragged away and thrown into the prisons of the^nqui'sit on and tortured and burned." i"i'MLion, Mistress Mercy now returned, and she and the girls busied themselves in laying the table for dinner. That evening, after Mistress IMercy, the girls and 7?na». Attei Master Diggory had discussed the chances of a voyage to the low countries, or another trip to the Mediterraneaf Reuben who had been silently listening to him, said : "Well' Cousm Diggory, to tell you the truth I have beeL turning over a project that seoms to me to offer a chance of greater profit though I deem it not without risk. That is the case of course, with all trading affairs; and, as you know, the greater the risk the greater the profit, so the question to be conSdered IS whether t le profit is in fair proportion to the risk run 1 carrying t out; it is for you to consider whether you are ready to risk your venture." ^ know ' '\ '*' ^'f T^ ^^'''' ""'' "'^ °th«^ ^«y-"^ges that I know of unless, mdeed, you think of sailing up to Constanti nople and trading with the Grand Turk " ^o^stanti- '' My thoughts go farther afield still, Diggory. It is a matter I have thought over for some tim^ anTwhen I was at Cadiz the other day I made many enqui -ies, and these have confirmed me in my opinions on the matter. ' You know thit the Spaniards are gaining huge wealth from the Indie" and I heard at Cadiz that after the conquest they maSe avear since of the island they call Cuba, theLres of ^rSotth^g er those whose ire regarded as discontent who hold their own others, neither m. It is not so that a man or e priests, he is he Inquisition, le girls busied is, and Roger I cousin had a of the Swan. as of a voyage lediterranean, said: "Well, I turning over greater profit, the case, of V, the greater be considered risk run. I isk my life in ther you are yages that I to Constanti- 7- It is a hen I was at I these have 1 know that Indies, and nade a year scions thinga THE Spaniard's map. 19 brought home were vast indeed. As you know, they brin. from there gold and spices and precious woods, and articles of native workmanship of all kinds." "" aiticies "I know all tjiat, Reuben, and "also that, like dogs in the manger, they suffer none others to sail those seas, ancf that no iinghsh ship has ever yet traversed those waters " _ " That is so, Diggory ; but by all I hear the number of islands ri^'^'V'^ f T\'''"''' ^^'-^^ '^'''^ ''^-^ f-ther west a great land from which it is they procure chieflv the gold and silver and precious things. Now it seems to mo that were the matter secretly conducted, so that no news could be sent to Spain, a ship nught slip out and cruise there, dealing with the natives, and return ri< hjy stored with treasures. Spanish slups would show them a clean pair of heels Of com-se she would avoid the places where the Spaniards have forts and garrisons, and touch only at those at which I hear hey trade but litt'e;" and he took out a scroll from hS bosom, unrolled it, and showed it to be a map "This I purchased, for ten gold pieces, of a Spanish captain who had come poverty anddisgrace from his ship being cast a.™y while he was asleep m liquor in his cabin-a fault which is rare among the Spani^u-ds, and therefore thought all the more of. I met him in Cadiz at a wine -hop near the port; he told me his story as we ch-ank together, for he spoke Dutch, having traded much with the Lo\v' Countries. ^ "He took out a map, to show me some of the places at which he had had adventures. I said that the thing was curious and wou d buy it of him if he was disposed to sell. He said thatt ^ou d be as much as his life uere worth to part with it to an rng]ishn,an ; and, indeed, that it was only captains of ships t bnt Jl '" ir ''"' '''"^ ^''''^ ""^"■^'' *« ^^^^<^ them, seeing tla all matters connected with the islands were held as a a! It , '' ''""' '''''^'^' ''^"^' chaflering, however, he afeiecd to make me an exact copy, and to sell it me for ten gold pieces. This IS the copy; it is exact, for I compared it with the original before I paid for it. Now, here you see are 20 PERILOUS SCHEME. laid down tlie position and boaiin^ of nil fj,. • i j with all (ho no rls and ..L, J/ " I ^ '■''"^^•^' together sottlononts. '^"^' r'''«^« "J'ere the Spaniards have their points the S,.ni^!/^::::J^^^^^^;^ f one or two It. Now it secns that with the he n If f h T ^^'^'^^^ ^^ the Sarcn as to avoid nu,ch rSc of f^ 1 ""'^'^l*'" °""^Sate and miglit yet make a 1 ff f n n, 1^ ''^ ^^^"^ *'^« ^o««i all idn.^ J, .. t,id :;! wLi;. :;5ri r^" i course, that were we t.K.n ,.. .i , .^'^'^^F^ces. I know, of but in'the fi^st >!,. le the^lould h .' ^^'l' "^^'^"^ '"^^^^ ' not be easy, and in theTe on to 'f "'' ""^''^ ^'^"''^ would be '.ore l^^m seeZ "1.? "'"'' "f ^^"^^ Devonshire lads fi'^hti.... wi ll if " , ^ ^""^^ ^^ «*o»t give a good ac;o.rnt f^^'^1^^^^^^ g-^jnish galleon. What tlllS ^n/L^J^- ^ af^Jitrs^:n^^ir^^^^^^^^ ship and all lierfrei..ht and L « .1 "^\«^*^^'« '^^^ of the life and of those ./the ^re I 1 ' u"" 1 *^" '"" °^ ^^^ 'S'^^a/., Reuben than fhn l '^"1^' '"■'*''"'■ ^°^« oven the scheme to a successful I/h f / 1 '^ ^"" '''"'''O'' the the king and hrcounvtio '! "'"'' '"''^'^ ^'^^^ ^^^^' their ea '-which tZldtlurlrd ^ "'''^"- ^'^"^ *° having a fin-^... in S , 1^,,^ . T ^•'''•'"'^^ "^ "« English . - , and that he will perceive that great advantage islands, togotlier iards have their nd, but it is, as ifc at one or two le knowledge of light so navigate with the Dons; p with goods of es. I know, of without mercy • Js, which would 'hich, methinks crew of stout ir necks, would erhauled by a scheme, Cousin rchant replied, lie loss of the ho less of your • lose even the ' to you and 11 carried the with r.ealth, tter came to return, for it iisly offended, Jonfiv^cate the leat you and elations with a Ik of peace )uld say that )f us English tit to keep to it advantage "l LOVE NOT THE SPANIARDS." 21 will arise from our obtaining a share of the trade with the Indies. There ,s a rare jealousy in the country at the Spaniards and Portugals keeping all the trade of both the Indies in their hands; and methinks that even if he judged it necessary to make a show of displeasure against the men who led the way m this matter, there would in the end be much honour as well as profit in this venture." "It is a grave matter, Reuben, and one not to be under- taken without much thought and calculation. Still I own that the proposal is a tempting one, and that the possession of this map which I will examine at my leisure, would help you much in your enterprise Truly, as you say. although the king might frown, there wouhl be much honour as well as profit in being the first English merchant to despatch a Stip'o't'e Spanish main. I love not the Spaniards, and, like all English men who think as I do on matters of religion, have viewed with miuli d.sfavour our alliance with men ^ho are sucHrel persecutors of all who are not of their religion " "I hate them," Reuben Hawkshaw said, energetically 'They swagger as if thoy were the lords of he wfrld and hold ail others as of no account beside them. If you Live til b^ r'n /. "'"'•' '' ^°""-^^' '^ ^y "tmost to r d b d t'o 1 ;; 1°^ ''^ *° ^"^' ^"'''^ «" "« T ^^1-" be right "Well well, we must not think of that," Di-crorv Be^^^ thlt'V ",';"^' -r ^-^l-. -"-.if the .-.:«: Lfsf Z ITu "" ' "'' '^''-'^ '^^ '' ^'^^ P^'^vic^ed with ordnance and small arms, so that she shall be able to hold her own wS those who would meddle with her." if thev dVnol^' ^ ?;!'' ^-'"f ''^- ^^^" ^'^'^''^'^ °^^ddle with them t the> do not meddle with us ; but if they treat us as pirates t at Zro ,"' 'r "' '''"'' '"'^y "-' -^ blame u'si we a e bo^d t;e1"" ^ '^T "^"'^ "•^- ^'^^^ ^^'^ "'«* they AS to puacy, if the things that are whispered as to tlieir 22 IN SELF-DKIKNCE ONLY. found in these seas, win hTllov H? "^'""\ ^'''^'''"' *^^"* -" treated as enemies and i tiLo 7' '' '''''' °^^"' -'" be therefore f«lly justified in t J ^ iTf^ "^' "^ ^^''^" ^ ship that we may come aoro.. o 7> '^ , ^""^""^ ^^"3^ ^P^nish if we are .stron/en^^VTo'trher'"'''"^' ''' '' ^ ^-^ P-^ honestly with ^^l^^^:":'''!' ''''' ''' ^'^^ ^-^^ not that she may wage w'r ,^ ' '^l^^ l? ^'''^^ -^^b her, and " I quite understand tW f 1^' ^''niards." ^aw said with e.^^:^Z^^r'' Houben Hawk- Spaniaids will but let me adhere to t "'r^^.^^'^^^^^t, if the we must defend ourselves I thov "^ ^ '^ ^' ^^"^ ^""^ked beat them, it is but natural t hat Z I'^ *V"I^*"^-« ^'> and we "Against that I have noth 1 T '^^ ''^''''' 'bem." authority in Scripture fLtleSn.ni'''i' "^f •""^' ' ""^ «»^ '^^ the seas as their right. The loH n ''''^'"= ^ P^^^i"" of to trade, and neitber the none no .' '''' '^'''"'' *'' °^"' ^P*^" parcel it out for the exclu^ve use o^ ^'""^ "^'' ^^'^^ ^ "^'bt to we all know, the se.s wi ^n ! ''" °' ^^° "'^«ons. As to belong naturallyTo rwho" T, '? '^' ^'"^'"^ -« betd different thing altogef r^^.r". ' ^'"^' '^"^ abatis a «eas, in aa muth as we know oft 2 "VT '''''' "^''^'^ *be property by Spaniards and P. . I'l ^^'t, " .^^ beld as private property by Spaniards and PohS' more abnnf. ,•<• „i ^. _ . ^^"fe'i's- n^ore about it at present thr'^"f ^^^'"' ^« ^^" ^ 'Y no over while the .W "unl Z ^"'V' ^^ *^ ^^^^^ ^^ ake so great a risk as thi wonS^^ ''"'"'^'^ ^° "«^' ^^ke to ^f I could get two or thr ^oZ ! ,o '" "'^ r"" '^''''^'^'''' b"t enough to embark upon ft"' •""^'^ "^" ^ ^^^'^"l" be willing »gh'c^:i^c^ouii^^;fr;:;' f''^* ^^^^^-^ :^- ^ be t at an incautious word m g J « t lie T"' ^' ''""«"^^-' ^«t.toit.and...e;e;^--!^^-^^^^ m innocent nnd proclaim tliiit all eir own, will be and we shall be my any Spanish r as a fair prize, Reuben. If j t she may trade !e with her, and rds." Reuben Hawk- ly intent, if tho ve are attacked "i-e us, and we lire them." , I can find no g a portion of ins to me, open lias a right to nations. As iJiore are held but that is a than half the eld as private 3 will 8 .y no e to think it lo not like to houlders, but dd be willinjr « you to be Remember > altogether, the Spanish lfi"g to put nit of it jbe DIGGORy BEGG8 THINKS IT OVER. 23 could hardly permit the Sivan to sail in the face of such a remonstrance, for to do so would assuredly embroil him with bpain. "I will be careful, Reuben; for I see this as well as you do and shall only speak to men who have before now worked with' mem joint adventures, and on whose discretion I can surely rely I wall ta k the matter over with tl-om, Reuben, first: and If they appear favourably disposed, you siiall meet them here show them your map, and explain your intentions fidly to them. If three others join me in equal shares, I shall propose that,as It IS your Idea, and as you have obtained this map, you Shan have an equal share with each of us in the business and shall m addition to your pay as master, take one-fifth ou r payment of expenses. WiU that content " Right well, Cousin Diggory ; and from this moment I shall 1 can tell you, regard myself as a rich man " ' The unloading of the Swan occupied some time: there was no undue haste m those days. The bales were hoisted by whips from the hold, and then carried up to Master Beggs' warehouse. The sailors had earned a fair time for repose after the hard- ships of the voyage, and took matters easily, and it was more than a week before the Swan's hold was empty. During that time the merchant had not made any allusion to Reuben, as to their conversation on the evening after the Swan came into port. Eut Reuben was neither surprised nor anxious at this silence ; he knew that his cousin although an enterprising was a cautious man, and had hardly hoped to find his proposal so favourably entertained. He had looked for absolute refusal at first, and expected that he would only arrive at his end after long disputes and discussion. Therefore he doubted not that JJiggory was turning the matter over and over in his miud, settling the details, and perhaps broaching the matter to the merchants he had spoken of. dried at low tide, so that she could have her ««am« noulk"<] and a coat of pitch laid on below the water-line,' and b^ made 24 THitEE WOiUSHlPKUL TBADE«8. t'ght and sound for anv ^ patched. Benl.en iCksS^rio;''? ^'-^ ->''* ^ ^es- and when m port at Plynunith nk '' ^'^^ ^^^ars before hou«e a short distance '. 7 tha Tl '''"P^^*^ ^°''^'i»g« in a even,n,.s n^o.tly at Master Di^^ ° u' ^^"■^'■"' ^'^Pending hi' "'l know f "^'\*''-« '' '•^^"^'"g *o tak! hi; n^orchanrpreid him'tVp ""'" ^' ^^"'^^ '^-J^- when the to the nicetv of th: "^"> «nr(, as is only nVj.f +1, ■ ,, than^peo^o1o^t2-J:^-;'^;..dis^^^^^^ at work I work, and if when t,i , ek^T'^- ^'^''^ ' ^^ nieals I am m the middle nf „ • T. •'*'''^'®'* the hour for before the men knock off T, ^°' 5, '"«« ^^'-^^ it is finLhed .washnig and oJoanincr un f " "'^'"^ i^ the matter nf -the hold of a .s fp, so ttt"; ^Y'"" ""^^^ ^^-standdir could never reckon up n b r.^^'^-J ^ -o„,d, Roger and I weigh on „,3. inind V].en?oSf"'^S""d *'- matter would things. No, no, Diggory, we w I b! f ^' '^""^'"^^ «f other and sup on board, as we can It , ■?' '"""' taking our bite '■■It ovo,- a matte,, of basinet with P , '"™* """''"B in, to As sioii as the tablo „? ? ^™'""' and me " »f hte au„t to take 1 L ' ou'tat"'"' '*''«''■• a*ed pe^feion «s readily g,.„„(ed JT" " ""* "P"" «■= Hoe TM^ Jj^anie Sfercy .eij^j ». set the vine „po„ the tahle illB. she mfglit be das. wife years before, •led lodgingH in a 's'n, spending hip fusing to take his d f'-y, when the to breakfast or ' i-iglit, they hold '■>ses them more '«• When I am es the hour for 'It it is finished the matter of h (lust and dirt ^h Hoger and I e matter would iking of other ■aking our bito Jifiii, and then a clear mind, empty, it will ^as completed, ^le cleared as 'at last batch -m and some coHiing in, to le." 1 permission ' Hoe. This ' which they »n the table, rs, of which atham, and bfa, arrived. f TIIK CONKEIJENCK. 25 fh. ^ ^ ^^"^7'"?^^^t^r Diggory said, "I have spokon to these good fnends of mine in rospect of that vent. L which you proposed to mo, and they would fain he.r more of it f^^om your OM-n l.ps You can speak with confi-Ionce before tlem for, wLe her they agree to cast in (heir lot with us o" no no word of tins mnttor will pass their lips." ' Reuben addressed himself to bis (ask nrul H,.,f n+ u He told tlum what he had P"ifl,r.v,.,^ p.. xu of »,cl, ,„orcl„„„li,,e „.o„l,l be very ' . 1 S „!m , ■ ''*°* "tnnm of coloured glas, |,oO bi ', , '■"'"'■'"."™'-''. P»8or„thetli,iH ,,.'""'■' m','™ "'""'''>' O™'-' "» I want evorvtl.i ,°t„ bir ;"* ""'" "P "'«''■ ""'"'^ »'• «oo. „„,»,i:;';;r.;°,t*:br,i:;r °' ''" '''"^' "'* «'"- 26 AS TO AliWS. enough become mutinous \t u,n when three parts of tl rcrow . I "'■'? * ^^^^'^^ ^^'P nmke but a poor fi-^ht of t T. "T ''\'^' ''''''y' ''' «hall '"en in good ^tren.^th and n „ ,'T ""' ' ^"••^»* *« keep n^y ruu-st be well fed. Su a "i "/"l ""' '"•' *" '^" ^'''^'^'^y "ade before, and CO. td^?i::;';;^rj''^''''^^^ wo must carry a ereA 11 " ^"^ '" ^^'^ 'S'./,««-_for |-"g no i•ai'grot^ r;UMF''''tr''^^'°"'''^ "'-" ^'-'e l-«t from the cTew h^u/^^^^\ /I"ny a ship h,, been -e to bring this ente p fse t" ^ L ^ T'r"^' -''"'^ '' 3^°" ^"st be no stint in tUeZ.llr o '" '"''; ^ ''^^ *'"^* ^''-« «QUst be the very host of H , .^^ Provisions, and that all -eight, the Spaniards a^e su o to h ' V, '\ '^' "^'''^^ -^ ^-'tif we can shoot much Ire "n'T \" '''''^"'"^« ^^ "«; equalize matters. Then o^ cou^ f ^' '^''^"''^ "•^"' ^' ^'^ ■-"■ows; I do not hold la ly to ttl "''" "" ^'^ ^^« ^^^^ oan shoot si:, arrows wli e fe c.n r "'^ ^ "^'-t°«"«-a man with a straighter and ruer Lr.f '' T-"^ *'^^'"' ^^"'' ^'^^t carrysomewhatfarther Then of ""^'^^ 1 " ''''' ^^^^ ^-^n and boarding axes, and a good 'stock T' 7' ^'" '^ i''^^^^' the cannon. These arp fl,! , P''^'''''''' '^"d balls for Now I hold that 1 ,0 1 ZTf' '''''. ' ''''' "^^'^ -" ^en. These I should m oTlyV:? V '''''' "^ ' ^""^^^^^ but each should have L iT ordinary rate of wage, to his rank. As to hepr htf ",*'f ^""*"^« --''^'^g "masters, to reckon; but seeTn ^ th J™ . '""'' ^' *° ^°"' ^^ gold, to say nothing of s W */ 1/"; ^^'' ''^'^' °°« ^'an get other things in pioLr ion vm, ^ "' ""''^'^ ^^^^ ^''^> and it will amount U> XTyXZ^Z/''' ^' ^"" ^""'"^^^^ ^^^^ «> with a Spanish treasure ^wbh '''''\' '^ -^^ ^^^^S -«-rding us an easy pri.e, totltflult- ,::'^/ '^ "^' ^^^^S^' f on a Spanish ship th scurvy, we shall want to keep my ikI to do this thoy i^'h.sh sliip has ever in (Iio .S',,,vm— for [)ond.s upon there >^asliip lirn been "■vy, an(J iT you J say that tlicre ma, and tiiat all Jst that once out •nco of fruit and things above all ard, ry twelve pieces, id size, and yet the matter of Ivanta-^e of us • they can, it will 11 be bows and totoons — a man fcliom, and that ti'iie they can e will be pikes, '■ and balls for ave made out. to a hundred rate of wi^gQ ^iire according it to you, my le one can get ' for iron, and 'Ill-selves what of our falling rash enough, COUNTING THR COST. 27 "TI.ere is no doubt that the profits will be grent if you return safely home, Master Ilawkshaw," Nicholas Turnbull said; "but the chances of that seem but small." "I think that the chan.es are good enough' to risk my life upon, Master Turnbull," Pu^uben replied ;" and no n.an can sl.ow greater confidence than tliat. This is tj,f. nru. of which my Cousin Piggory has no doubt spoken to on You SCO thao the islan.ls are many, and some of them great, and that the places at which the Spaniards have ports are feu- in comparison. We have to avoid these, but anywlere else wo can open tra.lo with the natives. If we are chased, and find the place too hot for us, we can make away to the n.ainland and cruising along there, may come upon places that the'- Spaniards have reyer visited, and may there gather great store of gnld and silver witliout danoer. But I wish no one and certmnly not my Cousin Digg.ry, to enter upon thi aff. u im ess with confidence and good heart. I would far rah.r take a horse and travel to B.i.stol, and lay my scheme before some of the traders there." »" "erne This idea was most di.stast. ful to the traders, for Plymouth regarded Bixstol with great jealousy, and Diggory B^gs at once said, 'No. no, Reuben. My friend Master Nh-hola lurnbull dul not mean ti at he regarded your scheme as hopeless, only that the risks were doubtless great. B t Te all know that to earn great profit one must run sucl Hsk an the venture, divided between four of us. would not be a v" heavy one-that is to say, not beyond what we are justified in penning. Would you leave us for a while, Beuben? We w ll examine the.e lists that you have made, 'and reckon u^ Th total cost; and we shall then .see the better how much we slial each have to contribute to n,ake up our venture " .avb" -V^r^' "^T^^ -^i"^""^ ''' ^'' ^'''' ^«ft *he room paying, In an hour I will return ; " and then strolled over tc a ta^^ern much frequented by the masters of the ships in tl S8 'TI^K MATTKIl 18 SK'n'LliU.'* ClfAPTER ][. BOUND TO UNKNOWN PARTS. ^h three friends nnd ^^ F n ' "'^ '""^ ^'""^''^^••ned. -nt..ib„tio„, .nd if she cvo • 1 " Wk '' • " ^''^''^ "^ "'y ^1^0 may do, that sum will bo (I, 1 "^'■""' '^'^ ^^« ^'^Pe profits, due nllowanco he .. „ , l''/'^' \^--ni my .h;u'o of the ■'^Jk" n.ny have sufiered C t "^ ^^ '''^""^'« ^'^ ^"i"'y Bhare of the profits e d to n ' '■\""'''''''^t"'»'. will take a tie first place be se in TY'".'"'"^-''''^ ^^''''^ ^^l in of>i..ersanLre;v. I ti , bo\;; H- 'f'r' ""'"" ^'^^ "^'^'- oilicers and u,on ; and I need not il^^ r ^^^^ooseyour to pick out for such a buslZl ^"" '' '°^'^ "^ ^«"«^« andgc^'" Jth'ltVoLf "" i' P^''''^^ ^^*'^ newrigginc board, to repa r a y I "?, : " '''""^''^"^ '^^"''^ ^^ ^11 thingf oS uteres , ocpu-red shall be ?5 , , ''' I^"''^''»'^'^'"^' of all tho test lhe,uali.,of all^.^p^i n ^r' ^ 1''^" ^^-''-I^ '■'"-I»d«cl, so as eo see that 4 • v b "^ ''^''" '^'^ '^'-^''^''""^ are ^ly Wends hero will n t . , ea,' '"L'T lolks saw that four of us w. r t . ! '"' ''^ *^"' f^^" i^ wo..Id think that it was '0^0 L' r" v"'^ ^" '^'^ ^""*"r« ^^ey " All p. oparafion Wl b t ^ '^'"*' °"*^ ^^ ^'^•^''"••^'y- P">..s than usual to b.^.t oft" -Z \\ ^ a st.ongor battery of "^«^'' l>y the way. Ah i is „: ^ nT:^' ^''''^^' ^''^ may con.ing hcmew.id it vvil s 1 "'" , ^''' "^''"^ ^'^^ '"^ "harp figh^ add to her arml^^" Hln t .^ ^"^'^'/^'^^^ ^ ^'-'d T «l,.,li "^ -^ "® Should 1 shall wnte up to my agent in LED. II KTa. tlio clinnilw whoro vitli tlio otlior thi'oo lioir cjileiilations. »s wo ,'iro concerned. "J'lfil .slmius in the t-'iken us ixiit of my. • "giiin, as we liope 'in my sliare of the tt danidgo or injury ;r.-,to.)(l, will take a t''ii'elf > tJie I>ai'gains are et and wholesome. I'iiir at all, for if tJio venture they of ordinaiy. f as possible, and to make a voyage longer battery of pirates she may lad a sharp fight that we shoidd to my agent in nvo BIDES TO BVKIiYTniNO. ^0 T-oiidon to pur, haso for me the articles re.nnVoil to t,..,l -.u the nafives, and hid him ..end them ,,, ''^ ' " "*' ^" t''"^''" "-'th P.uked in l,al,.,. If ^e w.-re f V "^ ^'^ ' ''' ^^^'" a^tieleshe^ei^woufd^;^;Hsoto;l^f'" "1 '"'^"^ ^^"^"''« : «ah whom weintend.^ : 1 ^ ^ ^iH:'^ ^^ ''' --'- '•"^' yuu an.l T uill n.ake out a lis f t^' ^""'"'••-r "-•'.- for the purpose." ''^""^ ^"" ''^'^''^ advisil.le For another hour the partv sat 'irwl f.>u.^i e the other traders had fully dehrni,/ ' ^"' ""'^ ^^""^ thoy were ,uite ex.itllZ. it '"'"'' '" ^" "'' ' ^''« ^-'^"^'e to visit, Friu.d iLd.:' ::",';:;; "";"^r '"' "■^'^'•«"* tako share in your perii:..n;;;Iil.e;!t:;!t!" "^ ^""'^ "'''«' '"' Re^he^'^^pHedi. i;:;;;:;;r "" ^'^r-^- ^^^^- j--/* doughtily In le ^ 'ti! 'tilh^l^;;:.- H ^"'VT"'" ^'^"^^ question wheth<-r vou wonl '^i''^ '"^ f' or Indian; but I more in a hot climate wl^.o f i,. . " *^'"'^ ^^^' t^'e »...,« to ri„„,„.. .c; zt„:r '::d"'™1'-^"'' '™ ai-e famous for." "' L>o\(jnshiro wives of .1.0 .a,,,o, ag^; l:;;;": 'Z;;- ""«'"">• '-l °f "- Mea™..c^ much y„„, .,,i,,it „„„,j IZ '1 '' <■ ' """' ''°™™'' lave our „;..„ »„, f, °u ' \'*"':' "" ."^ ■«'"'■ «' i^o'-s and ln.mlies to thmk about, and our business do UNPLEASANT PASSENOKRs. set a ...i] nor work a cannon n IT""'. ^''^ ^"^' ^''^" ^^'^'^^^ cannot, if needs be, drink" Ce^Zr^ ^t ''" ''^"^ °^'^" ^1- best at l,on.e. I t^ok f.^C: ^^"^ f^' shoe-leather is now-to Amsterdam, and the o^l^ '7 '' "^"^ y«'^''« «go but another, took a fancy o T V, ""^ ^°"^ '°"^^" ^«>e, needs acoon/pany hi' S tf Vb:trthaTv "' ^'' ^"'' I w.sl>ed I was dead. I was no longtcap "n 7^" ^ ''''' owner was n,y captain, and his ^ e Zllll W ^^'^ '^ ?'^ ever putting into port for f-A^v. u 1 V ^^ ^'''''^ ^"^ eggJorsl.e%oulde':tnoneotht "' '''' "^^*' °^"^ --^ shelter ^7^01^.1'"?,;^" " "^^^^^ "^ ^^^ *« -" -*« of the sailors si S ed h^r ShT T. '"°°*^- '^''^ "'•''»"-- a rat ran across her at "won H 7 1 '"''"^ '"^^ "'^'''* -''™ creature, of wl ich ^s 1. n^ H l^"' ''^'^''''' '^ ^ '"•»"« beamontohJr '] uer Two . '^^ ""' ^""' ^^^ ^''^^ ^ the .ship on to i tr J :rr : TLtr x " ''- of good v^nCis a^" t 1^" , "''"'''■^' ""'^ ^ ^^^ «-ks that I wish not to se?a ' 7 '""?' ^"*^ ^^^■•*'-'' ^^--^n I command." ^ """"^"^ °" ^^^^ any ship which The others laughed. buli S; "t'irgfc;,r ""■'' ^ «-# ■• Nicholas T„r„- the forenoon Z fll'f i T„-n,o,T.„v I will c„n,c ove,- in loxt place, even con'd liaw would not thank ^of value on the sliip, food and can neither «s oncumbrance.s." ''olas," Eeubon said idon, or even as far l.ite your worshipful e this any man who 1 eat shoe-leather is is many years ago ly good cousin here, and his wife must at voyage \sas over lin of the ship : my his. We were for id meat, milk and i^e had to run into 'th. Tiie manners xm at night when ipetite if a living full, fell from a i than once to run IS all. No, no : a !aunehf d ship, on and a few flasks but farther than i any ship which " Nicholas Turn- tvill como over in through these 1 see whaf bulk atters with the B is no occasion i^ "NO MAN CAN SEE THE FUTURE." 3] for undue haste; and yet, if the thing is to be done, the sooner it be done the better." As the party went out Reuben found his son waiting outside the door. "Well, father?" he asked anxiously, when the three mer- chants had walked briskly off towards their homes " l^ '« ^";?f *'^'«;'' I'»f ^i'- As soon as everything is prepared ,j the bwan will sail tor the Spanish main." I Ex)ger threw his cap high in the air with a lusty shout that startled the be ated passers-by hurrying towards their homes for It was now long after dark, and although the town watch patrolled the streets regularly prudent citizens did not care to be abroad after nightfall. " You silly boy ; " Keuben said ; " you have lost your cap." _ Nay, I heard it fall somewhere here," Roger said, search- ing ; _ besides a cap is a small matter one way or other Ah 1 here it is floating in a pool of mud; however, a bucket of water will set it all right in the morning. O father ! I feel wild with joy, only to think that all we have talked over together is going to be true, and tliat we are to be the first Englishmen who ever saw the beautiful islands they talk ab^out^d the natives with their feathers and strange attire. "And the Spaniards with their loadel guns and their dungeons and gibbets," Reuben Hawkshaw put in "Not for us father. The bottom of the sea maybe, but not a Spanish dungeon." ^ ' " I hope not, my lad : still no man can see the future. How- ever, I am right glad that we are to try this adventure • it IS a glorious one, and will bring us honour in the eyes of 'all Englishmen if we succeed, to say nothing of wealth. But nnnd that you ot not your spirits run away with your tongue • no word of this must be spoken to a soul : nor must an; the gills. The four partners in the adventure have all taken a solemn promise to each other that thev will nof. brA'he a word ot It even to their wives, averring that women "could never t^' 32 REURKN's PHlLOSOrHY. be trusted to hoop a seci-ot f Imncrj, n. p„„ t l i«-.^ wife ti,„t, f„. ,.i. ;:;:[ ;t.u xt™ t^ ': ""™ .■I,.„ it comes tot,™ viTh n„" 1 r r° 7''"""^ ''"°"»°'' but cowards with tl.eir wives." ^' " «'"" P"-"*"''™ are 'I But wjiy slMuld tliey be, father!" some da, .hen"^";: C iL "a '^if'n .t Sf "'x '""- is an enrl of I'f v„ *'K-^/'^; "ut wDen it is over there pou„e™;:el„\'ie..t: vzz:>''^t b'"'' 'r "™' '» were piec™,oal, tl,r„,vi„„ liule d 1 "^ 1 7 " °'" »' " ..nti, you are re»d, t'o'^rl:;; i '';f::;;™: f^^" -■■ -e, lioger a priek h„, tcth „„,re t„a„' a gr"t «"" ' ^°" „ J, *"".''' ,"'" '""O "'""Sl" «■»', father." Ko,i:''^u\tt"h;,,n;lr:,:e".trr;:virti-"""^°'- C:." eT;Lrrt,ft,"; t ^-^ - 4"fr"t,r upon thfir to b, ' ': ' ' ''°'' ""'"*'' """'■^ '"*"»'}' He^at do.r:;ddt,;'ra™ ;,° Tiii/'r:" "^"'-^ nut. \i\rr. „ },.,,, , / ** ^™"'" "'il would have rnnr«d — ->. » ball, and have sworn lustily for a good half-hour. T have ppen of them her toiiiTue jiust as ir, since they do not ? waters. But I y doubted whether lefhor they would de the contract to- i be able to assure ave taken her into fall in with the ^hing, Bogev, but valiantly enough i'dt proportion are 3ut a difficult one lie matter better ^ur.-elf. In some > outrun tho e of pness of tongue, speaks out loudly n it is over there hilt, she seems to I'ing it out as it when you don't iheir suddenness iriously all over vexation. You cut." >e matter over, f the men were ry from them : more furiously im all but had d have i-oared good half-hour. ''give them a wide berth.'* 33 So it is in domestic matters : the man rages and storms when things go wrong; and his wife, if ^lle bo a woman of judgment, holds her peace until it is over, knowing well enough that he will be at her mercy afterwards. Then she sets to work, like those gnats that came on board at Genoa, that they call mosquitoes, and startles him with slirill buzzin^s in his ears, and pricketh him in the tenderest spots she can find, drawing but the smallest speck of blood, but causing an itching that makes him ready to tear his flesh. " Your mother, Eoger, was one of the best of women. She was a good housewife and an affectionate. I do not know that I ever saw her greatly rufflod in temper, but there were times when I would fly from my house and not come up from my work on board, until it was time to go straight away to bed, so did she prick and sting me with her tongue ; and that not shrilly or with anger, but with little things let slip as it were unawares and with an air of ignorance that they in any way appl'ed to me. No, Roger, if you will take my advice you will make your ship your mistress. She will have her ways, but you will learn them and will know just liow much helm she requires, and how the sail should bo trimmed ; but with a woman no man attains to this knowledge, and if you take my advice you will give them a wide berth. " I know," he went on, in answ er to Roger's merry laugh, " that this is a matter in which no man will trust to other expeiionco than his own. Every man who takes a woman to wife thinks that he can manage her, and goes into the matter with a light heart, as if it were a mere pleasure excursion on which he is embarking, whereas in truth it is a voyage as full of dangers and perils as that upon which we are about to adventure. Now let us turn back to our lodging, for I have nearly gone on my face four times already in these deep ruts and holes. I would that the counciilors of this town could see the streets of Genoa, or Cadiz, or Amsteidam ! They might then try to mend the ways of Plymouth, and make them snn^ewlini less perilous to p,t>sei-igcTS uilor dark." Work began in earnest upon the following day. A number («u) ;'i 34 A SURPRISING LAVISHNES8. and without; the Lsts an^ ' ''""'^"'^ ^"^ P^*^^^'! ^it^n looked to, and every Tfect Tl^Ti "''" *° ^ «^^«f»»y ordered, the old onas to te7a ' , , 1; "'" '"'* ^^ «*"« -'^^ had torn them, so as to be S ""^'''^ '^^ ^^^^'''^h shot misadventure happen to the otheT ^' ^ ''"'"'* '"'' '^^^ ^°3^ Master Beggs ordered ffr h! r %;/ *'^ P^^'-- that fine flour of tlie last venv'! ^'',. '^^■«'»- Nothing but and pork to be ca,S]l/" ted'7 "^•' u'"''^ '^'"«<^ ^e^^ baked biscuits, ^vould .[sfvR.f ^^ ^ ba,,el.s, and newly -roe believe^hat s'hlSf" W^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^"'^ ^s ipboard for, as a rule, the vl^ helpe,: a"^"' ''^'' "" ^'^ of e^^rything was considered as a^nplv^r ^'^'f "^"^^'^^ "se of sailors. P^^ ^°od enough for the gone off his head fhus to^tnf "ht's, ^fr ^''"^' T' ^^^^ a vessel sailed out of Plymouth bit ^ '"'''"' ^^^^^^^^^^ fashion. An ample store of on T P'""'*^^^ ^^''^ ^his matters required for a sh,V. en • """^ '°''^'S' ^"^ of all all questions as to ht trpriS^f T™ ^^^° '''' -• ^o replied : «urpnsmg lav.shness of cost, Digcrory voyage to the Levant. She had o t J f'^'. 'f"'""^'' ^^''"^ * scurvy, and of the rest but Si? V'"^ "^ ^^'^ «^«^ f^om a rope when she came nto p"rt Tf T ^'''^ *° P"" ^^ Master Skimpole, her owner th.w/^'^ ^^"™^" f«"«^ after him thlt he was the^^u t^f./f.^ .''T'^^ ^'^ reason of the foul victual thot b« t I "" busbands, by No no, it will cost more to Stan J;:,' Tl't'^ '°^ *^«^^ "««^ - the end. for a weat cre:t;t:Ltet':ll^::i'!.^^^^-P- )f tlie Swan, which and pitched within ere to be carefully 9w suit of sails was 9 the Moorish shot econd suit did any re of these matters ; »ggs in all things 'ovisioh merchants he provisions that ':an. Nothing but ^eshly killed beef arrels, and newly haw. They could meant for use on md worst quality i enough for the ler thin nor sour, Beggs must have never before had Jvided after this ^iige and of all ■Iso laid in. To jf cost, Diggory II matters It Bfcurned from a ■ her crew from "^"gh to pull at women follow treats and cry ' husbands, by I for their use ? ''^ll be cheaper "'SiXig of a ebip TOWN TALK. 35 besides the loss of a good na,„o. I have no ver carried (H.onomy U, such hM.gths us did Master Ski.npok, h„fc f am resolved in ho futuro f,l,at thoso who sail in my ships shall have good and whokvsomo hu.o. Then, if misfortune happens, no onelui be able to point to me in the streets and say that I fed my men worse than dogs and thought only of my profits and nothing of the lives of those who served me " Indeed, Master Dig.ory after a short time quite forgot that all this provision for the health and comfort of the crew was but the outcome of Ileuhen Ilawkshaw's insistence, and came to regard himsell with a feeling of pride as a man possessed of greater benevolence than his fellow-merchants. A week after the refitting of the .S,„an was completed, she was afloat with a large proportion of her stores in her hold. A ship from London came round and took up her berth alongside of her diseharging large numbers of bales and cases into her, tooethe^ with SIX cannon in addition to those she before carried, and a large store of ammunition. This naturally gave rise to fresh talk in the town « Thev say that you aro fitting the Sioan out for a pirate, Master Beggs, one of the merchants said to him : " for twelve cannon are more than a peaceful trader can positively require " "Yes, if she is to meet with none but peaceful people neighbour; but if she meets with those who are not peaceful at all she needs just as much defence as if she were a ship of war. Master Hawkshaw had much ado to beat off the Moorish pirates who attacked him on his last voyage; and as the present one will be longer and more dangerous he has put stress upon me to add much to her arma^nent. She wi" have valuable cargo on 1 er return voyage, and he has strongly urged upon me to provide such means of defence as may ensure her being able to beat off any who meddle with her^ me that" ' Ir ' "'" -T' *'^ ^^"^'^^ '' P^^'^-^ ^^ «eems to Ihis in Itself IS good reason why I should myB tty ma^tor feh« means of defending himself stoully. The money fspSiC the 36 PICKING A CREW. guns is not wasted. Thev will l.o nr>„„ *i of tra. e I can »,ll H,e.„ for „, „„„,, i^u.t";: X:;*;,,'""'' inllylvicei^n..„;. 1 aJiJ^' ''?; ^^''"^' ^ *'^ke with him Of the forty afen ^/o had^J^^^^ "/^^ -^ '° ""^'-"'-^^^ ^^e -^^.a^. five others iJn t ,^ L" ! " ^T^ ^'-^^ ^'^'^^ ^^'^«' -»d sail with him a. "in O t 1 f " ""T''' ^''^ '^^^'- ^«""ds to of whom were S "t and w 1 nTS" '^"^^"^»""^ ^"^"*^' ^" sail with hin. wl.erever he b d them The" "°"^^' ^^ ^"^"• given to grun,Lli,., he would Inrn^nt^V:::;""^?,,'^^ they were. "IIalf-,i-(ln7Pn .,..,.. vi ""*" "r* g"oa ilors though crew," he said T^. re wef "^W ^''^ ^'^""^^^ to engage. Towards heslhll?' '°"'' '^^*^ "«^^ ^^nds him on previous vot rat, w" 7^" '''" "^^« ^^'^ ^''^"^d with he had t'he name o7betV:l:ra,t 7^'^',*^"^'^"^ ''^' ^- one who would be obeyed b,f 1^^ .' ^«f ^^^''^t^ to his men, didanheeouidinri:^^LS::!;^n::^s^ privately that the7ost.t voy L T T ^' '-^"''^^^^^^d to them and that he needed not IX'strtf^H "?' ''^ '^^''^ cheerful ones: men who would tZ hf^u- "'• ^"^"^ "^^^ Wing, and who with a proreet 2^^^^',^^'^""' ^'•"^- their pay would go wSt nul r T''''^ ''' ^^'^'^^^'^ *« and do as they lere^ ^1. T "."I '' '""'^ ''''' *«^d' the Grand Turk h ms^If in T '* *° ''"^'^ *^^« ^'^'^^ oi them, .herefce, to ^^1 Wm l^^thf T . ""^ ^^^^^^^'^ relations or men who had said wi tim ^"' ^-"»" *^- "I would rather " he «.,;rl « u , 7 are strong, and sto.'.t-hoa ted than's.iLfT'"' ^'^^'-Sthey are given to g.umblin/ Ind Tnff r ^'''''■'^"^"' "^^^^ plenty of good 'sailor, on boa.tl f nd !' ' H ' ^\ ''''''' ^^^« their business; therefore chon,! i'^'' "^^ «°"» ^^^i'" rather for wilHngne^'l^d go rteTper 11!^^''' '^' -bject to any unless you feel a.rd\o.tla'rtLr^^^^^^ MISTRESS MERCY IS INDIGNANT. fse for keeping, ito a safer line w co.st me." been carefully take with him igate the Sivan. i lost nine, and heir wounds to ?ed twenty, all 3uld, he knew, "ing six being ilors though spoil a whole fcy new hands lad sailed with rejoin him, for Lte to his men, his crew, and ble. ne. For this ifided to them the ordinary, willing and thout grum- i addition to y were told, the beard of He charged among their Jviding they skilful who shall have 1 soon learn anship, but ach not the that they 37 will be willing to join, for I want not the matter talked about. Iherefore those who join are to keep tlie matter private, and are not to come on board until the ni-ht before we get up our anchors. We are taking a much stion-er crew than usual for we have many guns that need working if it comes to fighting." As these instructions were given separately, none of the twelve men he spoke to knew that the others had received similar instructions, and tliat instead of forty men as usual the ^an was to carry nearly ninety. As to the olficers, Eeuben Hawkshaw needed none others than those who had before sailed with him. The two mates had each been with him for upwards often years, and had learned their business under his eye; and he intended, although he had not as yet told him so, to rate Roger as third mate. His boatswain would go in the same capacity as before; and he shipped, as gunner, one who had served for some years in a king's ship in that rank, and was well acquainted with the working of ordnance. Mistress Mercy had, of course.^heard from her gossips of the talk that was going on concerning the unusual preparations that wei-e being made by her husband for the forthcoming voyage of the Swan ; and the trader was often put to his wits' end by her questions on the subject. His professions of bene- volence towards the crew, and his explanations of his reasons for her powerful armament had sufficed for others, but they bv no means satisfied her, ^ ''Do you think, Diggory Beggs," she asked, indignantly, that after all these years I do not know x ou as well as I do the contents of my linen-chest ? I have never before known you open your purse strings one inch wider than was necessary. Have I not always had to ask until I am verily ashamed, before I can get a new gown for myself, or a decent cloak for t^e girls? You have ever been hardtisted with your money and never dispo ed to .pend a groat .ave on good occasiori: Ihere i.s not the wife of a trader of your standing in Plymouth but makes .a braver show than T do, when wo walk on the Hoe on holidays or feast-days. Tl-ne is something at the I 88 "a parlous ill turn/ i^r„:[ t tV4°i' T'^r ^ r -"■* -- ^-^^--r. right to know why you are tit 1^°"" ^^^f«' ^ have a -oney. I toil anVsLTt 'Crvo "f ^°°' ^"'^ '^^^^^ re,spectable at small ccst, but I sh^Sl ^^ f ^"'^'^"^ ^^^ pan afford to throw mono; inL the .tr."' '''''^''- '' 7^- in another; and people ^^ll cry hf, 1 ' '" ""' ^^«>^' ^°" «an Bay, you are pampering up yoTu^s^, ioT °" ^?' ^^'^"' ^« ^^ey cause discontent Lout Jl Sr t K '" '". '""'"''' "« ^'" and daughters are walking Tbo in , ^"'''' ^'^^'^ >'°"r ^^^e Mistress Mercv did nnf ".^^omespun ! " tion she desir:; Lt' he ^^,1^^''^ ''^ -^--a- to fall back upon the defence hat hi ^^° T"'' ^'''''''' ^^^ced Pledg^?!^^^^^^^^^ to who. are you -srn:^:^-™-f^-!;:r^ n.e and , ^ ^ll^f/^^^^^^^^^^^^^ - secrets fro.' annr^--S-^:e.^. future when his wit^ came to le^n 'f t^"'' '^^P^^ '" ^^^ he had undertaken without ..nu ^ ^^^Portant venture succeeded so far thatToiTp dff h'"' j'^ "«^'«^^h«^«- a low her a free hand n choosTn. fro jl^ ""' ^' ^^^ ^^liged to of cloth and silk for herselUn^Z T'^''^^''^^^ ^'^^ pieces to. This permission she d d"ot aLf' "! '^^ ^-^^d a fancy knew well enough wlnt w«« K ^ ^' *° ^"^"ty, for she the wife of a mmW Jn! tttTt"' " ''^ "^^ °^ ^^^ '- one to atiire herself in arplei su tJ7 '^f.^^^'^'^ for such a and ladies of the Court ^B^r^i *^' ^^"^« °^ °°bles a though he prudently said no hin^ T^ ^""^""f ^" ^P^"*' advantage of the present positioL to "^ *^^^ ^'^^ *««k ik you, Diggory, ' wife, I have a good and lawful use decent and longer. If you ne way, you can h when, as they manner as will while your wife ig the informa- lowever, forced asons, but that whom are you n were pledged 1 comfort me; 10 secrets from I much trouble lappen in the rtant venture ' nevertheless i'as obliged to es such pieces had a fancy ality, for she '■ of dress for ly for such a 'es of nobles >d in spirit, lat she took store which *■!«' wearing Reuben," he this matter DIGGORy's SUPHKMACY 18 ENDANGERED. 39 from my wife. A few more such secrets, and I should be a rumed man. Never before have I known her .eized with a desire for such prodigality of vesture. I have looked upon her all these years as a sober and discreet woman, well content to wear what was quiet and becoming to her station ; but now- truly my heart melted when I saw how she fingered the goods, and desired John, my assistant, to cut off such lengths as she desired from some of my goodliest cloths." "Tut tut cousin; you exaggerate things greatly. It is no wonder that Mistr^s Mercy, seeing that you are flourishing greatly m trade, and able to spend your money freely, should deem ,t but fitting that she, as your wife, shouh/make a braver show than heretofore. Besides, the girls are growing up, and need to be a little b.ight and gay. Why, man, there are many London citizens, who could not count their broad pieces with you, whose wives spend many times as much every year on their attire as Mistress Mercy has cost you now." We 1, well, Reuben, there may be something in what you say, but no more secrets, or there is no saying what wUd extravagance she might take in her head next time. She might quarrel with the house and insist upon a new one furnished from top to bottom, or set her heart on a coach with runmng footmen No, no more secrets, or I shall be having her so set herself up that I shall be no more master of my own house." -^ Roger was plied with many questions by his cousins, who tried alternately coaxing and pouting, to learn from him why It was that, as all told them, preparations were being made for he voyage o the Swan such as were unknown before at Plymouth All he couhl reply was, that the ship was only Zl^Tuf T '"I'^'^P' "'°^' '« ^^ ^^'>««« «-««^s cared as Sorettt/r, " 't '°"^^"'' ""^ ^'''^'^' °f their crews. h7cl f 7^^ "°' '"^' ^' "«"^^ "«t ^'«"y that ho Diggory and his father thought it well to make no talk , - — "o"" '1/ won to maue no talk about the matter, it was not for him to say what wen> hia uiuughcs about it. 40 THE PREPARATIONS AHE COMPLETED. " But we would tell uohodv " ^t<^,■r^\ thinWe eo.,!d keep a .oo,:tt ^t^Z^;, -Z'^-'* ^- and then, if you told it [0" 1 1 not n "' ^"'^' " ^""•«*' I don't say tl.ove is any seere but i tt"" ^T' '"' "''•'^''^""g- " I know that you L ^l illu V T'' '-''^' '*'' would not have all thLf " ? "^*'''' ^'"'l'^" > olso you board.' ^" ^^°'" ^^'^'-^^^ g»"« thoy say the™ are on Let him keep his secret ff C •'^! og«^''f'- too smart for us. n^otherwithhersewh"" "" '^"^ ^^"^ "« g« and help ^f :t: a cir £;:r ^r- ^-- ^^^ .„.. .nod between Diggory Beggs and his w?fe ^' ^"■^'^' '"' ^«'^ ^« water ;:l''fi,,:'7ar:h:in"'7*'""»" -- --P'^te, the in the hold; and even Re^linH^^Jt ''"' ""''' «^--' ^^7 was nothing else tlu^t ho " "S'" "'"'*^^' ^^"^* *'-- safety or navigation of the bin .f '''^""''' '^'''>«'' f"*" ^he of the crew. The o-.der wns n ^' T *^' f^' ^^'^^""'"S °^" ^^^alth to be aboard befl^etL rt\Kt '"•'"' '°^ ^" *h« "'^J J'an .smart for us. us go and help the Stva7i sailed ?ii'ls, as well as i complete, the le stored away tted that there i either for the ning or health ! the old hands her with those ticies. ceived private men they had eight o'clock, fig them there were to como g down their I iincoticed. nil one. The imon consent >, and it was uid the girls REUBEN HAWKSrrAW EXPLAINS. 41 knew that the hour of sailing was at hand; then Reuben spoke up : " We go on board to-night, Cousin Mercy, and sliall get up our anchor and loose our sails the first thing in the morning. I know that you have been somewhat aggrieved at not learnin<» more about our intentions ; but it was not Cousin Diggory's fault that you have not been told." "I do not seek to pry into matters which my husband thinks fit t:> conceal from mo," she said, coldly. "Nevertheless, cousin, you are hurt; and I cannot blame you, seeing that it is natural that a woman should like to know what is passing around her. But I wish before I go that you should set that Diggory is not to blame in tliis matter. There is no harm in my telling you now that he stands not alone in this venture, but that others have joined with him. Now he himself, knowing you to bo a circumspect woman, who could be trusted to keep to yourself anythin<» that you might learn, would willingly have taken you into our councils; but all women are not so discreet, and matters which it is very important should be kejit secret might have leaked out had it not been proposi'd that all concerned in the matter should bind themselves solemnly to each other to say no words alout it, even to their wives; and thus, you see, Diggory's lips have been sealed, and that not by any mistrust of you. It may be some time before it will be prudent for the truth about this voyage to be known, but in good time those concerned may think fit to relieve each other of this agreement they have entered upon, and to let their wives and others who may be depended upon, into tiie secret. I wanted to tell you this before we sailed, for I should not like to go away feeling that you cherished aught of malice against me ; for I have seen for some time that you have held me, as well n« yorr husband, to blame. We ai-e going on a long voyage, Cousin Mercy, and one from which it may well be that none of us will ever return to this good town of Plymouth. I am somewhat breaking my promise in saying this, and I rely upon you and the girls repeating it to no one. It is a J I 42 RECONCILIATION. to all concorned. An.l now: CouL m""' ""' "«" ^ --Ith' you 8o much as that, I trus thnTl ''^' "' "^ '''^^^ '^^ always parted, in friendly and kinlirf 7-^ ^'"■* "^^ ^« ''^^^ husband have been good fHo, 1st ^ ''",""■ ^''" '^"•' y«"»- gone in that matter ffr CndtU ° T '^"'' "'^ »-y. '^'"1 'mve and I should not like to sS uL 1^'^ "^ ^''''^'^' there was a cloud between us "^ ^" ^"•>''^S« ^"«^^'ng that Jhesaid, "for my cross looks and Sv:^h' ^""■^'\^-'»>^n/' I have acted altogether wrc. l J, '^*''^'- ^ ««« that "either you nor Di/gor/a^r^^^- j^ """"' ^"^ ^'^^ were concerned, and thought tht, . "'^' "°* ^'^^^^^ others because it was considered that ' did f '^ .'^''' ^""^^' ^"^^8 out and blab it in the st ots o P l T, '*' ^ ^'^""^'' ''"» how it is 1 am well content „ I ^i^^"*'^' ^ow 1 know thought of this unkL vn ; Hn„fo T\ '"' "^^ ^^« ^^ '^^ run, and I .vender that Di. o ' L 'm' 7"' "^^ "-^'^"^ *° hut yieide^L:::;sr^.:r • t^r^ rr^^^-^ ^- as I am, ar.d we are both contfnl o [°' *^' ''^'l^enture encounter for the honour wllT ?'!, ^"^'^* ''^'^^^^ ^^^ ".ay -fely home. And no" W .eru^t '"" f "« ^•«*-' are sad things, and the shorter m! ^'°'"^' leave-takings While th^se words h.d hi ^ T '"''^•^^ *''« ^^tter." " either side of Roger .re stntlT" ' l"^' ^'''' ''"^^ -^ - him by furtive squUs o7 his h nds T^'V'''' ^''^'^ "'^h buist into tears as Roger and his f^n ' *^" *^'^^«' ^""^ they " Good-bye Aenes " Pr . ''®'" '■°^®- the prettiest trinkets eve!- Jen^n Ply^o^h""^ ^^^^ ^^'"^ ^^u contS;:^rtS^^^^ --r. STlu be more than ^-not hern.nutetheywe.gon..i.go^,,^^^,^,^„^ i •»f, thoufc much peril; as well as wealth . as I have told p'lit as we have • YoH and your "7 J>'>y, and have 'HH'Is of kinship; ge knowing that •oimd to Reuben Cousin Reuben," lys. I see that itter, and that not that others ras bein^' made i, I should run Now 1 know not so at the I are aljout to i^'ue your life I Diggory has the adventure risks we may if we return leave-takings 3 better." who sat on r peace with ble, and they »orothy," and II bring you ' more than eggs taking m THE OBEW COME ABOARD. 43 his hat and starting with thcni, telling his wife that he should not return until morning, as lie should go on board the Swan with them and roumin until (-he siiiied. •• You will not go before daylji eak, Cousin Rouben ? " Mistress Mercy asked. "No; it will more likely be an hour after sunrise before we weigh anchor." " Then I and the girls will be down on the wharf to see the last of you and wave our kerchiefs, and wish you a pleasant voyage and a safe letura." CHAPTER III. THE VOYAGE. GREAT was the surprise of the .nal crew of the Swan, when boat-load after boat-load of fresh hands arrived. They tLoinsolves had been quietly told that the voyage was likely to be one of unusual length, and that none save those willing and ready to stay away as long as might be required were to sail in the Swan (m\ her present venture. There was, therefore, a general idea current among them that Master Hawkshaw had some adventure quite out of the ordinary in his mind; and the news that some heavy guns had arrived from London for her had confirmed their (.pinion as to the voyage. " Let us have no loud talk to-niglit," Reuben Hawkshaw ordered ; " when we get our sails spread to-morrow and are well out of port, you can talk to your hearts' content, but the night IS still, and I want not that attention of any on shore should be called to the ship : there has been more foolish talk than enough about her already ; so turn in to rest, lads, without ado The boatswain will serve you each out a pottle of cider, such as you never drank on board ship before, I warrant me, and which 18 a sample of wlia fc you will have all the voyage. When you have tossed that ott; let each Ue down as' he can Z.d 44 THE SKCOND MATE. man's space. We will divide into watches and settle as to each ^.„ . place to-n onw. Pengarvan, set four hands aside to go on shore with the boat an hour before daybreak; tell them off to sleep where you can lay hands upon them easily. Keep the boat alongside, and make off to the wharf as noiselessly as you can ; but I shall be on deck then, and will give you further orders. The second mate only replied, "Ay, ay. Captain Hawk- shaw, for he was a man of but few words. Reuben Hawk- shaw was not fond of Cornishmen, but he made an exception in the case of Pengarvan-indeed, although their bonlers joined, there was little liking among Cornish and Devon men lor each other. "They are black, ill-conditioned dogs," Eeuben Hawkshaw would say ; good sailors I own, none better, but glum and surly in their ways, and with nothing joyous in their natures. It seems to me that working in the darkness-in those holes of theirs underground-has infected the spirits of the whole county, as it might well do, seeing that, as everyone knows there are little people who guard the treasures of the mines and who, if they cannot do bodily hurt to those who delve for metals, can yet infect their spirits with a black melancholy and do them other grievous harm. So when Pengarvan came to me as a boy on the quay here, and asked me to take him with me to sea, I did not much like doing so, for I saw at once by his speech that he was Cornisii ; but I did not like to turn him away, for he said that he was willing, and accustomed to the sea So I gave him a trial, and he has turned out a first-rate sailor; he is chary of speech, and not given to jest or laughter; but he IS always quick and willing to obey orders, takin- whatever comes in good part, and bearing himself just the same in storm as in sunshine. " I know nought of his history. The Sioan has been his home since he first c.me on board twelve years ago. As long as she IS afloat he never h^-ives her; when she is laid down for repairs he t.akes the nearest lodging on hand and abides there till she 13 afloat — -■- T , .. .... again. I bolio\o that he comes from Fowey, and GOLD IN PLENTY. 45 guess that he got into some trouble or otlier, and had to run for it. But tliat's notiiiiig to me. I want no better man, and know tliat whatevor comes I can rely upon Pongarvan to stand by me and the ship to the Inst." If the men were astonished at the thirty new hands who came on board on the previous evening, they were still more astoni.shed when as many more embarked in the morning. The new-comers were ordered to keep in the forecastle and in the quarters under it until the Swan was well away from land. "There will be a good many eyas turned on the slu'i) ^s soon as we are seen to bo shaking out our canvas," Reuben said ; " and there is no need to set their tongues wagging by showing more men on deck than we usually carry." The captain and Diggory Boggs talked late on into the night. They went over all the ground again ; and Reuben brought out the map of the islands and showed where he intended to touch. " I think not to do much trading there," he said. " There is gold in Hispaniola and Cuba j but the captain I got the chart from said theie was no very great store there, and that the natives had but little of it when the Spaniards first arrived, seeing that it took trouble and labour to obtain, and they are by nature alti gether averse to li.u-d work, and moreover place but little value on tho gold; but there were rumours among them that fai ther west there was a land where gold was in great plenty, and where there was a powerful peoi)le dr'^ssed in gay attire and wearing great bracelets and necklaces of gold. " So far, the Spaniards have not found this land, though they have sailed down the coast a long way to the south, and northward as far as the point that INlaster Cabot reached when he sailed down from Newfoundland ; but due west they have never sailed far, and have found the sea ever stretching away in front of them ; so that it is clear that either the great mainland is split in two at this pdint, or there is a vast bay. This I shall try to discover, and if we find the.se people of whom the Indians speak, we may well return loaded down with gold. tJ!l« 46 FALSE INSTRUCTIONS. My advice to you, Cousin Difrgory, is, that you and your partners .sliould continue to keep silent as to this voya^re of ours. If we come not back, and after a time there is a^talk here that we have gone to the Indies, the news may be carried to London, and you may be questioned and may be blamed mightily for undertaking such an adventure without the kinf there be any danger you are sure to e.pose yourself m the front of it-Eoger shall be as a son to me, and shall either in time have a ship to command, and a share in her as thou hast,; and he shall come in our business when d!wn L hnT""^ adventure at sea and is willing to settle Reuben wring his cousin's hand silently, and then said, i^t us take one more glass of strong water, Diggory, and then get a few hours' sleep before morning. It is^^ast mid- night now, and I must be up by four, for at that hour the boat must go off for the first batch of our new hands " Day broke just as the last batch of men were brou-ht on board As soon as these had gone below the whistle vvas sounded, the old crew came up on deck, and the preparations for making sail commenced. The anchor was hove short, the ashings o. the sails were loosened, the flags run up to the mast- heads, the ast casks and bales lowered into the hold, the hatches put on and the decks washed down. Before these preparations Tl ,'''°^P^'^t« * little group was seen standing at the end 01 the wharf. "There is your good-wife, Diggory, and the girls. She has kept her word to be up betimes to see the last of us " At last all was ready, and Diggory shook hands with Reuben and turned to Roger, when the captain said, "The lad can go m charge of the boat that takes you ashore, Diggory, and just say another word of parting to them there.'' ^ In five minutes Roger stood on the wharf. " I cannot wait, Cousin Mercy,' he said, -for all is. ready for hoisting the anchor; but my father said I might just come ashore for one more good-bye." x!'}\7J^^^ P'"''*^'* y°"' ^'^g^'"'" Mistress Mercy said, as she folded him in a motherly embrace. "We .shall all pray tcr you daily and nightly, until you return. Good-bye fi I *:i3l THE START. 49 If >■. Don't iniporil your life needlessly, but be prudent and Roger ! careful.' " For your sake, Dorothy," he whispered as he kissed her. " Yes,_ for my sakt^ Roarer," she said softly. Agnes hung round his neck crying loudly, and her mother had to unclasp the child's (ingers. "God 1)1. ss you all," Roger said hoarsely, and then ran down the stops and hnipt into tiie stern of the boat. When he gained the deck of the Swan the boat was hoisted in, and the men began to heave round the windlass. As soon as the anchor was up the sails were sheeted lionio; and the Swan, yiel.ling to the light breeze off the land, began to make her way through the water. Roger from the poop waved his cap in reply to the signals of farewell from shore, and then running down into the waist busied himself with the work of the ship until they wore t(jo far away from the land for the figures there to be any longer visible. The lest of the crew now came on deck, and all were mi .tered in watches. Reuben Hawkshaw, standing on the edge of the poop then said a few words to them. " Men," he said, " I dtvre say there is some wonderment among you in finding yourselves so strong a crew, and at seeing the Swan so well provided with guns and with ail othev necessaries. You will learn in good time all about it, but at present it is best for many reasons that you should know nothmg about the matter. We may be overhauled by a king's ship; we may meet with foul weather and have to put back into port ; and a loose tongue might do us grievous damage. It is enough for you to know that where the ship is going you are going; that she is stored with provisions of such quality as was never put on board a trader before ; that everything will bo done for your comfort. As to myself I am content to know that I liave a crow of eighty-five stout Devonshire lads under me, and that wo can give an accoiuit of ourselves who- soever may meet us. Thoso who have sailed with me before know that T do my best for my men, that tLore wUl be no harsh words or violence on board this ship save they are well (918) ^ It 1 - ki . i 60 SETTLING DOWN. TfTff' ?rP ,!' T^^'' *"^ «^«^ence I will have, and that strictly. Above all I will have no grumbling; a grumbling crew ,8 a useless crew, and a sick crew; while a cheerful crew can meet with confidence whatever befalls them ; but I think not that I have any grumblers on board, since every man has been carefully chosen. A merry heart goes all the way, as he saying has it, and I want this crew to be a happy one So far as the order of the ship permits it, you shdl have ever^ indulgence. At first you will find yourselves pressed tor space, but you will soon eat and drink room for yourselves The stores to be first used are all down in the foroJiold, and ^ reckon that m three weeks or a month that will be cleared ; and there will then be room for all to lie in shelter when we are in harbour ; and the present accommodation is sufficient for the watch below, providing all sleep quietly, and have good conscience. And now to work. While you get everything tidy and m good shipshape the cooks will get to work at the coppers; and I can promise you a good breakfast, washed down by sound cider such as you had last night." The men gave a cheer, and were soon at work under the direction of their officers. It mattered little to them where they were going or what was before them. Thoy had guessed that »t wa no ordinrry voyage they were going to under- take; but the thought that wherever it was they were to be well kept and well cared for, satisfied them mightily, and If fighting were to come into their way so much the better. With such a crew they could well take their part against any enemy they were likely to meet. In the poop of the Swan there was a small saloon extending across the stern, and two cabins on either .side of the passage leading to ,t These were occupied by the captain, the two mates, and Eoger; and they took their meals together in the saloon. In a cabin underneath this, the three petty office, and twenty of the sailors lived together, the main body of the crew occupying the raised forecastle and the cabin underneath it V. 1^ L^^/''^' ^'''''''*^' ^"''^ "P ""Sainst the forecastle, and thus 6ne.t8rcKJ xrom heavy seas which might sweep the waist of the t u y t< tf r( ci w ui I IN THE SALOON. 51 u vessel. Four small cannon were mounted on tho poop, two on the forecastle, the six hirger guns were in tlie wai.st-thiee on either side. The breeze freshened as the Swan drew out from under the shelter of the land, and by midday the shore ha.l faded from the sight The crew had by this time settle.! down in their places, and sat in groups on deck, some overhauling the con- tents of their sea-bags, looking over their clothes, and setting to, with needle and thread, to make such repairs as wore needed borne of the now hands were leaning over the side wishing heartily that they were on sl.ore again. Those who had made voyages were talking to their companions about the various ports at winch they might touch, and the sights they would behold. Al save those suffering from the eflects of the sea were in high good temper. As much fresh beef as was like to keep good till eaten, had been brought on board. The wind set in the next morning freshly from the north-east, and with ail sail set the Swan ran gaily before it. "Would that this wind would blow without a break for another month," Reuben Hawkshaw said, as he sat at dinner with the two mates and Roger. Standing and Pengarvan ooked up quickly, but the latter without a question again betook himself to feeding. Standing, liowever, laid down his jack-knite m astonishment. "A month. Captain Hawkshaw I I should have thought four or five days of this would give us an>ple westing, and that after that a westerly breeze, somewhat from the north, would suit us best. "Ay, ay, you would think so. Standing; but then you see you know not to within a good many points where our journey tendeth Wait till I have finished my dinner, for man cannot talk and eat together with comfort. Then, when my boy has removed the trenchers, I will tell you over an extra mug of cider ^^hat all this is about." The meal lasted for some time longer, for Reuben Hawkshaw was a good trencherman, and one not gi on to hurrying himself, unless there was need ; and neither of the other men were far I ,1 Ml 62 CAPTAIN REUBEN tINFOLDS HIS PURP0S8. "I had not thought, comrades, to broach this matter until rrof rr ""r'- ^°" ""° ^"™ ^* -"»" - "^'-e t^ years must have known r ght well t}nf thi^ „.„ "■• .od I did „„e e.pect Zt ;!,„ wou^™ ™ "'"' "" ''""«°"'' "VVhy should we!" James Standi nsarowM «n >.,.« j to^goa-tradrng „.th the natives, down in these' new iZH "But this is not all," Reuben wpnfnn "Q^f„ *u a • , have not gained .„'h sto-e „" ^^f ™. S^'iZTZ^l have learned that among the natives there is talk oV.rlh fonnd it, having their hands p.^tty"e fnll' Thev havT T] ired r "^tirih 7'- 'r - .ou'toJ'-iirst *nds;^.tter;^t:L:'rsa1,er,er:r"iiter has never returned to tell of it." ' ■^■nliMWiliiMI THE Spaniard's chart. 53 " WeU Captain Reuben," James Standing said, "as I said before, it makes no difference to me wl.ere we go If the smtrf^h'"*'' "t '""T' ''''' ""' ^"^ -' tl-°-ts to a tZt I h ^^ T'' *'"' '.^^"* ^^'"^ ''^^y *« ^"'- 3 our chance of tha I have nothing ag.mst it. I feel as if I am taken aback a bit just now as it comes new to me-my own fancy being IfZTi I" '""^' "'''^ '^" '""^•^^■'^^ VovU and islands^ tfJ:ityX^::iZ' "'^^ °" '^'^^-^ ^ ^^^^ °^ ^'^^ ^-^^ "And you, Pengarvan?" bring the Spania,d on board at Cadiz, and sit plying him with TZZif '. *' 'T '^ ''^ '""'• ^°^ -^'^"-" So when I saw what was being done on board the Swan, it came to me that you intended to try a venture in tlie Spanish main " Here is a map which I got from the Spaniard," Reuben aid, laying it out upon the table. " Here, you see, aS the great islands are marked in their places, with their ^orts and the Spanish settlements. There are besides these, the Spaniards said, numbers of small ones not ma.ked on the chart. Jave ZdiT T^'' ^"^' "°^ Hispaniola, the Spaniards have made themselves masters of the people and reduced them to slavery, and there would be no touching at these with either safety or profit The small ones have been only occasionally visited, and with these we may do trade. Kerens the lineo^ the main and to the south of the islands. You see it runs along as tar as the easternmost of them, and then turns away to he sou h, while from the north the mainland comes down weil-nigh to Cuba. One reason, the Spaniard said, why they have not sailed west to find out this land of gold, is, that ther^ thf Rabn ' f !r'P' ""' ^S''^'^ ^^*^ Sre^' ^«'-^« between the Bahamas and this northern land ; and that they fear being swept away by it and getting driven into whidpools, and moreover they say that there are great storms to ^ encountered in the waters to the west s to De "Now the faot that there is a current into, and another (t; > twXt 54 "a fair PKOJ'OSAL." curient out of, this westoin sea soems to show that there is no exit to the west, and tl at the water that comes in at the south huds Itself n. a gr, at lay, and so is WnvcA to pass out to the noi th. How great this bay may be I know not, but surely it cannot be too great tx) search. At any rate it is dear to me that somewhere to ti.e west these two groat lands that we see to the north and south join. Now, that men who have, with much toil and ri.sk, made a discovery of a new land should claim It for their king seems to me fair and right, but not that they should claim sole tralfic with lands of whose very ex- Lstence they know nothing, and, therefore, although it is true that the pope has given tiiese western islands to Spain, I see not how he can give to them land not as yet discovered. " If there is, as the natives in the islands say, a land lying somewhere to the west where gold is abundant, I see no reason why If we are first there, we should not gather great stores. Ihe bales and boxes that were brought round from London contain a great quantity of all the things that are, as the Spaniard told me, most prized by the natives. Glass beads of all sorts and kinds, vessels of brass, iron hatchets and arrow heads, hawk-bells, mirrors, and trinkets. The venture is, I admit, a perilous one ; but if we succeed every man on board will have a share m the profit." Reuben then ■ cplained the arrange- ments he had ma^le with the owners for the division of such treasure as they might bring home. " That is a fair proposal," the first mate said ; " and I doubt not tha,t all on board will gladly fall in with it. If we succeed we shall set every tongue in England wagging ; and there will be plenty of others, I warrant, who will be ready to follow our example. "I had intended," Reuben went on, "to sail as far as the straits, then to head for the island of Madeira, and when within .sight of It to head away west- sou'- west; but if we carry this wind with us we will make straight for the islands, and thereby shall escape the risk of being seen by vessels coming and going, as they all fellow a track south of Madeira We can make a good fight with any Spaniard that falls foul ' "it 18 THK FASTING MAN WHO KICKS. 55 i i ' of us, and are as likely to take him as bo is to rapture us; but I would fain kocp dear of them if T can, since we go to trade and not to fight. Now I think you had best give a hint of the matter in hand to our old crow, all of whom we can depend upon, as indeed I hope we can upon all, though as yet their mettle has not been tried. Take them aside singly, and ot)en the matter to tliem ; in a few days I shall tell the rest, but the matter will go more fairly and easily if wo have a proportion of them ready to throw up their caps and shout." "Aye, aye. Captain lieuben. One bell-wether will carry a whole flock after it, but I fear not that any will want to hold back : it is just the adventure that will suit a brave man's spirit — plenty to see, plenty to do, the chance of a fight, and the chance of a foitune. I should like to know wh;it one could want better than that ; besides, all are in high feather at the quality of the food, which they say the like of was never known on shipboaid before, and tiiat goes a long way. It is the fasting man who kicks ; the full one is content, however matters go." Pengarvan had not again opened his lips ; he nodded occa- sionally, and that was all his captain expected of him ; but the fact that he had guessed the destination of the ship added to the esteem which Reuben Hawkshaw had for his second mate. Three days later Reuben Ha\vk.-haw called the crew together, and informed them of tl.eir destination ; he possessed the rough eloquence best suited for the class he was addressing, and carried his hearers with him. He spuke as if the idea that any of them could shrink from undertaking such an adventure had not entered his mind, but assumed tiiat they were the most fortunate of men in having such a chance offered to them. "You do not yet know," he said, "how great a piece of good fortune has befallen you by*^being chosen to sail with me on this voyage. Had the news been as much as whispered in Plymouth I could hav gathered a thousand volunteers in an hour. You all know how careful have been the prepara- tions for the voyage, how strongly we are manned, how well we are armed, what stores of excellent proviaions and what caska n ft6 of THE captain's address. good cider ai,d alo aro in the hold. Now you wli.tulltliis iafo,,. We if I am going to tell aro go,„.,, lads, to g.t gold, an.l -in, in addition to I ^^.^h "e 7 """ ''^ ^'"^ '•^*'''" such a share as will I honT n 1 '''''''° '" *''« «PH- A loud choor broke S T^' ^""^ ^'o-fo^.tahlo for life." eagerly to list..,. ^'""^ *^^ "»«" ^ ^^^Z P'--<;sod forward ^een'oinillir^^'Jt^^r'v'''""' ^ ^^--''^ -'- h- -t of the S :i: M nr'Ar^f^ ^'^''V^-"^ ^ -'- ventured thither, and I me"n that ^ v n?" "^ **>^"> »>*ve t].o harvest. Why shodd h. « •"", ^" ^''« ^''^^ ^ ^eap thingtothen^selves^ We::.?or"f '^'^^ ^^^'^ ^-' letter, as good n.n und Ttt; f '«:: t T ^''^^ --n^ have a share of the prize.s. We shall tl!,.: '''^' ^^ ^"' some of the islands for uno^ '^« «'>'^" touch on our way at tables. There a^ptntv of th ""'^^" '"' '""* '^-^ -ge without n^eeting with a Lliard "T "' 7' "^" ^"'^ *^>'«« and he tries to fnterfle^fth ,, ^ ^70? H ""* "'^^ °"«' Then, when we have takerin Jl:. ^ "'^ ""^'"'^ ^«'' h'"'. and if we find thisind as llf 7 "'"u" ^' "'" ^'^■■^•■' ^^^^> home with such treat's L " "' f ^"' ^« ^'" '-eturn an English port. ' """'" "^""" ^^-^^g'^* before into allpkin rai,ing":nrttrw7"^^^'^' *^^* ^* '« -* to be to n>eet with, but no t n rail"'"; T ^'^'^'^'P^ ^^^ *'-l« grand adventure, lads-an ad i,V 'n^' ^''^"^ '''^■^«- ^^ >« a would be glad to hlin ;Z 1 ' "'''" ""'^ P'-^«« well as booty. We shaH^e tl fl !T'" '"^' ^^""'y ^" ^^ ^s -tiled tho.e seas or dared to di.n ^ l^ En,dishn,en who ever to keep all the treat..^ thrwesTlf ' l^'^/^P^-^^ tui,e to coDie your children's cbilir n u ^*"'^" ' ^"^ ^n himsolf to be one of t 0^0?. T, . °^"''°°' >"" """^errf " on. . -e.„'o;rrr-^-:--2-- A CONTKNTED CREW. 67 d. ,on. llu.ro woro new la.uls to bo «oen, there «as the «at.sfuot.on of out.uttin, the Spaniards, thorn uere glory ad honour and gold to bo obtained. Ah for hard.,l,ip,s ami dar.«or lofc and witli Howoll found a ship an.l ho m„ ^ a crew thov f.-lt confident of boing able to face anynn^ tL .- mrght b'ofaU _ They spoodily broke up into excitec g, ups e.. 'erly discuss- ing the news they had heard The new .!.^. -liod the X ZL'T '""f "' r *" ''^ ^^"""^ ''''• -'^'^ «f ^'- Spanish 8h.ps, the number of n.en they carried, and thoir armana-nt The guns were examined with frosh attention and admira on and men looked along the sights as if already in fancy engaging in an encounter with the Dons. A horn of strong afe waf served out ^ each by the captain's orde.-s to celebrate The occasion and the men drank success to the enterprise, shak ne Welt ' '"'' "' "^' ^°"''^' *^ '° ^^^ ''-' mIa^- ""'"?• ^°"*^""«^ favourable until they had passed Madeim, which was seen like a cloud on the port side. Tl ree fort^.l ' tIT T •'"'f '"'"" °" '^^ ^^'^ ^-' -^» -fe"^ ^ hin"^ h; f .'''^ ;"; ^"°^^"S ^^'' ^hat idleness is of all t ung.. the most harmful to a crew, set them to work to get up hone Then'tT '"' ^'^"^' ''"^^ ^""^'^^ '^' ?''-« -* ' t^ shone. Then the crew were exercised with boarding-pike and vided for such an occasion, were brought up, and men were matclied against each other with these-small prTes blii ' given to those who showed themselves the rnost^ ofident" Squads were told off to the great guns and instru^cted how hoSd d'o ?• '' ""'^."^ '^ *'" g"'^"'''' - *hat each man should do his share without hurry or confusion. He would tain have practised them at a mark, but this the captain wo Id a long distance, ana might even bring up some Spanish or 68 A QALB. ortugues tl,«v " ""^^'^J *** ^'"^""'^ ^"^° *^® cause of the firing-for «..c„ spo* a, the ^CZitsz:zz'::! "f at sea , but, thanks to the honest food and sound cider th. "ZnThe d'a" ""r^r*'""' ^"^ "" -- - well andL *; as upon the day when they set sail ^ IT« wtT *^', ""^u '^"^^ '^ "'"^^^ ^'"^^ «"^^e^ fury, but Reuben werTby no LT ' . "'''""' ""» '""'» *e encountered were by no means so heavy as those with which she had i S °" ■"" ^J""?" '«"»'' '■'■<">> Spain. cauulJ'" ^';'^'.''*'' K~'=i"' Hawkshaw took everv pre- ^e'rh^f r 7 *" '"'"•' "' ™*''°'''«. '■saving tLZ rc fte^M.rzt":r"'')f °""- '"""^-^ '° "- ,.,.•+1 • £fx ., ' '^"^'^ ^"<^ii all was over he could tfll ^ntlun fifty miles the spot where the gale left her-for in those inlTrluTT'T '' '^^"^""°" ^^ - - *heir infan y and Reuben Hawfl. ^''■*' ^T""'' '^^° <^^«^^ '■'«^^S« ^^g^t be. wenfZ "^^'^•'^^^^ ^"«^^ «f n« other plan, but a° far as these ^ailw. again .al olr^iliptdX^;^^^^ In another three weeks the mates were seen frequently t^^-'^^om, and not to be attempted at night. You see, in this course we shall have the advantage of being well out of the ordinary line of passage of the Spaniards who shape their course more to the southward, make Portd Rico their first landfall, and then have the two great islands Hispamola and Cuba,, lying straight before thoii,, free, as it seems, by the chart, from any dangers to navigation. Roger, km.. m I 62 from this eveni so that A PROBLEM. But I n?, we will compare our log-books day by day you may learn who,o it is that you liave gone wrong in guess how it is ; the wind is blowing chiefly from the ea.st and you will never make allowance enough for drift and I have told you over and over again that with a lightt^nd on our beam we drive a mile to leeward for every tvvo we go on om- course. There are n>any ships which will drift nigh^a mile for every mile they sail in light winds. When the wind is brisk, and we are going fast through the water, then we drift but httle, not more perhaps than one mile to six or seven " But why IS that, father? How is it that a light wind blows us away sideways, and that a strong wind instead of blowing us more blows us less ?" ''That I cannot tell you, Roger; you must leave those questions or w.ser heads to settle. I only know that it ! o-of that there is no doubt at all : but why, I have not the least Idea. How does it strike you, Pengarvan ? " Ihe Cormshman shook his head : " I have thought it over Captain many times. It seems to me sometimes that I have a sort of notion why it is, but it is not clear even to m ^i 1 could not put it into words." The first mate now looked into the cabin "Here we are, James. Pengarvan puts her here opposite the^se three little islands; I put her here some sixt/S said" "one Hfl '^ '"' '^"1 ^ '^"^ '''' "^^^^ ^' ^''" Standing said, one is and is as good as another, so that it has got water and frmt. The tubs are getting low, and the men fre beginning to need a change of diet, so I hope, Captain, you wh t ri;.?u?s '^' ''"/"' '-' '^^"^ ^«' ■'^' ^-^ ^^hat we 'wlnt whethei It IS Spaniard or native we have to fight for if " , ",, ,,°Pf '"^ '^^'^" ^'^""^ ^ fight neither, Standing J but I tZLTln\r '" '^'^'^ "^ ""' ^^^''^ Spaniards-fo^r'all th islands in these groups are small ones, and the navigation dangerous. As for the Indians I fear we may nof T them very friendly, seeing that they will, of course, tako • . tor Spamards, whom they have little reason to love. Rtill when 1 I THE OAIOOS. 68 they seo that our intentions are peaceable, and that we wish only to trade, <.bny may abate their hostility " In three hours they were close to the island that they had first seen, winch proved to be much nearer th.n they had supposed at first night. It was low and thickly covered'^with trees and of only a few miles' circumference Eeulin ni' W '''"" -^ "^ ^"^^"^ '^' ^^*^^«« h«^til« here," Reuben Hawkshaw said ; . their numbers can be but scant;, and the only fear ,s that they may hide themselves in tlfe Get the VT """Tf' ""^ ^^^"^« *« ^'-^^^ ^^-1-g with u the boff ; T^ *° '°""^' *^"^^^' ^"^ P"^ some grease on the bottom tha we may see what kind of holding gi^ound it is." As the sun had risen the wind had fallen, and the Swan was now moving very slowly through the waier. They were about a imle horn tho land when the log was first hove.^ when it r". T"\ y^'''''" *^« °^**« r«P«rM adding when the lead was hauled up, " and a sandy bottom." ^ Casting the lead regularly, they sailed on until within Kttle more than a quarto, of a mile of the shore, and there Ip^d anchor in six fatlioms of water *^^ said' '"tt "if' f r,' '' ""^"'' ^" "^ ^^'« '^«^<' *h« -P*-n said but 1 It did come on to blow we could get up our :htH\Tiniir' "^ ''' '''-' ''' ^^ ''' ^^-'' -^- - thl'swr ^^7°'"V'^^?'' ^''^^'''" ^""Ser, who was watching the shore, exclaimed ; " they are waving green branches." ^ Wave a white flag, Roger. Fasten anything white to a whit fl ■ ^''' u- ''""'^ ™^y understand ^that, Is the white flag IS in use by all nations as a sign of peace and they may have seen the Spaniards use it. Getone of tie boats owei^d, James-the long boat will be the best-- let ite crew ake their arms w th them, but lay them under the seat Z7s sec, what are the intentions of the natives. Get a couple of guns loaded, and if you see they attack us, fire a shot ovrthdr heads into the woods. That will he «nn„„K to Sl^n - However, 1 think not that we shaU have trouble " '"'"• «l ■;il ft: '■», If, l\ 64 THE FIRST SIGHT OP NATlVEg,, A couple of boxes had already been got on deck by the captain's orders, and some stnng.s of glass l>ciu)s, hawk b-Hs and other articles of trade taken ou^. ' " You can come with me, Rogor/' the captain said : and in a tew minutes the boat rowed towards the shore. Ei^.-ht men sal; ai the oars and eight .-tiiers were bestowed in the ;'>ow and stem. She wouJd have canied twice as many, but the captain Wi:shed to avoid any show of force. The group of nativf^s h-d increased by tl.o tim^, the boat -eached the shore, and the captain saw that they . onsi^;ted of two men who were appar- ently chiefs and sor... 'Inrty oi inferior rank. Thoy contim-ed to wave green b.at.-.h.s, and their attitude was so peac. lul that the capta:n ^nU arrows; they had neckl— -s a> ' bracelets of bright beads •, jluropean manufacture, an- ijosh A FRIENDLY RECEPTION. ^5 round tluur lieads insfoul ,>f 1 "' < ^^'''Ca s,u e that the hllets b each of th„,„ a small InJ M ■'C^':^ ^''" «T which were artiilra vastiv n,.i,..l k!. hatilieta, testowed upon then/by 'he ,^tl fl,":'''^^' '"«' -'^ or^^„.„, the „a Js w.h 'a:;,;s, :;,t ::;,;zcl^ tho natives wore Wendly. While they were doing so four carry on board slu'n w« „i • . , '^'" ^^ ^"i' wood to .igns that the'sh-rioM ''2 ::;:;! ':{!:fT'^'7 of the Mane, and that f,.„it w„„W tot,; „' ,' t™ "'' the^rdrritt^rT'*" "^j - '-'•=' "'»"«-'<. ;ii; fii (618) the 66 INSTBUCTIONS TO THE SAILORS. captam said: "We shall have time enough for that, men. I^t us get off with this fruit J our comrades on board will be !n"ftm°' T '^T- J^'"" ^^ ^'^^ =•-"■ '^^ «hip round ashore" ' ' ^^^ ^'"'^ ^"^ opportunity to go As soon as they got on board a portion of the fruit was set aside for the use of the officers. ar.J the rest divided among the crew. Although they were ignorant of the names, the men enjoyed hugely the pine-apple.s, guavns, and custard apples that formed he major portion of the content, of the baskets; and «n7«!H ^ Tf T t' ^"^'^ ""^ ^''''''S "P their anchor and setting the sails. But the wind had now entirely dropped and the Swan scarce moved through the water. So anxious' however were the men to land that they gladly obeyed the captains orders to get out all the boats and tow her- although the heat was so gi-eat that at any other time they rTl H r f:"'^^^^-'^- «"^h a labour. As soon as they reached the other side of the island, the anchor was dropped and the men on board having already made everything snug ^aptam Reuben called those who had been towing out of the l«nH^Vil'" «' f^.' " ^ ^'^^ *° '^y ^ f«^ ^°rds before you land In the first place you cannot all go, it would never do to leave the ship without sufficient hands on board to fight her, seeing that at any moment a Spaniard may come round one end of the island or the other and fall upon us; con- 8equently, half must remain on board and take their turn on shore to-morrow I wish to give no advantage to any ; therefore, the boats..un shall put two pieces of folded paper in his hat one being blank and the other having a cross upon it. If the blank paper IS drawn the starboard watch shall go ashore, and the larboard take their turn to-morrow. If the paper with the cross comes out it will be the other way. One more matter: I shall expect the discipline on shore to be a« good as It has been on board ship. The natives are to be treated well 2iril 7! !t ^T *^"°^ '^'^^ ^ ^y ^^^' barter, and it .hall be conducted for the advantage of all ; the first mate and con- GOOD ADVICE. boat! 67 ;.s\vain will take ashore for tlio purpose ol tiado, and some of the goods we have brought tin whatuvor the nativ 'Allth you wlio wisih f tl ngs as ^ve require for tho .ship-fruit and ^^ ""ly iiave to sell. ey will buy not only such vegetables— but of v™ w,r:.:;;,";e! i". "," :',■:"«'";» ^-j. and then *„«» o« ,11 tides as a token rrom the i-'l- iitlV o ■f tl tat isiau,; at which wo , ,;r ;; :,:f, '»"»■"""">» does so offend wHI neve, hav^l ', "'""T' '"'^'""'' "'"> eaving had told the second mate that he could buy and sell su4 1 1 / f «l^^«-^''-^y from the natives, who w.,. .•: su.h dread of the whit. ..ea that they would n^fc venture to' 'm 68 ON 8H0RB. lift a hand against thom, liowovor groat the odds might be, and tliey wore tlierofoiv ,\\ov.r(H\ to ,„„|o on board and mix fronlv with the sailors. The contents of 1 1 cannrs, ohlnP fruit and vegetables, were spread out on the iW.., and the mate and Roger bargained with them :iving Lltom little looking-glasses and strings of beads in exchange for their wares. "They are mighty reasonable in tlioir demands," Roger said to Po-;,'arvan. " It seems almost a sliamo to take these great baskets of fruit and vegetables in roUirr. foi' such trifles." " Thoy are not trifles to them," the mate rejdied, "and there IS nothing unfair in the exchange. These things are to them what gold ind jewels are to us: we would give gladly a score of boat-loads of vegetables for a diamond the size of a pea, and these glass beads are as valuable in their eyes as diamonds are in ours." After buying up the main stock ihey trafficked with the natives for the little ornaments they wore, necklaces and bracelets cunningly worked with bright shells and seeds, and weapons of curiously carved wood. At nightfall the other boats returned, laden down with fruit and vegetables. " We must buy no more of these commodities at proHont," Captain Reuben said, when he saw wii.i.t had been purchased on board. " We have got enough to lust us as lonj-; as they will keep, eat we never so heartily ; " and ii leed the next day a number of the crew wi ill frn- , the qi; tity of fruit that they consumed. This, however, soon passed off, and the change of diet did great good ; the scurvy disappeared, and in a short Lime all— even those who had juffered most—were acajf. fit for duty. * The following morning Roger and Pengarvan went ashore with the starboard watch. The captain ag •, accompanied them, and for hours they rambled abor' he island, wondering at the strange trees and foliage and . br^ 't flowers, and filled especially with admiration at the y b with feathers like jewels, that flitted about among the ....wers, and concerning which there was much dispute among the men -some assert- ing that they were a sort of great bee, while others maintained ,4™ % »■ 9 NO TRADR TO BE DONE. ^O wore hoisted and the anchor u el' fed til" "! "^''""^ ^""« ereaf niim}.f.,.fl Jr, *i . "°*^ "tighed, the natives came out in little advantage wa. X ' ^ed f^o," /'^"" ' ''"^ ^"^^ ^^*^«"' ujneient with the f^ i)amard.s -tliev uiakr, shvo^ «f *i "J^"^ *^"'''f ^«r« chiefly to get .vat... and f.-n'. .o k".n We h.ul be.L now «hape oux- course westward, and try Tfi^i .. i' 70 ▲ SUHI'RISK. tins new land rich in poM, of which my friend the Spanish captain learned by report from the natives. So far we have fallen in with no Spaniards, hut we may do «o at any time • and although I have no fear of beating off any that michfc meddle with us, it wotdd do us great liaim did the news spread that a strange ship was in those waters : for they would assuredly send out expe.Iitions in search of us from all their ports, as soon as the news ri'.i hod them." The others quite agreed with Captain Beuben's views, and the next morning the shift's head was i-ointed west. Two days later, when passing an island, they saw, on opening a headland a port witli many houses and a Spanish flag flying from a mast on shore. Two large Spanish vessels were lying there They were appaiently on the point of sailing, for the sails were already dropped. An exclamation of surprise broke from all on the deck of the Sivan, and the men ran to the braces and sheets in order to trim the sails. " Steady, men ! " Captain Reuben shouted. " Touch not sheet or tack ; we must sail past aa if bent on our own business ; if we change our course now they will suspect tliat something is wrong. Pengarvan, do you get out the Spanish flag from the locker, and run it up to the peak." *^ This was done, though it was easy to see by the looks the crew cast towards the strangr craft that they would gladly go m and fight them. "Another time, lads," Captain Reuben said cheerfully, as he saw their mood. " I doubt not we shall have enough fighting to satisfy you before we have done ; but our object here is to trade and get rich. If thrashing the Dons comes in the way of business we shall do it contentedly • but there is no occasion for us to put ourselves out of the way to meet them. Supposing we were to go in and sink those two ships as I doubt not we are men enough to do if we were to try it' they would see it all from the shore; and no sooner did we set sail again than boats would carry the news to every Spanish port in these quarters, and we should have a score of ships in pursuit of us in no time ; and, whatever came of it. that woul.l interfere with the hopes of gain with which we have sailed to "shall wb answer TEmt?** 72 these seaa. Tliis port must be a newly formfl,! nn« '• ^ now edged a point or two farther out. Doubtless tl.« ^L 1 1 weresurprisedatseoing that the ^e^selX^l^:;:^ port, continued her course; and it may be that the/veiv soon discovered such points in her hull and rigging as let them one ot theshps-as a signal, doubtless, for her to heave-to c?ursf "l/Ti"^ ^"?""" *" *"« —"'•'' ^"^ kept The; course In two mmutes there was another flash and a ouff of white smoke from the Spaniard, and a shot skipped acfof the water in front of the Su,an. A growl of anger 'b^oketoT vessel, which was running before the wind, came up till her let ftiH tlre'*"'^*;' T' ^^^''""^'^ ^^^ Hpanlh sHp Observable on their decks j men clustered at the bows and could be seen at work there. ' y,n" ^'JT f!. ^''"'"^ "P *^« anchors," Pengarvan said as he watc-hcd them shading his eyes with his" hands. Three W .T"*"' ^^''' '^" ^'-^^'^ ^'^'•^ «''««t«d home, and the Spamard began to move through the water, havi, . ^t saiJ as soon as the anchors were tripped " No sooner were they under weigh and the crews at their t'heW " '" ''^'" ^ "^'''^'^^ *^«^^ ^- g"- -ft- « W?.!!! r^ *"'''^' ^''''"' ^^P*^^° ^ " J''"^^^ ^^t^n^ing asked. We can bring a couple of guns aft, and fire over the fail." By no means,' Captain Eeuben replied. "At present hey know nothing about us, and though they ma/ gul '!:^l^- ^^^ ^'^ot licensed traders, with due authoritv t moment that we are foreigners; but deem us a private venturf II ibsl 72 " WHAT ARE THE LUBBKRS UP TO ? ' from one Of their own ports. No Spanish trader would dare to fire on their own flag, and as long as we do not reply, th y ^11 suppose that we are only trying to escape the payment of some heavy hne or perhaps forfeiture for breach ofTeir regulations XNo. they can Are away. They are not like yl it: ZJ'-' ''' ^""^ ^ -"'' ^^^^"^ -' -^ - «^-" -on Snfnt 'J" *^^^\^f^Pf * the captain was mistaken. The Spaniards were both fast vessels; and although the Swan kent her distance those on board presently saw%hat sirgamTd nothing^ The shot continued to fall around them, but the Spaniards worked their guns slowly; the pieces on heir foie castles were light ones, and though two or three shot passed through the saUs of the S.an, they did but little datage As Icmg as they don't knock away a spar we will hold on " Captain Reuben said ;« if they do, we will turn and figh thei But the wind is dropping a little, and I think that if anything we are gaining upon them now." ^nytning the^Srtl^^'.^Tr.-**'" '^"'"'^ ^^' ^""^ *^° '""^^ ^head, and now rr , d-^«\tinued firing. The Swan was heading ahead TetnM.^' f"' "f' '"^ ^^"^ ^^'^ ^-^ visiblf thS she! fT ^, ^T^'f' ^^"'^ ^'S'''' «""g' although What are the lubbers up to now?" James Standing said ping now that we have fairly got away from them." they haTkiri)" "" '"f "'^^ ^"'^^'^"^ "* ^^e island ahead; they had laid their course to pass it to windward as thev saUed better cCsehaulod than did the Spaniard, who hid not on^y fa len behiiul, but had lagged to leeward nigh it, a „I eithe?be TZ . "'"'f "." "S"-^''" ^« ^^^^ " ^^ere m^ eithei be a Spanish port in the island, or they may know that there are some of theii- ships lying there; though I can lee no signs either of a port or ships." "I'^n ^ can see no said -'Z"^"^ ""t''"" ;■'"" '^ "^ ^""^^' ^'^1^*^'"'" Pengan^an said, for any ships along that shore would be to leeward of Ufl. and we shoi-.ld pa..s the end of the island long before they ■h At^-i^ FRESH FOES. 78 beyond that point We" ™ Jl," Z u *»'■• *'P' i-"' then, and hav'e to figl.t :„:t''f Se^"?" '^'"'~-' '™ «« than we bargaiSedt;' °" ''"'""'■■* " '"'«' '» -<»* OKlan,ation bloke from th™ , u , '"'°""'* '■■*""■ """ ln»„ u- "'""e iioin them smiiiltancoiis y, as the Kail-s of a lofty ship made their appearance over the extreniitv „f ,1, poin^and a niinute I.it.r a gre-.t h„Il came irs^^ ' ""* .nost^^rrtt'; ,■„?;:" ''-"«" -^-'o *«-p'y^ "-» that has just appe;;,l 'T "r "»'"' "'"''"er that fellow out; we aJe in ^C^ „tt » " "' '^ °*^™ ""'"g hefi\ti^rjsta:fi,eT;:ittf"'' tt™- ^--^ !^^,tir;^r;riSHrSH^— ^ to leeward now gave them °an ad^lt^^ ^ w'the"?''™ deal nearer in shore. astern, but a good Rein Z:^^ i'TallV""*'' »™ '"'"""^" ^-P^" . ,°"^"' *''°" "1 naif an hour it will be dar> Tl,^ Spaniards can run quite as fast as we can Thtf\ ^ r lunk ; but we can beat them close lutu ed tZ a p !'•' ^ g iter and liffbtfir . ,-f u '"^""'lu'ed. Ihe wind is fatiinff -vL and be I on ^h otLei'lfl '°",' f "= '™""' '""" ""' Bnt it wUI be a dead ™T» b r I ""'"'' "" "'' "■<•" °"t- they will be abla to mnke wust hold on as we us out here. At any rate, are until the wind drops altogeth us, we ler.' 74 PURSUED BY BOATS. niaht h J7l . '!? ^'"^ ^^^^ ''^P^^^^' ^"d by the time n ght had fully set m the sails dropped motionless, and the Swan ceased to move through the water. The captain at once ordered all the hoats to be lowered, and the men swl n.ed nto them double -banking the oars. Hawsers were handed ^to whSlh r""'Vr' -vept round in the direction ft which she had come, but somewhat f.rther seaward. Now, lads the captain said, " pull with a will. There w^ 1 be a good supper and an allowance of strong ale wLen you come on board." ° After rowing for half an hour, the captain ordered them to cease and to keep silence. Listening attentively, he couS bear in the still night air tlie sound of oars ■ but ^^Kthe^the boats were towing the ships, or rowing indepe^u :! could not tell. Again the men set to woil ^' "I hope they are towing," he said to the first mate, " they would have no chance whatever of catching us, for our strong crew can take a vessel like the S.an through the wa e at tellows in shore, can you t" "No Captain ; they are hid in the shadow of the land I can make out the others, but they are a long way farther off than when we started." ^ ".n-ner on Eoth^^^''* ""', '''^" ^^^" *^" ^'^•"^^ ^fter us. Standing. Both lots can make us out, and can see that we are gaining It for an hour or two yet; but if the breeze springs up, we shall soon run away from them." Stopping and listening again, they could hear the sound of oars from two directions. "They are coming," the captain said; "the beat is qmcker than it would be if they were towing ; besides, it is a great deal more distinct than it was. I don't think they are more than a mile behind us. Ah I there is tbe wind again." Jhere was a deep flapping sound, and a rattling of blocks as the sails bellied out for a moment, and then fell against tii8 masus aguiii. Captaiu rCeuLen went to the forecastle; WAITING FOR THE WIND. 75 Keep It up, lads. You won't have much longer to row for the wmd is coming. The Spaniards are after us, but they wont be up for a quarter of an hour, and I hope we shal] get It betoro, that ; rcmembe,. evei^ yard we can keep away from them is of importance. Put your backs to it, lads. The Swan carried four boats, and .strongly manned as these were she was gliding through the water at a fair rate It was five minutes before another breath of wind came, but this lasted three or four minute.s and greatly relieved the strain rrom the hawsers. "She is goirig through the water now," the captain said, they canno be gaining very much upon us at present. Confound it ! he added a minute later ; " there is an end of it again. The baats were now but half a mile away, and the voices o the officers urging the rowers to exert themselves could be plainly heard, On the Swan the officeis were nil guzin- in the direction from which the wind was to come. The yards were all braced sharply aft. Presently there was an exclamation of rehef as they felt the wind in their face.s and the vessel heeled a httle over 'ITie boats behin.l were but a quarter of a mile away now, whilt< those from the vessel, in shore were perhaps twice that distance. •' If this is the true breeze we are «afe " the captain said ; " if not we shali have to fight for it " The men had already without orders ca.st loose the guns and armed themselves with pike and cutlass. "Now, listen lads," the captain said as he went forward to the poop-rail, "if these fellows come up and try to board us ^t no man utter a word ; fight like bulldogs and as silentlv! We shall beat them off, never fear : no doubt they believe that we are their countrymen, who hav* broken their trading regulations, and are afraid of being overhauled. But if there IS a vvwd spoken they will know that we are foreigners, and wo shall be chased wherever we go." Tlien he went to the forecastle, and bade all the ir,«n in the boats cast off the hawsers and come on board, 'i'hey were I in II i' i 76 THE BOATS SHAKEN OFF. indeed no longer of any use, as the vessel was going through the water almost as fast as they could row ahead of her. ^ As they gained the deck lie repeated the orders he had given— that strict silence should be observed in case the Spaniards came alongside. Everything now depended on continuance of breeze, and those on board the boats saw that the vessel was now holding her own with them. Orders to throw the ship up into the wind and heave-to were shouted, and as no attention was paid to these, several musket shots were fired at her, but the wind held, and faster and faster the Swan made her way through the water. At last the boats fell behind and were lost to sight. "We are safe now," Reuben said, exultantly; "we are to windward of them all, and shall have them well out of eight before mornins." When day broke, indeed, the tojisails of three of the Spanish ships could be seen on the horizon, but in two or three hours these sank out of sight, and the Swan was headed on her course west. ship. CHAPTER V. SHIPWKEC'KKD. I^OR six days the Swan sailed westward before a gentle wind; then clouds were seen rising in the north, and spreading with great rapidity across the horizon. "We are in for a tempest," Captain Reuben said; "never have I seen the clouds rising more rapidly. Get her sail off her. Standing, as quickly as possible." The ciew fell to work, and in a very few minutes the Swan was strippelm was put down, A cry burst from the crew as she came round, for m the wind took her on the beam she lay farther and farther over. A great wave struck her broadside, sweep- ing the bulwarks away as if they had been paper, and carrying a number of the crew off the forecastle into the sea Still farther over she went, and all thought t;,at she would capsize when there were a series of reports like musket-shots as the lashings of the shrouds parted. This was followed instantly by a crash as the mizen-mast snapped off two feet above the deck. Relieved of the strain the Swan righted somewhat Another great wave swept over her forecastle, still further diminishing the number of the crew, but it carried her ho a 1 round. She can^e up on to an even keel, and again started ou ner mad course before the wind. ''Go forward, Pengaivan, and see how many hands we have lost the captain said: "not that it makes much difference for they have hut gone a short time before the re.t of us for nothing fihni4. nf o m^ro'^lf' "-^T- M ' "we will die a8 we have lived." 79 It could now be seen that the coast was steep and rocky, and that the waves were breaking with tremendous force upon it. It was but about four miles distant, and in less than half an Lour they would be upon it. " We must try to anchor, Standing." The first mate shook his head. " We will try, Captain, but our anchors will never hold her in the teeth of thisgai;: if they did the hawsers would go like pack-thread " "I am afraid so. Standing; but there is nothing else to do." Ihe fcrst mate went forward, and he and Pergarvan saw tlie anchors got in readiness and the cables ranged along, so as to run out with perfect freedom. Then Pengarvan made his « ay aft again to the poop. "Do you mean to cut away the mast, Captain?" The captain nockled " I wouldn't, sir," the mate went on. "She will never hold, mast or no mast; and if it stands we make a shift to run her head foremost on the rocks, and this will give us a better chance than if she drifts broadside on " ' Yo" are right, Pengarvan. Yes, it will be better to leave it standing." When within a quarter of a mile of the shore the helm was aga.n put down, and as the vessel came partly round the the anchors were let go. The hawsers ran out rapidly, and the topsail, which was the only sail on her, was let go the wmd catching it and tearing it into ribands as it was looked. Ihere was a jerk and a surge as the anchors brought her up but at the same moment a great wave struck her head The cables parte,!, and she again swung round towards the shore. It 18 aU over with us, my lad," the captain said to Koger, who was standing quietly beside him. "God forgive me I have brought you all here to die." ' "It L. not your fault, father ; it was all for the best ; and we knew when we started that there were perils before us." GocxI-bye, my lads ! We will die aa we have lived-brave m«n^d may Goc have mercy on us all. Now, Roger, obey my Int orders. Go forward, and climb up to the «„.l nf thl bowsprit: It may be that if she strikes you may be able to 1 1 1 ij! . 1 il' 1 80 "god bless you my boy." leap forward on to the rorks, they are somewhat lower just ahead than clsowhere." "' " But I do not want to be saved if no one else is, father " Kogor cried passionately. ' '•' J"",^'''f ''^'''''^'' °^"'^^'' ""^ heretofore," the captain said quietly, and you will do so now. Go forward at once, and do as I say. God bloss you, my hoy." He da.spod Roger in his arms in a moment's close en.brace, and then pointed forward ' Eogers eyes were blinded with tears as he obeyed the order The bowsprit in those days did not as now run out almost horizontally from the ship's bow, but stood up like a mast leaning somewhat over the bow, and carried a yard and sumll square sail upon it. Roger climbed up as far as the yard wid then aiding himself by the hallyards, swarmed up until fee reached the cap. When he did so the vessel was but little more than a hundred yards from the shore. The water was deep up to the rocks, for the waves struck on these unbroken flying up in masses of spray which flew far over the land On his lofty post thirty feet above the forecastle and forty- five above the water, Roger was nearly level with the top of the roc^k ahead, and as the vessel rose on the waves could see a flat land extending far inland. He looked down • two or three of the sailors had followed him as high as the yard and many others were gatliered on the forecastle. Some were kneeling in prayer, others had thrown themselves down despairingly on the deck, but most were standing, looking forward with set faces at the rocky barrier so close at hand Koger looked aft, the men at the tiller had quitted it now and gone forward; Standing and Pengarvan were standing one on each side of the captain. The latter took off his cap and waved It to his son, and the mates lifted their hands in token or adieu. A cry from below caused Roger, as he returned the salute to look round; they were but a ship's length from the rocks Another moment a great ^^a^■e lilted the vessel, and on its crest she wont thundeiing forward. The rocks seemed to lean up against the spar to which Roger clung; it snapped oi were ALONE I 81 just below hia feet, then a great volume of water and spray shot up from below, and he was thrown high into the air The wind caught him and carried hiux away inland, and he fell with a crash that left him senseless. It was long before he recovered consciousness. As soon as he did so he "crawled on his hands and knees to the edge of the vM, and looked down. The Swan had disappeared, not a sign of lior remained, not so much as a floating timber showed on the surface of the water. Roger crawled back again for some distance, and then threw himself down and wept despairingly. He lay there for hours, until the heat of the sun blazing almost vertically down roused him. Then he got on to hia feet and looked round. In front of him stretched a slightly undulating country. Patches of maize here and there showed that it was cultivated and in the distance he saw a large village with buildincrs of a size that proved that the people had made some advance towards civilization. Slowly and painfully, for he was greatly bruised by his fall, he made his way to the nearest maize patch and eat several heads of green corn. Then he started for the village. When within a few hundred yards of it, he came upon three women who were coming out with baskets on their heads. Ihey paused as he approached them, and then, with a cry of astonishment and fear, turned and ran towards the village Their cries brought a number of peoj.le to the doors; among these were many men who had caught up spears and bows and arrows at the alarm. Seeing but one person approaching m a garb altogether strange to them, tliey stood in surprise As he came up, their wonilor heightened at perceiving that his colour was altogether difierent from their own, and they dropped their threatening weapons and stood as if paralyzed by wonder. Roger had not faltered in his step as he saw them issue out Death had no terror for him now his father and all his friends were gone, and he was altogether reckless of what beieil him The fearlessness of his demeanour added to the effect (W8> "oduced . r '.i^"^ vmTJV 8S) THE NATIVES. by hia appearance. His cap was gone, and the rays of the 8un falling upon his fair hair added to the eflfect produced by hi8 white skin. The natives, taking him for a supernatural being, bowed themselves to the ground before liim in an atti- tude of adoration. The cries and uproar that but a minute before had sounded in the village suddenly ceased, and were succeeded by the hush of deep awe. Eogor walked on between the prostrate natives and seated himself on a stone at the door of a hut. The natives gradually rose to their feet and approached him timidly. He made signs that he wanted to drink, for a raging thirst had been induced by the heat. One of the natives ran into a hut and reappeared with a bowl, filled with a liquid, which he humbly presented to Roger. The latter patted hia head in token of thanks, and then took a long di-ink of thu contents of the bowl. These were totally unhke anything U hn>) before tasted, being pulque, a slightly fermented drin! . obuh.ed from the juice of the agave, most useful of all Uii, v/igetable productions of Central America. A native, who was distinguished by hia dress from the rest, now gave an order ; and in a short time two women approached bearing a tray with some flat cakes of fine bread and fruits of diflerent kinds. More to please the natives than because he was hungry, for he felt little inclination for food, Roger partook of some of these. The chief then harangued him at considerable length. When he had finished, Roger, who had stood up while he was addressing him, said, " I do not know a single word of what you are saying to me, but I thank you for your kindness." He then shook hands with the chief, to whom that form of greeting was evidently new, and patted him on the shoulder. The chief then conducted him to a large house; it was no higher than the rest, but was built of stone well fitted together. The roof was roughly thatched, and could, Roger thought' afford but a poor shelter in time of rain. He did not knovv that, except at the commencement of a storm, rain was of com- paratively rare occurrence upon the coast. Inside the house showed Bigns of comfort. There were some seats decorated with I mf A PROCESSION. 83 n floor ; arniH and carvins; » fin -ly wovon mat covoi-.,(l the utensils liung irom the wuIIh. ^ Soveral of ti.e natives, ovi.lontly persons of consi.lr m the villugo, followed the chief in. Some ^'irls and xs .n came m rom an interior room, and saluted tl,. stran^^or with the greatest respect They ex.n.inod him tinadly, one of the younger gnls touching his hand g...tly as if to^'n^ake sure that It was skin and not some st.an.t'e covering that gave tits colour ioger took ofF his jac-ket, whielAvas by this time dry, and turned up the sleeve of his shirt; as he did so a general ex(la,nation of surprise and admiration broke from the natives at the whiteness of the skin, which was far more stnk.ng to them than the bronzed hue of his face and hands. The chief ma.le various signs which Roger at last understood to be a question as to whence he had come. Ho pointed in the direction of the sea, and tried to signify that he had arrived from a very long distance. An hour passed, and Roger was beginning to wonder what the next move would be, when a native entered, and, salutin-^ the chief, sa.d something to him. The women and children at once retired. A few minutes afterwards the chief went to the door, and motioned Roger to accompany him. At^rr^/'T ft '*'''* "^ *'^' ^^""°« ^^« * procession. At Its head walked two persons evidently of high rank. Thev wore mantles falling from tlieir shouldcis nearly to the gi'1 V "1 90 malinchr's advice. desired to learn something of the hahits of the white man, she was often out, and the girls were then ready to talk ae much as Roger wished. For a time it seemrd to'him that he was making no progress whatever with the liuig.iage, and at the end of the first month began almost to dospair of ever being able to converse in it, althougli by this time he had learnt the name of almost every object. Then he found that, perhaps as much from their gestures as from their words, he began to understand the girls, and in another month was able to make himself understood in turn. After this his progress was extremely rapid. As soon as Malinche learned from him that he belonged to a great nation of white people, living far away across the sea, and that he had been wrecked in a ship upon the coast, she warned him against telling tliese things to the chief.' "They hold you in high honour," she said, "because they think that you have come down from the sky, and might do them grievous harm if they displeased you. But if they°knew that you were a man like themselves cast by chance upon their shores, they would perhaps make you a slave or might put you to death in one of the temples ; therefore on this subject be always silent. When the chief asks you questions shake your head, and say that these things cannot be spoken of, and that it might bring down the anger of the gods were their secret told." The advice seemed good to Roger, and he followed it. Now that he was able to talk in bis language the chief soon plied him with questions as to whence he had come. But Rolied in their own language, and as they were in ignorance that the cacique possessed" a country-woman of (heir own among his slav es, they regarded this as a miracle of the most singular kind, and as an indis- putable proof of the supernatural nature of their visitant. It was true that he did not speak as a native, but Quetzalcoatl'him- self might well have forgotten somewhat of his own language, in his hundreds of years of absence from Mexico. The laree tent was at once placed at Roger's disposal, the merchants contenting themselves with a smaller one raised beside it. A number of slaves were told off to attend upon liim, and his meals were served with the greatest ceremony and deference. That night, as Roger lay upon the soft pUe of quUted rugs, ON THE JOURNEY. 105 prepared for him, his mind was sonely troubled as to his posi- tion. Was he right in allowing them to deceive themselves into a belief that he was a supernatural being 1 Ought he not rather to tell them that all these gods they worshipped were false, and that there was but one true God : He who was worshipped by the White men ? Thinking it over in every way, he concluded at last that there was no necessity for him at present to undeceive the Anahuans : he would do no good by doing so, and would ensure his own destruction. He resolved however, that nothing should induce him to pay honour to their gods, or to take any part in their bloody sacrifices. " They can kill me if they will," he said j " but I am not going to be false to my religion. If they should not kill me I may be able in time to persuade them that their gods are fa'se ; but for the present it would be madness to try to do so. From what Maliuclie said they are devoted to their religion, and the priests are all-powerful. If I am to do any good, there- fore, it must be done gradually. What should we think at Lome if an Indian were to arrive, and to try and teach us that our God was a false one ? Why, he would be burnt at the stake in no time. And one cannot expect that these Indians would be more patient in such a matter than we should. When the Spaniards come they will doubtless overthrow their gods, and force them to be Christians, just as they have the peoples in the islands." The next morning, early, the tents were pulled down, the slaves loaded up with what merchandize remained unsold, with the tents and provisions for the journey, and the caravan started for the west. A party of the soldiers marched first ; then came the merchants with Roger and a snjall guard of armed men; they were followed by the slaves, and another body of troops brought up the rear. For six days they passed through a country more or less cultivated, with villages scat- tered about. One of these was always chosen for their stopping place, and Eoger admired the regularity and order with which the eucaui[)ment was formed, and the good conduct observed in the dealings with the people. ill 1 1 1'" ^^^^^H ■ i 11 100 IN ANAHUAC. m i I '4 ■ ! II Provisions were obtained by barter and fl,« ;„i,„v,-* * ttt'tim r r r'"^' r^c^Hrr^kron this to tlio mercl.anta, wl.o replied, tl.at it was always their custom to keep on the „>ost friendly torn.s with the peor ,e Our caravans/ they said, " visit all the ccntries ro, „do„r suttu tor It. Iherefore, wo are always particular to give them nocause for dissatisfaction. The empire is extensive, and mZ parts of ,t are but newly conquered, therefore we .shouU be gravely blamed were we to en.broil ourselves with its neigh! hours until the king desired to carry his arms in that direction Sometimes we have trouble. We were with a party who a few years back were attacked of the people of A^^tlan. We saw that trouble was conung, and fortified our camp ; and for fo^^ years cari^d on war with the town, and in the' end captu d L 1. rnT ^"''"'^ "P''" '""' ^"^ ^« ^'■'^^^ <^he approval of the king All those concerned in the struggle were permitted to have banners of their own and military emblems " timer'' ^°" '"^^'^ yourselves with provisions all the Sl^l 7""try-people were neutral; that was the advantacre ^e had from having always treated them well, while the Cacique of Ayotlan had been a tyrant, and had giUly oppressed them. So they brought in provisions to us ff sale^ and^we had less difficulty in that way than the people of the At last the villages of the Tabascans were left behind. For some days the cai-avans travelled through a very sparsely popu- lated country, and then arrived at a large village, where the Anahuac language was spoken. "We are now in the country of the king," the princiDal merchant said " All over it you will find Is same Tan^^Tg poken; for although there are man> people who lived undfr their own chiefs, and many of whom have been but lately conquered the language is similar, though spoken with dif- oltS '• '"'^ '^"^^ ^"^" ^''"^ '^' "''^'^h and UBXIOAN HISTORY. 107 For '* And who dwelt here before they came ? " "A people called the Tolteca. Tliey were a great people, well instructed in agriculture, great workers in metals and builders ot grand cities." " And what became of them ? " " It is not known, but misfortunes came upon them, famine or disease, and it is said that tliey went away to the south. Then came a people called the Chichemecs, a barbarous people from the north, whom wo found here wlien we tame. Of us, the greatest tribe were the Aztecs, who settled on one side of the great lake and built a city tlu re, called Tonochtitlan, I or sometimes Mexico, from the great war-god Mt^xitli. An- other great tribe were the Tezcucans, to which we belong; and our capital is Tezcuco, on the eastern side of the same lake, Mexico and Tezcuco formed an alliance, and with tis was Tlacopan, a smaller kingdom hard by. It was agreed that in all wars, one-fifth of the spoil should go to the Tlacopans, and the rest be divided between the Aztecs and the Tezcucans. This alliance has remained unbroken, and together we have conquered all the countries round and from sea to sea." " What sea 1 " Roger interrupted. " There is on the west another great sea like this on the east, which stretches away no man knows whither ; and between these two seas all the peoples save one acknowledge the dominion of Mexico — for although we are in alliance, the Aztecs have of late yeai-S taken the lead, for they have had very gieat monarchs, and are more war-loving than we of Tezcuco ; and our kings and those of Tlacopan acknowledge the Aztecs to be the leading power, and give to their king the title of ' Emperor.' We maintain our own laws and usages. Our king places the crown upon the head of each now monarch of Mexico, but we own him to be the chief of our Confederacy, and the more distant countries that have but recently been conquered have been assigned eutu*ely to the Aztecs, altlujugh we h.aye had our proper sharo in the slavea and spoil taken in the war." w- <| 108 AN INDKl'ENDENT 8TA1#. " And what is the one state tliut lias not been conquered by your Coiifcdonicy ?" " Thiscala; it lios bi-,'li up among the mountains, and although but a small stato has niaintaino.l its indoiiondonce, and has several times repidsod tiio attuiks of our best isoidiors." Roger thougiit that Tlascala mu.st be a sort of Mexican Switzerland. "It is singular that a small state should have resisted so long," he said. "They have not been very often attacked," the merchant replied; " there is little to be got from them but iiard knocks; the country is not fertile, the cold is too great, and they have only the necessities of life. Except for slaves and for sacrifice to the gods, there is nothing to be gained by their coiKpiest." "And you all worship the same gods? " Itoger asked. "Assuredly," he said, "although some are thought more highly of in one kingdom, some in another. Moxitli— or as he is generally called, lluitzilopotchli- is of course tlie greatest everywhere ; but he is worshipi)ed most of all by the Aztecs. Quetzalcoatl is also greatly worshipped." As he spoke the mcichaut glanced furtively up at Roger. The lad saw that this was a favourable o])portunity for creating an impression. He smiled quietly : " It is right that he should be," he said, "since he taught you all the good things you know, and was, like my^df, white." This proof of the great knowledge possessed by the being before him vastly impressed tue IMoxican. How could this strange being know the Mexican tongue and be accpiainted with its gods unless he were one of them ? It had pleased him to assume ignorance of other matters, but doubtless he was well aware of everything that had passed in the country since he left it. Henceforth the respect which he and his companions paid to Roger was redoubled. As soon as ^.h«v had reached the borders of Mexico, a swift runner had bee lospatched to the nearest post with a message to be sent forwavt. . f .t Ki;);' of Tezcn.co, with the tidings of the arrival of a :^t? -je whixs being in the land, and asking ^m,m injpsfi^ so riCTUllR-WUITINCI. 109 for I'tistiuctions as to wliiit was to be done witli liim. Tn the Dieaiitimn tlio iMOivl\niit.s told I{(><,'(>r that tlmy wisliod him to ahstiiiii from goitig out intu (lio various vilhigi-s and towns at which they 8toi>[>od. " Until wo khow \vliat are the king's wishos concerning you it were he;i''r tliat you were not soon. In thw tirst phico all this conntr> by the coast is under the Aztec rule, and as soon as you ^vere seen, niesHagos would be sent forward to ^lexico, and the Kiiperor might desire that so groat a wondor should be sent direct to him; whereas if our own King sends first for you, you would bo his property as it voro, and even Montezunui would not interfere. It will not be long before an answer arrives, for along all the roads there are post houses two leagues apcrt from each other. At each of these couriers are stationed, men trained to run at groat speed, and these larry the despatches from post to post at the rate of eight or nine miles an hour." " But the messages must get changed, where they have to be given so often ? " "Not at all," he said, "the couriers know nothing of the despatches they cany." "Oh, they are written despatches?" Roger said. "Then you possess the art of writing ] " " Writing, what is writing 1 " the merchant asked. " liOtters are inscril)od on paper," Roger said ; " so that the person receiving them at a distance understands exactly what the one who wrote wi.shod to say." The niercliant shook his head. " I '■nos" notliing of what you call letters," he said, " we draw pictures on a fabric formed of [irepared skins, or of a composition of silk and gmn, but chiefly on a paper prepared from the leaves of the aloe. Besides the pictures there are marks, which are understood to represent certain things. These picture despatches are made in the form of rolls or books. I myself have a slave who is skilled in such work, and who has depictotl you and ad.ied all particulars, and tho roll Las been forwarded to Tezcuco." 110 riCTURESQUB 8CENBRT. CHAPTER VII. A WONDERFUL COUNTRT. CO anxious wore tho merrfnnfa 4-^ ■, r^ town of i-ro.tance .We tiero'wo ,rt"^ ^* ''"^ coumiander and garrison until . ''^ ^'^^^ ing in small villnges where H,«v ?/ 1 *^»*'^' ^^^^P" country, and learnt that tl.eLt an aH''-^^^^ ^' ^'^ *^' crossing extended only about lethrnf n 5'^ ^''" "°^^ traversed. Then that'^they wo"d pa s ol "/*^ '^ fountains offering great 'difficuL? to tave, ThTtf '^'fj was extreme, and fh If anr^„, 1 i i"'ivei, ttiat the cold highest summ;;/'AftereirH-°"""'^"^'^"^^^^ *^« journey across a rich country aTdle^'^^^^ -'^ ^^°"^^ lovely and fertile valley, in which lav the it '""^^^ ""^*^ capitals of the two couLies wire llld '"' "^^" "'^^' *^« free of veUtiol i^^^l: L.^Ptt"' .T' "'^'^ ^^^^^^ ^'--* to drain quickly away were dltr?. f'r'"' ^'^^ ^^«« ^^le Here grew the coco^ Znu a ^^^''^^^'^i^aiy fertility. innumerable, form n" 'thick tVf'^"^ T' "^°"^*^'^ ^^^^^ to the foot of man Flow«r f ^° ''^ ^""^''^' impervious these groves, and loftv t ml? p 7r^"'^'°"' '''^°"'"« bordered Roger,^reared tlleirt^ X: t^T' TheTf ^ ^."^^ ^ with the extraordinary richness ofTn'l . T' ''''^^^^^^^ the folia-^e but 1r wn,u u ? *'°^''"''' ^"'^ ^^e variety of for the iutiVeat :f1L 1' r:^^ 1 °^°'"^ ^^^ '' ^^ '- They crossed several Large Zal^wr" '' ?! *^^- great rushes which bordm«,l V /^e slaves cut down the ferried over, Eo<-er learn«rl th.*- *u ° ^*^ * *^^^'® were I A MESSAGE FROM TEZCUCO. Ill this lay a long distance to the north, and that the route tlioy were travelhng ran nearly due west to Tepeaca, and thence north-wost to Pueblo, after which the towns lay thickly all the -ay to tho lake. As far as Eoger could learn the distance from tho coast which they had lately been followincr to AJ exico v^ as by this rout- about three hundred miles On the fifth day after the messenger had been despatched, a courier ran into tho cauip just as the caravan was about to start, and handed to the chief merchant what looked to Ro-^er hke a poriiolio. Tins, indeed, was son.ething of its character : It consisted of two thin boards, xvithin which was a sheet of paper. It contained a number of paintings and signs of which I.oger could make nothing, but the merchants informed him that It expressed the satisfaction of the King of Tezcuco at the news that had been sent him of the arrival of a stran-e white personage in tho land; that the priests would consiflt the auguries, and decide whether it boded well or ill for the country; and in the meantime that they were to journey on to Tepeaca, where they would be met by an envoy charged to receive the white stranger and to conduct him to Tezcuco. The merchants themselves were only able to gather the general contents of this picture despatch, but the slave who had drawn the one sent forward, interpreted every sign and colour, for Roger found that colours as well as signs had their meaning. He learned from the merchants that this picture- writing was a science in itself, and that it needed years of instruction and labour to acquire it. In every town and village there ^yere certain persons skilled in the art, so that messages of all ki.uls could be sent to the capital, and orders and instruc ions received. The national archives w;re entirely written in this manner, and in the temples were immense stores ot these documents, aflbrding information of every event of interest, however minute, in the history of the people Ihe caravan now pushed on rapidly. After travelling, as Roger calculated, nearly a hundred miles from the sea the ground began to rise rapidly, and in a single dav the ch'au-e in temperature was very marked. Roger felt^the sense of 112 VOLCANOES. an,I indigo haM 1" .,? «'?' '^ ««« they had ever before behe fin '^.^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^"^^'^"^ ^^^^^ ^^^ merchant told him the Cor. ilo "^''^^t/""""''''"' ^^■^'•«' *^« unknown regions in the nor^r 't^ /'''^ "'"'^"^^^^^ f'«°^ The snow never melted m^ h'""^''' '^""^"'^^ ^'^ *'^« ««^th, highest of tle!e wel tS "'""'^^^V^"^ «---! of the dreaded by the whole nation ^'""^' "'"^ ^^"P^^^ -- " «-et.ime.. before those commenced." the merchant said. ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS. 113 nnd it the earth trembled and shook so that men ccld scarce stand upon It, houses uere thrown dow.i, and terrible destruction of life and property took place. Fortunately, these are rare occurrences; but several of them have taken i^luee since the time when the Aztecs first established themselves here " Ihe passage through this range was atten,led with real hardship Roger, accustomed to our English winter only in the mild climate of South Devonshire, folt the cold to be severe • but the natives suffered far more, and the merchants con- tinued their march right through one night, for the labour ot carrying their burdens kept the blood of the thinly clad slaves :r. motion, whereas if they had halted many would have succumbed to the cold. At last the path began to dtscoaJ, and soon after daybreak, as the road crossed a shoulder of the hill, they saw a plateau similar to that they had left stretching out below them as far as the eye could reach Even at the height at which they were standing, Roger could see that it was densely populated. Villages were scattered thickly, and the forest was restricted to patches here and there the greater portion of the land being lui.ler cultivation Directly in front rose the lofty buildings and temples of a town of considerable size; seen through the clear mountain air It seemed but three or four miles away, and Roger had difhculty in believing the merchants when thoy assured him that it wa^ fully twenty. This was Tepeaca. The slaves, wearied as they were, quickened in their pace, and in two hours they emerged from the mountain gorges on to the temperate plateau. Here they halted for some hours near a post-house, a courier being sent on to Tepeaca to inform the kings envoys that they had arrived thus far, and to ask whether they should proceed at noon, when the slaves had rested, or make their entry into the town in the morning. In a little over four hours the answer was received : the mer- chants were directed to wait wiiere they were until three hours ^IZ IT' *AT *.' "'""" ^'"'"'"''^ ""*^^ *^'«y --"^d within e ght miles of the town, and then to halt for the night, and to start again at sumise next morning. Roger was as elad as 114 A BRAVE SHOW. were the slaves that he had not another fifteen miles' march before liini, for the journey had been a most fatiguing one. He thought that the absolute distance traversed did not exceed thirty miles, but owing to the difficulties of the road, and the care that had to be taken in traversing it at night, even with the assistance of the torches carried by the soldiers of the caravan, it had taken them twenty hours, including occasional halts, to perform the journey. An abundance of food was brought in by the neighbouring villagers, and the merchants issued an extra supply of cocoa to the slaves ; and when the march was resumed late in the afternoon the latter had com- pletely recovered from their fatigue. After a march of little more than two hours' duration the caravan halted for the night, and resumed its journey at day- break. The merchants had presented Roger with a mantle more highly decorated than that which he had before worn, and with some rich plumes of feathers for his head, and seeing that they wished him to make as brave a show as possible, he put on some of the gold necklaces and bracelets he had received at Tabasco. The caravan was formed up in military order, the standards of the traders being displayed at the head of the column. The porters were placed four abreast, and the soldiers who marched on either side were ordered to see that they kept their ranks. The merchants had put on their handsomest mantles, and averything was done to show off the procession to the best. As they approached Tepeaca the road was lined Avith people, the news of the approach of the wonderful white man having spread rapidly. As Roger passed they boAved to the ground with the same respect that they paid to their own chiefs. He fully came up to their expectations, for not only was the whiteness of his skin and the colour of his hair wonderful to them, but he stood many inches higher than the merchants who walked by his side, for Roger had now attained his full height — although but a few months past seventeen— and stood six feet two in the thin sandals that he wore. He was as yet far from the width that he would attain in another five ^-11! A STATELY RECEPTION. 116 . ;s:,;;'lt •j::T,~;,:;';i't'j.r, "r ™ o v,„i AT •, pi'iiia, or Mexifiin lion ; the otlier wnra gold and feather-work, wlule belu-nd them were a boJv nf soldjers m cose vests of quilted cotton, and a tan of slaveys IJie merchants bowed low as the nobles approached The In the mea„t,me eove.al attendant, .onnd "tl e „„b rtero Tie Kmg of Te^cco has sent us to welcoae yoi, " one of An^W fangdoms, and am glad to n.eet tSo of its great thefrl^'ulTar" r.™'?"-«'' "' R-Ser understanding a.:id;"LCSnted z'i;;:»; :j-^;^ f-p-'- faf .t-anger could converse in tij; Lg™;:'' ^L« tdton an an,mated debate at the royal couLil°at TeTo c^ thin ^ new, of h^ »nung had arrived. Some were of opiotn that them that white strangers would come from beyond the tea! 116 GORGEOUS PKESENTS. and overthrow the Aztec power; but, upon the other hand, it was poiiitL'd out tliat tliis could only refer to a hirge body of men, and that as this stranger came alone it was far more probable that he was either Quetzalcoatl himself or one of his descendants, and that he came in a spirit of good will. If he were a man, one man could do nothing to shake the Aztec power; if he were a god he could work evil to the whole country whether he remained on the sea-shore or advanced to the capital ; and it was far bettor to propitiate him with gifts than to anger him with opposition. Some slaves next brought forward some delicately wrought mats, and laid upon them the various articles they had brought. A shield, helmet, and a cuirass, all with embossed plates and ornaments of gold ; a collar and bracelets of the same metal ; sandals and fans ; crests of variegated featliers, intermingled with gold and silk tluead, sprinkled with pearls and precious stones; imitations of birds and animals in cast and wrought gold and silver, of exquisite workmanship ; curtains, coverlets, and robes of cotton as fine as silk, of rich and various colours, interwoven with feather-work so finely wrought that it resem- bled the delicacy of painting. Roger was astonished at the richness and variety of these goods, and as he viewed them muttered to himself : " If I were but back in Plymouth with these, my Cousin Mercy and Dorothy and Agnes would open their eyes indeed. I wish to goodness I had sometliing to send back to the king. One of the cannon from the ISwan, with a supply of ammunition and bullets, would have astonished him. However, as it is, I suppose that I must make the best of it." When the goods were all displayed, Roger addressed the am- bassadors, saying how great was the pleasure that the gifts afforded him. Not, he said, because he desired gold or jewels or articles of luxury, but because they were proofs of the good will of the king and of the mightiness of his power. " Will you convey my earnest thanks to him for these presents; and say that I regret deeply that I have come to his country empty-handed, and have nought to send him in return; but ■A.' "-'^^ bogbr's diplomacy. 117 t- I that there are reasons why I could not bring aught with me from the place far across the seas from which I came? There are many strange and wonderful tilings there. People move acrossthe water in floating castles as big as your temples; they ride on great animals which carry them with the speed of the wind; when thoy fight thoy use wonpons which twenty men could not lift, which make a noise like thunder, and destroy their foes at two or three miles' distance. But I was not permitted to bring at present any of tiiese wonders from the far-distant countiy. I wanted to come myself, and I have come; but, as I have said, I had to come alone and empty- handed. In time these wonderful things will be brought to your shores, but the time has not come yet." The nobles listened with respectful attention. It seemed to them probable enough that a supernatural personage might convoy himself vast distances through the air, but that he could not burden himself with mortal appliances— if, indeed, such things were the work of merely mortal men. ■' I could bring with me," Eoger went on, " but one small specimen of the metal most used in that distant country." Then the merchants advanced, and handed to Roger his knife, which they had purchased of the Cacique of Tabasco in exchange for two accomplished slaves, and he presented it to the nobles. " You see it is a metal of extraordinary haidne.ss. Swords made of it will cut through a man's head to the chin. No arrows or spears will penetrate armour made of it ; it can be beaten into all shapes when hot ; the weapons of which I spoke to you are constructed of it, and it is now used in the arts in manufacture and for domestic purposes, as well as for armour and weapons. So common is it that, as you see, the handle is made only of rough horn which shows you that it is such a one as is commonly used and is prized but little. It may be that such a metal is found in your country, though as yet you know it not, for in its natural state it is but a stone like others although greater in weight; and if so, I m;.y be permitted some day to instruct you in the methods of working it." ■UJ 118 IN TEPRACA. The nobles were greatly impressed with this speech. Quet- zalcoatl had instructed the Mexicans in all the arts that they possessed, and this hint tliat their visitor might bestow upon them the knowledge of this new and most valuable metal, seemed a fresh proof of his relationship to the White Grod whose return had been so long ex[)ccted and longed for. They now begged him to enter the city, and a party of their slaves took up the gifts and ranged thGm.~.elve3 behind him. The Mexican troops fell in on either side and prevented the crowd from pressing in upon them ; and then accompanied by the two nobles and followed immediately by the merchants Roger headed the procession as it again set forward. As he entered the town Eoger saw that it was vastly in ad- vance of Tabasco. The walls were of stone, strong and massive, the streets were wide and straight, bordered by well built houses with flat roofs, upon which great numbers of people were assembled. These uttered cries of welcome as he came along and threw down wreatlis of flowers. The Aztec gover- nor, with a strong guard of soldiers, met them in a large square in the centre of tlie town, and in the name of the Emperor Montezuma welcomed Roger, and presented him with gifts of even greater value than those sent by the King of Tezcuco, saying that his master hoped that he would pay a visit to hi» capital as well as to that of the neighbouring sovereign. Roger replied suitably, and the procession then took its way to a large house that had been assigned to the visitor. Here a banquet was served in grand style, the governor and the two ambassadors alone taking their seats with him. The meal was served up on golden dishes, and pulque was handed round in goblets of the same metal, by white-robed slaves. Strains of music rose in the air, the performers being stationed in an adjoining apartment. The music was unlike anything Roger had ever before heard, and seemed to him to be of a plaintive nature. With the exception of the fruits the dishes served were all strange to him, and he was unable even to guess at their nature. Among them was a large bird, which Eoger judged to be either a swan or a peacock, but which he wag A STATELY BANQUET. 119 informed was a turkey, a bird common in the country, but of which he had never before heard. There were otlier aoits of game, and all these were prepared with delicate sauces and seasonings. There were a large number of various confections and pastry, and a great variety of vegetables and fruits. Uador the dishes of meats small lires of charcoal weie burning in order to keep them hot. The table was ornament. .d witli vases of silver and gold of delicate workmanship, and tlie confections were eateii with spoons made of gold or silver or of tortoise shell. Several varieties of pulque, flavoured with sweets and acids, were handed, ag also chocolato flavoured with vanilla and other spices. When the viands were removed slaves brought round, as they had done before the meal began, basins of water and soft cotton towels, and each of those present washed his hands and face. Then a surprise even greater than those which had preceded it awaited Roger. Two attendants brought round waiters, upon one of wliich was placed a pile of a sub- stance which looked to Roger as if it were the leaves of some vegetable broken into small pieces, and also a gold box con- taining a brown dust. On the other tray were placed a variety of instruments of whose use Roger was ignorant. They were small tubes inserted into bowls of gold or silver, and in addi- tion to these were some things that looked like yellowish-brown sticks of two or three inches in length, with tubes into which they fitted. These trays were fii-st handed to Roger, who, after examining their contents, turned to the noble next to him and said : " I know not what these may be or how they are used. They are not in use in the country from which I come." The noble looked surprised. " It is yetl," he said, " and is good for soothing the nerves and preparing for the siesta, besides being very pleasant. All these are made from the same leaf," and he touched the short sticks, the heap of broken leaves and the powder. " This powder we apply to the nose," and he and his companions took a pinch from Lho box and thrust it into their nostrils. Roger followed their example, 120 AN ASTONISHING CUSTOM. but a pungent odour brought the tears into his eyes, and in another moment he was seized with a violent lit of sneezing, from which he was some time bofoie ho recovered. " You will got over this in timo," the noblo said gravely, but with a slight smile; '* this oU'ect is only experienced when the horb is first used." Much as PiOgor had been astonished by the effect of the powder, ho was stiil more surprised at the use to which the broken loaf and the little sticks were put. Two of the Mexicans lillod the small bowls with the leaf, while the other took one of the tubes Jiolding a small stick. An attendant then approached with a small piece of wood on fire ; this was applied first to the stick and then to the small bowls, and to Roger's stupefaction great clouds of smoke at once issued from the mouths of the three Mexicans. Had it not been that, from the tranquil expression of their faces, he saw that this was the regular course of events, he would have thought that some accident had occurred, and that the Mexicans had in some mysterious way taken f re in the interior. He remained silent for a minute or two, and then asked : " Do you like it ? is it really pleasant to you ? " " It is, indeed," the governor said. " This herb is largely used ; its eflfect is to produce a feeling of repose and content- ment. You will got to like it in time." " Possibly I may," Roger replied ; " although at present that hardly seems probable." The music now struck up a more lively air. Presently a number of young men and women, who had been feasting in another apartment, came in and performed several graceful dances to the accomiianiment of the music; singing, as they did so, a sort of chant, which reminded Roger of those he had so often heard in the churches at home. When all was over the ambassadors withdrew, saying that doubtless their guests would wish to enjoy a siesta during the heat of the day. Some slaves led the way into another apart- ment in which was a couch heaped with soft rugs, and here Roger threw himself down. r ;\i. T I KOC.KK HIX'KIVKS A LKSH FUK.MAl. SALUTE FROM HIS COUSINS. ROORH's RKKI/KCTIONft 121 " Was there ever an English hoy in so fltranjjo a strait aa mine?" he said to hin.soif. " What an extn^nlinary people I ('.old soenis as plentiful with thera as co-mmun pottery with ns; and as to the nmgniliccMice of their drosses, I verily helieve that theconrtof King Harry wonld make l)ut a poor show l)uside them. If I could land at Plymouth to-morrow, with all the presents I have received today, I shoidd ho a rich man, Hero they are valueless. I received presents at first at Tahasco, and yet had J remained there a month long((r f should have been sacrificed to those cruel gods of theirs. These presents mean really nothing to me; they spom magnificent, hut gold is .so common here that it is no more than if at home one presented a man with necklaces of glass, and some woollen cloths. It is a mark of civility, hut that is all. When I got there, the pri(>st will bo entiuiring into my religion, and when they see that I pay no honour to their gods tliey will be sure to raise a cry against me. "Malinche was telling me that every year .some special prisoner is chosen for saerilice, and is treated with great honour and has every luxury mitil the time comes, and then they put him to death. Bruies ! I have no doubt they will consider that from my very rarity I shall make a .specially acceptable sacrifice. I wish I was back ou the I loo again. Cousin Diggory, and aiistrcss IMercy, and the girls little think into what a horrible fix I have fallen— alone among a strange people, who breathe smoke out of their mouths, and load me with' rich presents one day, and may kill me on the next. Well, when the day comes I shall try not to disgrace my country and religion and colour ; but it is very hard being all alone here. If I had but two or three of my companions of the Swan with me I should feel that I could face whatever came; but it is hard to stand quite alone, and 1 am only a boy. Still they shall find that I can strike a rough blow or two before I die. They shall not find that it is a lamb that they are going to sacrifice, but a Devonshire lad with such bone and muscle as one gets from a life on the sea. "It is strange that these people should be ao cruel, they f i 122 A WALK THROUGH THE TOWN. seem so mild and go gentle ; and yet Malinche says they sacri- fice tens of thousands of captives every year to their gods. They never kill in battle if they can avoid it, striving only to take their enemies prisoners for this horrible service. I must try if I can to make friends among them. The old Cacique of Tabasco stood by me well, and it may be that here I may find some like him; but it Avill need a powerful protector indeed to stand against the priests, who, Malinche says, are far more powerful here than in Tabasco." Three hours later an attendant came in, and said that the governor invited his guest to walk with him through the town, and survey the temples and other edifices. " Now for it," Roger said, clenching his fist. " Now, Roger Hawkshaw, you have got to show yourself a true man, whatever comes of it." He fastened the sword, which was one of the weapons with which he had been presented, to his girdle, and then went out into the great hall from which all the other apartments opened. The go- vernor and the two nobles from Tezcuco were awaiting him. Upon sallying out, Roger found that the streets were as crowded as when he entered. He was received with a long quavering cry of welcome by the women, and by a deeper hum of applause by the men. All bent to the ground before him and his com- panions, before whom a party of soldiers moved to clear the way. " Now, we will go first to the Great Temple," the governor said. "It is but small in comparison with those of the great cities of the valley, but it is a very holy shrine, and numbers come from all the cities round to pay their devotion there 04. the days of festival. There ai-e forty temples in the town, on all of which fire burns night and day; but this is the largest and holiest of them." After passing through several streets, Roger saw a gi-eat hill rising in front of him. Whether it was the work of man, or had a natural hill for its foundation, he knew not. It was four-sided and pyramidal in form. There were terraces rising one above the other, supported by stone walls : stena at the angles led from one terrace to another, but these were so A TBBRIBLB SUPERSTITION. 123 placed that anyone mounting had to pass right along the terrace round the pyramid, before he arrived at the steps leading to that above The top of the pyramid seemed to be cut off, leaving an area of, as far as he could judge, some fifty feet square. Smoke ascended from the summit, where, as Malinche had told him, fii-e always burns before the altar in its centre. Just before reaching the foot of the pyramid the governor pointed to a building of considerable size. " Here you will see, he said, leading Roger towards a great gateway, " how well the god has been honoured." As he noared the gateway Roger saw that the building was well-nigh filled with %n immense pile, carefully built up of what at first appeared to him cannon balls, only of larger size than any he had seen piled in the batteries of Plymouth, and of a white colour. Then the thought struck him they were great turnips or some such root, which might be held sacred to the god, but as he entered the building the truth flashed across him, the great pile was composed entirely of human skulls. Roger had made up his mind that although he would not give way in the slightest in the matter of his faith, he would yet abstain from shocking the religious feeling of the natives. After the first involuntary start at the dis- covery he silenced his feelings and asked how many skulls there were in the heap. He could not, however, understand the reply, as he had not yet mastered the Aztec method of enumeration, which was a very complicated one. Roger walked along one side of the pile, counted the number of skulls in a line, and the number of rows, and then tried to reckon how many skulls there were. Roger was not quick at figures, although his father had tried hard to teach him to calculate rapidly, as it was necessary for one who traded and bought and sold goods of all descriptions to be able to keep his own figures, or he would otherwise be forced always to carry a supercargo, as was indeed the custom in almost all trading ships, for there were few masters who could read and write, far less keep accounts. However, as he found there were a hundred skulls in each line, and ten rows, 124 "he should indeed be pleased." and as the heap was nearly square it was not a difficult task to arrive at the conclusion that there must be a hundred thousand SKulJs in the pile. This seemed to him beyond belief, and yet he could arrive at no other conclusion. If a hundred thousand victims had been oflei-ed up in one temple of this comparatively small city what mus be the total of men killed throughout the country"^' The died years- but even then it would give a thousand victims yearly in this one temple. Although it seemed well-n gh im poss.ble to Roger, it was yet by no means excessive, for accord^. numW :r"*:-^' "' '"^*"''^"'^' ''"^''^''^" and' Spanish, th^ number of victims slam annually on the altars of Mexico amounted to from twenty-five to fifty thousand. Ihe god has good reason to be pleased?" the Aztec am- ba^ador who was watchiiig Roger's face closely, remaiS Pleased •• R .''f '''"^'^^' ^'' ^^^^'^ ^^^^eed be pleased Roger said quietly; « but all gods do not love slaughter QuetzalcoatI, your god of the air, he who loved men and taught them what they know-such a god would abhor sacrifices of blood. OlTerings of fruit and /owers, which he taught men to grow, of the arts in which he instructed them vould be vastly more pleasing to him than human victims" stated. W hen the white god left your shores there were no human sacnhces offered to the gods-" this fact Roger had learnt from Mahnche, who had told him that the custom had been introduced m comparatively late years; she said ten viz "'"'7 "i ^" '•'^^"'^'^ "°"^^ °^^^" ^bout two hundred yeais- and such a custom would be abhorrent to him " The Aztec governor looked very grave. It was to the cod TJT n 1 ^'' f 1^'"' ''^'' °^"^'^'^' b"t the idea that ttn '^"^^"f ;^'^\^« Sof, u ho stood next to him in public estima- bon might not only object to be so worshipped himself, but might object altogether to human sacrifices being offered was unpleasant to him ; and vet tin's «ln>,A .f,.,,,„„^°,,„,.,.. ' , „„ a 1 -. , - -•■•'•' •'6*?r Clearly Hpoke aa It he were acquainted with the mind of QuetzalcoatL The 1 M ' <•■ "he preached peace." 125 Tezcucan envoys, on the other hand, looked pleased. Tezcuco had maintained for a long time a milder form of worship, her people were more gentle than tlie A/.tecs ; and had only reluctantly, and in part, adopted the terrible rites of their formidable neighbours. " Will you ascend the temple ? " the governor asked. "No," Roger said firmly, " I say not aught against the god of battles, let those who will make oHeriugs to him. The God of the Air," and Eoger raised his hand towards the sky, " loves flowers and fruit and peace and good will. When He came down to earth He preached peace, and would have had all men as brothers; and I who follow Him will not bow down at altars where human beings have been sacrificed." The Mexican naturally tliought that l^ger was speaking of Quetzalcoutl, and this strange knowledge he possessed of the god and his ways and wishes, struck him with deep awe. Without making any further attempt to induce him to ascend the teocalli, which was the name they gave to their pyramidal temples, the governor led the way back to the palace. The next morning Roger started with the Tezcucan envoys on his journey. They informed him on the way that the Aztec governor had on the previous evening despatched an officer oi high rank to Mexico, to give the emperor the full details of the conversation and sayings of the strange visitor : for the despatches were available only for sending news of facts and occurrences, but could not be used as mediums for conveying thought. " I»Iontezuma is mild and gentle in his disposition, and quite unlike his two predecessors, who were mighty warriors ; and doubtless in his heart he will welcome the words you said yesterday concerning Quetzalcoatl. But he is swayed wholly by the priests, and such sentiments will not be agreeable to them, for sacrifices are for ever going on at the teocalli. At the dedication of the great temple for H uitzilopotchli jast thirty years ago, seventy thousand captives were put to death." "They must have been misev.'jblft cre.itu.res." Roger said indignantly, " to have submitted tamely to such a fate ; they 126 A SUCCESSION OP BANQUETS. might at least have rushed upon their guards, however numer- ous, and died fighting." ^ Roger saiurt8. We have heard wonderful stories concerning you, and about the people in the distant lands from which you come, and shall gladly hear them from your lips, for we are told that you speak our tongue." " I thank you. King Cacama, and I am glad, indeed, that it is my good fortune to behold so great and magnificent a king. I have come, as you have heard, from a far country, towards the rising sun; so far, that it takes mnn' months to traverse the sea which divides it from you ; t id the distance been far greater than it is, I should ha\o l)oen more than repaid for the journey by the sight of you, and of this great city over which you nde." "And is it true that your people move about the sea in floating castles, and that they fig' t with weapons that make a noise like thunder, and can batter down walls at a distance of two miles?" " They can kill men at more than that distance, Sire ; but for battering down walls they are used at shorter distances. The ships are, as you say, floating castles, and will carry hundreds of men with provisions and stores for many months, besides merchandize and goods. These castles are armed with weapons such as you speak of, some of them carrying twenty or more, besides which each man carries a weapon of the same kind, but small and light in make, so that it can be carried on the shoulders. These weapons also make a great noise, though ■ IP 136 QUESTIONED. not comparable with that of the large pieces which are called cannon." " And they have animals on which they sit, and which carry them at a speed far greater than that at which a man can run ? " " That is so, Sire." " Of what colour are they, and of what form ? " "They are all colours: some are black, and some white, others brown, or grey, or roan, or bay." This answer seemed to surprise the king more than any other he had heard. All the beasts and birds with which he was acquainted were of tl-,e particular colour which appertained to their species, and that the animals of any one kind should thus differ in so extraordinary degree from each other struck him as remarkable indeed. Eoger had always been fond of sketch- ing, and had often whiled away dull hours on board ship, with pencil and paint-brush, and his cou.sins at home had quite a collection of sketches that he made for them in foreign parts. He now said : — "If your Majesty will order that gentleman who is at present taking my likeness, to hand me a sheet of paper and his brushes, I will endeavour to draw for your Majesty an outline of the animal I speak of, and which we call a horse." At the king's order the scribe at once handed the neces- sary materials to Eoger, ^\ho in three or four minutes dashed off a spirited sketch of a horse with a rider upon his back. The king was greatly struck, with the representation. The Aztecs possessed the art of copying objects with a fair amount of accuracy, but the figures were stiff and wooden, without the slightest life or animation. To the king, then, this little sketch appeared almost supernatural. Here was before him an ani- mal which looked alive, as if already in movement. He passed it to those next to him and continued the conversation :— *' And the men fight on the backs of those animals? " "The nobles and a certain portion of the troops tight on horseback, the rest of the army on foot." BOQBB DESCRIBES FIRE-ABMS. 137 I " And are not these animals frightened at the terrible noises made by the weapons you speak of ? " " They speedily become accustomed to them, your Majesty, just as men do ; and will cany their rider into the midst of the enemy, however great the noise. Some other time I wiM draw for your Majesty a representation of one of our knights or captains, charging in full armour, which is as you have perhaps heard, made of a metal that is not known here." " And these weapons that you speak of are made of the same metal ? " ** They are mostly made of that metal. Sire, though some- times they are made of a metal which we call brass, which is a compound of copper, and of another metal called tin, which adds greatly to its strength and hardness." "But how do they work? What machinery can be used to hurl a missile at so vast a distance ? " " There is no machinery, Sire ; the weapon is a hollow tube of vast strength, closed at one end, with only a small hole left there by which fire can be applied; a black powder, com- posed of various substances, is placed in the tube and pressed up to the end, a wad of cotton or other material being forced down upon it; a large ball made of this metal, which is called iron, and almost the same diameter as the tube, is pushed down upon the wad ; and the weapon is pointed at the enemy, or at the wall to be knocked down. Then fire is applied to the small hole, the powder at once explodes with a noise like thunder ; and the ball is sent through the air with so great a speed that the eye cannot follow its flight, and all that it strikes goes down before it." " Even one of these captains on his horse 1 " the king asked. " Fifty of them, Sii'e, were they ranged up in line on« behind the other." " Will you be able to teach us to make such weapons? " " Your Majesty, I have had a share in the using of these weapons, but not in the making of them : and they re(|uire great skill in their manufacture. I know not whether iron- stone exists in this country, and were it found it would require 138 "we treat them honourably and well.** a long experiment and great knowledge to manufacture a cannon from it. As to the powder, it is composed of three ingredients,- one is charcoal, which can he ohtained wherever trees grow; another is called by us saltpetre; and the third, sulphur; but I cannot say whether either is found in this land. Nor, your Ilajesty, do I think that such knowledge, could I impart it, would be a blessing to the land ; on the con- traiy, the battles would be far more terrible and bloody than they now are. Vast numbers would be slain, and valour and bravery wmdd avail but little against these terrible missiles." "No," the king said, thoughtfully: "you would take few prisoners if you fought with such weapons as these. You take some prisoners, I suppose ? " " Yes, your Majesty ; we always take as prisoners those whe ask for mercy." " And what do you do with thorn t " "We treat them honourably and well, as is befitting men who have fought bravely. We exchange them for men of our own side who have been taken prisoners by the enemy, or if they are knights or nobles they pay a ransom according to their rank to their captor, and so return home." " That is good," the young king said with animation; "thoun-h jt differs altogether from our usages; but, then, how are their altars of the godf. to be served 1 " "I believe," Eoger said, "that your Majesty's grandfather erected a temple here to the Unknown God. It is the Unknown God—unknown to you, but known to us— that the white peoples across the sea worship. He is a good and gentle and loving God, and would abhor sacrifices of blood." The king did not reply for a minute. The introduction of human sacrifices was a comparatively recent innovation in Tezeuco, and although the A^.tecs had lately almost forced their own hideoua rites upon their neighbours, there were many who were still at heait opposed to them. He turned the subject by saying: " There will be much for you to tell me when we ■'-•" •" .* ^^- picocm, tiiw banquet waits." The eighteen months that had elapsed since the wi-eck of THE BANQUET. 139 the Swan had prepared Roger for taking part in such scenes as those in which he was at present placed. From living so long among natives, and in native costume, he had acquired some- thing of their manner, which, unless under strong excitement, was quiet and dignified. He had done this the more because whenever he went out all eyes had been upon him, and he had felt that it was necessary, so far as he coidd, to support the mysterious reputation he posse.ssed. Ho had lost alike the sailor walk and carnage, the careless gaiety of a boy, and the roughness of one brought up to life at sea. He him.self was only half-conscious of this transformation, but to one who had seen him last when he sailed from Plymouth it would have appeared absolutely marvellous. Undoubtedly it impressed both the king and his nobles most favourably ; and as the f ■■ _ jllowed the king and Roger to the banqueting-kdl, there .. chorus of approval of the manners, bearing, and appearance of the wliite stranger. The banquet was similar, but on a vastly greater scale, to that of which Roger had partaken at Tepeaca. Mexico contained within comparatively narrow limits extreme diversities of climate, and by means of the swift couriers the kings and nobles could place upon their tables the tropical fruits and vegetables from the zone of the sea, the temperate fruits from the lofty plateau-land, and the products of the rich and highly cultivated valley of the capital. The twenty counsellors sat down at table with the king, other tables were spread at which the principal nobles feasted, while the king's wife and sister and other ladies dined in the same hall, but had tables apart. The king abstained from asking questions of Roger about his country during the meal, but conversed with him concerning his journey, and his impressions of the country ; and enquired particularly whether he was perfectly satisfied \vith the treatment he had received from the merchants. Roger assured him that nobody coidd have been kinder or more courteous than they had been, and that he hoped Lis Majesty would express his satisfaction at their conduct. ,1 ri 'ft I 1 SJ I- |>5 140 THE PRIVATE APARTMENTS. >rei " That has already toen done," the king said ; ' my envoys were sufficient for that. They have been raised in rank, have received pe)niission to carry specially decorated banners, veith other privileges and immunities." After dinner was over, the king, without waiting as usual for the smoking and entertainments of musicians, dancers, and acrobats rose, saying to Roger : "I am too anxious to talk with you to take pleasure in those amusements ; come with me It now. He led the way to the entrance to the private apartments ; these ^''ere endorsed b - magnificent hangings, which were drawn aside by two attendants, as he approached them. The walls were here entirely hidden by hangings, and the floor covered with a thick carpeting of richly dyed cotton stuff; the air was heavy with odours of perfumes. The king led the way to an apartment of considerable size, although small in comparison to the two great halls they had left. Couches of quilted mats, covered with silken embroidery, extended round the room, and a general air of comfort as well as luxury pervaded it. From the open windows a view extended over a lovely garden below, and then across the lake, to the walls and temples of Mexico, shining in the moonlight and dotted with innumer- able spots of fire on the summits of the teocallis. The room itself was lighted with open lamps, in which burned cotton wicks embedded in wax. Cacama clapped his hands, and a young noble in attendance entered. The king bade him summon six of his counsellors, and tell the queen and the princess that he awaited them. In a short time these entered. The pomp and ceremony of royalty were, to a considerable extent, laid aside in Tezcuco in the interior of the palace— the custom theie differing much from that which prevailed at the court of Montezuma, where the emperor never relaxed in the slightest in exacting the lowliest and most profound homage from all who approached him. ^»yk. AFTER THE BANQUET. 141 CHAPTER IX. tIFE IN A FALACB. NOW," the young king exclaimed joyously, as soon as the party he had invited had assemWed, and the silk hang- ings at the entrance of the door had been closed : " Now we can talk at our ease. In the first place what can I call you ? " " My name is Roger Hawkshaw, your Majesty." The king repeated the name. " It is two words," Roger said. " With us, people have two names— the one which is common to all the family, the other which is given particularly to each person. The name of my family is Hawkshaw, my own name iii Roger. Your Majesty can call me by either name, or by both." Long names were common in Mexico, and Roger Hawkshaw seemed by no moans long to the king. " Roger Hawkshaw shall be your name in public," he said. " It has a strange grand sound, and \vill impress the people ; but I will call you Roger. This is my queen and first wife, Maclutha ; this is my sister, Amenche ; these are two of my oldest and ablest counsellors, both are great nobles, and have led the armies of my father to victory, these four young men are, as you see, my friends— they are the sons of four of my chief nobles, and have been brought up with me since we were eliildren. Now toll us more about yourself and your people." The whole party took their seats upon the couches, half sitting, half reclining. Attendants brought in cocoa of many different flavours, confections, and tobacco. Roger took the cocoa, but refused the tobacco. " We do not know this herb in our country," ho said. "That is a grave misfortune for you," the king remarked, " It is known and used by all peoples that we know of here ; it was used by the people we found here, when we came from the far north, and all the tribes there used it also. First tell me what induced you to make this long journey across the sea." I I 142 "have you seen them youi?selp?" IU)ger had been expecting this question, and as he had aheady determined that he would in all matters adhere to the truth, he did not hesitate in his reply. " Your Majesty will understand that all the white peoples who dwell on the borders of the sea journey much in ships, which is the name we give to the floating castles. We do trade with many peoples ; for example, there is far to the south of us a great land wholly inhabited by people who are quite black." A genera', exclamation of astonishment broke from the party. " They must be frightful ! " the young queen exclaimed. " They are very ugly," Roger said, " with very wide mouths and very thick lips, and flat noses ; and instead of having long soft hair, they have only a short curly sort of black wool on the top of their heads." " Have you seen them yourself i " asked Cacama, rather gravely. " I have seen some of them, Sire," Roger replied. " I was in a ship that was attacked by others manned by a people who live on the northern coast of this land, and who are themselves not black but yellow; and they had with them several of these people of whom I speak, who were frightful in their ugli- ness, but who, to do them justice, fought bravely, though we managed at last to beat them off. I pray your Majesty not to doubt any facts that I may tell you, for in my country it is considered disgraceful to lie ; and however extraordinary some of the things I may say may appear to you, I can assure you that they will all be absolutely true. They may seem to you hard to believe, but you L-ust remember that things which are strange to us always seem wonderful ; my own countrymen, for example, would find it hard to believe that there could be a pecj. le who took delight in drawing in the smoke of a burning vegetable and pulfing it out again." " I will not doubt what you say in future," Cacama said ** Now continue what you were telling us." "The white people are divided into nations, as are your people on this side of the water. Some, however, are much more i ibMk t!Wi as he had Ihere to tbo lite peoples h in ships, js. We do the south lo are quite 1 the party, aimed. ide mouths laving long wool on the ma, rather " I was in people who themselves several of . their ugli- though we esty not to untry it is ary some of re you that '^ou hard to ire strange )r example, peo^.le who » vegetable cama said s are vour much more KXPLANATI0N8. 143 3 powerful than others. While in times of peace all the ports of different countries are open to the ships of the otliers, there are two countries that claim ^he right over great seas, although as yet untravelled and unknown." " But how can they claim such a right as that?" one of the two chief counsellors asked. . " Partly by the right that they have been the first to try to make discoveries in those seas ; secoMdly, because one of these countries is the strongest at the present time; and thirdly, because they have been confirmed in their claim by the pope' who is the chief priest of the religion that is held in common among all white people. To the Spaniards was assigned that vast space of water lying towards the setting sun." " You do not belong to that nation ? " " No.^ My country is called England. It ;s a great island divided into two kingdoms, of which ours is the larger." " Are your people great fighters ? " " Yes. We have fought many obstinate wars with the nation lying on the mainland opposite to us, and our men have beaten theirs when they have outnumbered us many-fold; but at present we are at peace. We found that while we could beat them in battle, we could not continue to hold a country that lay separated from us by the sea." " And you are friends with the Spaniards also ? " " Yes. We have never warred with Spain, and our king has as his wife a princess of that country. Trading at Spanish ports we learnt that there was a rumour among the Spaniards that far to the west lay a great people possessing vast stores of gold, and riches of all kinds ; and so my father, who was the captain of one of the.^e floating castles, determined to sail across the sea, and, in despite of the Spaniards and their rules, endeavour to perform the adventure of discovering, if possible this great nation." ' " What would have happened if the Spaniards had met you as you passed through their waters 1 " " Had they succeeded in taking our ship, they would have killed us without mercy; but we had a strong crew, and would .!' i It i! 144 u I AM AWARE OF IT, SIRB.* have matched ourselves willingly enough against any Spanish ship, however big, that interfered with us." " And what became of your ship ? " " She struck during a gale on the coast of Tabasco, and was datihed to pieces. My fatlier and all on board were drowned. But God protected me, and I was thrown ashore unhurt ; it being doubtless His intention that I should live to be the first white man to see your great country, and to bring oo you the news of the white peoples beyond the sea." " You know the story about our god Quetzalcoatl," the king said after a long pause. " We had news that you knew all aboiit him. We believe that his descendants will return hither to teach us many tilings." " I am aware of it, Sire." " But do you know also that we of Tezcuco have reason to view the arrival of the Whites with fear? My father, who was full of learning and wisdom, predicted, when on his deathbed, that a white people would shortly arrive from the sea, and would overthrow the Anahuac kingdoms. It is strange, indeed, that within three years of his death you should appear." " It is strange," Roger agreed. " Assuredly, your Majesty, your father's prophecy did not allude to my people. We are a comparatively small nation, and are not even masters of the whole of our island. We have not one ship to fifty that the Spaniards possess, and have no desire for foreign conquests. We are strong if attacked, and even Spain would find it a hard matt3r did she endeavour to conquer us; but we should not dream of challenging the rights she exercises over the seas to the we.s( of her. Moreover, our climate is a cold one, and we should not bo able to support with comfort the heat of a country like this. It is not from our nation that danger can ever approach you." " But from the Spaniards 1 " the king asked gravely. " I cannot think, Sire, that so great and powerful a nation as yours has reason to dread conquest by the Spaniards. But they are a mighty people ; they have extended their rule over many peoples on the other side of the water ; and they have "with equal arms and ATtMOUR, NO.' 145 captured many islaiuls which lie not so vory far from your shores." " How far away ? " one of the old counsellors asked. *' A vessel with a favouring wind would sail to your coast thence in twelve or fourteen days," Roger replied. There was a general exclamation of sui-piise and uneasiness from Roger's hearers. Many questions were asked him as to the number of men the Spaniards could put in the field. His answer somewhat reassured them. "Perhaps two thousand would be the utmost they could send from these islands," he said; "though I know not the strength of their various garrisons. But from Spain they could, if they chose, send across the seas in their ships ten times as many." "We could put over two hundred thousand in the field," the king said proudly. Koger was silent. " You do not think," the king went on after a pause, " that twenty thousand of these men are to be feared by a host like ours?" " With equal arms and armour, no, your Majesty; but with the advantage of their weapons, the fact that they are clad in armour which your spears and arrows and knives would be powerless to pierce, and that many of them would be mounted soldiers, whose rush and impetus in battle it is nigh impcssible — even for white infantry who have no fear of the horses, and are themselves clad in armour — to witi island ; and that they have in addition these terrible cannon of wliicli I spoke to you ; I think that should twenty thousand of the Spaniards land here they would be irresistible. However, I do not think that there is any chance of such an army being brought against you; rich and powerful as Spain is, the expense of preparing such an expedition and the sliips required to carry it would be so vast that I do not tliink she would under- take it. Moreover, she is always so occupied with wars at home that she could not spare such a force for a distant expedition, and I do not theiefore think you have any gi-ound '618) K m f.ti m 146 ROaSR HANDEn OVER TO THB LADIR9. w f for alarm in the present. T believe that in a very short time H2)aiiish ships may ai-rive at your ports, and will oi>en trade with your people. I wonder that they have noh long since found their way here. Trade would be beneficent to both. They have many commodities that would be most useful to you; you have others that they would prize greatly." " What are our products they would most value? " the king asked. " First, and most of all, gold," Roger said. " It is with us the scarcest and most valuable of metals, and all things are valued by it. As with you bags of cocoa are your standard of value, so with them are pieces of gold ; a wide estate is worth so much gold ; a ship, or a horse, or a suit of armour, so many pieces of gold ; and so through everything. All your delicate embroidery work would be valuable in their eyes, as being strange and different to anything we jwssess ; while on their side they could provide you with silks, and satins, and velvets, and cloths, and other fabrics new to you; to say nothing of arms and ironwork vastly superior to any you possess." One of the old coimsellors whispered something in the king's ear, and the latter said to the queen : " Maclutha, I would talk these matters over with my counsellors. I air sure that you and my sister are longing to hear from Rogei Hawkshaw all about the ladies of his race, and their dresses and fashions : take him, therefore, into your room while we discuss this matter here." The two ladies and Roger thereupon went into another apartment, similar in style to that which they had left. The conversation here took a light turn, unrestrained by the presence of the king and his counsellors. They plied him with questions, which Roger answered to the best of his power. He was soon furnished with paper, pens, brushes, and paint ; and he drew them several sketches, showing ladies in European fashions, which filled his companions with surprise. It seemed to them imposfiil'le thiit a woman could move with oaso and comfort in so much clothing. Then he drew for thorn a noble I ^ i.....-L V't\ **ARR TIIRY VERY I'nKTTY?** 147 in the court dress of the period, and also the figure of a kni.'ht in full armour. " The last astonished th.^m most of all. How could a man move and bi^oatho thus enclosed in metal ? Roger adn)itted that, in a hot climate like that of Mexico, the heat would be terrible. But he pointed out that men so clad were carried on horses, and had no occasion for movement, save of thoir arms, which, as there were joints in the armour at the shoulder, could bo moved in any way with freed jm. "There cannot be much bravery required to fight when protected in this way by metal," the queen said. "Numbers are killed, nevertheless," Roger replied. "The armour, strong as it is, will not resit the missiles fired from cannon; and the helmets-that is, the part that protects the head— can be beaten in by blows with heavy maces. Moreover when two parties similarly armed, chaige, the shock is so terrible, that horses and riders are alike thrown to the ground, and when thrown down they may be tram].led to death by the horses, or killed by footmen before they can recover their feet. Still, there are many who think that some day aimour will be given up altogether, for the guns are being improved con- stantly, and when the balls sent by those carried by footmen are able to pierce any armour, it wUl no longer be any pro- tection whatever." " And these ladies of yours," the Princess Amenche asked j "are they very pretty? Because these matters are more to our taste than these ugly arms." " They differ much from each other, just as they do here," Roger said ; " some are homely and others are pretty." " Are their eyes always blue, and their hair of a bright colour, like yours V • "Oh no ! There is a great difference. Some have hair almost as light as flax, some almost as dark as yours, but not quite so dark. Some have hair almost exactly the colour of gold ; some a red, like the fringe of your garments; then there are many shades of brown between red and black. The eyes vary in the same way, people with light hair, and golden, and red, have m LMBUm 148 "ah, yov know how to ft.atterI" oithor groyoi l.ie eyos ; those with brown hair of dinbrent shtultw liavo l.ioui. ,.jos, soinetimea light and soinetimes dark brown." " How stran-'o it must be," the girl laughed, "to see people with hair of so many colours I And which do you like best, Roger Ilawkshaw 1 " "At tiie present moment, Princess, I cannot imagine any colour mure beautiful than a deep glossy blac-k." The girl coloui'.>d through her hazel skin. " Ah, you know how to flatter in your country also ! " Eoger was about to roi)ly when a message was brought from the king desiring thcuu to return to the next room. "We have been taking all these things that you have told us into grave consideration," the king said, when they were seated ; " and have concluded that it will be for the best that this matter of tli(>se Spaniards should remain an absolute secret, and that no word shall be spoken to a single person, however dear, by any of those who have heard it. The country has long been in a disturbed state, and constant expeditions are necessary for ourselves and for Mexico, to suppress risings, and put down outbreaks of discontent. Were the news to °be whispered about that there is a strange, terrible wliite people within but a short distance of our shores the result would be disastrous. " Men's minds would become unsettled, their ordinary employ- ment would be neglected, all sorts of dismal forebocUngs would seize them, the very worship of the gods might be affected; and instead of being able, should the time of danger ever come to meet our invaders boldly and fearlessly, they would find us dis- organized and dishoartened, and our power of resistance greatly diminished. You, Roger Hawkshaw, have told us everything with frankness ; we feel that every word you have spoken is true, and that you have a real feeling of friendliness towards us, and that your synipathio^ are with us rather than with the people of this other white nation. But others would not see It so. Even as it is, there is sure to be a party against you. Were it known that a nation, possibly hostile, of your colour 4 THE IiKOIRION OP THR COUNCIL. 140 were but a short distance away, nothing could save you. You would be satniliced at once to the gods ; thorofore aa for the sake of the Jiation we have decidod that what you have toM tis shall remain a profound secret to ourselvos, so for your own sake we pray you honcefoith to say nothing to any of what you have told us. Let nion think what tiioy like as to how you have reached our shores : preservu a sort of mysterv .. *-o your- self. There is no reason why you slujidd not steak, h- f ijvon then gtiardedly, of the wonders of the land iuhr \nU4 by , hite men many months' sail across the seas; bu. i\ were est that as little should bo said as possibh. IiIonte>. .' . i. is :,.ire to wish to see you, but before you visit him wo nil again take counsel together." •' I will, to the best of my power, carry out your Majesty's orders," Roger said. " I fully recognize thoir wisdom. Indeed, neither at Tabasco nor upon the journey, either to the mer- chants or to your envoys, have I said a word resjiocting the Spaniards; but I thought that it was but right that you should know the truth of the matter, especially when you told me of the prediction of your royal father. In future, when I am asked questions, I can always fall back upon silence and reply, truly, ' I am forbidden to tell this.' " " That will do ex.ollontly," the king said. " Tliere is but one point connected with you now that puzzles us— a point which, before you came, confirmed us in the belief that there was something supernatural in your character : How is it that you have come to understand and speak our tongue ? " Roger smiled. "To anyone else, your Majesty, I should have replied, ' I am forbidden to answer that quest ion ; ' but I wish not to have any mystery with you. During the time I was at Tabasco I was waited upon by a Mexican slave-girl, who taught me her tongue." The king burst into a hearty laugh, in which even the grave counsellors joined, at this simple solution at what had appeared to them so strange a mystery. " Cuitcatl," the king said to one of the young nobles, " I hand over Roger Hawkshaw to your charge. You see you need not ^1 1' I 'I'l;, H\ 150 A LOVELY PROSPECT. fir be afraid of him, and lie will throw no spells over you. Show him all there is to see in the city; but go not far away, for we shall have frequent occasions to speak to him. He will have a seat in the council, and at our own table. See that all know that we most higlily esteem and desire to honour him " folfo'^'Tl'^''^'^ '" .*!''. ^'"^ ^"^^"' '-^"d P"^««««' Roger followed the young noble into whose charge he had been given. For a long time they continued their way down passages and than ."h' -M T:r^ "^ ^"''' ''''' ^' ^^- a town^.ather than a building that he was traversing. At last his conductor pushed aside a hanging and entered an apartment Al'l' ^i^r IT ""I T"""'" ^" '""'^ ' " y«" ^'^ "«^ '"^•^ter here. All the nobles of the council, and those whom the king wishes to have about his person, have suites of apartments in the palace. I hope some day to have the pleasure of entertaining you on my own estate, which lies a day's journey away to the north-cast of the lake. Now, you will doubtless be glad to re- tire to rest at once for you have had a long and weary time." So saying, he led the way to a small chamber, leac^ng out of the larger one. Here a luxurious couch was arrangedfand it was not many minutes before Roger was asleep, for he was ndeed completely worn out, and was too much fatigued even to think over the strange position in which he found himself «f«.f!7''f 7'' K^' ^7 "P"^ ^'' J""™^^-^ *^^^ '''^'•^^^'^» had always started at daybreak, so as to get as much as possible of the journey done before the heat of the day set in. For a moment he wondered vaguely where he was, and then as recollection returned to him he leapt from his couch, threw back the Hangings before the window, and gazed out Glass was unk.own in Mexico, nor was it p. requisite in the balmy climate of the valley. The prospect was a charming one. Before him lay a garden more beautifnl than any he had ever beheld. It was filled with shrubs and flower., and a dehghtf.a perfume filled the air; fountains of bright water threw their jets high above the sweet-scented groves and shrubberies. Several large pon-'s glistened in the mornin- sun • on some ot these were islands accessible by light bridges, and A MORNING BATH. 151 on the islands were fanciful paviliona. Waterfowl floated on the surface of the ponds oi stalked fearlessly on the marble pavement that surrounded them; the songs of innumerable birds filled the air. Roger was gazing in delight at the scene when Cuitcatl's voice saluted him : — " So you are up betimes ; are you ready for your bath, or will you take some chocolate first ? " " Bath first, please," Roger replied ; and his guide led the way across the large room, and, drawing a hanging aside, showed Roger into a bath-room. The walls and floors were entirely covered with marble ; in the centre was a bath, some seven feet square, with a stream of water running into it from the mouth of a grotesque animal's head. " Every apartment has its bath-room," Cuitcati said. " The water runs for an hour after sunrise only, but it can be turned on at any hour. It seems a waste, but we are far above the lower portion of the garden, and the water therefore runs into a tank and thence works the fountains there. Would you like your attendant to rub you in the bath, or when you come out of it, for both methods are in use with us." Roger declined both alternatives, and it was not very long before La rejoined his companion in the central apartment. Chocolate, light cakes, and fruit were at once served. " We had best visit the gardens first, before the sun gains too much power. There are charming arbours and pavilions in Bhady spots for taking one's ease at the middle of the day j but for walking about the early hours are the best." The gardens were of great extent, and Roger was surprised at the extreme fearlessness of the innumerable birds of all kinds that seem to regard them as their natural home. " Why should they not be fearless 1 " Cuitcati said, when he expressed his surprise. " They have never been frightened, and regard all who come here as their friends, rather than as their enemies. They have abundance of the food which they love best. They make their nests among the plants or in the trees which they would use were they wild. The ponds are 4 m THE MARKET. '-around tJiem and «ottle on tl eir t '' .'"^^ *^^« bird, flock --'« of .veot cake ^Xe^trT' t"''^^«' ^^ ^'^^^ the week. Cuitcatl had taken wTth.^ *^' ^'^^'^ ^^3^ ^i the palace, to dear the way and ''" ''^'^ ^ffi^^^ls of crowding in npon them. ZeT^JT'''' '^'^ P-P^e W demeanour of the people TW t'"'^ '''^^ ^^e orderly their mirth was of a alt IwJ ""T. "^'"'^ ^^^ lively, but -r of decorum and gen L's It '"" "^^ -erywhe^^'e an European crowd. " Whv " fn' '° '*'°"g 'Contrast to that of a noise .t home, when Two 'or thl t° 'T'''' "^^-^ - -or: Flehards, than is n.ade b^al hte ^ '°'"/ ^" ^^^«« -th of people ! " ^ ^'' these thousands and thousands Tliere was no nre'5c,;„„ officials, <.Make ^^r or the ^ >"»" '''' *^^ -'^^ of the Hawkshaw!" was a^ oncete "f ! TT' *'" ^-'^* ^oger ga-«g at him curiously b.'t rZclhdl ^' r ^^^ '^^'^^ ^^^e^ one of their own great nobler^Tj!^' f "^ '■'^'"*^"-" ^« ^^ t<^ square, surrounded by deep nort.V """'^^ ^"^« **" «^tensive merchandise had its alttTd q^a ;"' T' ''''' ^--Ption "? P'lod up in bales, or manufact reS tt ? '"' ^"^ ^««^ cotton donjestic use, such as tapestry cuxt." "T ""'^ ^'-'^'^^^ of of bu-As and fishes, with scX Ind f "^r"'^' ^" ^"'^^^tion -^ ph.es, ei a:rb:rrr;ft-^-^^-^*h dishes - -rj ctegxuo of linonees, for icher supply ' birds flock rs, and take birds must, * are largo n these are ouU not be ft arden they "'n to the fth day of oiBcials of 'ople from he orderly lively, but •'where an that of a e is more idon with 'housands •r of the i.t Roger iw aside, as if to xtensive iption of fi cotton tides of s. The Roger chased citation tely of dishes ss, for i! f I" i r V CA'-AMA's sister ENTKKATS him not to let ROGER GO. M^ VAHIKTY OF MEItUHANDlZE. 153 the use of poor and rich, of wood, - , - , elaborately carved varnished or gilt. Near these Roger examined some hatchets made of copper alloye.l with tin, and as he felt tlie hardness of the metal thought to himself that the natives, if informed as to the size and proportions of cannon, woidd have no cUffi- culty in founding those weapons. Then there were certain shops devoted to the sale of articles needed by soldiers. The helmets fashioned into the shape of the head of some wild animal with grinning teeth and bristling crest; the quilted doublets ol cotton; the rich surcoats of feather; mail and weapons of all sorts; copper-headed lances and arrows, and the broad Mexican sword, with its sharp blade of itztli, a hard polished stone, which served many of the purposes of steel to the Aztecs. Of this material were the razors made, with which barbers were engaged in operating in t'leir booths Many shops were well provided with drugs, roots, and diflerent medicinal preparations; for Mexico abounded in medicinal plants, and the study of their uses was considered one of the most useful of the sciences, and in this respect the Mexicans were considerably in advance of the people of Europe There were shops for the sale of blank books, or rolls, for the hieroglyphic picture-writing. Under some of the porticoes were hides, raw and dressed; and various articles for domestic or personal use, made of leather. Animals, both wild and tame, were offered for sale, and near them E,.ger saw a gang of slaves with collars round their necks, and these were also, Cuitcatl told him, for sale The portion of the market devoted to the sale of provisions was a large one. Here were meats of all kinds, domestic poultry, game from the neighbouring mountains, and fish from tlie streams; together with an immense variety of fruit green vegetables, and maize. Here were ready cooked foods for immediate use-sold hot to passers-by, and eaten as they stood-with stalls of pastry of many kinds, bread, cakes, and confectionery; chocolate, flavoured with vanilla and other spices, and pulque, prepared with many varyincr flavours tempted the passers-by. All these commodities and every PS f4, ■! ■ ■ ti 154 ALARMING NEWS. |i I ! I * -!.■ t J- stall and portico were set out and well-nigh covered with flowers. After leaving the market Jloger proceoded with his com panion to the edge of the lake. It was dotted with countless canoes traversing it in all directions, filled wiM. people |.;;s ng to and fro between the great capitals or neighbouring cities, bent either upon pleasure or trade. After feasting his '-;ves for a con&idorablo time upon the lovely and ajiimated scene Roger returned with his companion to the palace. In the uivernoon thoi " was a great gathering of nobles at the palace to enable a iar 'Addsy ciiele than those assembled the evening before to see and 'if'ar the ling's white guest. One of the old counsellors ".tio had been present at the previous meeting, acted as questioner, aad this enabled Roger to escape certain querie? to which he would have had difficulty in replying ; and whila the assembly heard much of the various wonders of the white people they learned nothing of the manner in which the stranger had reached their shores, or tlio object of his conjing ; and at the end the general impression that remained upon them was that he was a mysterious and supernatural being, who had come to teach the people new arts and inventions. When the meeting was over, Roger retired again to the private apartments, and entertained the ladies there with many details of European life and manners, and by sketching for them houses, and ships, and other objects they demanded. Tv7o hours later Cacama came in. He was evidently vexed and anxious : " I am sorry to say, Roger Hawkshaw," he said, *' that to-morrow you must accompany me across the lake to Mexico. I have had four despatches to-day from my Uncle Montezuma ; he blames me for having permitted you to entei the city before consulting the priests at his capital. You know they are all-powerful there. Montezuma, with all his pride and haughtiness, is but their humble servant. He says that sacrifices have been offered up, and that the auguries are unfavoiH'able. and that the pt'ie.sts doclare vour Presence to be a danger to Mexico. T have no doubt that when they see I u M-^ BKOTHER, DO NOT LET HIM GO." 155 ,; .-on thiB opir^ion wiU be changed, and I shall do my best to prepare th*. .A-ay for you. I have already sent a private messenger to the high-priest, speaking in the highest terms of you, and strengtliening my recommendation by some valuable presents, to which priests are not more than other men inacriessi'D-e. Roger -aw, by the look of dismay upcm the faces of the queen and 'she princess, that they considered the news very grave. *' Must he go 1 " the queen asked in a low voice. " How can it be helped ? " Caeama replied. " Montezuma is supreme; and he and the priests together are all-powerful. Roger is not like other men. Were he so, I would tell him when night falls to fly, and Cuitcatl would risk the consequences, I am sure, and act as his guide; but being as he is, where could he go, or where could he hide 1 Were it known in the morning that he was missing, a hundred messengers from Mexico would carry the news to every town and vUlage in the country. Even if we coloured his skin and his hair, his height would attract attention, for he is taller by half a head, and broader by far than any Mexican. But even did he, by travelling by night and hiding by day, get at last beyond the boundary of our kingdoms, what would then be his fate?— to die of hunger or thirst, or to be slain by wUd tribes. What say you, Roger Hawkshaw ? Will you risk these unknown dangers, or wiU you go to Montezuma to-morrow?" " Were I sure that the priests would decide against me, and that I should be sacrificed to their great idol, I would risk death in any other form rather than that," Roger repUed; " but it may be that when they see I have no evil intentions^ and neither thought nor power of injuring Mexico, they may lay aside their animosity against me." " They do not believe that you will injure Mexico," Amenche said passionately ; " they only want you for a sacrifice. They think that a being so strange and rare as a white man would be of all the most acceptable victim to their god. My brother, do not let him go," and the girl burst into tears. " My liLtlo sibter," Caeama said tenderly, "you know that I II > •* "f a 156 "if it must be so, it must.** It 1 I ^ 1 am powerless in the matter. In my grandfather's time he would have answered a demand that a guest of his should be given up by a message of defiance; but times have changed since then, and the greater part of my kingdom no longer remains to me. My brother, who disputed my right to the throne, reigns over a large portion of it. Montezuma has seized fertile pro- vinces. I am little more than the lord of a city, and could offer no resistance for a single day to the power of the Emperor. But you must remember that a3 yet we do not know that the priests will decide against him. I myself shall go with him, and I have already, as I have told you, taken some steps to incline the prie.sts in his favour. When I arrive there to-morrow I will exert myself personally ; I have many friends among the highest at Montezuma's court, and will also pray these to use their influence. Should I fail all will not be lost. It is likely that if they decide upon sacrificing you, Roger, they will make you the victim to the god Tezcatlepoca, ' the soul of the world.' For him is always chosen the captive most distinguished for his appearance. For a year he is treated as the representative of ths god, he is nobly cared for, he is attended by a train of royal pages, is worshipped by the people as he passes through the street, and is feasted at the tables of the nobles. Were you selected for this, as we consider it, great honour there would be at least a year before you; and you might then in some manner make your escape beyond our boundaries. At any rate, some time is sure to elapse before your fate will be determined upon ; and I can promise that I will do all in my power to aid you to escape, should you determine upon flight." " I thank you most heartily," Roger said. " I have no fear of death in battle, but to me it would be very horrible to be put to death as a victim on a festival ; and I would rather escape and drown myself in the lake than that such should be my fate. Still, if it must be so, it must ; and I trust that I may behave as befits an Englishman in such an extremity." Amenohe heie stepped forward to her brother, and spoko earnestly in his ear. ** My sister reminds me," he said, " that we have sometimes '■S*44»*» **I SHOULD DO MT BEST." 167 I another form of sapiifice ; and that if I can do nought else I might be able to persuade the priests to pronounce in favour of that. It is only adopted in the case of a captive of distinction ; who, instead of being sacrificed, is sometimes matched against a number of Mexicans. The combat takes place on a great circular stone in the sight of the wliole city. The captive is provided with arms, and meeti' his opponents one by one. If he defeat them all — which has more than once happened in our history — he is allowed to go free." " That would suit me best by far," Roger said eagerly. " I have no doubt but that I should be killed, still I should die in fair fighting against numbers ; and it would be no worse than if I had fallen fighting the Moorish pirates on the deck of our ship." " I should think that it could be managed," Cacama said. " I should tell them that, at present none could say whether you were a superhuman being or no, and that it might bring some misfortune upon the nation were a messenger of the gods put to death. This trial would prove that. If the gods pro- tected you, you would triumph ; if they were not on your side, you would be defeated." " I should do my best," Eoger said quietly. « I have been well taught the use of arms, and in our long voyage here we practised daily. In point of skill I could hold my own with my on board, though there weie many to whom I was but a child in point of strength. In that matter, however, I have doubtless gained much since then. I shall be thankful indeed. Prince, if you can persuade them to fix on this mode of exe- cution for me ; and I thank you very gratefully, Princess, for suggesting it." They talked for some time longer, and then Eoger retired to his apartment. The next morning, soon after sunrise, he embarked with Cacama in a canoe, paddled by six rowers. " My wife and sister bade me say farewell to you," Cacama said ; " they .are sorely grieved at your going, and hope that you niay return with me thi.-j afternoon. But if not they bade me 168 MUXICf. i t Bay that they will do all that is in thoir poworj and women can cxoif, influeni'f as woll as ' on on your Irehalf." It was a long row across t lio lake to Mexiro. Large as was the population of Tezcuco, w liii li was estimated by the Spaniards to contain a hundred and twenty thousand inha^i* i ' ' *■■ of Mexico was fully three times as great. As IM of his principal scribe to Montezuma, who sent back word that he was astonished indeed at this work of art, which seemed to him to be almost magical ; and he sent in return a large golden goblet to Roger, in token of his satisfaction. Caeama was summoned to a council on the following day ; and returned, saying that the picture had quite turned the scale in Roger's favour; that it had been examined by the chief scribes and the men of science, who all agreed that no such thing had been seen before ; and that a person who was thus al)lo to turn, as it were, a piece of paper into a mirror, and A SCHOOL OF ART. 163 to fix uj/on it the repmsontation of scenes just as the eye beheld them, must be possessed of powers altogether strange and supernatural. Tliey desired to know whether he would teach his methods to some of the chief scribes of the emperor. Cacama warmly congratulated Roger on the result : " You are now safe for the present, at any rate," he said, " and the priests are silenced. You may have trouble in the future, but for the time Montezuma's love of art has overcome his doubts and fears as to good and evil omens." " Shall I have to take up my residence in Mexico 1 " "I hardly think so," Cacama replied. " Tezcuco is still acknowledged the centre of the arts and sciences of Anahuac. Here are the best schools of the scribes, and they come here to be instructed in hieroglyphic writing from all parts of the kingdom. Moreover, in that way Montezuma will have less uneasiness concerning you; he will think that even if the omens be unfavourable there will be no danger so long as you are at a distance from his capital ; thei'efore, I think he IS more likely to order some of the scribes to take up their residence here for a time than he is to bid you to cross to teach them there." Such in faot was the purport of the message received from Montezuma on the following day. Six of the most accomplished scribes of Mexico were to proceed at once to Tezcuco, there to be instruoteu in the new art ; and the next daj Eoger found himself establisiie.' in a room in the palace with the six Aztec scribes, asid t,ix of those most celebrated for their sldll in Tezcuco. Some attendants were told oft" to mix colours under his directions, and to purchase for him in the market all kinds of dyes and colours he might require. A male and female slave, were, at Roger's request, placed at his service, to act as models; and the attendants had orders to f'Jteh from the cages and aviaries any beasts and bii-ds he D.ight desire to copy. Roger had at first some difficulty in preserving his gravity at thus undertaking charge of an art school. At firat he oonilued himself to sketching from the models \xith a burnt stick ou the white paper, and in seeing 164 AN UNEXPECTED VISIT. that his pupils m the same. Tlieir dra^\^ng had hitherto been pnivly convoiitional ; tlioy had always drawn a man in a certain way, not because thoy saw him so, l)ut because that was the way in which they had been taught to draw him • and he had great difficulty in getting them to depart altogether from these lines and to draw the model exactly as he stood before them. What he called his school hours lasted but four hours a day ; and as he did this work in the mi.ldle of the day, when it was too hot to go out, but very pleasant in the rooms with their thick walls and semi-shaded windows, it interfered but little with his daily life. He had now a set of apartments next to those of Cuitcatl, with attendants to wait upon him ; but his time was spent as much in the young noble's rooms as in his own. In the morning they walked together, either in the town or beyond its walls, in the evening they spent hours upon the lake, sometimes in large canoes with gay parties, the boats decked with flowers ; while at a short distance another boat with musicians followed in their wake, the melody, which was by no means agi'eeable to Roger when close, coming softly across the water. With Cuitcatl as a guide, Roger visited the schools where the young nobles were educated, and which reminded him much of that at which he had for five or six years been taught. He also frequently witnessed the drilling of the soldiers. This was of a very simple character, consisting principally in teaching them to move together in masses and to shoot with a bow. The bows were light and the arrows small, and Roger thought that they could scarcely be very formidable weapons even against men clad in quilted cotton ; for although they might wound and annoy they could .seldom kill. One evening, about five months after his arrival, Roger had just returned from an excursion upon the lake, and he and Cuitcatl were seated in the latter 's rooms sipping chocolate, when the hangings of the door were drawn aside suddenly and Amenche entered. With an exclamation of surprise, the two young men rose to their feet and saluted deeply. "but just in time.'* 165 " You must fly," she exclaimed to Eoger, " and at once. The royal boat has just come from Mexico with two nobles and a guard j they have orders to carry you back with them. The news has arrived that several floating castles, filled with white men with strange arms and animals, have arrived on the coast. Secret council has been held, and Montezuma is full of alarm. The priests have decided that you are undoubtedly a spy, and must be sacrificed at once to the gods. I happened to be behind the hanging, heard what was said, and hurried away to warn you. There is not a moment to lose. Go round to the garden, and conceal yourself in the shrubbery near the eagle- house. I will tell Caoama where you are, and he will come or send down to you to say what had best be done, and where you are to go. Do not delay an instant ; the orders were urgent, and they will be here in a minute or two to seize you. Not a word now. Go ! I must not be found here. I will see you again," and she was gone. " Come, my friend," Cuitcatl said ; " there is evidently not a moment to be lost." Roger ran into his room, emptied from a drawer where they were lying, the gold ornaments and presents he had received, and tied them in a cloth ; caught up his sword, and then with Cuitcatl hurried down the passage. Just as th^y reached the end, they saw a party appear at the other extremity preceded by an otBcial carrying torches. " We are but just in time," the young noble said ; " the princess has iaved your life." In two or three minutes they were in the garden, and keep- ing carefully in the shade of the shrubs, so as to escape the view of any who might be sitting at the windows or on the flat roof of the palace, enjoying the lovely evening and the bright moonlight, they made their way cautiously down to tlie eagle- house, which lay at the other end of the garden, nearly half a mile from the palace. The whole thing had come so suddenly upon PiOger, that ho could scarcely believe, even now, that 'lis pleasant and tranquil time had come to an end, and ho was in danger of being dragged away and instantly sacrificed. 166 A STAUNCH FRIEND. Scarce a word was spoken until they reached the spot indicated. Close to this grew a large patch of bamboos. "tI ^\'"ll take refuge here for the present," Cuitcatl said. It ^-, hardly hkely they will search the gardens at night : it would need an army to do so thoroughly. If we hear footsteps approaching wo can take refuge inside, and meantime let us seat ourselves here. These must be the people you told us ot the first night you came." ^ f j "No doubt tliey are so; but, Cuitcatl, you had best return at once to your chamber. You will be missed as well as I shall, tnd tT 7. ' \"P''''^ *^^"' ^"" ^^^' ^ '^'^'^ i" ^y flight and If I should make my escape the emperor's vengeance ma^ if Lv ri' . ^"'^ ^r' T "' ""''• ^ ^^'^^"^^ be most unhappy \l7.rT r ^'""^^* ^"""^'^ "P°" y^''-' y°" J'^ve been like a brother to me since I came here." firlly.'^""^'^ '"''^ ^^^^ *"' ^'^'''''^ ^°"'" *^^ ^''""g "°ble said "But you can do me more good by going, Cuitcatl. You will see wha is taking place there, and may throw them off ind.T ST ;,'' '"", ^"^ ^"" ^' °^^ "« g«^d whatever, and nd d might do me h ,,rm. Were I found here with y'ou I should be forced to surrender without striking a blow, for I should be afraid to resist, lest I should bring harm upon you : whereas, if I am alone, I would fight to the death rather than surrender. Besides you will be able to consult the princess, and n my flight; though how I am to escape the search there will be after me is more than I can guess. Pray go at once, for the sooner you go the sooner you can bring me back news of what IS being done up there." CUiitcatl .aw the justice of Eoger's reasoning. "I may at oa.. throw them off the scent," he .said, " and%ee about^e I . ung for your flight. You promise to hide in the bamboos there, if searchers should come in this direction ? " ' Certainly I do. I will do all in my power to conceal myself and will only fight if there be no other way " ^ ' Cuitcatl at oaee glided noisei.s«iy oij; keeping as before in '-MA.i^i'. CUITCATL RETURNS. 167 the shadow of the bushes. For an hour and a half Roger remained alone. He was sitting under the shadow of the bamboos, and could in a moment withdraw himself among them. At last he thought he hoard a slight noise, and drew back towards the thick canos. A moment later, however, he stepped forward, as a figure he at once recognized advanced across a patch of moonlight from tlie next clump of shrubs. " All is well so far," Cuitcatl said " Directly I entered the palace, an attendant told me that I was being enquired for, and I proceeded straight to the royal apartments. IMontezuma's messengers were there ; they at once asked me if I had seen you, I said yes, that we had been walking together, but that you had not returned with me, a- you said that the night was so lovely you should remain out for some time longer. They askod me if I could lead them to where you were ; but I said that you had not told me which way you should go, and you might, for aught I knew, have taken a canoe and gone for a moonlight row on the lake, as was often your custom. " Orders have been issued to the city guard to arrest you immediately, wherever you might be found; and the envoys themselves started at once with the guard they had brought with them to the waterside. Up to that time Cacama, who had not left them, was in ignorance what had become of you, and I could see he was anxious and much troubled." " ' Do you know where he is ?' he asked me as soon as we were alone. " ' Would it not be better, your Majesty,' I said, ' that you should remain in ignorance? Should he escape, Montezuma will be furious ; and it might be v. ell that you should be able to affirm on your oath that you knew nothing of him, and were in no way privy to his escape,' " ' But is there a chance of his escaping ? ' he asked, " ' We will do ^\ hat we con,' I said ; ' and we can do no more. With a disguise, a guide, and arms, Roger Hawkshaw may be able to make his way through the country, in spite of Slontezuma and his armv. I .^.bf!!!ld tliir.k th;;f the best thirr' will be to get him into a small canoe, take iiim to the end of Ids THB PLAN OF ESCAPB. t:- »1m lake, and land him near Tepechpan. Then he can strike up north, tako to the hills there, and then journey east. All itifi foad« di)-ect from hero will be so guarded that it will be imj^'MHihk to get through. The search will be close every- where; but there will be more chance of escape on that line than from hero,' " ' But h.,w about the gtiide ? Whom can we trust ? ' " • I have om of my h.mtors in the town; he brought some game down fro//i my estate to-day, and was not to return unm t^worpow. I know where he lodges ; he is a brave fellow and carried m^ banner in the last campaign.' ' 'i'i'i7"^u^^^ ^^' """ ^"'"^ ^^^"'■*' ^® ^**^*^^^ ' the king asked. I will, y(,„r Maj<.sty, Thi. mwn will not be down for three hours yet, and he canrjot attempt ♦/, fly until it has set.' " As I left the royal apartment, one of the female attendants k* up; and putt,i/,M her finger on he,- lip signed to me to follow her. J did ../, and «he led me to the apartment where the i4ijmn Am riincess Amenche were awaiting me. " ■ fou have left your fnend safe, Cuitcatl ? ' the queen said. Xhe prince*, has told uie tfie part she has taken in the afTair It was foolish, but I canr.ot blame her, though if Montezuma knew by whose means the pr«y had slipped from his tingers the lea«t she could expect would be to be ordered to retire for life to one of the temples. Ha\ e you formed any plans ? ' « I to-ki her what I had thought of. " ' That seems as go^yl a plan as any other,' she said. ' He will need >^ints to dioguise himself, the dre.ss of a peasant, and arms. " * He has 'rs sword,' I said. "'He cannot take that. Its golden handle would betray him at once. A heavy woodman's axe and a bow and soear would be the most suitable.' " ' He shall have them,' I said ; ' my hunter shall take them, and place them in the canoe in readiness.' " ' What are you going to do now ? ' ^ '^ ' I am going first into the town to give my hunter his UiSvructioixs, anu bid him be at the lake entrat»o« to the ^oaA THE DISGUISE. 169 x> the gardens half an hour after the moon has set. I shall want the key of the gate. Next I shall go clown and tell lioger what preparations have been made, and then return here, for it is best I should be seen in the palace. Then, just as the moon sets, I shall go down again to him.' " ' Come here on your way, Cuitcatl. I shall go down with Amenche to say good-bye to him. This obstinate girl has deter- mined to go, and I cannot let her go alone.' "As soon as I left them, I went down to the town and found my hunter, who has taken a vow to lay down his life to save you if necessary. Here are some i)easant's clothes— a coarse cotton mantle, and a short skirt. Here is a jar of dye. You had better strip at once and let me colour you, and then put on these clothes, it will be too dark to see to do it projjerly when I return ; besides, time will be short then. This small jar contains some dye from the juice of a plant which will turn your hair black— at least, as they use it for dyeing the skins of animals black I suppo.se it will afTect your hair." Roger at once took off his gaudy attire, and was stained from head to foot with the contents of the jug, and then rubbed his hair with the liquid from the smaller vessel. Then he put on the peasant's clothes. " You will pass well now," Cuitcatl said, leading him out in the moonlight, so that he could obtain a good view of him. " It is only your height that is against you ; still some men are taller than others; though I never saw one as tall as you, and you will certainly be stared at. Is there au} thing else in the way of arms you would like beside the axe and spear ? " " I shall make myself a bow and arrows, when we get faii-ly away," Roger said. " I did not know you could use them." " I could not use such little things as those your people carry ; but we still use the bow in England, and every boy is obliged by law to practise with it. With such a bow as I should make I ccwukl send an arrow three times as far as those puny WflRimnnH nf yoiiTsa fi^HQ COS lid ki^r y my foes at a di^tanee, wbanas otherwia«j they could shoot me down as they chose, K w 170 TnEY WILL COMB. " They will not shoot you down," Cuitcatl said. " You may be quite sure tliat the orders will be to take you alive, and this will give yon a great advantage if you are attacked. ' But I must be going up now to the palace again, to show myself for a time among our friends. Just as the moon sets I will be here." " Will you thank the queen and princess for their kindness " Eoger said, " and say that much as I should like to say good- bye to them, I would not that they should run any risks by coming to see me ? " "They will come," Cuitcatl said, "unless I am greatly mistaken. The princess would come, even if her uncle Monte- zuma were himself watching her." Roger s;it down .again, and watched the moon going down. he feft a certain sense of exhilaration at the thought that he was about U ^nU-v upon a life of acti\e adventure again. It had seemed to Jaai lately that his life was to be spent in this strange country, cut off from all chances of ever returning to England ; amJ that sooner or later he was assuredly destined to form a r"H of their hideous sacrilices. The party against him had b,vl for a moment, but would be sure to gather ^»ei^th aigain, and he would be called upon either to worship A*s^ bloodstained idols, or to die. Life was pleasant enough •s it was at present, with the friendship of the voung king, Wf»J the kindness of the queen and princess; but he would soon ^t tired of it with its everlasting sunshine, and its flowers, and Its idleness. At last the moon set, and in a few minutes he heard foot- steps approaching, and Cuitcatl and two veiled figures came up. The queen came straight up to him. ''We are very sorry to lose you, Roger Hawkshaw," she said gently; "and were there a hope of doing so successfully we would defy the cruel orders from Montezuma; but it would bring ruin on our people." " I know that it cannot be done, Madam," Roger said. " I thank you and the king most heartily for all vour kindne.-^^, to me. If 1 e.scape to my own country"^ 1 shall remember it all '^. ■-*ifc»^ (( IT 18 BEST SO, BY FAR.' 171 my life ; and I will pray to the God we worship to give you happiness." " Take this," the queen said, putting a small bag into his hand ; " you have told me tliat those gems are as much prized among your people as they are here, and you can more easily conceal them than gold. I have taken them with the king's permission from the royal treasure, and should you reach your distant home in safety, tlwy ought to make you rit'h for the rest of your life; and now farewell. Whatever the priests may say, Cacama and 1 know that you came as a friend and meant us no harm. Now Ameuclie," she said, " come and say good-bye." The girl came forward slowly. She took Roger's hand and gazed up into his face, she seemed to try to sieak, and then Roger felt her sway suddenly, and caught her just as she would have fallen. " Give her to me," the queen said, " it is best so, by far. Hurry away, Roger; you have done harm enough without meaning it. Cuitcatl, take him away at once." The young noble took Roger's hand and hurried him away. " What is the matter ? " he asked, bewildered. " What did the queen mean — that I had done harm enough ? " " Do you mean to say that you have not seen that Ameuche loves you 1 " '* I never dreamt of such a thing," Eogor exclaimed. " Cacama and the queen, and all of us who have seen her with you, knew it long ago; and had it not been for this unlucky news to-day, Cacama would, in a short time, have offered you her hand. There has been a scene to-night between her and her brother, for she declared that she would go with you, and share your dangers whatever they might be. She has for the last three hours been contined in her chamber, and she was only allowed to come down to say good-bye to you on her swearing that she would return with the queen to her room," « I am awfully sorry," Roger said ; " I never dreamt of such a thing ; the princess has always been very kind to me, but 172 "my LIFK 18 YOURS, MY LORD.** I i I should never have thought of raiHing my eyes so high. Besides, as I have told you, T am still scarce a man; and with us one does not think of marriage until ho is five or six years older than I am." "No one blames you at all," Cuitcatl said. "The king and queen both told her that they were sure you had not thought of her in that way, though they naturally 8U[)posed that, had you remained here, you would have gladly formed such an alliance when it was oflbred you. However, it ia no use talking any more about it, you will have dilHculties enough before you, and would have had no chance whatever of getting through them if encumbered with her. Cacama told her so, but she scoffed at the idea of danger. Mexican women, when they love, are ready for any sacrifice. Cacama did not press that, but chiefly spoke of the terrible scandal it would be, were she — his sister and the niece of Montezuma— to be brought back with you a captive." They were now at the gr i,o. Cuitcatl opened it, and locked it again after him. A tigiv: p v-h^: standing outside. " This is my follower; wo j'm/ rely upon him to serve you to the last. Eathalda, iiiin u my white friend; you will serve him as you would me ? " The man took Koger's hand, and cariied it to his forehead. " My life is yours, my lord," ho said. " Is everything ready, Bathalda ? " asked Cuitcatl. " Yes, my lord ; I have the canoe hidden among the rocks with the arms and some food. It is but a few hundred yards away." " Let us be off then, at once," Cuitcatl said. The man led the way down to the lake, and then along thi shore for some little distance. " There is the canoe," he said. Cuitcatl embraced Roger : " I wish that I could go witk you, my white brother, and share yoiu- dangers down to the coast," he said, " but I could aid you but little, and my life would be forfeited on my return. May the gods of Mexico, and the God you worsJiip, protect you. It may be (who knows'/y Lk "iU^ CROSSING THE LAKE. 17:{ that Rome day ycni may retnrn hitluM- : CiiitcatrH heart will be rejoicod to see yoii." "Thank you for all your kiiuhu-ss," Rogor said; "what- ever befalls me I shall uovor iov^ttt it. Thank Cacama for all he has done in uiy favoiu-; and say good-byo for me to the princess. Tell her that it is better so, for Miat so Boft a flower won Id soon droop and pine away in my cold country." Roger took his seat in the canoe, Bathalda nized tho paddle, and the little boat shot out from the shore, hov soipn distance they kept close in undcu- the shadow of the land, Bathalda saying that two or throe royal canoes were rowing up and down opposite the town, and that every canoe putting oil" had been stoj)ped and questiono> ^i.* i^-u^-^- W.r Ux % r 174 THE FLIGHT. •! 1 m liic.) ; find aa thoi-o is nothinsr to be obtained from them but hard knocks tliey are but littlo interfered with." Getting deeper among the hills, Bathalda, just as morning was breaking, led the way up a ravine down which a little stream trickled, and found a resting-place among a number of great rocks that had fallen from aliove. '_' Here," he said, " we shall be perfectly safe for the day ; it is not likely that even a shepherd will enter this ravine,' and if he does he is not likely to come upon us here. First,' let us eat our breakfast ; and then we will lie down and sleep till evening. I will keep watch if you like, but I do not think there is any occasion for it." "Not the least," Roger agreed; "we had both better get what sleep we can : we shall have a long tramp before ua to-night." They were undisturbed during the day, and as soon as the sun set were again on their feet. The journey was a toilsome one, the country was so broken that they were continually either climbing the steep hills or descending into the valleys. After the moon had set they were forced to come to a halt for some hours, finding it impossil)le to climb the steep hills in the darkness. With the first light of day they were again in motion, and continued walking for some hours. •' There," Bathalda said at last, as he gained the brow of the hill, " that is the platoau-land. The town you see there away on our right is Otompan. Now we will keep due west. There are no large towns now, till we reach Tlatlanquitepec and Perote ; from that point our danger will be the greatest, for all the roads across the mountains are sure to be watched. The guards at the station-houses on these roads have, no doubt, by this time had orders to look for >ou and arrest you, but by travelling at night we may pass them safely. We may as well enter that field of maize and lie down until evening. After that we will follow a path till we gain a main road, and then travel straight on. We can go so much faster on a road than through the fields; and I know where the post-houses are situated, so we can make a detour to avoid them." J L ■^miu.^ A TOUGH BOW. 176 Q them but as morning lich a little I number of )r the day ; this ravine, ere. First, n and sleep lo not think better get » before us soon as the a toilsome continually the valleys. • to a halt eep hills in tvere again he brow of I see there • due west, anquitepec e greatest, e watched. , no doubt, ou, but by e may as tig. After , and then road than LOuses aie Tliat night they walko.l, as far as Roger could guess, fifty miles, and again entered a very hilly country. In the morning they left the road, and encamped in a wood far up the hillside! During the day they saw several parties of troops following the road, and many couriers passed along at a swift run. "The whole country is up," Bathalda said ; " we'shall have to be very carefid in future." The first night, while pas.sing through the low, hot country near the lake, Roger had cut a strong bamboo, together with a bundle of smaller rods, suitable for arrows. I'.athalda had brought with him a bag of sharp obsidian arrow-heads and some feathers for winging them, to„'ether with a bowstring of twice the ordinary strength. He had looked on with amusement when Roger cut the bamboo, making it, as was the custom of English archers, of his own hei-ht. " My lord is not intending that surely for a^bow ? " he said "Yes, Bathalda, I think that mil do well," Ro^er said trying with his knee the stiffness of the cane. ' At the halt next day Roger had cut the notches for the string. " Now, Bathalda," he said, " can you string this? " " No, my lord ; nor can any other man." "I think it is about the strength of the bows we use at home Roger said; " the stringing them is a matter of knack as well as of strength." And, to the amazement of the Aztec he strung the bow. "Now," said he, "let us "make some arrows. They should be a cloth yard in length-that is, from the middle of my chest to the end of my middle finger " A dozen of the light bamboos were cut to this^'length Ihe huntsman fitted the obsidian points to them, and Ro-er stepped back a hundred yards from the small tree, with a trunk some six inches in diameter, under whose shade thev ha!)iiloiis, the diKtance hoiiig twice as groat as the Mexican bows would carry with anything like accuracy ; while the speed with which the arrow flew, and the distance it went after glancing from the tree, showed that it would have been fatal at least fifty yards beyond the object aimed at. Taking the bow from Koger he fitted another arrow in and tried to bend it ; but with all his edbrts could only draw the arrow four or five inches. " It is wonderful," he said, returning the weapon to Roger. " If I had not seen it done I could not have believed it." " It is merely a matter of practice," Roger said. " My people are famous for their dexterity with the bow, and J have seen men hit a mark no bigger than the palm of my hand, ten times in succession at that distance." The next time they halted, Bathalda made the rest of the bamboos into arrows, and making a quiver of the bark of a tree, hung thorn over his shoulder. Roger left his spear behind, using the bow, which ho had unstrung, as a walking-staff. Bathalda ofibred to cany the spear, in addition to his own weapon, but Roger told him that he did not care about it. "If it should come to a hand-to-hand fight," h- ^aid, "I would rather rely on iny axe; besides, the bov. v^ it is unstrung, makes an excellent quarter-staflf", a Wbc. ,on with which 1 have jiractised a great deal. With a spear your people would know quite as much as I should, but I fancy that with a quarter-staff I should astonish them. It has the advantage, too, that it disaljles without killing ; and as your soldiers would only be doing their duty in arresting me, I should be sorry to do them more harm than I could hcilp. There were a great many men on the road below there to-day." "A great many, my lord ; and no doubt the garrisons of the two towns we shall have to pass to-night will be all out and on the watch. This is the most dangerous j'ai-t of the journey : the mountains are rugged, and there are only .'ortain passes by which we can travel, and they are sure to be watched narrowly They will guess that we shall travel by night." H 'ij!| DIFFICULTIES AND DANOEnS. 177 1 well-nigh be Mexican le the speed went after I been fatal Taking the ied to l)end row four or I to Roger, i it." xid. " My and I have : my hand, I'est of the bark of a 3ar behind, Iking- staff. ;o his own 3Ut it. - "^aid, " I y it is u, «on with our people that with idvantage, liers would e sorry to ■e a great ons of the II out and 3 journey : passes by narrowly " I supi)ose it will not be possible to make a lUloitr either to the south or north 1 " The Aztec shook his head. "To the north lie terrible mountains, of whose passes I know nothing. Our provisions are exliausted, and we must in future depend upon maize and other thinj^s we can pick by the way. Were we to go tht^re we should lind nothing. To the south lies Tlascala, whose people are independent of Montezuma. They are fierce and warlike, and would seize and offer you to the gods without pity." " Still they would not be on the look out for us, and we might, therefore, pass through their country without beinsr seen. " We might do so, my lord," Bathalda agreed. " At any rate," Roger said, " it seems to me that there would be more chance in that direction than in going straight for- ward ; from what you say it seems well-nigh impossible for us to get through the passes ahead of us without being captured." Accordingly, when night fell they struck off to the south. The journey was a verj- toilscao one, for they were now cross- ing the spurs of the hills running far down into the plateau As before, they had to halt when the moon set, but continued their way at daybreak. " There is a road down in the valley there," Roger said, after three hours' more walkinsr. Bathalda stood looking down for some time. " I know it now," he said; "it is the last road north of Tlascala, and runs from Huejotlipan to Yxtaeamaxtitlan. We are already east of Tlascala, and about lifteen miles from Yxtacauiaxtitlan. If we get past that town Avithout accident, we shall then have to cross the Pass of Obispo, over the great range of moun- tains, and come down near Nauliuco. Once past that town our dangers will be over, for there are few towns and villages in the Tierra Calliento. Our great danger will lie in the pass ; there are but two or three roads across these mountains, and they will know that we must follow them." " Well, we must take our chance," Roger said. " So far we (618) U .Hi I It iii !iii 178 THE PASS OF OBISPO. I if have met with no difficulties whatever, and, provided we don't come across too large a force, we ought to be able to manage to get through. I noticed there were trees right through the pass I came oyer; and I see the country ahead is thickly wooded. How far is the pass from where we are now ? " " About thirty miles. It is where you see that cleft in the great line of hills." " Well, we can get near it before the moon sets, and will try to pass through by daylight. It would be useless attempting to make our way through the trees at night, and if we have to fight I would rather do so in the light. We will lie down now, for I own I am completely tired out." CHAPTER XI. OORTEZ, rpHE expedition, whose arrival had caused such excitement ± in Mexico, was commanded by Hernando Cortez, a man who united in his person all the gifts requisite for a great leader of men. He possessed a handsome person, great strength and skill at arms, extraordinary courage and daring, singular powers of conciliation and of bringing others to his way of thinking; pleasing and courteous demeanour; a careless and easy manner which concealed great sagacity and wisdom, an Inexhaustible flow of spirits, and an iron determination. Born in Estremadura in 1485, of an ancient and respectable family, he was— like many others who have distinguished themselves as great soldiers— while at school and college remarkable rather for mischievous freaks and disregard of authority than for love of learning. At the age of seventeen he had exhausted his parents' patience, and was on the point of starting with the expedition of Ovando, the successor to Columbus, when he so injured himself by .^ fall, incurred in one of his wild escapades, that he ■ifi A DISCONTENTED SOLDIER. 179 was unable to sail with it. Two years later, however, he went out in a merchant vessel to the Indies. On reaching Hia- paniola, Ovando, who was governor of the island, received him kindly, gave him a grant of land, and a number of Indians to till it. The quiet life of the planter, however, little suited the_ restless young fellow ; and after taking part in several military expeditions against insurgent natives, under the com- mand of Diego Velasquez, he sailed in 1511 with that officer to undertake the conquest of Cuba. He displayed great courage and acti\ity during the cam- paign, and his cheerful manner and fund of high spirits made him a great favourite with the soldiers. When the fighting was over Corte- soon became discontented with the quiet life in the island, and joined a party of men who were disaffected to Vela.squez, owing to their not having received such rewards as they considered their services merited. Cortez undertook to carry their complaints to the Governor of Hispaniola, and was about starting when the matter came to the ears of Velasquez, who seized him, put him in irons, and threw him into prison. He was not long in making his escape, and sought sanctuary in a church ; but a few days later, when carelessly strollin- outside its walls, he was again seized and imprisoned. He was put on board a ship to be sent to Hispaniola, there to be tried for exciting disafi'ection and revolt ; but at night, before she set sail, he managed to free himself from his irons' gain the deck, and swim ashore, where he again took refuge in the church. Here several influential people interfered on his behalf— among them the family of C'atalina Xuares, a young lady to whom he was engaged— and a reconciliation was brought about between him and the governor. Cortez received a large estate, with an ample number of Indians for its cultiva- tion, married, and settled down, and for some years devoted himself to agriculture and gold-mining. Success attended him, and he accumulated some three thou- sand castalanos—B, considerable sum. So he might have lived and died, had not the news of discoveries made by Grijalva who had sailed west and discovered Yucatan, and traded with 'W' 180 PREPARATIONS FOR TH3 EXPEDITION. Ta],asco, and had returned with a good deal of gold and fa.ther to the north-caused an excitemeut in the islands. The fZr.V '"'' Pf ^"'"'^ *" ^* °"^ ^ ^^'^^ ex,,edition, and among the many who offered to undertake its command and Co.tez, who had gan.ed the ear and influence of the governor's to Tl 'f/**r!"-fe"^"«'-^' «f t'»e expedition, and at once set to work with las accustomed energy to gather material for L I Tf \ 7"*''^^'"*«'* ^" *^he fortune he had made, but raised funds by mortgaging his estates to their ful value, and by borrowing money from merchants and others expoditbf ''" ""''^ ''''' "'^^ '' '^ "''^"^^^^ ^y^^ His personal popularity in the island enabled him to gather numerous recruits, and many of his intimate friends who jomed lum assisted him from their own resources or by raising money on their estates. Velasquez himself contributed com paratively httle towards the expenses, which were almost fitted ^T..'^ S"'" "^' ^^ ^"'^"^«- Six ships wet fitted out, and three hundred recruits enrolled. The instru^ tions Cortez received were first to find Grijalva, and, joining company with him, to visit Yucatan, and endeav'our to rescu! SIX Christians who were reported as still Hving there, the sur- vivors of a vessel wrecked years before on the coast. himself with the natural productions of the country, and with baitei ^ ith the natnes and to treat them with kindness and humanitj^ and to ren.ember above all things that the object the emperor had most at heart was the conversion of the Indians He was to invite them to give in their allegiance to the king! and to send such presents as would ensure his favour and protection. Ihe governor gave no directions for colonizing InlT'^"';'^/- ^:'"^ ''''''''^ ^° ^"^"•^"<^ f'-«^ Spain that would enable him to in%est his agent with such powers. l'«-'r4j*iix,a« A TREACHEROUS PLOT DEFEATED. 181 But while Cortez was preparing to start, many of tlie leading men of the island who were jealous of his rapid rise, roused the suspicions of Velasquez against him, saying that when he had once sailed he would no longer recognize the governor's authority, and would be thinking only of winning renown and wealth for himself, Velasquez determined to appoint another commander, but Duero and Lares, to whom ho confided his intentions, at once informed Cortez of them. With the same promptitude that always distinguished him in moments of danger, Cortez went round to his oliicers after niichtfall, got them and his men on board, visited the contractor, carried off all his stock of meat, giving him a massive gold chain in security for payment, and before daybreak the fleet left its moorings and the sails were hoisted. As soon as the news was carried to Velasquez he hurriedly dressed and rowed down to the shore. Cortez, when he saw him, got into a boat and rowed to within speaking distance. " This is a courteous way of taking leave, indeed ! " the angry goveinor said. " I was pressed for time," Cortez replied. " There are some things that should be done even before they are thought of. Has your Excellency any orders ? " Velasquez saw by the innuendo in the words of Cortez that the latter was aware of his intention to dei»rive him of his command. He had no orders to give, for it was evident that Cortez would not obey them ; the latter therefore returned to his vessel and the Heet instantly set sail for the port of Macaca. This was in November 1516. The act of Cortez was doubtless one of insubordination ; but, after he had embarked the whole of his resources in the expedition, and had received the command from the governor, this being ratified by the authorities of Ilispaiiiola, it could hardly be expected that he would submit to disgrace and ruin being brought, not only upon himself, but upon all the friends who had aided him in the enteriirise. At Macaca, Cortez laid in some more stores, and then sailed for Trinidad, an important 182 A CnANnRD MAN. I i town on tho sonthorn coast of Cul.a. Horo he isstiod procln- malions iiuitiiig rocn.its to join him. Those came in in con- si.lomblo ni.mhors, amoii-; them a huiuhod nion from Grijalva's ship, which liad jii.' porfc. \\ hat was still mom important, sovcral cavaliers of high family and standing joined him : anioiig tli(>m the Alvarados, Olid, Avila, Velazcpioz do Leon (a near relation of tho governor)* and Sandoval. He purchased at Trinidad largo military stoies and provisions. While he was t.vking tlieso and other steps to strengthen his position, Vordugo, the commander of the town, received letters from Velas(iMez ordering him to seize Cortez ; but upon his communicating these orcfers to the principal otlicers of the expedition tliey pointed out to him that if he attempted to take such a grave step, the soldiers and sailors would certainly resi.st it, and the town would not improbably be laid in ashes. 'J'ho exp<>dition then sailed round the island to Havana, whore Cortez completed his preparations ; and, in spite of another ineflbctual attempt of Velasquez to detain him, set sail. In the time that had intervened between the inception of the expedition and its departure, the historians agree that a remarkable change had come over Cortez. He was still frank and pleasant in his manner, courteous and cheery with all • but he was no longer the gay, careless character who had been liked, but scarcely greatly respected, in the island. His whole actions were marked by an air of resolute determination and authority; he himself superintemled every detail of work and exhibited a thoughtfulness, prudence, and caution that seemed alien to his former character. He was immensely popular both among his sokUors and otlicers, but all felt that he was entitled to their respect as well as their liking, and that he was not only commander, but thoroughly master, of the expedition. Although extremely careless himself as to food, comfort, or appearance, he now a.ssumed the state befitting his ai)iiointmeut and authority. He dressed handsomely but quietly, appointed officers and domestics for his household, and placed it on the footing of a man nf high station. Before sailing he despatched THR NATIVES HOSTILB. 183 \V ■ 13 a letter to Velasquez, begging liim to rely on his devotion to his interests. On February 10th, 1519, the expedition started. It consisted of eleven vessels, only one of which was as large aa a huiidi'od tons ; of a hundred and ton aailora, five hundred and (ifty-throo soltUers, and two humlred Indians of the islands. Tliore were ten heavy guns and four light onea, and sixteen horses. Before sailing, Cortoz gave an address to his soldiers, and aroused their enthusiasm to the utmost. He had the advan- tage of obtaining the services as chief pilot, of Alaminos, a veteran who had acted as pilot to Columbus on his last voyage, and to Grijalva in his late expedition. Soon after they started they met with a storm, and put in at the island of Cozumal ; and Oortez thence sent Ordaz to Yucatan to try to rocoA'er the captives said to be there. That officer returned without tidings, but before the fleet sailed a canoe arrived containing one of them, Aquilar, who had been wrecked there eight years previously. He had been a priest, and had so won the esteem and reverence of the barbarians among whom he lived that they had with great reluctance allowed him to depart in exchange for glass beads and other trinkets promised by Ordaz. The fleet now sailed along the coast of Yucatan, until they reached the mouth of the Tabasco River, where Grijalva had carried on so profitable a trade. Leaving the ships at anchor they ascended the river in boats ; but instead of meeting with the friendly reception that Grijalva had done, they found the banks lined with the natives wh^ «) menacing attitude showed that a landing would be opposed After solemnly summoning them to surrender, Oortez landed. The natives fought bravely ; but were unable to resist the astounding effect of the Spaniards' fire-arms ; and the invaders, advancing, drove them back and took possession of the town, which was found to be deserted. Two strong parties were sent out next morning to recon- noitre, but were attacked and driven back to the town ; they reported that the whole country was under arms. Cortez was much vexed at finding himself thus engaged in a war, from which no benefit was to be gained ; but he felt that it wouU 184 A CAVALUY cnAnoB. in; I m^pair tho con ..1..,.,.., of his troops wore he now to draw back. Ho. theroforo, kn. o. «... of tho ,m„.s ami tho h<,r.sos, a.ul the the Mlantry, ulul.. Corto. hi.nsolf 1,m1 tho littlo ho,ly of cavalry the horsoH 1,0.,,^. „,ouMt...l hy tho cavali.rs of tho Jtrty Aft..r,narc.h:n^.aI..aMMo the infantry canm in .sight of the onon.y. Thn nafivos a.o done here, the Spaniards prepared to depart; but before doing so insisted on tho p«"». * *H„f °*d and arm,. ThUwL thlntt *P»"""-*. their costume,, .'rnt:r:iTSc\^:„7tS:d":nS:t''it?- as well as the ships were fai territory a and officers 3red his re- s-nominated lony. The partisans of Velf i lez were most indignant at the whole pnicccliiios, and so violent were some of the leaders, that Cort(>z put tlioni in irons and sent them on board ship. Then lie set to work with the soldiers, and soon brought them round ; and the prisoners on board being also won over, the whole army ro-om^>irJdng sinled up the coast until they reached the pert bofoto (K.^covenid, and landing, set out for Cempoalla. Tli-v v,-oto d. i;,L;]>tcd with the country, which was rifh and f,!-. h ; ami a , they noared the town the natives poured out wit'i li\el^ d..ij,onst:ations of welcome, the women throwing giil ■:>. !s cf fl^v.-o',, .-ound tiie necks of the soldiers. They weic gi<;-./ly struck wiJi Ho town, although it was but a small plico in«oranuj,on witl those they were afterwards to see. CorLez lo t no time in .voiuliiig ofT a vessel to Spain with dospatc.liGs Lu ^h.j cmjoror; an.l his influence over the soldiers was so cxfit, that tin/, as well as the officers, relin- quished all their ,'haies of tho tiea-iuo they had gained, in order that a woilhy pro- eat .-hould bo sent home to their monarch. In his dospati'iies Coito^ lelaled all that had befallen them, dilated on tho prospect of auuo.dng ;:o rich a country to the Spanish dominion--, and a-kcd for a (^oiulniiation of his acts and for an authorlvation for the maglofcrates of the new town, which was called Villa itica de Vera Cruz. The ship touched at Cuba, but continued its voyage before Velasquez, who was furious at the neAvs of the important dis- coveries made by Cortez, could stop it. Scarcely had the ship sailed when Cortez discovered that a conspiracy was on foot among the partizans of Velasquez, to seize one of the vessels and to sail away to Cuba. The conspirators were seized, two of them executed and others flogged, but the discovery that there were a number of timid spirits in the camp, who might seri- ously interfere with his plans, greatly annoyed Cortez, and he took the extraordinary resolution of destroying all the ships. Through some of his devoted friends he bribed the captains of the vcs. els to fall in with his views ; and they appeared be- fore him and made a solemn report that the ships were worm- 190 U 1 i THE FLEET DESTROYED. eaten and unfit for sea. Cortez pretended great Burprise, and ordered everything movable to be brought ashore and the slups to be sunk. Nine vessels were so destroyed, and but one small craft was left afloat. When the news reached the troops at CempoaUa they were filled with consternation. It seemed to them that nothing but destruction awaited them, and from murmurings they broke out into mutiny. Cortez, however, as usual, speedily allayed the tumult. He pointed out that his loss was the greate.st, since the ships were his property, and that the troops would in fact derive great advantage by it, since it would swell their force by a hundred men, who must otherwise have remained in charge of the vessels. He urged them to place their confidence in him, and they might rely upon it that success would attend their efibrts. If there were any cowards there, they might take the remaining ship and sail to Cuba with it, and wait patiently there until the army returned, laden with the spoils of the Aztecs. The troops at once returned to their duty, and declared their readiness to follow him, where- soever he would. Without further delay, Cortez, taking with him a number of natives to act as carriers, set out on his march towards Mexico. CHAPTER Xn. THE FUGITIVES. AT nightfall Roger and his guide continued their journey ; but now moved with great caution, keeping but a short distance from the road. Several times they saw fires burning, and had to take long detours to avoid them. Consequently the moon had set when they were still more than ten miles from the pass. Next morning they continued their journey, avoiding as much as possible crossing tiacts of cultivated land ; and when forced to do so, lying down and crawling between the rows of the maize or yuccas. StTRROUNDBD. 19J ug between " Tliey are sure to have scouts high up on the mountainside," Bathalda said ; " and they thence can look down upon all these fields; and although, as we cross them we are perfectly hidden from people standing on the same level, they can see us clearly enough from there." " The dis(;inco h vc-iy groat to make out a man." "The air is very cloar, my lord, in tliese mountains; and a figure can bo ratlial(la did not roulv hnf «!if r,^.,.; ,',' i,^™ '"^^"ly to go where my lord wills " Yes, Lathalda ; but that is no answer to my question Von know the ways of your people, and I do not^We tve ha^ a sharp hglit with thorn to-day. What is likplv fl! % f? * ordprflil onf TK^,, -11 1 "»'«'/ man in the town will be of his's^M^r n ""'.rr' °"'™'" '"" '■»™ w,e7:rc wilfbe „ if Z'' T" ^°" """ *" "■"* rf Montezuma will DO tei 1 11,16 If thoy fail to arrest you " " Then you think tliat it will almost be impossible to m«t. oiir way th,,„„h tliem!" BathalJa „„djed hisC "A^d m time. I ,„,,,,„se, they will seaich these woods ) » ;;S:7ri::rLit:ai^tT.'"^^ io.i^t?;'^i:''rrofr:fatti'j -"-"■«- -p-- would speedily depai-t, hut if therdi^it^rrd '^Kl 196 A FRESH PLAN. i ij return nji.ain in far grentor force than at present. Other opfKn-tmiities woiiM occur for rojoiniiig thcin, a id it would be folly to throw awny his life and that of his t jmpaiiion in an attempt that tlie lattor evidently folt to be dosjiorate. He had already had proof of tho vi,i,'ilance of the Aztec scouts, and doubtless that vij^'iljinco would now be redoubled. " No, Bathalda," he replied at last ; " I shnidd be content to remain in hiding for a time, and to risk the departure of the white men." " Then, my lord, ray advice is, that we retrace our steps across to the other side of tho mountains. Then we will head north, avoiding the towns, and take refuge for a time in the forests, that stretch for mr.ny leagues over the mountains. There we can build a hut and hunt, there are turkeys and other game in abundance. From time to time I can go down to a town and gather news, and bring back such things as may be necessary for you. Then, when the search for you abates, we can strike down thence to the sea-coast, if the white men are still there. At any rate we can live by hunting as long as you may find it necessary to remain in concealment." " That will be by far the best plan, Bathalda. I have no objection to a few weeks of life in the woods, and you can teach me your craft of a hunter. What do you say : shall we start back this evening ? " " If my lord is not too woaried, it would be well if we could get across the crest before morning. They will have sentries at every point, whence they can command a view of the hills ; and our figures could be made out on the snow at a great distance away." " I should have preferred a night's rest, Bathalda ; but it would be foolish to lose a day, and no doubt parties will bo searching the woods in the morning. We have still four hours before the sun goes down, and that should be enough to fit us for starting again." The hunter was pleased at Roger's decision. " Let my lord sleep at once," he said. " I will watch ; I am accustomed to long jouiueys, and to pass my nights in search Uc^, RECROSSINO THE MOUNTAINS. 197 of Roger felt that he should never be able to rn.l.^ +T,. . . over the crest of the hill unlessl.fi b.rl ^i.ike the cscent without arg,.ment he wranTh n. tif ^' '''* = ''"^ '''^'"^^f^''^' lay down bffore the fire tt e^ "'o hiuT'; T'T. T' Just closed his eyes when his co^pTirtothed L'^ ''' ''' has ]Lr sir '''' "^ ^'°"^' '^ --«• -^ ^ord; the sun ;; Why, it appears to me to be night already, Bathalda » « It has been dark here for the last hour, my lord but on the other side of the mountains the sun liaT but now down. See, the full moon has just rise^Tn the ea^t " °" ''"' That IS so, Bathalda ; and we shall have her H<.hf fill and passing up towarda the roiks I hJl ™'"' /">'<>«■. ».o,e W,, iti, always best to ,^ate a g^d n.eaUvte„T: ean ; „e have a rough journe, before us, aTd tlTe e„ ':3ir great Fortunately the air is still; wore it blowin. iZuld Z '^l^r- - ^-«- i" waiting here than i^ eltg or^r?:ir„T'^s^shXr:ife;:;:s '77^ This he accor' era Useful, not only for their flesh, but for the warmth of their skins at night. Once or twice they shot deer, and obtained other game in abundance. At night they frequently heard the roar of v.l.e mountain tiger. One e or twice when the sounds approached , li so ^> 'heir hut, they left it and took rofugo la trees, as t:!t b»- ,1..'i' said that even Roger's arrows would scarcely slay ' TIDINGS OF TnK SPANISH. 199 thoir bodies, against the iirnt up. p." lord. They ( mountains, watch kept n, and in a t was day ; of the fire. Dger said, as 11 gh in fact had relaxed b 18 possible ,long by the I are still on ill probably )e moving at woods lying to construct id when this :a abounded, at night as tod them by y bhiit they ust tiatf'r,'on were un by race, e man who speaks to he is told. white men mid ; " for irl of that I obtained ' nam Bathalda had injured his leg in a fall down a precipice whUe stalkmg a doer, and was obliged to lie up in the hutT; more than a for mght. As soon as he was well enough to get about again he jomed Eoger in a turkey hunt, and started the next day for the city. He returned with surprising news The white men had marched from the coast throf^h X^^ulinco and the Pass of Obispo. They had been everywhere well trZ T^ *^/^*^^'««' -^- -" belonged to the Totonac tube. They had gone to Yxtacamaxtitlan, a great citv where they had stayed three days; they had thol marchei strength of all Mexico. They were said to number four hundred foot and fifteen strange creatures, who were partly man and partly some fleet animal; and they had seven great black tubes tha* made thunder. Thirteen hundred Totonac fighting men accompanied them, and a thousand porters to drag the tubes and carry their ^S"T'A T ^^ ""^ '^"* embassies to the Tlascalans, but the atter had choson war, and there had been some terrible battles tought. But the white men were invincible, and had defeated the T ascalans with great slaughter ; and the news had arrived only that morning that they had captured the city The sensation throughout the country was that of stupefaction. It seemed absolutely incredible that a state which had success- fully defied the armies of Montezuma and his predecessors shouhl, after four or five days of fighting, be overthrown by this handful of white strangers. There seemed but one comfoit • It was said that several of the Whites had been killed, and this showed, at least, that they were not superhuman creatures and that it might yet be possible to destroy them No sooner did Eoger hear the news than he determined to start at once to join the Spaniards, who were already far to the west. Accordingly, the next morning at daybreak, he started with Bathalda, and late on the following afternoon arrived in sight of Tlascala. They thought it better not to enter the city until the following morniug, and therefore pa^ed the mght in a clump of bushes. The next day they 202 IN TLASCALA. i I boldly entered the town. The city was a large one, divided into four quarters, separated by lofty walls and each ruled over by one of the four great chiefs of the republic. Its population was very large, and tlie town was strongly and solidly built. At ordinary times the appearance of two seem- ing Aztecs in the streets would have been the signal for their instant destruction, but at the present time the people were solely occupied with the presence of their white conquerors, with whom, as Roger soon learnt, they had made treaties of friendship and whom they now viewed as friends and allies. The whole of the Spaniards were lodged in one of the palaces. The crowd of people proceeding in that direction was a suffi- cient index to its position; and Roger and his companion, joining the throng, were soon in front of the palace. Some Spanish soldiers were standing as sentries at its gate, but none came out or mixed with the people— Cortez having given the strictest orders that they should remain in their quarters, as he feared that did they go abroad some brawl might arise between them and the inhabitants, and so break the newly- formed alliance, which was of the most extreme importance to them. Presently some Spanish officers and several richly dressed chiefs came out from the palace. The people raised a shout, and it was evident to Roger that in spite of the ter- rible losses suffered by their troops in the attacks upon the white men, their admiration for their visitors far outweighed any animosity for the defeats inflicted upon them. Near the officer whom Roger judged to be the leader of the expedition were an elderly man and a young woman. The Spaniard addressed the old man, who spoke to the girl, and she translated it to the chiefs. Roger recognized her at once — it was certainly his friend the slave-girl of Tabasco. In the eight months since he had seen her, she had grown to complete womanhood ; and now— richly attired as she was, and e\ idently regarded as a person of great importance, both by the Spaniards and the native chiefs— carried herself with an air of confi- dence and pridft ; and was, Roger thought, the most louutif ul woman he had seen in Mexico. n '! . I "do you remember your white friend?" 203 one, divided I each ruled public. Ita itiongly and )f two seem- aal for their people were conquerors, ) treaties of ad allies, the palaces. was a suffi. companion, lace. Some be, but none g given the quarters, as might arise the neAvly- iportance to •eral richly 3ople raised of the ter- :s upon the outweighed ader of the iman. The e girl, and ler at once CO. In the to complete id evidently ) Spaniards ir of confi- it lucauluui As the party moved down the steps of the palace and along the street, evidently discoursing on some important busine&s Eoger followed them closely. He waited until Malinche happened for a moment to be at the outside of the party then he pressed forward and said to her : " Malinche, do you remember your white friend ? " She looked up, and would have cried out with astonishment had he not touched his lips. ' " I want to speak to you alone first. Where can I meet you ? " " In an hour I shall be able to slip away from their meal " she said ; " be near the palace gate." ' Roger at once fell back into the crowd, and soon took an opportunity to extricate himself from it, and to go down a side street. He and Bathalda then ascended to the top of the wall where they were likely to be undisturbed, and waited there for an hour. They then went back to the palace. The square in the front of it was almost deserted now, for the Spaniards had retired half an hour before, and were not likely to appear again until the evening ; especially as it was known that at noon there was to be a great council held in the palace. Ten minutes later Malinche appeared at the entrance. As soon as her eyes fell on Roger she raised her hand, and leaving Bathalda he at once went up to her. The two sentinels looked with some surprise at this tall native, but as they saw that he was known to Malinche, they offered no opposition to his entering the palace with her.' She led him down some corridors and then out into a garden. As soon as she saw that they were in a spot where they could not be overlooked, she turned and seized his hands and would have pressed them to her forehead, had not Roger prevented her doing so, and put her hands to his lips. * '^^Vrf® exclaimed. "How happy you have made me to-day ! I have wondered so much how it has fared with you and have di-eamt at night so often that vou w«r« bAipcr sac-'- iiced on the altars of the gods." ' ° "I have thought of you very often, also, MftUnche; and I I ^ 204 "what abb we to do, then? |! t was surprised, indeed, when I heard that you— for I felt sure that it was you— were with the Spaniards, and were not only an interpreter but in high honour with them." " But why do you not join them ? " she asked. " Why do you come to me first ? ^\liat can I do for you ? I will take you at once to Cortez, and when I tell him that you were my friend, and were so kind and good to the slave-girl, he will welcome you most warmly." " Yes, Malinche; but that is why I wanted to see you first alone. You remember that 1 told you all about the Spaniards, and how they owned the islands, and would some day surely come to Mexico ; but that I belong to another white people, who are forbidden by the Spaniards under pain of death to come to these parts. They must not know that I am not of their nation. You see I cannot speak their tongue. I see that you have learnt it fast, for I saw Cortez speaking to you." " What are we to do, then?" the girl asked with a puzzled look. "When they find that you cannot speak their lan- guage, they will, of course, see that you are not of their people." " Yes, Malinche; but they might think that I had forgotten it. That is just where I want you to help me. If you take me to Cortez, and tell him that years ago a ship was wrecked on the coast of Tabasco, and that all were drowned except a little white boy, and that he was brought up at Tabasco, and that you were great friends with him" until he was sold to some Mexican traders— tliey will think that I have altogether forgotten my native language. They are not lilcoly to ask you how many years ago it is or how big I was then, and will imagine that I was quite a child, and that I belonged to a Spanish ship, for they will not dream of an English vessel having been in these parts. When you introduce me to Cortez, you must tell him that 1 have quite forgotten the language sa\e a few words— for I picked up a few sentences when in their ports." " They will easily believe that you may have been wrecked," inf)n iii li»Miyuih .ji ROGER FALLS UN Ills KNEE BEFORE COKTEZ. sai ma Th the is int I < Th kn la wil ha an "] frc th( th( 8Ul wi bl( ve th gi< wl th th su hi H hii bi; m; al: Si "my heart bleeds.'" 205 eaid Malincho ; " for thoy rosciied a man who had been living many years among a trilie at Viicatnn, to the west of Tabasco. There were other white men Hvinij; among them, thcnigli these they could not recover. You saw him by me this morning — he is an old man, a priest ; and he translates from the Spanish into the Yucatan dialect, which is so like that of Tabasco that I can understand it, and then I tell the people in Mexic-an. There will be no difficulty at all. Cortez and the Spaniards know that I love them, and they trust me altogether, and I am able to do good to my country-people, and to intercede with them sometimes with Cortez. Now tell me what has happened since I last saw you." Roger gave her a sketch of what had happened in Mexico, and how he had escaped by flight from being sacriffced. "It is terrible — these sacrifices," Malinche said, shuddering. " I did not think so in the old days, but I have learned better from the Spaniards and from their priests ; and I rejoice that the white men will destroy these horrible idols, and will teach the people to worship the great God and His Son. They will suffer — my heart bleeds to think how they will suffer — but it will be good for them in the end, and put a stop to rivers of blood that flow every year at their altars." Although Eoger was not imbued with the passion for con- version which animated the Spaniards, and led them to believe that it was the most glorious of all duties to force their reli- gion upon the natives, he had been so filled with horror at the wholesale sacrifices of human victims, and the cannibal feasts that followed them, that he was in no way disposed to question the methods which the Spaniards adopted to put a stop to such abominations. But for the friendship of Cacama he would himself assuredly have been a victim to these sanguinary gods. He and his father had, like the Bcggs, and many other of his friends at Plymouth — been secretly followers of Wycliffe, but they were still Catholics. They believed that there were many and deep abuses in the Church, but had no thought of abandoning it altogether. The doings of the Inquisition in Spain were regarded by all Englishmen with horror, but 206 MALINCHE PREPARES THE WAY. those excesses were as nothing to the wliolosale horrors of the Mexican religion. He tallied for some time with Malinche, and saw that she was com})letely devoted to the Spaniards, and regarded Cortez as a hero almost more than mortal ; and was in no slight degree relieved at observing that, although ready to be friendly in every way, and e\idently still much attached to him, the warmer feeling which she had testified at their, jiarting no longer existed, but had been transferred to her present friends and protectors. " Come with me," she said at last. " The meal will be over now. I will take you to an apartment near the banqueting- hall, and will leave you there while I toll Cortez about you, and will then lead you to him." Seeing how confident Malinche was as to the reception she could procure for him, Roger awaited her return to the cham- ber where she had placed him, with little anxiety. In a quarter of an hour she returned, and beckoned him to follow. " I have told him," she said. " It did not seem to him strange that some vessel should have been di-iven by the storms and wrecked here. He asked no questions as to how many years ago it was. I told him you were a young boy at the time, and have forgotten all but a few words of the language ; and how when you grew to be a man you were sold to some Mexican merchants, and would have been sacrificed to the gods had you not made your escape. As I had told him before that there had been a white man living at Tabasco, who had been very good to me, he was not surprised at the story." She took Roger to an apartment in which Cortez and several of his principal officers were standing. As Malinche had told them that he was painted and disguised as a native, they were not surprised at his appearance; although his height, which was far beyond that attained by Spaniards, somewhat as- tonished them. Roger approached the group, and at once fell on one knee before Cortez, took his hand and kissed it. Cortez raised him and embraced him warmly. I 1 t r o A h o a P WELCOMRD BT CORTEZ. 207 Tore of the w that she •clod Cortez I no sli^'ht be friendly him, the parting no out frienda 7ill be over anqueting- ibout you, eption she the cham- 1 a quarter im to him the storms low many boy at the language ; d to some ■ed to the told him ; Tabasco, ;ed at the nd several 9 had told they were ht, which ewhat as- b once fell b. Cortez " I am delighted to {\m\ another of my countrymen," ho said • "and all the more since Marina tolls me that she knows you' well, and that you wore most kind and good to her." " Seiior," Roger said, in broken Spatiish, " I do not under- stand, I have forgotten." " You will soon recover it," Cortez said. " Toll him, Aquilar that he will soon learn to spoak his native language again." ' The interpreter repeated the words to Roger in the Yucatan dialect, adding that he himself had been a prisoner for ei-'ht years among the natives, and that although a man when captured by them, had with difficulty spoken Spanish when ^estored to his friends; but it had now quite come back to him. "You were but a boy when you were wrecked, Marina tells me ? Cortez said. "Only a boy," Roger repeated, when Marina translated this to him. "Do you remember anything of Spain?" Cortez asked. Roger shut his eyes as if considernig. " I seem to have a lemembrance," he said, "of a place with many great ships It was a city built on a rock rising from the sea. It had hi-h walls with great guns upon them, which fired sometimes with a terrible noise when vessels came in and out." When this was translated by Aquilar, Cortez said :— " It was Cadiz, of course. Doubtless the ship he was wrecked in sailed from that port;" a murmur of assent passed round the other Spaniards. " Show him a cross, Aquilar; see if he remembers his religion." Aquilar took out a cross from under his doublet, and held it out towards Roger, who, after looking at it for a moment, fell on his knees and kissed it. "He remembers much, you see," Cortez said. "Father Aquilar, you will succeed soon in making a good Catholic of him again. Well, gentlemen, I think we may congratulate ourselves upon this new companion. Every arm is of assist- ance; and if he is as brave as he is big and strong he will prove a dougiity comrade. Besides, he will be able to tell us i 208 "l CAMM AT MY L0BD*8 ORDERS.** HouMufi of Mexico, altl.cgl,, as Marina .ay., he was onlv him wliothor it 10 capital. Qtavstion 1 lim, i\(iiiilar, and find out fr s Uia<,'niliconce is as gioat as we lioai 'OIll he iZ'lf " 1 ^""^ °^ '^' "' J''^'^'' '^"^ ^'^"l '^^^' 'Although he Imnso f could not say more than that it was a groat city e had heard that its popnl.tioa was nearly thro! h n Imj thousand and that it certainly seeu.ed to Inu. fnlly tb ee nnnT ", T. '^ '^'''' '^ ^'^"•"^°' ^^ere he said there were one hundred thousand people. I' And it stands on a,i island in a lake?" Cortez asked. I here are three causeways leading to the land, each widn enough for six horsemen to ride abreast," Roger re. bed • <^ut I would be a ditHcuIt thing to force an ent^mnce by these „ the face of Montezuma's ai-my. ^ "Well gentlemen," C'orte. said, <'it is time for us to be going to the council. Marina, do you take your frio d to my private apartment, and bid Juan furnish him with a s dt of clothes and with armour from that belonging , ,, our fr ends who fell in the fights the other day. We° ^l soou make I true cavalier of him." As soon as Roger was equipped he went out to the steps of the palace, and presently descried Bathalda in the crowd He beckoned to him, and taking him into the garden had a long talk with him. He would have rewarded him largely for b"f services, but Batbalda refused to accept anythin.^ " 1 came at my lord's orders," he said ; '' and Im rejoiced to mg Ba.h. da Do you now make your way back to Tezcuco Tell your lord all that has happened, and^hat I am ^^th the Spaniards, and shall accon,pany them if, as I believe, hey go forward to Mexico; that I ho^.e to see all my f ieni a^gam before long; and that I always think of their 1-110^ he was onlj? ind out from \v." lat although i groat city, ree hutuhwl fully three there were asked. 1, each wido plied; "but by these in r us to be fiend to mv h a suit of our friendd >ou make a he steps of rowd. He had a long :ely for his rejoiced to so sti'ong, )s of meet- o Tezcuco. am with lieve, they ay friends ' kindnesa IHB TLASCALAN ALLIANCB. gOO CHAPTER XIII. THE MASSACItE OP CHOLULA. rriHE TIascalans had from the moment when thoy admitted 1 themselves beaten by the Spaniards, laid aside aU hll litv and had indeed accepted the alliance with en '.usiasm S had a right to be proud of their own valou. fZ i^u ul resisted a„ the attoinpts of the greariroton^^h'yt ct:' quer them, and had defeated with slaughter groatly^superio^ forces; and that a mere handful of white Ln shouldT their best and hardiest troops, led by gene.-als who had h theito been always successful, excited their surpr se and admiration in the highest degree. They were no glthey knew, for some had been killed in the conflict but «« rnn lu seemed to them iniinitely superior in s^.trand^ o^^^^^^ to any that they had before heard of, and thoy were pioudS enter ,nto an alliance with such hero'es. Mo e^o^or th rlw they would now have an opportunity of turning the LbZ upon their enemies of the plains ^ ^^^^^^ adl^Z^^ T-! ^"^'""' ^'' " '"^"^'^"^ '^'^' Montezuma would posal. oortez, however, declined to take with him so laraeTn army; the appearance of such a force composed of the Wtter oes of the Aztecs, would have combined against him the whl strength of hat empire, and would have destroyed a^y hope that ZtjuS ""' T"'' -angements. Mo'reovL', the 1^- culty of feeding so large a body of men would be gre^t indeed • and as his authority over them would be but fefble, c^^ Int broxls with the Aztecs would be the inevitable result, ke therl fore, with many thanks, declined the offer h,^t siid t^ fT wouM gladly take with him a force ofsix thoulandtbnti' 1 [ > ^S. 210 iTAIlTINO FROM TLA8CALA. i The first march was to be to Cholula, wliose people had Rent a warm invitation to Cortoz to visit them, and Montezuma by his last envoys also retiuested thorn to journey forward by way of tljat city. The Thvscalans liad strongly urged him to refuse the invitation: the Cholulans wore, they said, a treacherous peoi)lo and not to bo trusted. They were bigoted beyond the peoj)le of other cities, Choi -da being the lioly city of Anahuac. It was here the god Quot/ulcoatl had remaine.1 for twenty years on his way down to the coast, instructing the people in the arts of civilization. Here was the great temple of the god, a pyramid whose base covered forty-four acres, and whose height was a hundred and eighty feet ; tlie platform on its summit, where the sacrifices took place, being an acre in size. Cortez, however, decided upon visiting Cholula; he deemed the reports of the Tlascalans to be prejudiced, as there was a long-standing animosity between the two peoples, and he thought that were he to avoid visiting this important town which lay almost on his road to Mexico, it might be set down by the Aztecs to distrust or fear. The departure from Q'lascala was witnessed by the whole of the population of the state, who assembled to bid the white men farewell, and to wish them success upon their way. A day's march took thorn to within a mile or two of Cholula. Here they were met by many nobles from the city, who urged them to enter it that evening ; but Cortez, bearing in mind the warnings he had received, and thinking it dangerous to enter the streets of an unknown and possibly hostile city after dark, declined to move forward until morning. Seeing the hostility and distrust excited in the minds of his visitors at the sight of the Tlascalans in his camp, he ordered his allies to remain in camp when he advanced in the morning, and to join him only when he left the city on his way to INIexico. The Spaniards as they entered Chohda were greatly struck with the appearance of the city and its inhabitants, it being a very much larger and more highly civilized place than any they had yet met with. The buildings were large and handsome >ple had sent Montezunm forward by irgod him to ley said, a were bigoted he holy city lid remained itructing the 3at temple of r acres, and he platform ing an acre ; he deemed .3 there was )les, and he ortant town be set down the whole of i the white way. ) of Cholula. , who urged in mind the >us to enter after dark, the hostility the sight of remain in in him only jatly struck i, it being a B than any dsomo, OHOLULA. 11 — the strootg In ^11 K'e, the population vory lar-o and ovl ;i •»• • . -ery si^n of wealth and LxTi; T '''"'"^'"« '" great variety amoixr the no,.,,!../' c ^' ."'"•'« "'i^ too, a city Of the o,Mpiro.%eoplo ■ ' T; ?!'' "' '' ^"^ *''« «'^«'-«'l I'ubit of maki,.i pi g.Wos hi T'' ^"'^^ ^'^'^ '" ^he tl.eir own tompuJ and" S; : j.""' T' "^ ''^ *"-. had temples, that fully two h..nd ^ o 1, 'So munorou.s were the above the city, with the Z\ul "'' ^^ ^"""^™' "'^"'fe' them all. ^ ^ st"'pendous pyramid toworir.g above The Spaniards were quartered in fi,o . . temples and in the surl„. " , ?i,.utr" A °^ °"' °^ *^« were established there the ..rin?.;. f ' ^^ ''^^^ *« th«y thom visitsof ceremoV an 3 °^ ''" *°^ I^^^ for their comfort and aol-o^nmo L ' everything necesLy of all kinds, poured ,n P?' T"', '"'^ ''''''"^ ^'•'"'^^^oZ taken his pbi amon- the Zn t' r" '''' ""« ^^ ^^-^^ should at other .imes' be n aTal han T".''"'^^^ '""^^ ^« of those in the army had anv , ^^'"'' ''' '^« ^'^ne country they were To^.:t.7 andTl ,'""''"'^'« °^ *^« as to the size of the town tie naft ' ..^''' information advantages which the^e offbred r? ?• /^" 'oads, and the provisions likely to be obta ined thT rl'^^^'^ '^'' '"'^Ply of etc, Cortez th'erefore,1^^t ' 1^^^^^^^^^^ =i^i::cr'------^-^;r^ -^r:h^::^j£:;;'^ to love us, and^o7btl s tho" h T' ^ ^' "'' ^^P«°<^ ^^em faces they curse us hertilv M f"^ T^ ^""^''^ "« *° 0"^ nothing L theirllrl^f t ,;-bt^- ,^"* - -- do not proceed to plots anH L '^'"' ''' '°"° *« they «eom courteous Zt^LZZfTT u'^'"''' "^- ^'^^^ have spoken far too sf on i ' • ^^'^'^ ^'^^^ *h« Tlascalans ;i'l be'on our^;:a:r"S ri^etu-L''^^^^"^'^^^^^ ^ ^-ds, who were rough fighters; butXr^^t^^, 'CT^^ i ..I WM ] p' f Ml 212 NBW COMRADES. Thoy aro tradora, or noMes, or priests, accustomed to let their faces hi.lo their tlionglits, but throu-h you we may get nearer to them than we otherwise should do. " But go not alone. One man can easily be jostled into one of the temjiles and made away with without any being the wiser. I will choose two comrades for you ; men of discretion, and courageous without being quarrelsome. With them, too, you will, ere long, begin to recover your mother tongue, which you will never do so long as you only talk these heathen lan- guages with Marina and Father Aquilar." Cortez struck the table with his hand, and an attendant entered. " Summon Juan Algones and Pedro de Gasconda." In a minute two men entered. Juan was a weather-beaten soldier, whose face bore the marlcs of several deep scars, and who had fought for Spain on most of the battle-fields of Europe. Pedro was young enough to be his son ; Juan had saved his life in a fight with the natives of Cuba, and since then they had been inseparable. "Juan, I have sent for you to ask you and Pedro to take our new comrade into your party. I know you are always together, and that you are quiet and peaceable, and not given either to quarrel in your cups or to spend your evenings in gambling and dicing. He has, as you know, almost forgotten his own language, and it will be for our advantage, as well as his own, that he should learn it as soon as possible ; for as he knows the country and people it is well that he should be able to communicate with the rest of us without having to hunt up an interpreter. But that is not the principal thing just at the present moment. We know not whether the people of this city mean treacherously towards us or not. They will not speak in the presence of Donna Marina or of the good Father here, knowing that they are acquainted with the language; but as they will not imagine that this tall Spanish soldier can know aught of what they say, they will not mind speaking out^ their thoughts before him. Therefore, while he is here it will be his duty to wander about the streets, and learu what the people are saying and what they think of ua. u i to let their ly get nearer i jostled into my being the of discretion, th them, too, ongue, which heathen lan- ez struck the " Summon lather-beaten sp scars, and is of Europe, ad saved his ce then they 3dro to take are always nd not given evenings in )st forgotten e, as well as e ; for as he ould be able ing to hunt il thing just the people not. They a or of the ted with the tall Spanish 11 not mind >re, while he streets, and think of us. HE WILL DO, GENERAL »t 213 But here, as elsewhere, I have ordered that not less than three men shall go out together; I have chosen you to accom- pany him. You will be free from all other duty '' to wa k about the streets and look at these strange peoples than It IS to be cooped up here. As to the other part of the business, we will do what we can towards teaching hiL Spanish bu as to being our comrade that must depend^lpon himself L Lf ^'T!/'""^'^ ^''^'^ "^"^^'^^ he looks honest and straightforward, though where he got that light wavy ha"r T2 T' ft 'T ' -^^'*g"— they are rare InoTght Cadiz, where I heard one say that he came from " " We don^ know that he camo from there, Juan ; he may have come from the mountains of Biscaya, where fair skins are commoner than they are in the south. It is only that he cfescnbed to us a port wlueh must have been Cadiz as the last thing he recollected in Spain." " Ah well, his skin matters nothing ! " the soldier said. « His face IS an honest one, and as to hei-^ht and strength one could wish no better comrade Ho is young yet, not more than nine- een or twenty, I should guPss; but I will warrant that there s not a man in the expedition he could not put on his back If It came to a tussle. At any rate, we will try him; what do you say, Pedro ? " J > canl h H '" T''"''^ '''''' ^""- ^' *« °^--« th-^that we can say better when we know more of each other " Father Aquilar, who ha.l listened attentively to all that had been said explained to Roger the purport of Iho oonv rfa'on b ween Cortez and the men. When ho had finished, Roger held out his hand to the two soldiers and gave them a hearty grasp expressive of his willingness to join in the arrangement that had been made. o'^^^u,, "He will do General," Juan said. "We will look after iiim ; never fear." leavfi^ ^'""'^ T^^'" ^l"'* *''^ *'"'"'■ '"''" ^^«»'« to be allowed to leave the quarters, and go into the towa at aU times without n .' k 214 A START IN SPANISH. la* I i further question, and they at once started for a turn throueh the streets. ° "How are we to begin to teach this young chap to talk, Pedro ? It IS out of the regular Une of duty altogether " Pedro shook his head: "I don't know, comrade; I have heard women teaching their babies to talk; but I should hardly think that would be the way with him." "No, no, that is quite different, Pedro; you see the little ones have not got their tongues twisted rightly, and they can't talk plain, do as much as they will, but this young fellow could say plain enough what we told him; the question is What are we to tell him ? Suppose I say to him, ' Tliey are a curiously di-essed lot of people here ; ' well, he might say it after me, but as he would not have an idea what we meant I don't see that we should be getting any forwarder." Roger, however, had already gone through the work of learning the two native langages, and knew how to begin : he touched Juan's sword, and gave tlie Mexican word for it. " What does he mean by that, Pedro 1 " Roger repeated the action. " Perhaps he wants to know what you call your sword " Pedro suggested. ' "Perhaps it is that, I will try him anyhow : ' spada ' " Roger nodded, and repeated the word after him, and then touched his own helmet. u "wf ''1 '^^^* ^'^ means," Juan said, with great satisfaction : what he has got to do is to touch things, and for m to tell mm the names." "That is capital. I had no idea teaching a language was such easy work." " Hov^ever, after a few more words had been said, and a method established, Roger askod no more questions ; his com- pamons being now fully occupied in gazing at the houses, the temples and the crowd in the streets, while he himself was busy listening to the remarks of the people. It was curious to him, to hear everyone around freely dis- cussing them, assured that no word they said was understood. i "l AM SORRY FOR THEM." 215 rn through ap to talk, ithor." de ; I have it I should e the little I they can't >ung fellow juestion is, Tliey are a say it after ant I don't e work of begin; he or it. jr sword," da:" and then tisfaction ; as to tell ?uage was id, and a ; his com- ouses, the iiself was 'reely dis- ideistood. Had he been vain he would have felt gratified at the favourable comments passed on his personal appearance by many of the women and girls; but he put them down entirely to the fact that he differed more from them than did the Spaniards, and It was simply the colour of his hair and the fairness of his 8km that seemed wonderful to the Mexicans. "Ah!" he heard one woman say to another; «« I marked that taU soldier when they came into the town this mornin- They are all grand men, and look wonderfully strong and brave with their arms and armour; I know that such fighters as these were never heard of before, for have they not few as they are, beaten the Tlascalans, who, as we all know, are good fighters, though they are little better than savages? But as to their faces they were not what I expected to see, they are lighter than ours, but they are not white. But I noted this soldier, he is just like what I expected-just Uke what they said the white man who has been at Mexico for some time is like " "I am sorry for them," the girl said; "they say that Montezuma will offer them all up at the temples when he eets them to Mexico." ^ "Perhaps they will never get there," a man standing next to her said ; " at least, unless they enter the town as captives " " Perhaps some of them will stay here. Why should not our god have his share of victims as w U as the war sod of Mexico?" ^ The speaker was a priest, who was scowling angrUy at the three Spaniards, who after stopping to look at the carving over the gate of a temple were now moving on again. But although Roger heard occasional remarks that showed It was the opinion of the inhabitants that Montezuma had only aUowed these strangers to enter his country for tlie purpose of destroying them, there was no general feehng of hostility to them-the satisfaction at the defeat they had inflicted upon Tlascala far outweighing any other feeling. i^fter wandering about for some hours, the party returned to their quarters, wher« F?nger gave, through Malinche, to tortez an account of what he had gathered. 216 u IT IS GOOD FOR YOU, LAD." ; i th-f M "l"" ,'"° f^"^ "^ *^^'''*'" ^°^«== '^'^> "we know that Montezuma has done all in his power to prevent us from coming, and that now he knows he has wasted his treasures m vain, he must feel no good will towards us. However, we shall be prepared for him. But continue your search, there may be a change come. Montezuma may even now be pre- paring to crush us ; if so, as soon as the people here know it. you will see a change in their demeanour. The priests are all! powerful here, and the de^uls whom they worship are sure to Ton! fTp ^ ° "' T'^'''^ ^ '^''y '^''- Tl^erefore relax not your watchfulness; Marina and yourself are the only two bXfw r^^'f "? "''"■ ^^"^'•••'^g^' and it is upon you both that we have to depend to shield us from treachery Against an open assault L have no fear, but in a crowded town hke tins an attack at night might be fatal." Cortez ha( , indeed, taken the precaution upon his arrival of MaZf "^'.^^^'.It^ - i^--W be 'inconvenient for Manna to reside in buildings occupied solely by men, he should be glad if one of their wives would receive her as a guest, and she was accordingly installed at once in the house of o^e of the pnncipal nobles Some days passed, as Cortez was waiting foi the arrival of a fresh embassy from Montezuma. Durinf Ittftnr'f .r' ""^"^ "°^^^" *" ^'^''^ "'^y change in the attitude of the population. The Spaniards were greeted courteously when they went abroad, and their leadeis were entertained at fetes and banquets by the nobles Roger and his two comrades were well satisfied with each efforts of Pedvo and Eoger to converse. " I am glad Pedro " Ro^f -rhaftl '''■' '^V!. '''''' "^^"'^ acquinfakc^ett'h Sf V >, ?. "' ^°""f ^'""^" ^"^ J^^"^^^- " I had had my ^ good for you, lad It is well enough for an old soldier like Zn.nT! i ! -..7 ^'^*^^°"' '^'^^''''S, under a burning sun and to say but little even over his cup of wine at the end of the march; but it is not good for a lad lik« yov v.^ were getting old before your time: I could sing a song, and "we know ent us from is treasures lowever, we >arch, there low be pre- )re know it, ests are all- are sure to 'e relax not ) only two s upon you treachery. a crowded »> i arrival of enient for , he should guest, and ' of one of 'as waiting . During ige in the e greeted iders were with each ised at the ■d, Pedro," ;ance with id had my it; but it jldier like I burning it the end 01'.. You song, and A CHANGE IN THE ASPECT. 217 .lance » measure with the lest of them when I was at your age, and you see what has con.e of my campaig.mH^ for Uke yourself, I took to an old soldier for a conu-ud: it yomt fellow seems to have a cheerful spirit, and when he can talk our language well will be a gay companion, and will do you good. Yes, and do me good, too, Pedro. You are too apt to get mto my moods, and be silent when I am silent, and thus I make you dull, while you do not make me bright Only I want to see this young fellow at work before I quite give ifim my heart. I believe that he will bear himself brafoly t of such thews and muscle. Truly he is a stately fi-nu-e, and ha the air of the great noble rather than a rough soldier but tha^, I take it, comes from his being broughtf p among these Mexu,.aus, who, though in most respects ignorant, carry themselves with much dignity, and with a stately and gentle go^dlZ7^"'' ""'' " '"' "" " ^"^''p^ '""'^^y ^ ^«" °f Mo^tett'mr't^ "^ *'" ^""'? ^'y '^' '"^^^'^y -"^«d from ^ t Vh« ^\'T"""f '''' ""='■"* ^' ^^''' determination to visit the capital, and begged them to relinquish the idea Upon leaving Corte^ the ambassadors had an interview w'th several of the chief nobles of Cholula. They left fir the capital again in the night. The next n.orning a change was visible m the behaviour of the people. They n°o lon^'r ^ILd the Spanish quarters, but held aloof from them. The nobles ZlrZI 7'u' '' "7 "^ ''' ^°^*«^' «-^ - ~' on ourfr o ° J""^^^' «'• '^^' '^^^y -ere about to undertake a rL7;ffVX' ' ^^' ''' ''''''' °' '''-'^^'^ ^^"^ Roger and his comrades also marked a great difference in the nianner of the people in the streets. The buzz o alking away ::' f "dli"" Y''-T ^^->^^PP--hed; people turned ^ i«a cnein %,itii an iiisulunt air; on one or two occaisions thoy were roughly jostled; and on arriving at the e^d of a M 218 !l if HOSTILE PREPARATIONS. Street the people gathered round, and by worda and gosture told them to go no farther. Cortez had particularly en oS Koger and his companions against embroiling themselves in any way wxth the people, and they therefore'suffered ZZ selves to be turned back without exhibiting any air of concer- llLT,TT'tri:7 ^^^^^ beneath^is'moustac e Id Roger and Pedro had difficulty in restraining their anger Cortez looked very grave upon hearing Roger's report on Vo^ », A ? 1 ''"^^ '*' ^ ^""''^ b« beforehand with thorn to nrM ^1 1^'"'^ ^^'^^"' ^'^^ ^* "^^y b« their intention to pro^^ke a quarrel by an affray in the streets. I will send some of the Cempoallans who are with us out; ihey will be less observed, and may find out what is goin- on " "I think," Marina said, "that if we go up to the flat roof Cortez, with Eoger and the girl, ascended to the roof; from •t they commanded a considerable prospect. On some of the w"re tooTarof t" ' w ^.f'' °' "^" ^* "-^' b"<^ «-« were too tar off to see what they were doing In the evening the Cempoallans returned, and said that they had come upon barricades erected across several of the streets, and that on many of the roofs great stones and beams o t m.,., were piled; while they had discovered holes dug in the tZr:;^::!;' ^^^ '-'-'-' ^^^ ^^^--^^ ^^^ «ll1iS'°'' °^ *^« *r«°P«7ere ordered to remain under arms all night m case of a tack, but the city remained quiet. In the course of the fo lowing day, some Tlascalana came in from their camp and informed Cortez they had heard thit a great sacrifice of children had been offered up in one of the temples, a custom which prevailed whenever an enterniise of a serious nature was about to be undertaken. They sil U were leaving the town by the various gates The situation had now become very giave, and Cortez and I L and gostnre arly en joinod homsGlvas in iflered thotn- f of concoi-n ; iistache, and t' anger. '8 report on 3d," ho said, 1 with thorn, eir intention I will send r will be lesa the flat roof 3US6 is more i roof ; from iome of tho c, but these d that the)' the streets, i beams of dug in the y intended inder arms quiet. In s came in ard that a one of the terpri.se of K said, too, id children )ortez and A PLOT DISCOVERED. 219 f^'rfr Jr ** * '*''' ^ ^°«^ ^l^** ^^d best be done as they had still no positive proof that treachery was intended Se of hlr- °T^7: ';'""^'^' ^y Marina next da^ The 1^ to t^t "^"' ^''^Z^'^"" ^ S'*-'^*^ f'-^^^y *° her, and urged tha. sheshould begladir:^Llrm\:r^^^^^^^^^^ captivity in order that they might use her as an nterpre er The Chohdan then gave her a full account of the consp rTcy rich prel'l t tl ' "^ T' ""' *'^ ^'^^•^-^' ^^^ ^a'd sent ricn presents by the ambassadors to the great nobles and b^rl intrucieis. Iwenty thousand troops had been marched down barricaded, and ^pediment Ll^even thrt,™" ^^ cava,r,p,aoed in thLa,, and tVs ral'lerrbeovt whelmed with the missiles from the rooh while t\T, wonid pour „„t from the ho„s,.s to the attek 'Lme' TZ ^lamards were to be sacriBced at the altars at ChZda he .1 ^r'?"' '" ■^""■f *-''■» -I»'"l.a„d there p,'.tt ■T,^:. ™".f '<""» ""S ""folded to Marina in her aparLent Fo^sal Thai sh'rh''^'.".' *" '"''■'^'"■■"' '^ '-"' '» * alto^ther *°''" """ "8"' ''"'™ *» SP^rd. £f|fneTroorzi— !:o?rtX^^^^ wb;'wSl7«ui7be*:5iS"' "" "^'-'^'-^^ ^i ^!'l Wi 220 CONFIRMATION. m \ Before deciding as to the best course to be adopted, Cortez determined to obtain fnrtlier confirmation of the story of the cacique's wife. He accordingly sent an invitation to two priests, who resided in the temple close to his quarters, to visit him. When they came he received them most courteously, but in- formed them that by the powers he possessed he was perfectly aware that treacliory was intended. He be.^towed upon them some very valuable presents from the gifts he had received from Montezuma, and promised that none sliould be aware that he had received any information from them. The rich bribes had their effect, and the priests confirmed the report Marina had heard. They said that the emperor had since their arrival been in a state of vacillntion, coiistnntly consulting the oracles, and unable to make up his mind whether to fight them, or to receive them with honour. He had, when he heard that they were going to Cholula, first issued orders that they shoidd be well received ; but since then the oracles had again been con- sulted, and had declared that Cholula would be the grave of the white men, for that the gods would assuredly lend their aid in destroying the enemies who had dared to violate the sanctity of the holy city. He had, therefore, ordered the attack to take place in the manner described, and so certain were the Aztecs of success that the manacles to secure the prisonei's, had already been sent to the city. Cortez dismissed the priests, telling them that he intended to leave the city the following morning, and requested that they would induce the principal nobles en ''aged in the plot, to pay him a visit at once. As soon as the priests had left, he summoned his principal oflicers and disclosed to them the plot he had discovered. There was much diflerence of opinion between them ; some were in favour of returning at once to the friendly city of Tlascala ; others voted for still advancing, but by the northerly route their allies had recommended ; but the majority agreed with their general, that their only chance of safetv was in takin"' a bold course, for that retreat would raise the whole country against them and ensure their destruction. THB AMBASSADORS CONFOUNDED. 221 ted, Cortez bory of the two priests, I visit him. dy, but in- Ls perfectly upon them •eived from ire that he bribes had [arina had al been in racles, and aem, or to 1 that they 7 should be been con- iB grave of lend their violate the )rdered the so certain secure the le intended nested that n the plot, had left, he 3m the plot of opinion once to the ancing, but 3d ; but the y chance of ',^fOuld raise 3struction. When the nobles arrived Cortez rebuked them mildly for their altered conduct and for tlie failure of supplies, and said that tho Spaniards would no longer be a burden upon the city, but would march out on the following morning, and requested that they would furnish a body of two thousand men to trans- port his artillery and baggage. As this suited admirably the designs of the natives, they at once agreed to furnish the required force. Upon their leaving, Cortez had an interview with ]\Ionte^uma's ambassadors, who had accompanied him from the coast, and told them that he was aware of the treacherous plot to destroy him and his army, and that he was grieved to find that this vile act of treachery was instigated by Montezuma. The ambassadors, astounded at what appeared to thom the supernatural knowledge of Cortez, and terrified at the position in which they found themselves, made earnest protestations of their entire ignorance of the sclieme, and declared that they were convinced that the emperor was wholly innocent of it, and that it was entirely the act of the Cliolukns. Cortez pretended to believe them, as he was desi'-ous as long as pos- sible of keeping up a semblance of friemlsliip with Montezuma, and declared that he was willing to believe that after the friendly messages and gifts the emperor had sent, he could not be guilty of such baseness and treachery, his anger therefore would be directed chiefly against the Cholulans, who were guilty not only of foul treachery to himself, but of dishonouring the emperor's name by their conduct. As soon, however, as the ambassadors had retired, a strong guard was placed over them to prevent them from communi- cating with the citizens. Every precaution was taken in case the plans of the enemy should be altered, and an attack made during the night. The guns were placed so as to command the approaches. The horses were kept saddled and ready for action. Strong guards were placed, and the troops lay down in their armour. Orders were despatched to the Tlascalans, to hold themselves ready to march into the city in the morning and Join the Spaniards. Aa soon as daylight m 222 A TERRIBLE MABSAORB. broke the troops were under arms. A portion of those with the guns were posted outside tlie building, so as to sweep the streets. A strong body were told otT to guard the three gates of entrance. The rest were drawn up in the great court, which was surrounded partly by buildings, partly by high walls. Soon after the arrangements were completed the caciques arrived, having with tliem a body of men even larger than they had agreed to bring. As soon as they entered, Cortez called them to him, and informed him that he was acquainted with all the particulars of the conspiracy. He had come to that city 'ipon the invitation of the emperor, had given them no cause of complaint, and had left his allies outside the walls. Under the guise of kind.ioss and hospitality they had prepared a snare to cut off and destroy them. The Cholulans were astounded; it seemed to them useless to deny anything to men who could thus read their thoughts, and they confessed that the accusat'on wf.s true. Cortez raised his hand ; a gun gave the signal, a terrible volley was poured into the Cholulans, and the Spaniards then fell upon them with pikes and swords. The unfortunate na tivea thus taken by surprise, and penned up like sheep in the enclosure, scarcely offered any resistance ; some tried to escape through the gateways, but were repulsed by the troops sta- tioned there. Others strove, but in vain, to scale the walls, and the only survivors of the massacre owed :.heir lives to hiding under the great piles of dead. In the meantime, the Mexicans without, being made aware by the heavy firing of the failure of their plan of surprise, rushed from the buildings in which they had been stationed, and poured up to the assault. They were swept down by the discharges of the guns, but the places of the slain were rapidly filled, and with reckless bravery they pressed up to the Spaniards, although Cortez at the head of his cavalry, charged them again and again, so as to give the gunners time to reload. The struggle was still proceeding when the Tlascalans entered the gates of the city, and coming up at a run to the scene of conflict, fell upon the rear of the Mexicans. i THK SACK OF OHOLULA. 22d if those with o sweep the a three gates court, which li walls, the caciques er than they Jortez called uainted with ome to that on them no e tl>e walls, ad prepared ;hem useless ir thoughts, 1, a terrible ,niards then irtunate na sheep in the ed to escape troops sta- le walls, and 'es to hiding made aware of surprise, n stationed, own by the vere rapidly up to the Iry, charged le to reload, lans entered the scene of These could no longer rasist their temble opponents, and breaking their ranks, took refuge in the houses, or fled to the teu.plos. Ono large body, headed by the priests, made a stand upon the great central teocalli. There was a tradition among them that if its stones were removed, the god would pour out an inundation of water to overwhelm his enemies. The Cholulans tore down some of the stones, and when the expected miracle did not take place, were seized with despair. Many shut themselves up in the wooden towers on the platform of the summit, and poured down missiles on their foes as they climbed the great staircase ; but the darts and arrows fell harmless upon the armour of the Spaniards, and when these gained the platform, they snatched up the blazing arrows shot at them, and fired the turrets. I'lio Cholulans 'ought to the last, and either threw themselves o\er the parapec, or perished in the flames. In the meantime, many of the wooden houses in tne town had caught fire, and the flames spread rapidly. The Spanish cavalry charging through the street trampled the Mexicans under foot, while the Tlascalan allies gratified their long enmity against the Cholulans by slaying them without mercy. When all resistance had ceased, the victors burst into the houses and temples, and plundered them of their valuables. The sack continued for some hours; and then Cortez, at the entreaties of some Cholulan caciques who had been spared at the massacre, and of the Mexican ambassadors, consented to call off his troops, and two of the nobles were allowed to go into the town and to assure the surviving inhabitants that no further harm would be done to them if they would return to their homes. The Spaniards and Tlascalans were drawn up under their respective leaders. The division of the booty ofiered no diffi- culties. The mountaineers attached no value to gold or jewels, and were well content with wearing apparel and provisions,' whUe to the share of the Spaniards fell the valuables taken! Cortez had given strict orders that no violence should be ofl'ered to the women or children, and his orders had been ill m I , 224 «A STAIN UPON THE MKMORY OF CORTEZ." respected, but many of these and numbers of men had been xna. e prisoners by the Thi.scalans, to carry away into slavery tortez, howovor, now persuaded them to lilwate their captivi and so great was his influence that they acceded to his request.' ihe dead bodies were now collected and carried outside the city by the inhabitanis. '^ Cortez, in his k-ttor to the Emperor Oharlea, says that three thousand were slain, but most contemporary writers put down the number ot victims at six thousand, and some at even a higher hgure Order was promptly restored ; the inhabitants who had left the town speedily returned, and the people of the neighbourhood flocked in with supplies. The niark,>ts were re-opened, and only the lines of blackened ruins told of the recent strife. The massacre was a terrible one, anination of the Spaniards; and that the terrible lesson taught was necessary to ensure the safety of the expedition. Moreover, a consider able portion of those who fell, fell in fair fight; and after the action was over the inl.tbitants were well treated. It must, too, be taken into consideration that tlie Spaniards were crusaders as well as discoverers, and that it was their doctrine that all heretics must be treated as enc mies of God, and de- stroyed accordingly. Such was not tiie doctrine of their Umrch, for as the great historian Bede writes of King Ethel- bert, "He had learned from the teachers and authors of his salvation that men are to be drawn, not dragged, to heaven " Koger, with his two comi.anions, had formed part of the force stationed outside the gates to resist the attack of the citizens, and he had taken his share in the fierce fighting that went on there He was not free from the prejudices of his times, and the horrible sacrifices of the temples, and the narrow '■I 'RTR5?. mon had been y into slavtiry. < thoir captives, to his requeHt. nitside the city says that three iters put down •me at even a 16 inhaliitants 9 poople of the markets were fis told of the iind is a stain iioiigiiout tho iiy phindering ill breaches of in desperate hilt the plot, illation of the was necessary I", a consider- t; and after treated. It mniards were their doctrine God, and de- ino of their King Ethel- uthors of his ;o heaven." part of the ttack of the fighting that adices of his d tiiS naiTow ran BFPROT or THR MA88ACR8. 225 Eve. ■„ the height of^h, Si t 'f "t ""if 7'''''^- who, in thoir cnHnn o^»« i , P"^^ '°' the men of the iron, ad SWaT'' '"1"'-? ^'"''^"'^ *« "'« -«ack the most horril.ln f,..n „ «»ew that if they were saccessfuL the treachtr;oror:Ste;hId'' "^rr^ ""^^ victims, excited the sam. r i ^ r • '° "^^''^^ ^««" ^he the Spiniarck '^'°^" '^ ^ "^'^^ «" i° that of CHAPTER XIV. IN MEXICO. terrible ttey were" UuL ... ^^ ^ Lted^haTl""' k""" w-i.M of no avail fl great halla d over the y contained th magnili- 'f a miie in 8th, 1619, . The four owed by the le main por- lan soldierB. the narrow \ of Tezcuco, ining aerosH built. The irge stonoH >n horsemen )sely dotted s well-nigh e Spaniards den.H "?onio WELCOMED BY THE EMPEROR. 233 of them of considerable extent— on the surfar« of fk^ i i rulitLTr ""' f ";'-■ ^- ^'- -' *' -^' oeautituJ that had ever met t le r eves and f},A,r „.^..„ fii. i w^th delisht and admiratio, nj:;:,tr^ZZ:Zt they came upon the fort of XmIoc Hem » „1 .""u^eway wall twelve feet high, crossed the"n^, tSXuIr to the lake on either side; towers were erected at its a "< ,es and. p^roperly defended, it could have resisted the attl^k of An archway gave passage through the wall. Here a srreat aumber of nobles were assembled, who welcomed the Spa ,1 1 with formal ceremony; and the army then marched forward along the dyke t,]l it reached a wooden drawbridge near the gate of the city. As they crossed this a splendil process Ln was seen approaching. It was preceded by th^ ' at officers of state, bearing golden wands; beWnd them th! emperor himself lay in his palanquin, borne on the s Zld^- of nobles, with a canopy of rich feather-work sparklin. wfth jewels above his h.ad. Monte.uma alighted when i" a short distance, and with the canopy still carried over hTs h ad and kaning upon his brother and nephew, he advanced t;warck' The general, dismounting, went forward with a few of his princpal officers to meet him. The emperor received his gua with courtesy, and expressed his pleasure at seeing him Tn his capital, while Cortez replied with expressions of profound respect, accompanied by thanks for the suporb presentrthat Montezuma had sent him. The emperor reenter IWs it ex and the Spaniards followed with music playing and co loins' flymg. Although a ready familiar with Mexican architec tu" SeT.L " r'.'^ *'^ rnagniiieence of the buildings tha bordered the great streets along which they marched. Here were he j^ansions of the nobles, built of a'red porous sTol protect dT r ^""^' '^'"'^ "' ^'^•"""^^- Tl^« A^' -of« were 'to gaiaens. Uetweeii tho^a nnncir^.. , ■ u i ,.-, »-t.ii in.,..o mansions were broad ierracHs .vhich oresented a mass of flowers. Here and l;e we^ f l?i 234 IN MEXICO. great market-places, surrounded by porticoes of stone, and above all the temples with their towering pyramids rose high in the air. Along the whole line crowds of people watched the procession of the troops, gazing with surprise and admiration at the cavaliers on horseback and at the flashing armour and arms of the Spaniards, and with wrath and indignation at the Tlascalan army which followed in their rear. The street was in many places intersected by canais. Passing over these on light bridges, they at last reached a great square near the centre of the city, on one side of which rose the huge temple of the war god of the Aztecs. Facing this was a palace of Montezuma's father, which had been appropriated by the emperor as quarters for the Spaniards. The emperor himself received them in the courtyard, pre- sented Cortez with a magnificent necklace, and then, saying he would visit them later on, withdrew. The palace was large enough to atiford accommodation for the whole army, and as it was surrounded by a massive stone wall, flanked with towers, Cortez saw with satisfaction that it could without difficulty resist any sudden attack. He placed sentries on the walls and planted his cannon to command the approaches; and in order to prevent any chance of a quarrel arising, he forbade any soldiers to leave the palace without orders. A large number of Mexican slaves had been appointed to attend upon the strangers, and a meal was speedily served by them to the troops, who were then permitted to take a sleep for some hours during the heat of the day. The emperor paid another visit in the evLMiing, and had a long conversation with Cortez, distributing a large number of rich presents among the Spaniards before leaving. After he had left they celebrated their arrival in the city by a salute with their cannon, whose thunder added to the impression produced upon the natives by the tales they had heard of the prowess of their visitors, and heiglitened their belief in the supernatural powers of the Spaniards. The next day Cortez ruturaed the emperor's visit. He was accompanied by a few •f stone, and aids rose high the procession ation at the ur and arms ation at the le street was ver these on are near the huge temple a palace of ated by the urtyard, pre- then, saying palace was le army, and 3aiiked with uld without itries on the roaches; and arising, he I orders. A id to attend ^ed by them a sleep for '„ and had a e number of ;. After he by a salute impression leard of the elief in the day Cortez ed by a few FIIIST ATTEMPT AT CONVERSION. 236 of hil principal officers, and five or six soldiers Th« n«l was of immense size, built, like the rest of ?L ? ^ ! red stone, and ornam;nted vith nv^lle V , ' houses, of in the courts through which t in , *"""t;^'ns sparkled of Aztec nobles thL^^st^*::^, ^s '::it^'T walls of these apartments were hun-. with rthlv ,/v .. or with draperies of gorgeous featirer work .vi^ie^^, ^'^^^^^^ of mcense rose up in clouds from censers "'^'^ Montezuma, surrounded by a few of his nobles, received them • himself been a p.iest, and was an a.dCdetle 'htrilt' It was scarcely to be expected that he would rL„.VT'^ ' rtr!;KLrtbi^:d^'C«~ ^retiStsT:^-^' ^^^^^^ sad^. and .o„ and ,„„r :Zj2:^ir:Z TC.'T „« ,V '''™"'^«! "» >■!»"<>■■» with fresh presc.s. MalLin But gratified as the Spaniards were at the kindn.lnfTv, • reception, an.) «.,>!, fi.Q rr^urui^ ^ f , , i^indness of their t%.u,a .t but fe^uh^ajt;:;'^- tr;i:r;o:^^ Vi m 286 AN INTEUVIEW WITH OOUTBZ. They were in the centre of a ^neat city, with a warlike popu- lation ; it v.as broken up by its canals with thbii movable bridges into a series of fortresses, and it would be well-nigh hopeless to endojivour by force to make their way out of it. At present all seemed fair, but they were well aware that Montezuma had endeavoured in every way, save by opea war, to prevent their coming ; and that, influenced as he was by the oracles of the gods, he might at any moment exchange his apparent friendship for open enmity. Two days after arriving at the capital Roger asked Malinche if she could obtain permission from the general for him to cross the lake to Tezcuco, in order that he might pay his friends there a visit. Presently she returned, saying that the general himself would speak to him. Roger had been named Sancho by the Spaniards, as he had not ventured to give his own name ; and it was supposed that he had forgotten that which he had borne as a child. " Sancho," the general said ; " I know, from what Marina says, that you have great intelligence, though you have so long been cut oft" from your own people. You see that our position hei-e is a strange one ; we are guests, and yet, to some extent, we are prisoners. The Tlascalans with us are hated by the Mexicans, and either between them and the natives, or maybe between some of r y own soldiers and the citizens, a brawl might arise which would be used as a pretext for an attack upon us. As I feel that I can rely upon your discre- tion, I will tell you of some news that I received at Cholula ; but which I have kept to myself. " The natives on the coast have shown themselves hostile to the garrison of a hundred and fifty men, whom I left thei'e under Juan de Escalante. A chief near there sent in to tender his allegiance, and asked that four white men should bo sent to escort him to the town. As soon as they got to him two of them were murdered, but the other two managed to eacane and made their wav back. Don Juan marched with fii'ty of his men and several thousand Indian allies to irlike popa- sii movable e well-nigh y out of it. awiue that y ope.i war, was by the Kchange bis 3(1 Malinche for him to [ht pay his )ral himselt 3, as he had ipposed that Id. hat Marina 'ou have so lee that our yet, to some 3 are hated B natives, or e citizens, a )text for an your discre- at Cholula ; elves hostile I left there sent in to men should they gut to wo managed an marched ian allies to "tezouoo was long the rival of mkxico." 237 attack the troftchoroua chief. There was a desperate bt»*^itle, our allies fled, but the soldiers stood their ground, and — thanks to the aid of the Blessed Virgin— resisted all the attacks made upon them. But eight of the men were slain, and Juan him- self was mortally wounded. " The Indian prisoners taken said that the attack, like that at Cholula, had been made by the orders of Montezuma. You may do us good service by finding out what are the intentions of the Mexicans. Therefore, by all means, carry out your inten- tion of going across to Tezcuco. The young king is a nephew of the emperor, but he has suffered much at Montezuma's hands, and has been strijjpod of the greater part of his fathei''a dominions, lie can, thereiure, hardly be friendly to him at heart. At any rate you may be able to learn in conversation with him what are his sentiments towards us. Tezcuco was long the rival of Mexico, and as the alliance of the Tlascalans has proved of the greatest advantage to us, stUl more should we benefit if the Tezcucans were our friends. If we have to retire from Mexico we might take refuge there. At any rate, if nothing else comes of it, you might leu in from the king whether he is aware of any treachery meditated against us. He saved you, Malinche says, from Montezuma and the priests once; and would bo likely, therefore, to warn you did he know that danger Avas impending." When Maiina had translated this, Roger at once agreed to do his best to discover if any treachery were meant. " You had best go in disguise," Cortez said. " Donna Marina will make arrangements for a canoe to be here aftei' nightfall ; and by staining your face and putting on the attire of an Aztec noble — for which we have ample materials at hand — you would not be noticed as you pass through the throng of boats on the lake. It would be best that you did not go as a Spanish soldier: you might be arrested on the road, and perhaps carried away and sacrificed at one of the altars. Once at Tezcuco you must, of course, act in the matter as you think Host." Marina — who was not, like the Spaniards, confined to the U IP 238 IN TRZOUCO AGAm. palace— had no difficulty in arranging for a canoe, and as soon as it brcame daik. Roger, dressed as an Aztec cacique, and with his face slightly stained, took his place in it. The lake was thionsred with canoes, hut the craft in which he was seated passed without notice through them, and after two hours' paddling reached Tezcuco. Telling the natives that they were to wait for his return, however long that might be, Roger proceeded to the palace. Avoiding the principal streets and squares, where his unusual height would attract attention, he passed unquestioned into the palace amid the throng of chiefs and nobles who were entering or leaving it; and made his way to the apartment of Cuitcatl. It was empty, but clapping his hand the attendant who had before waited upon him entered. As Roger's attire was similar to the one he had worn while at Tezcuco the man recognized him at once. Rofer bade him go in search of Cuitcatl, and tell him privately that he was there and beg him to come. In a few minutes Cuitcatl entered the room and greeted Roger most heartily. " I am glad, indeed, to see you, my friend, and Cacama and the queen and the princess will rejoice also. There was great anxiety for you after your first escape, for the emperor was furious when he heard that you had slipped oflf. The priests had assured him that the sacrifice of a white man to the god of war would ensure his aid and protection against the white invaders. Runners were despatched in scores to every town and village, and although I knew that Bathalda was familiar with every foot of the country, and would give his life for you if needs be, it seemed impossible that you should be able to make your way through. Then came the news of your fight in the hills, how you had a bow that carried arrows to an unheard-of distance, and how in a hand-to-hand fight you had prevailed against a score of our soldleis. After that you seemed lost. The officers commanding the troops were con- vinced that you had not descended the e.i stern slopes of the mountains j and the spies who were watching every movement tt THB PRIKOT8 AHB FtTRIODS AGAINST YOU. 239 ), and aa soon cacique, and it. The lake ^hich he was tid after two natives that lat might be, noipal streets act attention, he throng of it J and made i empty, but » waited upon id worn while and tell him ime. I and greeted and Cacama 3. There was :• the emperor aed off. The white man to Bction against scores to every Bathalda was ?^ould give his lat you should J the news of carried arrows -to-hand fight s. After that oops were con- slopes of the ery movement of the white men on the coast reported that no white man had joined them. Therefore, it was supposed tl iit you must have returned west of the ran^'o of hills, and every town and village was searcliod, and every grove and plantation exam- ined. W e were all very anxious for you, and it was not until a week after we had tlie news of the wonderful defeat of the TIascalans by tho white men, that Bathalda returned with the message you -sent us, and the nes-^s that you had joined the white men there. "Since then we liave, of c, urr^o, he;, d nothing of you. Cacama said that he did not se . y u whoi he met Malinzin; but of course he did not examine umi J-.ces r ' the white soldiers, being occupied solely with their cl.. ; .nd the otHceis round him. But we all felt assured that we should hear from you shortly. So you have resumed your Aztec dress ? " "I thought it better to do so for the purpose of coming here," Roger replied: "for if the priests want a victim so sorely, it seemed to me that if I ventured to leave the palace •Iressed in my Spanish garb I might be seized and carried off" " You are quite right," Cuitcatl agreed ; " the priests are furious against you all, and I cannot altogether blame them. Your general may, as he says, come as an ambassador from his king to Montezuma ; and if he had orders to come to his court at aU costs he was not to blame if he fought his way wlienever he was opposed, but this does not justify him in insulting our religion and even assaulting and hurling down our gods at every opportunity. He even tried to persuade the emperor that our gods were false, and spoke insolently of them > esterday when Montezuma conducted him at his request into the holy shrines. Cacama was one of the strongest advisers that a peaceful reception should be accorded to the white visitors, but even he is being greatly turned against them by their conduct towards our gods. Come, I will take you to the royal apart- ments, and leave you in a room where no one will enter until I inform Cacama that you are here." A few minutes lat^r the young king entered the apartment where Cuitcatl had placed Roger, and embraced him with real 240 cacama's indignation. V I it flffeotion. "Truly I am glad to see you again, Eoger Hawkshaw, I am glad to see you for yourself, and I hail yon as a counsellor in the strange pass to which we have come. Here are Maclutha and my sister Amenche." The queen and the princess entered as he spoke, and each gave Eoger their hand, which, bowing deeply, he raised to his lips, having before told them that this was the salutation among his own people to ladies of high rank. " We did not think, Eoger Hawkshaw, Avhen we last parted, that we should meet agnin so soon. Who could have believed then that the little band of white men, of whose arrival upon the coast we had heard, would have made their way on to the capital when the emperor was bent upon preventing their coming? We have trembled for you, and have prayed the gods to protect you ; and greatly did we rejoice when we heard from Cuitcatl's follower that you had surmounted all your dangers safely and joined the Whites. " It has been a strange time here, since you left. I have been for the most part at the capital. The news that came from day to day of the progress of the Whites filled everyone with surprise and consternation. We of the council met daily, but Montezuma passed his time at the shrines and among the priests. He was a brave warrior and a great general once, but he is no longer himself. My father's prophecy seems to have unmanned him, and he has given himself up wholly to supersti- tion. I believe in our gods and pay them due honour, but I do not hold that a man should not think for himself, or that he should trust wholly in the pi-iests, who are but men like our- selves; and who are, methinks, but poor judges of worldly affairs, though wise and learned in matters concerning reli- gion. Montezuma thinks otherwise, and the result is, that no orders have been issn^d, no determination arrived at, and we have the disgrace of seeing a handful of strangers iiistalled in the capitsil. " Mind, my counsels have always been that they should be conduct \ honourably from the coast, and treated as ambas- fiadors ; but we have done neither one thing nor the other. They "tell us what 18 TO BE DONE." 241 Hawkshaw. a counsellor re Maclutha ce, and each raised to his G salutation last parted, ave believed arrival upon ly on to the 'nting their prayed the en we heard 9d all your 3ft. I have it came from 'eryone with et daily, but among the ral once, but 3ms to have ,' to supersti- :)nour, but I [f, or that he en like our- } of worldly cerning reli- It is, that no d at, and we 3 installed in ey should be d as ambas- other. They have been loaded with gifts, but forbidden to come here • yet since they came, in spite of orders, wo liave seemed as if we feared to meet them; and I blush at the thought of the treacherous plan to destroy them at Chnlula. The gods had prophesied that they would find their grave there. But the gods were wrong • and It may be that the God of the Whites is more powerful than ours. If not, how is it that they did not avengo the indignities offered to them by the Whites at Cempoalla, where their images were hurled down from their altars? and at Cholula, where the most sacred of all the temples was attacked and captured, and the emblem of the White God set up on its summit ? ^ _ "You yourself, Roger Hawkshaw, warned us against these epaniards. You said that they were cruel masters to the people they had conquered, and above all things cruel in the matter of religion, forcing all who came under their sway to accept cheir God under pain of death, and that they would slay even you, a white man like themselves, did they know that you did not belong to their people. Tell us what is to be done v\ hy are these men in our capital ? What are their objects ? tirave and strong as they are, they cannot hope to overcome a nation, or to force all Anahuac to forsake their own gods and to accept the God of the Whites." " I k,f J not what are the designs of Cortez, the leader whom you call Malinzin. I should say the Spaniards are here with several motives. In the first place, there is the desire for wealth and spoil; in the second, religious ardour-the desire to bring all within the pale of their Church ; in the third place, the love of adventure; and, lastly, the honour they will receive at the hands of their sovereign for opening so rich an empire to his arms." " You do not think, then, they intend to conquer us ? " "Cortez cannot think of doing so with the means at his disposal, Cacama; but doubtless he has sent home reports of the richness of the country, and forces many times more " "" '"'^^ "-^o^" unuBi- uiis comnmiid may be sent out to his assistance." 242 " AT PRESENT WE WAIT." nma " Does he know that you have come hither ? " Cacama asked suddenly. *' He does," Roger replied. " I could not leave the palace without permission ; and Malinche told him of the kindness 1 had experienced at your hands. He himself is uneasy at the position in which he finds himself, uncertain of Montezuma's intentions, and fearful of an assault ; and he bade me try tc find out, as far as might be, what was the general opinion respecting the Spaniards." " The opinion of the ignorant," Cacama said, with a con- temptuous wave of the hand, " is worth nothing. They go where they are led ; they believe what they are last told ; they shout when they are told to shout. They have no opinioo of their own upon aught but what relates to themselves. Ajuong the nobles, the priests, and the learned there is much division of opinion. At present we wait ; but, frankly, at any moment a storm may follow the calm. The priests, who of course are bitterly hostile to the strangers, are without doubt work- ing, and they have great power with all. But I sboikid say that, on the whole, you are safer here with me than you would be across the water there. I do not mean that there is any immediate danger, but you must remember that Monte- zuma has been insulted and humihated, and made to appear small in the sight of the people. He is one of the proudest of men, and although at present he feigns friendship with the Spaniards, a moment will come when he will revolt against being thus bearded in his capital ; and he has but to wave his hand for these invaders to be wiped out. However, let us talk of other matters at present. Of course you are not thinking of returning to-night t " "I intended to do so j and the canoe in which I came is waiting for mi " We cannot think of letting you go," Cacama said, decidedly. " I will send an oflicial back with a message from you saying that you think you can do more hei-e than by returning ; and that you crave leave to stay for the present; but that you will come over in the morning and repoit to him all that you I %iHaH AMENCHE 18 CURIOUS. 243 cama asked the palace ) kindness I leasy at the [ontezuma's 3 me try tc )ral opinion with a con- ;. They go btold; they ) opinioo of }S. AjUODg uch divisiirn my moTiient of course Joubt work- it I 8ho<4J eady to attack, and poured out under their leaders to the ass.ialt the moment the first gun told that their intentions were discovered. No, there is no doubt whatever that a general destruction of the white men was intended ; and although the punishini.'nfc inflicted was terrible, I cannot say that it was not justilicd under the circumstances. Moreover, we knew that there was a Mexican army lying but a short distance away, in readiness to enter the town and join in tlie attack against us." " It was a terrible error, as well as a crime on the part of the emperor, if it be true that he was concerned in it," Cacama said. " If so, he took no one here into his counsel, but acted whoUy on the advice of the priests." " That is where the general considers the danger lies. Ho would trust the caciques, for men of rank in whatever country are faithful to their word, and do not pretend friendship when they mean hostility. Were Montezuma guided by thorn there would be no fear of treachery, but as he has given him- self to the priests, and they can by means of the oracles persuade him to almost anything, Cortez feels that thr oinger it great." " HAVE YOU ANY SERIOUS NEWS ? " 24: i five-and- are fi. man all showed f our boat I's go for I 0)6 not, : toll ine — — tell nio, it of iho full upon lid. "We , and the vith their iition was 1 veady to 3Sdult the liscovered. ruction of inishmont J justified there was i-eadino.s8 le pari of " Caeama but acted lies. Ho r country 'riendsliip 1 by thoiu \'en him- e oracios ic danger " Well now, we had better to rest," Caeama said, rising. " You are to start with the first streak of light, so as to 1^ back before the sun is high, and it is long past midnight now. Cuitcatl, it would, I think, be well for you to accompany our friend. A rumour may have got abroad that he is again our guest, and those who longed for his blood before may fong for it again. I would not that he should cross the lake unattended." " I was about to propose doing so," the young noble said. "I know the priests, and can guess that at present a white victim is what they most of all desire. Therefore, I will cer- tainly accompany him to Mexico." Koger and his Mexican friend were taken acroas the lake in a canoe, rowed by four strong men. It was one of the private canoes of the palace, without the royal insignia, used for the conveyance of messengers, and built for speed. She took them across to the capital in a very short time, and, entering one of the canals, landed them close to the palace occupied by the Spaniards. The sentry at the gate was surprised at the height of the young Aztec chief who approached, and did not recognize him until he spoke. Even then he would aot let him pass until he called an officer. " I have been absent by the order of the general," Roger said. " I have no doubt it is all right," the officer replied, " but I must take you to him." Cortez had only just risen, for the hour was still very early, and the sun was but now showing himself over the mountains to the east. He was taking a cup of chocolate. " That is all right," he said to the officer, as soon as he saw Roger. " Sancho has been absent upon my orders." He then called Mahnche from an adjoining room. "You are back earlier than I expected," he said, as soon as the interpreter entered. " Have you any serious news ? " " No, General ; Caeama is himself friendly. He is unaware of any treacherous designs on the part of the emperor, but admits that the situation is a critical one, and that it is possible ii' ' f 11 •a i.V 248 " WE ARE SITTING ON A MINE." the influence of the piiests may again induce Montezuma to take a hostile action." " Do you think we could count upon him as an ally t " " I think not, sir ; altliough I have not. as yet sounded him. Cacama has been very badly treated by Montezuma, and he by no means approves of the emperor's conduct throughout this matter, but I think that his patriotism would overcome his sense of private wrong. I can tell you more farther on. Cacama has invited me to stay with him for the present, and I think I might be of more use to you there than here." "I think so, too," Cortez said, "and, indeed, you have not yet entered my band regularly like the rest. It is right that you should have freedom of action, especially as you are the only man among us who knows anything of the Mexicans, for even Marina knows nothing of this side of the mountains." " Don't you think that you will run great risk in staying there alone ? " Marina asked on her own account. " Some danger no doubt, Malinche ; but I shall be on my guard, and Cacama will take precautions for my safety. Even the priests would not venture to seize me in his palace, and the Tezcucans are far less bigoted than the people of this city." " I do not think he will be in much greater danger there than he would be here," Coitez said, when these remarks were translated to him. "We are all in danger, we are sitting on a mine that may explode any minute. The y.vncr fellow is sharp-witted, and with his knowledge of the language and the people can be trusted to take care of himself. Sanclfo, if anything should happen to us, and you should hear that we have been destroyed, I charge you to carry the news to the coast, and to order in my name, that all shall embark on board ship and sail to Cuba. It would be useless to try to maintain a foothold here. Spain would avenge it, and with ampler means than mine carry out the conquest of this country." A few minutes later, Roger, having said good-bye to Juan and Pedio, and told them that he might be absent for some time, started to Tezcuco. They had scarcely left the town, when a A. atezuma to llyl" unded him. na, and he throughout I overcome 'arther on. I'esent, and >re." I have not right that )n are the xicans, for tains." in staying be on my sty. Even e, and the s city." iger there i remarks r, we are ^ho y.ung I language Sancho, i,r that we ws to the aabark on to try to and with b of this Juan and ome time, a, when a rURSUKD. 249 canoe _^-ith six rowers, issued from one of the canals and followed in their wake. ''See they are after us I" Cuitcatl said, looking back. Doubtless the Spanish quarters are closely watched to see who enter and leave them, and the news that a tall young noble had entered was carried at once to the authorities, and the boat was got in readiness to follow when you left, and see who you were and where you were going. However, they will not overhaul us I bade the officer in charge of the canoes last night to pick me out four of his best men, and in so light a boat we shall travel as fast as that behind us, although they have two extra hands." ^ i; Yes, and they have four sitters," Roger said, looking back. No doubt they had orders to arrest you and bring you back ; they did not reckon on our speed. The two extra men destroy their chances of coming up to us, altogether. Row hard, men; I don't want that boat to overtake us " The paddlors redoubled their exertions, and the light boat almost flew along over the water. For a few minutes those in the canoe behind also did their utmost; but it was plain that they were falling behind rather than gaining. Then one ot the othcials stood up and shouted an order for them to stop Ihey were some distance behind, but the words could be plainly heard. The Tezcucans looked scared as they heard the woius In the name of the Emperor " "Nevermind them," Cuitcatl said; "we are acting under the orders of our king. Besides, we are so far away that they cannot be sure their words are heard. If they have any complaint to make they can make it to Cacama. and he will answer them. The boat was soon out of hearing of its pursuer, who fell farther and farther behind, and was a good mile away when tney landed at Tezcuco. ''Run the boat up and lay her by the side of the others " Cmtcatl said to the rowers. " Then go at once to your homes and s^y nought to anyone about the journey you have made. Ihe officials will find out what they want to know as to whom •S! I m I 250 ATHALDA AGAIN. H \' we are, aafl vrill care nothirjg as to who were the individual boatmer who rowed us ; still it is as well to keep silent. " Of course, Koger," for the lad had asked him to drop the second part of his name, " it will soon be known that yon have returned here. With such nnmbeirt ol persons in the palace it cannot be hidden ; besides, you are well known by sight to most people in the town." " I quite see that, Cuitcatl, and perceive no good in trying in any way to conceal myself ; these long legs of mine cannot )m got rid of, and tell their story too plainly. However, it tiakes no difference, I shall be safe in the palace, and shall only go abroad in the daytime. They will not venture to try to carry oil" openly one known to be under Cacama's protection." Cacama, on their return, agreed with Roger that it was of no use to try to conceal his identity ; and the lad, after washing the stains from his face and hands, took his accustomed r'ace at the banquet, and was greeted by many of his ToiUier acquaintances. After the meal Caci ma told him that, having heard tiom Bathalda of the wonderful shooting he had made with his great bow, ho was desirous of seeing it, and that by his orders the forester, who had been sent for the evening before by Cuitcatl, had been directing some of the artisans* to manufacture a weapon of similar strength. " We will go and see how it ip getting on," he said. Proceedin" to the ^^orkshop attached to the palace, they found that .: . bow was fim, .lod. It ^vas constructed of a very tough, but elastic, wood. Three slips of this had been placed together and bound with sinews. Bathalda ran forward when iie ^aw Roger, nad taking lis hand carried it to his forehead. Roger shook the stout fellow's hnnd heartily. " He is a brave fellow," h^ sale to Cuitcatl, who had accom- panied them, "and fougr nanfully and well. Had ho not guarded my back during '^ igl T should not bt- uere to tell the tale now." " We have made the bow uccorduig to our instru'-tions," the * ! « A GOOD BOW." le individual silont. to drop the lat you have n the palace i by sight to od in trying mine cannot However, it 36, and shall ; venture to ler Cacama's ; it was of no fter washing stonied r'ace his xoiiaer that, having he had made it, and that the evening artisans to aid. palace, they tructed of a lis had been ithalda ran land carried bUow'b hand had accom- Had ho not B here to tell •ucfcions," the 251 it Three head of the artisans said respectfully to the kinc» does not seem to us possible that anyone can use" of us have tried together to string it, but in vain " "It IS a good bow," Roger said, examining it. ' Do they shoot with weapo>is like that over there," Oacama a^ked, nodding in the direction of Mexico Ja flT'" 2?^'"' '^''^' '?°' *^^ ""'* P^'-* they use cross-bows, and their bows are rnnch smaller than this. The English ar^ the only people who use bows like this. They are our national weapons, and outside our island the. are few iu.Ieo.I who can sTI^H \ "v: A? '' '!"' ^*""»"''^°' '* ■« ^"-k rather than ■st-ength. See here," and taking the bow wl,ich was just his o^v^ height, he placed his knee against it, bent it andllipped he strung into the notch with ease. Then holding it at am's length, he drew it till the string touched his ear " It IS a gre tt deal stiQer than that I made before, Bathalda • nd IS about the strongth of those we use at heme Nowfo; lie arrows. ^•'hese had been made by another sot of men, and were an men or two over a yard in length, with copper tips. W'ule he was ..mining them Oacama had taken up the bow Lt ion a a strong,, and vigorous man for his race, he could bend It but a very .rt distance. V. "".i!" \r , '^'■^''^ weapon," he said, "and I should not have thought that ..ortal man, whatever his colour could Cuitcatl, do you fetch the queen and her ladies to look ,,n " i am no great marksman, Prince," Eoger said. "I am perhaps somewhat better than an average "shot, but I hav Ttempt." " "''" '^'^'^ ^° ''''' '^^' "■ "-'d not even They descended to the piece of ground, where many of the young nobles were engaged in shooting, and in practfce w fh Ttained r" W''"" '"^" *''^^ ""'''''' ^"* ^^^ carefully knew 1/ \ ^^ T P^^'* '^ *^« '^''^'' '^^^tests, for he Knew tnar. m^n uihr. .■...« Koaf-- . .• « . . ' . 11—1 ..,.,. „,„ oeaten Buiueumes fe«l malice and h« was anxious to keep on the best terms with aU. CulLtl haj ;^'^ 252 « TUE iHINO WAS IMPOSBIBLB. n U '; Iff !( t^,.,«, often urged him to try a bout with himself or others with the sword ; h\\ this, too, he had nhvays declined, and his friend had supposi'd that he was aware his skill was by no means equal to his strength. But now the Spajiiards had proveild wish to return home, she would not hesitate to make the sacrifice and to accompany you. A Mexican woman when she loves is ready to give up everything." For a moment Roger turned the matter rapidly over in his mind, and saw that even were he disposed to refuse Amenche's hand, which indeed he was not, it would be almost impossible for him to do so. It would be a deep offence to this friendly prince ; it would be a cruel blow to the girl who had confessed her devo(/ion for him. As to Dorothy, she would have deemed him de.«5d year.^ ago ; and should he ever return, k^ a. •rounded him, b any momont, f, however, he ithor in-law of of the people. and although .'hich he had y one. after Cacama le, Prince, for y desorts, and > ; there could le husband of ;ess Amenche, rprise. As I as still a lad, Dr years; but n there is no that I rather tent to settle I cannot say of country is hen, if oppor- iglaiid." I'itli Amenche Id be sorry to it you should to make the woman when pidly over in sed to refuse uld be almost sep offence to I the girl who hy, she would 5 ever return, CACAMA .„.KKRS TC, .KSTOW UN Ko.;KU TMK MAM. OK ■„. SISTER AMENCHE. iw 3VM 1 ! m "l ACCEPT MOST GRATEFULLY." 257 he would find that she had long since been manieJ • for the daughters of the wealtl^y ,„erohant, Diggory Be^^s would not want for suifors. He held cut hi.s han-lto fhe .Hnee that soT^' """"' ^\^'^fyy^^^ -^^^-> C'acama, and 'promise hat, so far as in me hcs, I will do my best to render your sister happy, and to prove myself wortliy of her ehoiee " " - am heartily glad," tl,o prince said warmlv.' « I love mv sister and I have w.tchod you closely. I believe you to be r/ieL 7' ":' V"" ^'"'^ ''''' "^ >^°" I «ha" finlnot only a fnend and a brother, but a wise counsoll.r and a vali^.^ leader of my troops; and that, with your advice, I slal^^ able to advance my people in the arts of peace as veil as wa7 and perhaps o win back my father's poLssions. As to the culty. My grandfather, tbe great Nozahualcoyotl, the wisest and mos^^powerful of our monarchs, did not belie e i^ tlfe Iztl gods. He bujlt a great temple whic.I. he dedicated to ^,e ut known God. Here ho worshipped himself, and did his utmost to LS'heTt^r ir'^'"''''' ^^^ eruel\vorslupo; eltt^ gods he forbade all s.acrifices, even of animals, and permitted only flowers and sweet-scented perfumes to be oAcred up ou th^ S" of xlr 1- '^ • ''f' '''' ""'■'''' P--^' -created, and cruel faith of the Aztecs. Neither my father nor myself have been s rong enough to set ourselves against the priest • but he as well as I, behoved that my gran.lfather was right, an that he Unknown God is the Ruler of the world. My iX ha f com-se, been educated by the priests, bnt si/ knows my fathers opinions and my own ; she has a horror of the lL"n Uod than those who are said to delight in blood. So you need not fear that she will make any difficulty as to accc^.Tat you teU her of the white man's God. Now I will fetchlieTin to you. I Uunk It will be befterto allow a shor,', time to pai and to see how matters go in Mexico, before announ ZIS ochers your approachincj marriage. Tf any nu.fS-T^^ ^ .^appen to the «paniard« I should at onc"i ;:^;;T2:^t A "^—"-Tawaig 258 A BETROTHAL. and Lav© the ceremony performed without loss of time, pro- claiming to tlie people that, although white, you are not of the same race as the Spaniards. If matters go on well, Monte- zuma himself will doubtless be present at his niece's marriage; and I shall, of course, invite Malinzin and all his officers." The prince left the room, and in a few minutes returned with his wife, the latter leading Amenche by the hand. ^ " My friend, Roge/ Hawkshaw," the young king said, gravely; " I hereby promise to bestow upon you the hand of my sister Amenche. May you find in her a good, loving, and obedient wife," '• 1 on my part," Roger said, taking the girl's hand, which tili# queen hold out to him, -'promise to be a true and loving huHband l- -''""' ^*''''*^""- Cortez rouddy c^^hil ZT a 'T^ ^"' "'^"^^ ^«"^t««y. but author of the attk " on th^ "^"'' "" "^'*^ '^^^i ^^e ^a indi^nantlv deni-W>, ?'"T ^' *^« P^^' ^o^^" once and ^rrt^tthlttho fi%i:l?^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^l^^ »t •t was necessa^ for their .^.ylQ^S'^^ ^^^^ 260 A DISHONOURABLE ACTION. and reside among tliem. The einiioror was thunderstruck at the proposal, but tlie soldiers crowded in, loud and threatening words were used, and Montoziiiua in fear of his life gave way. Had he possessed any of the courage with which he was credited in liLs youth, he would have called his guards and nohles around him, and died lighting. Having once given in he assumed the air of having done so voluntarily, and ordered his litter to be broufrht. In the meantime his attendants, and the nobles who had been present, had spread the news through the uity. The Mexicans catching up their arms, ran to the rescue of their monarch ; but the Spaniards closed round the litter, and had a blow been struck, the emperor would doubtless have been murdered. Montezuma exhorted the people to be tranquil, assuring them that he was going willingly ; and the Mexicans, accustomed to implicit obedience, and fearing that harm would come to the emperor if a struggle began, drew back and allowed the Spaniards to pass, and Montezuma was conveyed a prisoner into the palace occupied by the Spaniards. The act was one of almost unparalleled boldness, but as performed upon a monarch who was the host of his assailants, and with whom they were previously on the most friendly relations, it was an act of treachery, and reflects dishonour upon the fame of Cortez. At the same time the position occupied by the Spaniards was so strange, and even desperate, as to palliate, though it cannot excuse, such a course of action. There is no reason to believe that Montezuma intended to act treacherously: but he was under the domination of the priests ; and had he again changed his mind, as he had already several times done, nothing could have saved the Spaniards from absolute destruction. No honourable man would have acted as Cortez did; but Cortez was a rough soldier, and, moreover, firmly held the doctrine at that time and long after- wards held by the Spaniards in their dealing with those of other religions, that faith need not be kept with heretics and heathen. "struck at ireateuing life gave wliicli he uards and i given in 1(1 ordered who had ity. The 3 of their , and had lave been tranquil, Mexicans, rm would back and conveyed rds. The performed and with lations, it the fame jd by the palliate, tended to >n of the id already Spaniards 3uld have dier, and, ong after- those of retics and "what THOUQji MOKTEZUMA FALL?" 261 CHAPTER XVI. A TREASURE ROOM. «p is infamous," Oacama said, as he paced up and down • J Z"""?' "^"* "^''^^ '' *'' '^« f'«"«^ 'J^liey hold him in their hands as a hostage in the heart of his own capital and among his own people, and are capable of han-in- him from the walla should a hostile movement bo made against them You were right, Roger Hawkshaw, in warning us against these men. They are without faith and honour thus to seize a host who has loaded them with presents, who has emptied his treasuries to appease their gree.l, and who has treated them with the most extraordina.y condescension It is a crime unheard of, an act of base ingratitude without a parallel. What is to be done?" Roger was silent. Such a situation, so strange and unlooked tor, conrounded him. " I should say," Ouitcatl burst out passionately, " that every Mexican should take up arms and annihilate this handful of invaders. What though Montezuma fall? Better that a monarch should perish than a nation. Besides, Montezuma has shown himself unfit to govern; it is his weakness that has brought things to this pass. Think you that the white men could ever have advanced beyond the plateau of Tlascala, had all the forces of Mexico barred the way ? Think you that thev could ever have entered the capital had it been defended with resolution ? One moment he flattered the strangers and loaded them with gifts: the next he was ready to send his forces against them. The Oholulans had good reason for believin- that he designed the annihilation of the Whites if he did not actually order the attack upon them. " So on the sea-coast : had the chiefs believed that Monte- zuma was really friendly to the Whites, would they ever have attacked them? There were two courses open; he might from the first have received the Spaniards frankly, and sent ii m 262 A BATIBAROUS EXECUTIOH. a mission to escort tbein honourably to the capital; or ho might have called upon every num in his dominion to take up arms and drive them into tlio sea. He took neither. It ia he who h.as brou<,'ht them hero, md it is better a thousand times that he should die than that ruin should fall upon the country. My advice is, that the troo[)H be callod out, that messengers be sent to every city in tho valley, bidding them send in their contingent, and tliat we march to aid the people of ^lexico to aiuiiliilate this handful of treailierou.s white men," Cacania was .silent. The advice was in accordance with his own feelings and temperament ; but the extreme reverence with which the Aztecs regarded their emperor, paralyzed him. " We shall see," he said, gloomily. " In a short tim" ve shall know why Montezuma thus tamely submitted to be made a prisoner. He may have some motives which we cannot fathom ; I cannot believe him to be a coward. No Aztec monai'ch yet has ever shown want of courage." Three or four days later another event occurred which heightene-: !l;i} fury of the INlexicans against the S{i;tiiiards. The ca* ;•.'• m'io had attacked the Spaniards on the coast arrived fti AUjiico, acconi2)aniGd by his son and fifteen other chiefs who iiud acted with them. Montezuma referred the mattei- to the examination of C'ortez. The cacique admitted the part he had taken in the attack on the Spaniards, and did not seek to shelter himself under royal authority until sentence of death was passed on him and the other chiefs, when they all declared that they had acted on the authority of Montezuma. They were condemned to be burnt alive in the space in front of the palace, and this sentence was carried out. Not content with this, Cortez placed irons upon Montezuma himself, saying there could now be no longer a doubt as to his guilt. After the execution was carried out Montezuma was I'eleased from his fetters. The news of this insult to their monarch created a profound impression upon the Mexicans. Although they despised the weakness of a soverelgu who appeared ready to sufier every indignity, and yet to retain an tal ; or ho to take up her. It is a, thousand 1 upon tho I out, that Iding them the people k^hito men." 30 with his I reverence ilyzed him. UM ve shall be made a ot fathom ; onarch yet :"red which Spaniards, the coast ?teen other jferred the e admitted liards, and ority until .lier chiefs, ufch ority of live in the ra3 carried Montezuma bt as to his ezuma was It to their Mexicans, reigu who > retain an "l CAN NO LONQER RETAIN TOU HERB." 263 appearance of courtesy and good will towards his oppressors, the bolder spirits determined that the nation should be no longer humiliated in the person of it^ sovereign, and that even should it cost Montezuma his life, an rtrort should be made to overthro^v his oppressors. As soon as the news of tho execuHon of the sevent. "ti nobles, %nd of the indignity to Montezuma, was received la said to Roger : " My friend, I can no l^^nger retain you here. You have told me why you cannot have i pro(' timed that you are of difterent blood to the Spaniards, and I qi,ite understand your motives; but there are two reasons why in that case you must for a time return to the capital. My people would look upon me with scorn did I retain here as my friend one whom they regard as the countryman of the men who have so outraged us; moreover you yourself cannot wish to stay. You have told me that Cortez lias charged you to acquaint him with the state of feeling in this cityj and were you to remain here you would be placed in the painful position of either giving information which would ruin my plans, or of deceiving the man whom you nominally serve. I know that you would say nothing against me, but should I fail and the Spaniards triumph, Cortez would accuse you of being a traitor, and you would be put to death by him. Therefore, I think it in all ways best that you should return there for the present. You will, of course, inform Cortez that I have sent you back because the feeling against the white men, on account of their treatment of the emperor, is so great that I felt that I could not protect you against their fury." "I quite agree with you, Cacama. My position here has become a very painful one. I abhor as much as you do the doings of the Spa? iards, and am perfectly ready to avow that I belong to another nation, and to join you in an enterprise against them." " But that, as you have told me," Cacama said, " would cut off any chance of your ever being able to return to your own country." IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) V. /. \'. 'Sf :a t/i 1.0 I.I 1.25 !r 140 M IIIII25 WUk. 1.4 lll£ = 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 •1>^ iV to give you d come here, led him to he saw that rdered to be parting with 26, and again safety across e sought the to him that excited state [e had, since lay to Cortez, mg king was ial, and was eps whatever ;al, although ide a painful he left the '' be watched, le, and must s a friend of ublic affairs. " CACAMA INCITES THE NOBLES." 265 Let him be kept wholly in the dark as to our plans and inten- tions. This Cacama is, next to Montezuma, the most powerful and important of the Aztec chiefs. He is young and energetic and although he has been so badly treated by Montezuma he resents our treatment of him. Had it been otherwise he would probably ere this have made some propositions to us, through Sancho, for a closer alliance with us, on the under- standing that the territories Montezuma has taken from him shall be returned. We must have Cacama's actions closely watched. There are other Aztecs who are willing enough to act as our spies, and who will keep us informed of what is going on. Hitherto their reports have agreed with Sancho's but from his sending the young fellow back here Cacama may now be intending to act against us." Cacama, indeed, lost no time in setting to work, and began to form a league with many of the leading nobles, to rescue the emperor and destroy the Spaniards. Montezuma's brother Cuitlahua and many others agreed at once to join him, but the greater part of the Aztec nobles hung back, upon the ground that they did not like to move in the matter, without the orders of their emperor. Tl.eir refusal prevented any general rising taking place, and thus destroyed the last chance of Mexico retaining its indopendence. Coitcz learnt from his spies what was going on, and would have marched against Tezcuco had not Montezuma dissuaded him, telling him that Cacama was a powerful prince, and would certainly be aided by many other chiefs, and that the enterprise would be hazardous in the extreme. Cortez then endeavoured to negotiate, but received a haughty answer from Cacama. He then tried threats, asserting the supremacy of the Spani-sh emperor. Cacama replied " that he acknowledged no such authority, he knew nothing of the Spanish sovereign or his people, nor did he wish to know any- thing of them." Cortez then inVited Cacama io come to Mexico to discuss their differences; but Cacama had no faith in Spanish loyalty, and he replied " that when he did visit the capital, it would he to rescue it as well as the emperor himself. II' li Iff' 266 BASENESS AND TREACHERY. and their common gods from bondage. He should come, not with his hand upon his breast but on his sword, to drive out the Spaniards, who had brought such disgrace upon the country." While this had been going on, Montezuma had still further forfeited all claim to sympathy by the willing- ness with which he accepted the attentions of those who were in fact his gaolers. They paid him all the outward marks of raspect, pretending still to regard him as a powerful sovereign ; and he, in return, was present at their exercises and sports, took the greatest interest in two ships they were building for naviga- tion on the lake, and in all respects behaved to them as if they were his best friends. He now carried his baseness still further, and informed Cortez that several of the Tezcucan nobles were regularly in his pay, and that it would be easy through them to capture Cacama and thus break up the confederacy. Cortez at once took means to carry out the suggestion. The traitors invited Cacama to a conference at a house overhanwinw the lake near Tezcuco. Upon going there he was seized by them, bound, placed in a boat, and carried to IMexico. He was there brought before Montezuma. In spite of the perils of his position, Cacama bore himself nobly. He boldly accused his uncle of foul treachery, and with the coward ir fch he had betrayed since the Spaniards had entered h-' igdom. Montezuma handed him over to Cortez, who ordoreci him to be loaded with fetters and thrown into a diingeon. The emperor then issued an order, declaring that Cacama had forfeited his sovereignty by his rebellion, and that he there- fore deposed him, and appointed a younger brother named Cuicuitzca in his place. The other leaders of the confederacy were all seized by the orders of Montezuma in their own cities, and brought in chains to the capital, where they were imprisoned with Cacama. Upon Roger the news of Cacama's arrest and imprisonment came like a thunder-clap. He was in the l^abit of frequently seeing Malinche, who still retained the w.irm i' -oling of friend- ship for him that had originated at Tabasco, and witli whom lid come, not to drive out > upon the tezuma had the willing- se who were rd marks of 1 sovereign ; sports, took J for naviga- them as if aseness still le Tezcucan uld be easy sak up the stion. The )verhanging IS seized by :o. He was le perils of 'dly accused ich he igdom. reci him to geon. The acama had t he there- her named ;onfederacy their own they were prisonment frequently ? of friend- vitli whiTn "l WILL MANAGE IT FOR YOU." 267 he Often had long talks of their life in those days j butsh, had et no word drop as to the doings of Cacama. She had ques- tioned him somewhat closely as to his relations with that prince; and he had made no secret to her of the fact that Cacama had promised him his sister's hand in marriage As many of the Spaniards had already married the daughters of great cacques, this appeared to her natural, and she had congratulated lum upon the prospect of an alliance which would bring lum wealth and land, but had said that for the present It would not do to think of marriage, as it would be unsafe for him to leave the capital. When therefore Roger heard of the misfortune that had befallen Cacama, he was Mled alike with surprise and consternation, and hurryin- to Mahnche, begged her to use her influence with Cortez to spare the young prince's life. "I have already done so," she said ; " and he has promised that no blood shall be shed, though the chiefs who have leagued themselves with Cacama must all be imprisoned : the safety of the army requires it. No harm, however, shall befall Cacama, of that be as:ured; I may tell you now, that It has been settled that his brother Cuicuitzca shall be appointed Lord of Tezcuco in his place. This will be done by a decree to-morrow." " Malinche, I must go at whatever hazard to warn Cacama's wife and sister in order to give them the opportunity of leaving the palace before this young prince arrives; pray obtain for me leave from Cortez to go away for twenty-four hours. You can tell him of the interest I have in the matter." "I will manage it for you," Malinche said; « but as your princess is also sister to the new king, I see no reason for uneasiness." " She is devoted to Cacama," Roger replied; "and would not, I feel sure, consent to remain in the palace with the usurper." f 'IJT ^f ^* ^^""'"^ ^^''" Ma^'nche said with a little nod ot tbe hea«; " to disguise her sentiments, and make the bast of ^ Is I .i 268 "you had bbst disguise yoursklf." the matter. It may make, you know, a good deal of differ- ence in the amount of dowry you will get with her." " I am not greedy, Malinche," Roger said ; " but the present is, at any rate, no time for talking of marriage." " Most of the officers have married," Malinche said. "They may have done so, but they are olHcers, and can maintain their wives in all honour and respect; and have apartments allotted to tliera here. I have neither rank nor station, and .shall certainly not ask my princess to share my rough quarters as a soldier. There is no hurry. As I told you but a year ago, Malinche, I am scarcely out of ray boyhood ; and there will be plenty of time when matters settle down, and we see what is going to happen, to think of marrying." " I will go and speak to Cortez at once, and get leave for you. But you had best disguise yourself well — Tezcuco will be in an uproar to-night; for the capture of Oacama will be known there ere many hours, if it is not known already." She soon returned with the required permission. This time Roger dressed himself in the attire of a trader, as bein" less likely to attract attention. Malinche again secured a boat for him, and having dyed his face and hands, he started at once, as it would be dark before he reached Tezcuco. Since Montezuma had been captive in their hands, there was no longer any fear of an attack being made upon the Sp.iniards, and the soldiers were now able to come and go through the town at pleasure. Upon landing, Roger at once made his way to the palace. There was great excitement in the town. The people were assembled in crowds, discussing the news that had reached them ; and even at the palace gate the guards were careless of their duty, and Roger entered without question. He hurried direct to the royal apartments. An official who would have barred his way allowed him to pass at once when he recog- nized his identity. When he entered he found a scene of grief and confusion ; the queen was extended upon a couch weeping bitterly, while Amenche and some of her ladies, although themselves weeping, were trying to c-onsole her LT." deal of differ- ler." ut the present ) said. cars, and can ict; and have ther rank nor to share my As I told you ray boyhood ; ttle down, and Ting-" get leave for — Tezcuco will icama will be ilready." lission. This ader, as being tin secured a ds, he started died Tezcuco. ids, there was ;he Sp.iniards, I through the io the palace. ) people were had reached Bre careless of He hurried would have len he recog- id a scene of upon a couch if her ladies, console her. "his LIFK IB NOT IN DAMOER." 269 The princess gave aery of j„y when she saw him, and running forward threw herself into his arms. '' You have heard the news ? " she exclaimed. « Cacama is lost. Ihese monsters will put him to deatli." "I can reassure you as to that," Roger said; "he is a captive, but his life is not in danger. Malinclie has inter- ceded for him, and Oortez has promised that his life shall be spared." A cry of gladness burst from all present. "I have other and less pleasant news to give you, Amenche," Eoger whispered in her ear. " Get rid of all these ladies : my news must be for you only." ^ A minute or two later the queen dismissed her ladies. The news I have to tell you," Roger went on, "is, that to- morrow Montezuma will issue a decree deposing Cacama. a- \ appointing Cuicuitzca Lord of Tezcuco." An exclamation of anger and indignation broke from the queen and Amenche. "Hecanno. doit," the latter exclaimed passionately; "it IS beyond his power. The emperor has a voice in the council, but beyond that he has no power to make or unmake the Lords or lezcuco. "At the present moment," Roger said gravely; "he has got the Spanish power at his back, or rather, he is but the mouthpiece of the Spaniards. Tliey are the masters, and care notHing tor the law or usages of your country." ^^ "The Tezcucans will not receive Ciucuitzca," Amenche said; everyone knows that he is weak and cowardly, and of late tie has been at Mexico, dancing attendance on the Spaniards. I hey will never receive him." The queen raised her head from the couch. " We must not build on that, Amenche. He comes, sent here by the Whites, and when Mexico dares not rise against them you may be sure that the people here will not dare to provoke their anger. Besides, who have they to lead them ? Was not . acama boti-ayed by his own nobles ? Let us send for Cuitcati. and hear what he advises us." ■;Ji is 270 "the gods have, indeed, deserted us.' W if Cuitcatl, on his arrival, was so thunderstruck on hearing that Montc/nma liad so debased himself to the Spaniards as to depoise his own nephew, whose only fault was patriotism, and who had been endeavouring to effect his rescue, that he was for a minute or two speechless with indignation. " The gods have, indeed, deserted us," he said, " when they have turiied a monarch who was considered brave and honour- able into a base slave. May their vengeance fall upon him ! May the curse of our ruined country descend upon the man who is the real author of our misfortunes ! " " Do you think, Cuitcatl," Amenche asked, " that the people will 1 eceive this usurper 1 " " I fear, indeed, that they will do so," he replied. " Monte- zuma has appointed him, and Montezuma's name still has power. At any rate it will afford them an excuse for submis- sion ; besides, how could they fight when so many of our own nobles are treacherous 1 Doubtless Cacama will not be the only victim, and Montezuma will, at the orders of the Spaniards, disgi-ace all who have acted with him." "Then what would you advise us to do? We are both resolved that we will not await the coming of this usurper." " My house is at your service," Cuitcatl said ; " it lies, as you know, near the foot of the hills ; and whatever strife may go on here, its quiet is little likely to be invaded. Cuicuitzca will not concern himself at present with you, nor would he venture to take any hostile steps against you, for did he do so it would excite a storm of indignation. As to you. Princess, as his own sister, and of the royal blood, you could if you liked stay here, as at present ; and, indeed, were it not that I am sure you would not leave the queen, I should advise you to do so, for you might then act in the interests of Cacama should you see an opportunity." Amenche shook her head : " No," she said, " brother though he is, I would not bend my head before a usurper while Cacama lives. When do you think we had better leave here 1 " " I should say it were best to leave at once," Cuitcatl say [) us." n hearing that laniards as to atriotism, and ), that he was i, "when they '6 and honour- ill upon him ! ipon the man hat the people ed. " Monte- a.me still has se for submis- ly of our own -ot be the only he Spaniards, We are both is usurper." i; "it lies, as ver strife may I. Cuicuitzca nor would he r did he do so you. Princess, Id if you liked lot that I am /ise you to do 'acama should rother though isurper ■wliilo better leave nee," Cuitcucl A HIDDEN TREA8URB. 271 ^one ^7J\ '^Zr7. ""'^^ ^'^^ -i" know where you hCe from the p 'r ' ''""' '" "'^'^'^^^'^ ^' ^ short "^iistanle ;; What .hall we tak^'^itt ^rc^it^f..^^^^^^ ''^'' Cacama and some of the u>ost valuable stoZ Ind ewd^^^^^^^^^^ the royal treasury leaving all the royal ornamen ^ itn on •'The contents of the whole treasury are his by rights and you must remember. Madam, that jewels may be\^y If't to you. You will have to work for Cacama,^and unhapp l there are many who are not insensible to bribes and th« possession of valuable jewels may enable you o^ of 1 at assistance to the king." j' u tu oe or gieat lilJ %r' '^'"\ "^ ?"''" '^' 'l"^^'^ «^^d- " Yes, you are htLZ U I" ^ u"'^ '^'^"^'^ "^">^ ^y ^^^« late king and by his father before him, its existence is only known to mv husband and myself. I have never seen it hu7 P ^ tells mfi tlinf ,-f ,-o -,« • *" uover seen it, but Cacama n caTe of . ''"'"'"'" ^^^"^' ^^^ ^^s to be used only We caVtlk^wTar"' T'^'T' ^'^'^ ^"^"-"^^ *° *^« «*ate vve can take what we choose from this separate hoard and Cuicuitzca will find from the li.t in the hands of the ch7ef of the treasury that the royal store is untouched/' ^ wellS!t h"! ?Mf ^^ ^'^'^'' ^^deed," Cuitcatl said; "it is well that he should have no pos.'^iblft oo.,gQ -f „«_-,i. • / . ^ you. Where is this hidden J-ecepta'cie'r '' '^"°'* > I ft 272 A DB8RUTKU I'AI-ACB. li li I " Bofore I show it you 1 will ^ell(l all our attendants to bed, tsave the two we will take with us — my own maid and Anienche's." " I will be goinff. Roger Hawkshaw will help you," Cuitcatl said. " It will take some time for Bathalda to got the litters and the men. It is now ton o'clock ; in three hours the litters shall be outside the little gate of the garden, and I will bring six porters to the private door at the foot of the stairs." "That will be enough," the queen said ; "two will be ample for our garments, and you and Roger Hawkshaw can take the jewels, which, when we start, can go in the litters with us." Cuitcatl left. The two ladies who were to accompany the party were then called in, and informed of what had taken place, and that they had been chosen to accompany the queen nxid princess in their flight. " Tell all the others," the queen said, " that we are overcome with the news we have received, and will dispense with all further attendance except your own for the night. When all is quiet, make up your jewels and such clothes as you may wish to bring in bundles ; then go to the wardrobe-room and make up two bundles, each as much as a man can carry, of my garments and two of the same size of those of the princess ; take all our jewels out of the caskets and put them in with our clothes." "When the two waiting-ladies had retired, the queen said to Roger : " Now come with me, and we will open the treasure closet." The palace was by this time hushed and quiet, the greater part of the courtiers had long since left, having hurried away to their homes when the news came of Cacama's arrest, and the remainder had gone to friends in the town or neighbour- hood, as it was thought probable that the Spaniards might at once send a force to take possession of the palace and arrest all found there. Taking some keys from a strong coffer in Cacama's room, and bidding Roger take a torch from the wall, the queen led the way to the royal treasury. A massive door was first CUNNING HiniN'O-PLACB. 273 idanta to bed, n nijiid and rou," Cuitcatl ot the litters 36 hours tho irden, and I e foot of the will be ample can take the H with us." company the it had taken ny the queen are overcome snse with all When all is 1 may wish to md make up my garments take all our r clothes." [ueen said to the treasure , the greater lurried away s arrest, and r neighbour- ,rds might at :e and arrest Jama's room, le queen led 3or was first unlocked, and m a large room were soon ranged vessels of .oM and silver ; strong boxes contninin,, gold necklaces, armlet and other ornaments ; while on lower shelves were ba s of go d and Uver ready to be worked up. They passed through thi room into another he same si.o, around it ran deep shelves^ which were pih:,l the treasury pape-s witli the account of tie vXlTTr T^ *'" ''■'■'•"^'^^ I"^''' '^y "'« ^--- cities and village and land-owners of the kingdoui. In one corner stood a small cupboard of about four foot high, also QUed w'th TpTngatl^r ^" '-' ''''' '^"^'^ ^^' '^-^-' ^ -" cupbord." '''" '"^ *" ^'°'"'' >"" '' '^'' ^'^'^ o{ the boa^d wr tV^'.' instructions, and at a vigorous pull the cup- board, which had appeared solidly embedded in the wall, swung round on one o its a ngles. Nothing, however, was to teZf save a bare wall behind it. . »» w o© seen "Now Roger Hawk.shaw, take your dagger and cut awav that plaster-for it is but plaster, though iUooks iL stonI7 Roger obeyed, the task was an easy one. for the plaster wa^ but half an inch thick, and came off in flakes, sliowing a massif ZZ r^\'' ''.' '^ ^^ ^^'»'^*' ^"d *'"-« feet in 3 behind It. No keyhole was visible. " Press upwards against the lintel," the queen said; "that will release the catch of the door." Roger did so and at the samo .noment pushed with his shoulcler against the door, and it ,. , „g round with ease queenS '''''' "' "''^ '^" """■'' "^^ ^^ ""^ ^«"°-'" ^^e At^fW ^T^ ^''T'^^ ^ ^ """^ "^°"* *^^elve feet square. At the farther end was a pile of gold bars four feet deep and a much high extending right across the room. On the\or abng the other two sides, were ranged a number of large "Open these," the queen said ; " the gold is of no use to us." tfis) B it iiii V : (I I. ., !(' I ill in 'if =, M I 274 A MAUVBLL0U8 TIIEASUBH. Roger was aRtounded at the amount (if wealth thus stored away. " Cacama told ine," the queen said, " that even the treasure- houses of Montezuma are poor in comparison to the treasure his grandfather and father stowed away here, and I can well believe it. You have not opened that small chest yet." This waa opened, and was found to contain a number of bags which were fidl of poails, turquoise, and other precious stones, of huge size and immense value. " We will take this chest away as it stands," the queen said. " It would be awkward to carry," Roger objected ; " it is very heavy, and its shape would tell at once that it contained valuables. The contents do not weigh many pounds, and could easily be wrapped up in a cloth and put into one of the litters without exciting observation. If you will allow me, I will go buck to one of the sleeping rooms and fetch two or three thick rugs." He hurried away, and in a few minutes returned. The bags were transferred from the chest to one of the rugs he had brought, which was then wrapped round and tied into a bundle. On two other rugs wore placed heaps of necklaces and other ornaments from the larger chests, until each con- tained, as nearly as Roger could guess by lifting them, some sixty pounds' weight of gold ornaments. These were similarly tied up, and the three bundles were then carried out from the hidden room, and conveyed to the apartment they had before left. Roger then went back to the treasury, closed the copper door, swept up and placed in a rug every particle of plaster, and then swung the cabinet back into its position, where it fastened with a loud click. So firmly was it fixed, that, althoiigh Roger tried with his whole strength, it did not shake in the slightest ; and the work was so admirably done, that, from the closest in.spection, he was unable to discern aught that would have shown that the cabinet was not built into the wall. He then retui'ued to where the ladies were waiting him. I I thu« Btored the treuHure- the treiwuro ul I can well yet." I number of iher precious 9 queen said, cted ; " it is it contained Is, and could jf the litters me, I will go r three thick urned. The the rugs he ud tied into of necklaces ;il each con- them, some ere similarly )ut from the 7 had before the copper 9 of plaster, ition, where fixed, that, id not shake done, that, scern aught uilt into the rere waiting FLIGHT. 27fi prouds"' .s.r:i^'r'''''V''""'': ''«'^'^'^' -^-^ - ^he degnui: i^ ' loV'to"' '"•' ' '^'""'' ^•^^^ '"^^^•^ jewels." ^ ''""''^« ^^'^'i o»e of those quZlid"'?,;' ""-"''^'"f "'"" "" '^^^'^^ '"««t again," the queen saul, there is no knowing what terrible events may At the appointed hour C.utcatI returned. AH IS in roadinoss," he said. wl,ere 'tZTf^''' '^'''' «"'"'"'>'>«'' from the apartments cee.led dmvn^ 7" ^""^"^^''' ^"^ *''« «•''«!« Party pro- way wih: 1 "' '^"\r'' ^"'" ^'" •^^'••'«"- t^'-t^-tl led^the a:r;;-:Ls^:'£r -^^ ^--«. ^^'^ - thlurirtl.-"'''"^';'' ^"°'^' ^^"^^ ^ " J''^* *!•"« I came at ni^ht hapiiens to thi^ i,.w-,..* i. ®'^'''^' whatever to.Uher I h v« !i .'• '""'''^' ^"« '"^y be happy o^etner i i„ue a good friend in Walinche and if fKl dajjrVf ' J, : ^Tco" "r'T '™7',""'^--» '» ">« are tlnally driven our,™ f "''"' ""' ""« Spa™,d> can then „«|!L t/'r "''" '""""^ '''= o"" "S^to, and give yot, toTe "„*:S L°S ,T' ,"'■, ''■"""■* '"■'■"'■ "'"' -'° ^ ., uio. oo you see that whatever comes the tlat things wiU go happily ^vith ire u uupo us. 276 « I SHALL LOVE YOU UNTIL DEATH M ! ( "I am afraid, Roju'er. I fear tliere is to be no hnppinesa in this unfortunate country." "Then we must leave it together," Roger said cheerfully. "You are natu»-ally depressed now, and see things in their darkest light ; but you will grow more hopeful again when you are once established in Cuitcatl's home. Arrange with him for Bathalda to act as messenger between us : he is faithful and brave, and will manage to reach me whatever comes of it." A few minutes later they were beyond the gardens, the four litters stood ready, the queen and princess and the two ladies took their seats in them, and the three bundles of valuables were also placed inside. " I shall love you— I shall love you until death," Amenche sobbed out, and then the procession moved away, leaving Eoger standing by himself. Skirting the outside wall of the garden, he made his way to the shore of the lake. He found the boatmen asleep in their canoe. As soon as he aroused them, they seized their paddles, and on his taking his seat puslied off. " There is no occasion for speed," he said ; " it is but two o'clock now, and it is of no use our reaching Mexico until daybreak, for the gates of the palace will be closed, and there will be no getting in, dressed as I am, until sunrise." They therefore paddled quietly across the lake, often resting for a considerable time, and so arranging that they approached the city at the same time as a number of market boats from the villages on the lake. "Well," Malinche asked with a smile, as he met her in one of the courts as he entered, " and where is your lady- love?" "I have not brought her here," he said, rather indignantly. " You did not suppose that I was going to bring her back to a barrack-room ; I am not an officer to have a suite of apart- ments to myself. Besides, if I could have had the whole palace to myself, I should not have asked her to forsake her sister-in- law in her dibtress. The two have fled together, and when ths hnppinesa in id cheerfully, ngs in their iin when you ge with him le is faithful atever comes gardens, the and the two » bundles of 1," Amenche viiy, leaving 3 wall of the e. As soon and on his i is but two Mexico until id, and there 9." jften resting ■ approached ; boats from met her in 1 your lady- indignantly. her back to ite of apart- .vhole palace ler sister-in- ad when the THE PRISONBK. 277 S'f^r'r '^"''' '""^'y' '^« ^^^" fi"d that no one knows hWlf 'aToutThfr" f/'T^^^' ' ''^P^ ^« -" -t *'-" v««f 7 t f" '^^^ "^^ Malinche said. "I saw him "I will come again for you in half an hour" she .«ir1 «c the sentry unbolted the door. ' ' *^ Cacama was lying on a couch covered with rough mats appointed cSjIlfoTtZr ''^™'' '»»• "^ louse, wliich hs nJi !, ■ . "'' ""'' *"■'<'<' '<"■ ki" left: and sho„M rt, , "'''"• ''"o" "la' "i»y bad .g.eedtith"°r,''':„ni^r .:\v°" """"-''r''' °'^'™" 278 CACAMA APPROVES. i before he can find whither they have gone. I must tell you, Prince, that the queen last night opened the secret treasury, and took with her a considerable amount of the gold ornaments and the precious stones, so that she should have the means, if opportunity occur, of ofTeriug bribes either to the nobles of Tezcuco, or to your guards here." "I would I wore free but for an hour," Cacama said passionately ; " I would make an example of the treacherous nobles who betrayed us. The queen has done well in going to the secret chamber. It was to be kept for an emergency, and never was there a greater emergency for Tezcuco than now. Still, there were a large number of jewels in the public treasury, which she might have taken without breaking in upon the hoard." " She thought that Cuicuitzca would, on his arrival, inquire from the chief of the treasury if everything was untouched ; if he had found that a large number of valuables had been taken, ho would connect it with the flight, and would at once send in all directions to overtake them ; whereas, if he found that everything were untouched, he would think no more of her." "Quite right," Cacama agreed. " Yes, it was certainly better to open the secret chamber. It was closed up again, I hope ; for I would not that all the treasure which my father and grandfather stored away should be wasted by Cuicuitzca, or fall into the hands of his greedy friends the Spaniards." Roger informed him of the steps that had been taken, and that, with the exception of the fact that the plaster had been removed, all was exactly as before, and that the entrance could never be discovered unless the cupboard was torn from its pLce. "There is little fear of that being done. All the shelves and fittings of the treasury are of the plainest wood, and offer no inducement to anyone to take the trouble to break them down. The treasury might be sacked a dozen times without its occurring to anyone to break down that solid cupboai-d in the cornet'.** THE TIME WILL COMB. 279 ust tell you, •et treasury, d ornaments the means, he nobles of ]!acama said treacherous ell in going emergency, 'ezcuco than n the public breaking in ival, inquire untouched ; 83 had been ould at once if he found ik no more iainly better lin, I hope J father and licuitzca, or irds." taken, and plaster had he entrance ,3 torn from the shelves wood, and le to break dozen times that solid Roger now told Cacama of the arrangement that Lad been made that Bathalda should act as messenger between himself and Amenche, and said he doubted not that on the following day the man would present himself. I! J? T/''" *°^ message to send to the queen ? " he asked. lell her that I am well, and that I am delighted to hear she has left the palace before Cuicuitzca arrives. Bid her on no account to try to stir up the false nobles in my favour, they would only betray her to Montezuma : and so long as the Spaniards are masters hero it is useless to think of revolt elsewhere. 1 do not believe that this will last long The Mexicans are patient and submissive, but there is a limit and Montezuma has almost reached it. The time cannot be tar off when the people will no longer endure the present state of things here; and when they rise they mil overwhelm these Spanish tyrants, and then I shall be freed. I can wait tor a few weeks, and I shall doubtless have companions here ere long. ^ The door now opened, and Malinche looking in told Roger that he must leave, as she was required by Cortez. Savin" good-bye to Cacama, therefore, he returned to his quarters. * CHAPTER XVII. THE INSURRECTION. /^ACAMA'S prognostication was speedily verified; for in V the course of the next two or three clays, all the nobles who had joined him in preparations for a risin^ were by Montezuma's orders, arrested and sent in in chains, and' were placed with him in prison. Bathalda came on the day after Roger's return, with the news that the two ladies had reached Cuitoatl's house in safety, and, as they believed without exciting observation. The queen was anxious to know if he liad seen Cacama, and whether her husband had li 280 FABULOUS WEALTH. !f^ i t any instructions for her. Amonche simply sent him some flowers gathered by her own hand. Roger gave Bathalda Cacama's message to the queen. While out in the market, he purchased a large packet of choice and delicate sweet- meats, of which he knew Amenche was particularly fond, and gave them to Batlialda, with the message that he would some day teach her to read and write, and then when they were away from each other, they could talk at a distance. For some little time things went on quietly, but the Spanish greed and bigotry gradually worked the Mexicans up to a point of fury. At the suggestion of Cortez, Montezuma sent collectors to all the principal cities and provinces, accompanied by Spaniards, and these brought back immense quantities of gold and silver plate and other valuables, and to these Monte- zuma added an enormous treasure that had been accumulated and hidden by his father, amounting to a sum which astounded even the Spaniards. Tlie value of the gold alone was equal to nearly a million and a half pounds sterling in the present day, besides a vast amount of gold ornaments and jewellery, and feather-work of excellent manufacture. A fifth of this was set aside for the King of Spain, the rest divided among the officers and soldiers. Even the extortion of this vast sum from the people might have been passed over in quiet had the Spaniards been con- tent to abstain from interference with their religion, but during the weeks that had elapsed since Montezuma had been a prisoner in their hands, they had vainly endeavoured to convert the emperor and the nobles and attendants on him to C'hristianity. 'i'hey had listened attentively to the preaching and exhortations of Father Olmedo j but their faith in their own gods was unshaken, the bloody sacrifices were carried on as usual in the temples, and these horrible spectacles natur- ally excited the wrath and indignation of the Spaniards to the utmost, although they themselves had in Cuba and the islands put to death great numbers of the natives in pursuance of their own religious views. Cortez, with many of his leaders, went to the emperor, and told him that they would no longer nt him some a,ve Bathalda the market, slicate sweet- rly fond, and 8 would some an they were ice. b the Spanish 3ans up to a ntezuma sent accompanied quantities of these Monte- accumulated ch astounded me was equal I the present ad jewellery, bh of this was id among the people might ds been con- religion, but ma had been leavoured to its on him to le preaching aith in their re carried on tacles natur- Spaiiiards to uba and the in pursuance f his loaders, lid no longer "h' A WARNING. 281 2m t'tW j,';;.r' '-"■^'^ *-« ^ handed over to among the Spaniards at this peri In Tl ^°^"'^' "^"'"'^ the s„„„i, .„a . »,e„,„ „Ln::'„:,Cj"*"« -"'"' '^ ifte result of this occupation of the tfimnln ^f fi, • soon visible in the conduct of t e M.^ ?r' ^""^ ""^ In the meantime at Mexico everv T.reo.utinn v--,, tl v the .,a„ia..a3. «i„„e M„„te.u.a had'teen in^LrilniThej: 282 A HOSTILE ARMY. had felt in perfect security, had wandered about the city and neighbouring country as they chose, fished upon the lake, and hunted in the royal preserves. Now the utmost vigilance was observed, strong guards were mounted, the soldiers slept in their armour with their arms beside tliem, and were no longer permitted to leave the palace. At this moment news arrived that filled the mind even of Cortez with consternation. The expedition that he felt sure Velasquez, the Governor of Cuba, would despatch against him, had arrived on the coast, and had landed. It consisted of eighteen vessels, carrying nine hundred men, of whom eighty were cavalry. So large a fleet had never before been collected in the Indies. It was commanded by a Castilian noble, named Panfilo de Narvaez. Until they arrived at the coast they had learnt very little of what was happening in Mexico, as the vessels which Cortez had despatched had avoided touching at the islands. They now learnt from the Spaniards left on the coast all that had taken place ; and Narvaez found with indignation that Cortez was the conqueror of a great empire, and that the honour and wealth had been reaped by a man whom he considered as an insolent adventurer, instead of by Velasquez. He therefore at once proclaimed his intention to march against Cortez, and to punish him for his rebellion, and the natives who had flocked to his camp soon comprehended that the new army had arrived as enemies, and not as friends, of the white men who had preceded them. A small body of the troops of Cortez, commanded by Sandoval, were in garrison at Villa Rica ; and he at once des- patched a messenger with the news to Cortez and prepared for a vigorous defence. A priest, a noble, and four Spaniards who arrived from Narvaez, ordering him to surrender, were bound, placed on the backs of Indian porters, and sent off to Mexico under a strong guard. When the news of the arrival of the force of Narvaez reached Mexico the soldiers were delighted, believing that means were now at their disposal for their return home ; but ■when they heard from their officers that the new-comers were t the city and the lake, and vigilance was diers slept in vere no longer mind even of b he felt sure I against him, ; consisted of whom eighty been collected noble, named oast they had exico, as the d touching at Is left on the z found with great empire, )ed by a man instead of by intention to rebellion, and iomprehended lot as friends, mmanded by ) at once des- ind prepared ur Spaniards [•render, were nd sent off to of Narvaez ?lieving that n home ; but '-comers were PEACEABLE OVERTURES REJECTED. ggg On the arrival of the prisoners, Cortez received them with the greatest courtesy, apologized for the rough co'TucI of ^t"o'aTn ; 'te ,f "^'f ^" t^ P^^^^'^^^ converZ'tem Narvae had^o , rr*^ ^ '^' ^'''''' '^■'' ^^e soldiers of rhrm^'r^ult' n r* ''- '- '- ^-^^-' -^ '« ^^a^J witn him the fruits of his successes. The priest fulfilled his mission a„d added his own advice that the^fle.s of Corte should be accepted. Narvaez rejected the counsel with scorn but the accounts of the priest of the splendour of the o^ y' l.e rich spoils won by the soldiers, and also of the gene o L; and^ I^pulanty of Oorte, exercised a great influence^Zr te letters '"Thl?' ''"•"•-,' '^ ^^*^"'' ^'"^'^'^« ^^h some more ^uS' his stavT.b" '^^"'^^^^J-^-' by Narvaez, but Olmedo ail mg his stay at the camp, contrived largely to add to the pretl^h Tr-H^.'^f"' '' '^^ ^'"auence^Jd the ntmer u p events he distributed among the officers and soldiers. Cortez had some time before despatclied Don Velasquez de Leon to nkn. ?'''^ °^^'"' "^*^ ^ J--^^-d and fifty men' to plant a colony near the mouth of one of the great risers' He was a km.sman of the Governor of Cuba, and Naivae had on landing sent to him begging him to quit the service of Coitz and march with Lis troops to join him but on']"''' '""'''-'^ "^ ^'"^^ ''' ''' «"<^ ^t °"«« for Mexico but on las way was met by a messenger from Cortez who ordered him to stop at Cholula for fuither orders Cortez summoned a force of two thousand natives from Z ^^^^It P^-uvince of Uhinantla, a«d leaving Pedro d'A'haiado L 284 AW BAST VTCTORT. IN command of a hundred and fifty Spaniards in Mexico, marched with tlie remainder of his force, consisting of some seventy men only, for Cholula. Here he was joined by Velasquez with his hundred and fifty men. Thus reinforced they marched to Tlascala, where six hundred native troops joined him. But his allies soon fell off. They had had too severe an exjterience of the fighting powers of the white men to care about taking part in a battle with them, and so many deserted on the way that Cortez dis- missed the rest, saying that he would rather part with them then than in the hour of trial. On reaching Perote they were joined by Sandoval with fifty Spaniards, which brought their number up t^ two hundred and sixty-six, only five of whom were mounted. On their march towards Cempoalla, where Narvaez had now e.stablished his headquarters, they were met by an embassy from him, requiring the acknowledgment by Cortez of his authority, oilering at the same time that all who wished to leave should be transported in his vessels. By liberal presents Cortez won over the members of the embassy, who returned to Cen)poalla to inform the soldiers there of the liberality of Cortez, and of the wonderful array of gold ornaments and chains worn by his soldiers. Narvaez advanced to meet Cortez, but the weather proving bad again fell back on Cempoalla. Cortez, on the other hand, took advantage of the weather, and in the night fell upon the garrison, and took them completely by surprise. Sandoval, with a small band, had been told off to attack the temple occupied by Narvaez, and to take him prisoner. The general, with the troops in the temple, defended himself bravely until seriou.s]y wounded by one of the long spears with which Cortez had armed his men. The thatched roof of the temple was set on fire, the defenders were driven out by the smoke, and Narvaez was seized and made prisoner. Another division under Olid fell upon the guns, captured them, and turned them upon the temples in which the troops were quartered, when the soldiers, whose loyalty to their commander had aheady been sapped, accepted the offer of Cortez of an tiexico, inarched if some seventy is hundred and TIascala, where s allies soon fell of the fighting part in a battle that Cortez dis- part with them erote they were I brought their ly five of whom mpoalla, where they were met Dwlcdgment by ne that all who isels. Qembers of the m the soldiers derful array of iers. Narvaez ing bad again er hand, took fell upon the 3e. I off to attack him prisoner, fended himself ng spears with 3(1 roof of the en out by the ler. Another ed them, and 3 troops were >ir commander Cortez of an STARTLING NRW8. 285 frz'i!^!::T^-^^:;:"'-fp-^-i„the.dvant„ge^ --ascaptain-generarr/we;:--— -t-^^^ 4^f:e^S;^;!:;:,t^,:- ^- .man had boe„ the they had taken, but n the c 1 ' n^^'r"'^''''^'''^^' *''« •^-"'^e native allies from Ch n.n In ? '" ''''^ ^^'' ^''^ tl'""'^and anee. and the p'o^ Z rb:Th^^^^ "^' ''"'^ "^'''^'^'"^ -^^npear of Cortez with the inhal ' nts of . ^'''''"'' '^ '^'' '""'"'"''« "murmuring, especiall J a CW° '^'TT'^' P"^ ''^ "^^^P ^ the from them%o^be r tmned "nT di'" t'.".'' '""^ '^P^^^'^ ^^^en siderable sums of mo^r.^^,^:^'^f''\ --"« them con- content among his own vTtor.n f' '"'"'' """■•'"'"•« «f dis- been deprived^f thelpoi th" 'Jj "• ''^Tf ^''^^^ ti.ey had T]>e eloquence of tifo gener 1 Jf'^' '"^ ""^• cessftd in pacifyinc. them W . ' ""' "'"'^'' ^^'^« «»«" he broke up his orce Tnd . I''"''"' ^"'■*^^^' ^'^^"Ities, Diego de Ordazandasldhr T , ''1 ''''''''''' '"^^ "^'^e to form settlezuents on ir s rV"'"" ^^^-'l-z de Leon, n^en to Vera Cruz to disl ft ., n '"'''' ■'^'^'^ ^^^'« I'^^^dred l-ad these part eff ."^ef ! 1^" ""^^ '' ^™- Scarcely from Alvarado, sayi^l.: I^at thr^r- "'"7^ "^'^ ^^"-« as.^aulted the Spanfar.ls in thei. r^"' '^"^ "^^«" ^^<^ undermined the walls and f>, T""'*^''"' '''''^ ^^^ Partly garrison had been iS td nd '' "/'" '?'""=" ''''''-' «' t^e at once despatched mt en" . , E v","'" """'^''- ^«^*- ordered them to march fo ,''''^"'" ^"^' ^rdaz, and hundredmenfrom Vac' 'T,r "' '''^""''^^''^' ^'^'^^^^d a The troops suffelnnu 1 'i^ h •" "' ^""■'• country to the foot ofTe ], H , "' T"^ ""''^'^ the low power. However, they retle 1?. r'''\^ ''''' "^ *«"'iWe byOrdaz and VelasZef t' ^^''^■'^^''^' ^^^^ ^^^^^ tained by their J^teZn, anZlT', )""' '"P^*'^'^^^ -^-- with these and eleven huVdzerSnT ^'l ^°^"''^' '^'''^' «"d were cavalry, they mlcZtnl ^^T"^.'' "^ ^'^^°°^ * ^^^^^red northern route t W ! P ^^^'ards Mexico. Thevtooka mo^e route than before, and crossing the mountains i;id E ^{-wtll 286 A FOUL MA8SACRB. their way on to Tozcuco, Upon (heir route tlirough the plains the peasantry held aloof, and tlie greater portion of the popula- tion of Tezcuco withdrew before their arrival, and even its new lord, although appointed at the instigation of Cortez, was absent from the city. Dcspatcliew arrived from Alvarado saying that the Mexicans had for the last fortnight ceased their attacks, but were blockading him in the palace. Cortez marched down tlie lake shore on the following day and crossed the causeway to the city. Not a native was to be seen near the line of march, not a boat was visible on the lake, and an air of gloom and solitude hung over everything, showing but too plainly the altered feelings with which the natives regarded the Whites. The streets were similarly deserted. When the head of the column reached the palace the gates were thrown open and the garrison rushed out to greet the new-comers \vith joyful shouts. Cortez now learned the reason of the rising of the Mexicans. It was the result of a hideous act of treachery on the part of Alvarado. In the mouth of May was the great festival of the war god, which was held in his great temple, and the ciiciques asked permission of Alvarado to use for the day that portion which had been handed over to the Spaniards. He agreed to the request on the condition that the Aztecs should celebrate no human sacrifices, and should come unarmed. At least six hundred nobles attended in tlieir most gorgeous robes, and Alvarado and his soldiers were present as spectators. While the Aztecs were employed in a religious dance, Alvarado gave the signal, his men rushed upon them with their arms, and every one of them was massacred unresistingly, not a single soul escaping. Various motives were assigned for this most foul massacre ; some writers have ascribed it solely to the desire for plunder ; others to the desire of Alvarado to strike a blow tliat would intimidate the Mexicans from making any insurrectionary move- ment. Alvarado himself declared that he had information that the Mexicans intended to rise, but he gave no proofs whatever to justify his suspicions. The affair, indeed, seems A FURIOUS ATTACK. iigh the plains of the popula- and even its on of Cortez, Tom Alvarado •tnight ceased lace, following day tive was to be visible on the II' everything, th which the 'ere similarly ed the palace rushed out to the Mexicans. Y on the part 3at festival of id the Ciiciques J that portion He agreed to Duld celebrate At least six jR robes, and itors. While Llvarado gave sir arms, and not a single jul massacre ; for plunder ; w til at would tionary move- I information VG no proofs indeed, seems to have been 287 { I uw ^''^^ indefensible, and mtist ever reui-iln « toul blot upon Spanish honour. * Cortez was extremely angry at hearing what had taken i;lace, and alter listening to Alvarado/explanation ^d "You have done badly; you have been false to your' trit i your conduct ha^ been that of a madman I " ^ fh?\^'u\'^^''"'''° ^""^ ^*™«k had a contrary effect to thu which he had expected of it. No sooner had the nev^ ot the massacre spread throu-h the citv fhnn fU . T pophtion ,.^e, a„J at dawn n^.l ml'^X .tal^'t nl'lhTn .''T''''"','"''^- '^°'™«» °f »«'«» were pot'ed upon the defenders The walU we™ assaulted, and the Zrks TloZ ■ '"•"',."'° P"'™" "■«'" ''"» been taken harno They obeyed him as usual, and withdrew from the assault but threw un works immrl fi,« , i j assault, the Spaniard's Tut Th "le had^ ". ^T^'"' '' '''''' but suffered 3everely'tt;^l-ruZ^^^^^ to L'eVrm "n/r." '" ''"^P^^ ^^*^ '^' ''^-''' °f Montezuma to see Him He had some reason to doubt the good faith of fT! .r„™ej ha»^ rt4i r >hrre:i :: :;r :£ the. satet, to the eMpr.:^!^^" ^"„' ^pLt an vantages he would gam from 288 A FHESH INSULT. ii Monte/iima boing in his li.imlH; but for this he himself, and not the emperor, was to blaiue. At first the capture had nil the success that he had expected from it. Tlio peoplo had obeyed their einpoior as implicitly when a captive as when iiis power had been supremo ; thoy had sent in their noljlos prisonoi's and bound at his orders ; they had built ships for these stranfjors ; they had sufVerod them to go urmiolo-ited through the country; but there was an end even to Aztec patience. The avarice of the white men had drained the country of its wealth ; their arrogance had humiliated their pride ; their occupation of their holiest temple and the insults to their gods had aroused them to fury, and the massacre in cold blood of six hundred of their nobles while engaged in religious dtvotions had bjen the signal for an explosion. Their emperor, formerly so venerated, they now regarded with contempt, as the creature of the Spaniards, as the betrayer of his country, and the though u of his safety no longer restrained their thirst for vengeance. Cortez, however, was in no mood to reflect. " What have I to do with this dog of a king," he exclaimed, " who suflers us to starve before his eyes 1 Go, tell your master and his people," he sr.id, fiercely, to the Mexicans, " to open the markets, or we will do it for thorn at their cost ! " The chiefs, who were the bearers of Montezuma's message, left his presence in deep resentment, and reported to the emperor and to the people outside the manner in whicli Montezuma's request for an interview had been , refused. Cortez, however, thought it politic to relen: 3 Cuitlahua, Montezuma's brother, who Lad been among those iT\ipri^-)ned for taking share in Cacama's league, and alloiNf^d him (o go into the city, thinking that he would allay the tumult. But Cuitlahua was a man of difl'erent spii-it from his brother, he was heir-presumptive to the throne and a bold and daring prince. The people welcomed him at once as Montezuma's t>preseiitative, and chose him to represent the emperor during ^ -V \ii. nfir T-uent. Cuitlahua accepted the post^ and immediately I le himself, and now regardcil as the betrayer n ** TOU ARB OUT OP SriRlTS, YOl SQ FELLOW." 289 Po.'or had not boon with the party that accoinpaniod Cortez ->^h s;:eo;::^^:'jr;d:^.r-^^ "^- - ^^->.«^ very h.."J '""J^ '"'l'^' ^'' '"^^^° °^« «°' J"'-^"." I^o;?er replied iu L s broken Spanish : "you see I am white by blood bt I have dear fr.euds au.ng the natives. What do I so ' As a^Ute I perceive that our position here is one of the grave t danger and at destruction may f.U „po„ .,« ,,.. L ^ , Xf' din an7 ''' ^''V"'""-^ P'""^^^''^'^ *''« I-l'l« trochlea people " ""'' °' *"' '^^' '"^^ '^^'^ "^'^y ^' *'- -J-l" .7jrhi-r^S::t:^^'^^^ no'bSer 'ti'.!!;' "^"^ ""^^'"' '^'^ disdalnMly. " The nativesare no Dotter tliiin so many women." «™fl?t'vr° """;""■ "'"^ "* ""■'■"■' "PPonenta whon tier T 1 l^'^ > ' ''r" ■ ""'' y°" '"i-"»k« tl'o* Mexican? tenor inr- V- ""' ^"'^ ''''^°"^' ^•^^' above all by the tenor mspire.l by your horses-but this will not last Ihl Mexicans now know that you are but men 1!.^ " 4t -' •'y tight, m«pired both by national ■ (•11) spirit and the 290 koqek's position. m memory of their wrongs, I tell you that you will have hard work to hold your own." " Ah well ; " Juan grumbled ; " if it must come it must, it will not disturb my appetite." When Roger learned that orders had been given for the massacre at the temple, he determined firmly that he would take no part in the deed, whatever it might cost him to refuse. Fortunately he found no difficulty in persuading one of the soldiers, told off to act as a guard at the p"\ace during the absence of the rest, to change places with him, as the man wanted to have his share in the expected plunder. Had Cacama been at liboi-ty, Roger would not have hesitated a moment, but would have left the Spaniards and thrown in his lot with the Mexicans; but now it was impossible to do so. The frenzied population would have seized any white man they came upon outtiide the walls of the palace, and would have carried him to the altars of their gods. It would be hopeless to endeavour to explain that he was of another race. All white men would be alike in their eyes. He bitterly regretted now that he had returned from Tezcuco. Had he at that time gone with the queen and princess to the house of his friend Cuitcatl, ho could have remained there in quiet, and the natives would have seen that he, at least, had no part or share in this horrible massacre. Now it seemed to him, that there was nothing to be done, save to share the lot of the Spaniards, whatever that might be. He believed that the Mexicans would storm the palace, and slaughter all within it, long before the return of Cortez, and he by no means shared the confident anticipation of the soldiers, that the general on his arrival would very speedily put down any insurrection that might occur, and would with the assistance of the soldiers of Narvaez soon bring all Mexico into subjection. It had happened that both Juan and Pedro had also been on guard during the massacre. This was a great satisfaction to him, for he felt he could no longer have remained in inti- mate communion with them, had their hands been drenched with innocent blood. When, upon their being relieved at their ill have hard ne it must, it given for the he would take im to refuse, ig one of the 59 during the , as the man kinder. Had e hesitated a thrown in his ible to do so. lite man they 1 would have that he was in their eyes, from Tezcuco. rincess to the ined there in i least, had no eemed to him, the lot of the ved that the all within it, means shared the general J insurrection )f the soldiers lad also been satisfaction to lined in inti- een drenched isveu av bheir "it 18 A BAD BUSINESS." 291 posts, they joincHl each other in the cha.iiber they shared in cou.n,on, thool soldier held up his hand and .said Jrulilyl i)o you hold your tongue, Sancho. I know what you are thinking, lacl, as well as if you said it; and maybe iT not disagree with you, but least said soonest mended. These ^ooms^thout doors are not places for a man to relieve h sTeHorl T^ fTl '^. ''" '^'-^^^^^"^ *° '^^^'^ ^-^ ^^- Sla H,. '' ^ ^"^ ^"""'^■^^ ^^"^> '^ «^'-"«f«' one. At am an old soldier, and have taken many a life in mv \\m^ hnf u^;::^ ''-f "^'T:- '^y -thin ^iraPanTr Hke H ^ ' '"'" "^ ^'"^S outsi.Ie this city, or on the H°ht Tf H •".^''''''o ''""'^ '' ^^'^ «^^'^« "« thoroughly £;. r r '\^' ^ ^P^"^^^^ ^'^d a Catholic let me be a Mexican and a heathen." "There, there, that is enough," Juan interrupted. "Now lot us have our supper." "I can eat nothing," Roger said, thromng himself down on the eouch where he remained in silence untifa sudden oururst of wi.d shouts and cries, followed instantly by the trumpe calling every man to hxs allotted place on Uie'^walls aZed jy^^ T^.f? ven::eance has begun," he said, gravely as pike. I o ly hope I may see Alvarado, the author of this massacre, killed before I am " JhTeto^ '"' '"'' " ''''''' '''' '''' ^°°"^' ^^^ he followed nJ"^° If*'^ ^ "^^ """^ ^''''^'' him, he has been brou<^ht up among these people." "tuu^uc up ful buslls "'\V'f f '?'^ ^°""»" '''''''' '^'^ •' "'' - ^ «hame- butche T u ^^"^'" '^^^' ^^'^ ^^'^'•^ '^^^^^S here to be What L ,7' f ""'' ^^"^" '^-'•^^^ ^^"'^^^^ "^^er Cortez. What should we have said if, on our first arrival here, whtn 292 "the thing is done.** Montezuma entertainod Cortez and all the cavaliora, his people had slain tlioni at Mio foast ? " " IIol(l your toiiirun, you young fool ! " Juan muttered angrily. " The thing is done, and you cannot undo it. What wehave to do now is to fight for our lives ; even if these poor devils have right on thoir side, it is not a matter to stop and discuss now ; so koop your breath for fighting. I doubt not that we shall soon scatter them like chaff." But this was by no means the case, and it was only the intervention of Montezuma that saved the garrison from destruction. The time until the arrival of Cortez had passed slowly. The soldiers, weakened by hunger and thirst, muttered angrily against the officer who had so rashly brought them into this strait. Few of them regretted the deetl for its own sake, but simply because it had brought on them peril and misfortune. Roger had borne his share of the fighting on the walls. He was defending his life, and although at first he iiad fought with little ardour, the pain given by two arrows which pierced his cotton armour heated his blood, and he afterwards fought as stoutly as the rest. During the peiiod of inaction he had more than once tried to obtain an inter\iew with Cacama ; but the prisoners were jealously watched, and no one was allowed access to them on any pretext, and two oiHcers always accompanied the men who took in their daily rations. They were regarded as hostages, only less important than Montezuma himself; and as most of them were very rich and powerful caciques, they might offer bi-ibos which might well shake the fidelity of any privai.e soldier. ^\■hen the news arrived that Cortez, with the whole of the army of Nar\aez, was at hand, the depression that had reigned gave way to exuKation, and the soldiers believed that they would now take the offensive, and without loss of time put an end to the insurrection. Marina had accompanied Cortez on his expedition, for she was Btiii ujK^ssary to him as an interpreter, and hev influence JUS, his people tered angrily. iT'hat we have e poor devils p and discuss ; not that we was only the arrison from assed slowly. tored angrily lem into this wn sake, but 1 misfortune. 6 walls. He > had fought phich pierced wards fought m once tried risoners were to them on led the men regarded as limself; and iciques, they lelity of any whole of the ; had reigned 3d that they time put an tion, for she hev influence I "my heart is broken, ROGER." 293 ^•th the natives was great. Roger obtained an interview with her a few hours after her return. She had evidently been crying passionately. ^uwauy ooen " My heart is broken, Roger," she said. « I had hoped that th. while men would have done great things for my country trouble aTf't'r'' '"' '^l'"'«^'^ ' *^°"S'^* ^^-^ -^S'^ be trouble at first, for great changes can never be introduced without trouble, I never dreamt of anything like this. cZX and the Spaniards would have been slain had they not first begun to kill; but here it is altogether different. ^It was 4 Whites and Mexicans can ever be friendly together? I love Cortez he is great and generous, and had he been here this would have never happened; but many of his people aircruef and they are_ all greedy of wealth, and he, generarthough he IS, has to give way to them. ° "I remember that in the old days at Tabasco you told me how cruelly the Spaniards had treated the people of the islands; but when I saw them first, I thought that you, beiri' of a different nation, had spoken too hardly of them I see now. that you were right. I have all along done what I could for my people, and though I am with the invaders, I am sure they recognize this and tnat they feel no ill-will against me • but now I fear that they wUl curse me as they will curse ^em, and that through all time my name wiU be abhorred L Mexico, and she again burst into tears. ;'I do not think so, Malinche. At Tezcuco it was always said that you stood between the natives and the Whites and It was owmg to you that they were not more harsh than they were. As to this massacre, God forbid that I should say a single word in defence of it ! Asa :vhite man and a Christian, 1 teel It IS an act of horrible atrocity; but it should not make such an impression upon your people, who make wars solely to obtain victims whom they may sacrifice at the altars of their gods; and who every yrar slay in cuKl blood fully twenty-tive thou^nd people wiio have done them no wrong. By the side ii 294 K : !. I "WHAT WILL YOU DO, ROGER ?« but this was a foul act o t e'el erl" wT '' '' ^'^^^^^efves beheve :n the p.-onasos of the Wh L/ '^' '^'^^ *^^' ^^^ You WJutes despise them because h!t ^''^^ *^^« P««Pl«- themselves to be snbch.ed Sol tf- ;'''"' ^''^'"'-'^ allowed tbeir first awe of the Spania^Trn Resistance; but now that nerved themselves to tS 'n « "^ ^^^^' ^"'^ ^hey have -e brave. I see nothi JU^rbl H "^" '"^ "^^ *W conhdent that he can oi sily r plj ''''"!/'^- ^«r*«^ feels theaty and the country round^bttr 7 ^"''''' "'^^ «"bdue ^ "^or do I, Malinohe T' ''"*^ ^ ^« "°* ""nk so." bravely than the Mexi^ns t h e oC T'' r"'^ ^°"«"h* --« were but in small numbers, andlw '^- ^' '' ^''"^ ^b^* -« stronger, and have Cortez to . T ^'^ "«^^ ^^"7 times band, the attack was ^ut alT^'"^ "'' ^"' °« *be othir shall have the whole Meltnl'^ °"'' "°^ *^« ««-<^ time we "What will you do, Ro^,^^^ "P- -•" I must fijrht fnv tu^ o "They are not mylut^r'^^f [. ^oger ^'^ ^^oom^'ly. I am and surrounded by foes • t-f ^r^'" ^^^^e men as The Mexicans cannot distinguish If' ' ""''' "« ^P^ion. Engbshmen, and I should be ^JeSd an7''° .JP^^iards"^ and set foot beyond the walls. WeletS^ 'T^''^ ^^^"^ ^ to the cty, join Amonche, and7erve that '' '\"' ^ ^°"'d ^^avo to fight out their quaiTel ««?.! Spaniards and Mexicans won the result wo,?, be ^t,/ ^^^^^^^ ^"* ^^^ which ver -ctonous, I, like al, other Vviites w'; n V'^ ''^^^^^^ -«re gods; af the Spaniards ^von I shouldT ^' '''''^''^ to their Iherefore, there is nothin^ftf^^/V^f "ted ^' ^ traitor. cne palace, within OGER?*» lerofsixhuTKiredthe t Wood annualjy sliej n nothing," Malinche e altars of the gods, 'ey do it themselves • VJ'o, after this, can i know the people, ve hitherto allowed nee; but now that wny, and they have ^ill find that they •e us. Cortez feels attack, and subdue ot think so." have fought more It IS true that we e now many times but on the other the next time we 3r said gloomily, re white men as have no option. Spaniards and rificed were I to 'at I would leave ds and Mexicans t now whichever ' Mexicans were ^crificed to their ;ed as a traitor. to remain with t may be," iie city, not a puluco, withiij i. i\ m I THE MESSENGER RETURNS AT A GALLOP WOUNDED IN A SgORE op PLACES, r n DEP THE MEXICANS' ADVANCE. 295 which the Spaniards were virtually prisoners. Cortez honed rerrt:, fr-^""^'r J^"^'^ soon persuade th^ peop7 1 return to their tisual habits, and to open the markets for provisions ; bu m any case he felt so confident of his power to overawe the city that he sent off a messenger with de^atch^ to the coast, saying that he had arrived safely, and should soon overcome all opposition. In balf-an-hour, howevex the messenger returned at a gallop wounded in a .'core of places He reported that the city was up in arms, the drawbriZs paZe ' *'' '''"^^'^^ ^''' "^''^*""-" towrrdsThe Sca«ely had he arrived when the sentinels on the towers tl^^trT"^ T^ ^«r« poaching by all the streets ind flS f f J«\ and immediately afterwards the terraces and flat roofs of the houses near were darkened by thron^rs of natives shouting and brandishing their weapons. The trumpet instantly sounded to arms, and so strict was the disciZe that prevailed, that in an incredibly short time every so£r was at his post. The position was capable of being defended against a very numerous enemy unprovided with artillery, for the wall round the great one-storied building though low was strong and the turrets, placed at intervals\pon it, enaWed he defenders to command its face, and to pour missiles upon any who might be bold enough to endeavour to effect a breach by undermining it with crowbars and levers. The garrison tw^lH "TT^ ''' ''' ^^^^"^^' f^^- ^^«^« -«^« -0' only some twelve hundred Spaniards, but the eight thousand Tlascalan The Aztecs rushed forward with the shrill whistle used as a battle-cry by the people of Anahuac, and as they advanced poured a rain of missiles of all kinds upon the^alace, to which were added those shot from the terrLes and flat roofs The Spaniards had pierced the walls with embrasures for their cannon, and these commanded all the avenues. The gunners waited untd the columns were close at hand, and thfn the L errible discharge swept lanes through the crowded masses in the streets, ior a moment the Mexicans paused, paralyzed 296 A TBRRIBLB ASSAULT. they swept up to the verv fnnf IflV '^,; P'®'^''''^ °° "'^^^'l of arrows ^ ^''^^ ""^ ^^^ ^^''"•■^' P^^^'ing in a hail and whose nn^ssJK':; o^^ ",1^ '^^f ^ great force from hnriilod^L.^P ?"'''"''""" ^^'^ -oundcd ,.,.o.t number ' of 1 em \f '^'^'^^^ F'T'''' ^"^ strive to olimb the walls ThT . '''"' "^''^ <^''« ^'^^t«'^« as they showed eiT h ads abo'eT: *^' "° '''f ^"'»"''*' ^"* down by the Spanish IrnnI P'"'*P'*^' ^'^^^ ^^re shot the weapons of ZlLeSs rliP "/^''""f '^'^^^^'^^'^^ ^^ tried to batter down re Xet C^lh\ ''''' "^'^'^^'^' '^^^ but the stonework was ton !^ . ^^'''^^ P'"''^" ^^ *'"^ber, arrows intoTe X antSer if -^^ 'r" f^' ''"-"^^ wall. ' ^"'^®'' blazing torches over the worL'SVadleeT °^«*°^^ ^"^ «-« of the exterior -ere so"n on fire Z^'Z T^'^T '' "^'^' ^^^ *hese to extinguish the n2l f"? t^ "" ^^"*^'- ^^^^^ which works joied the wnTthe fi?« '"^^ T'^' "'"^'^ ^^^ ^«- afraid it would sp^ad to tl ""'? '" ^''■'" *'^"^ ^^^^ ^^^e were forced to ndont tL ^ P''"'^"'' ^"^ ^° extinguish it the wall 4ot;lit:i'7T^^^^^^^^^^ guarded by a batterv of hi..T . '"'''''^ *^"'' ^''^'^« was and tlj rep S^v ^^ftf;"?"^r*^°^^^^ adv..tageof {he bro::h-b^^^^^^^^^ - take drewV/^'^cSr ::i r nf ^ ^^"' ^'^^ ^^^ ^-^-^« ^^en obstinacy with which tlev 17^'%""" '^^^'""^^^^ ^^ ^'^^ death they had dJpved^^^C^^^^ <^^« «^ntempt of with forces but a f3 of t lot t^ 'J^"'^ '^"'^ ^"^^ ^^'''^^^^^ that he had formed he loL ■ "^' ?''''' "°^ ^o'^n.anded the Aztecs. But he nl T T.uV^ '^' ^^'^"'^^ P^^'^^ o{ traznpled upon w tMmrnt"' flt^^^^ "f ^^ ^^ ^^ ^ be *- impunity. However, he consoled himself r rushed forward 'Unto their midst, pressed on until a hail MEXICO IN ARMS. 297 louring in house tops, who h the Spaniards, les tnrown with 'rs greatly, and did tlie Aztecs reat height, but , they were shot 'i backwards by 9 the walls, they ieces of timber, 3n shot burning Jrches over the jf the exterior ood, and these ier with which inhere the new hat they were » extinguish it overthrowing ;hus made was P arquebusiers, icans to take •med. flexicans then lished at the contempt of easy victories V commanded ing powers of 'as not to be soled himself following morning, and to inflict at u "'[ '^'^ ^""''^ «^ ^^e iiis assailants. * * *^'''''^'« chastisement upon ai: ToZ Its ^l'^ ''', «P--'"« -- under slaughter of the piLCfj^^^^^^^^^^^ "^ ^^- '-Pe-s that the The great square and the Tt. I T '''^"'^' ^'^^ Mexicans. be crowded ^thfostl-;^." *" ''''''' ''''' *« the previous day irn" d dTT ';""" "'"^"""^^'^ ^^an on its banners. Thee the AI '"*° ^'^^'i-nents, each with told them, were thTco.tL'eT:f"tr'^"^'"^'^ "" '^"'^^^--'^ showing that the whole peonL •'"'•"^ ''^''' °^ ^'^^P''-^"'' conimenced by thoJ ^f't^tt^r C"^- ''^ ^'^ ""^^"^^"* was the royal standml It \7 ^^^''''S above the rest numerous priesls wl ' "•.?'''''• /'"""» *^« ^'■"^^^J were them to ave'n.t he nsultod UT"'''. »""*""'^' ^'^"^^^ "?«" of invaders who had b^on 1^ d '' '"^ *° ''''^'""^ *^« ^^^^^-' trampled it under foot f "^^ g^^,°« "Pon the nation, had and n.rdered th':[r notieltn c^ L^T'' '''''"''' ' -^^-' ^^^^I^JZJ: 'Vr "-«^^>^i"^on the / «^«ne»edassault would beevenmoreformidable. CILAPTER XVin. THE RISING IN MEXICO. T ^rrs 11^ 1^: Tt' ?n — ^^^ *^e rented on the previo^ chv H I "1^^ ^'^^^ ^^'-^^ pre- in their usual y/ments ^r'in tT 'fr^'"^ ^"^^ ^«"g'>t 'Jay they had laid ask^ Zl t1 "' ^"'^^'^ ''''''''''■ ^o- cloths, if ving found 1 v.. ^f''"'"*^ «^^« ^l^eir loin- - absolutely t;:i:!;:;srr:Si^t rt ^':--^ The chiels were now conspicuous ^tt^ ^o^I^ ^^^Si =^i 298 OBSTINATE FIGHTTNQ. among the dark mnsses, by their gny drosses and the metal breastplates worn over the bn'o't feather- work. Tliey wore helmets made to resemble the heads of ferocious wild beasts, crested wiiii bristly hair or 8urmf)untcd by bright feather plumes. Some wore only a red fillet round tlioir head, having tufts of cotton hanging from it, each tuft denoting some victory in which they had taken part, and their own rank in the army. Noble and citizen, priest and soldier, liad all united in the common cause. The assault was about to commence when the Spaniards' artillery and musketry poured death into the crowded ranks; the gates were at once thrown open, and Coitez at the lir iid of his cavalry dashed out followed by the infantry and the Tlascalan allies. Confused by the slaughter made by the fire-arms the Aztecs could offer no resistance to the onslaught. The cavalry trampled them under foot and mowed them down with sword and lance. The Spanish foot and Tlascalans following close behind carried on the wo:k of destruction, and it seemed to the Spaniards that the fight was almauy over when the Aztecs fled before them. The movement of retreat, however, ceased the moment the Mexicans reached the barricades which they had thrown np across the streets; and forming behind these they made a gallant stand, while those upon the housetops poured showers of arrows, darts, and great stones down upon the advancing Spaniards. In vain the Spanish artillery were brought up, and their fire swept away the barricades : there were still others behind, and at each the desperate fight was renewed. Comin" down from the side streets the Aztecs fell upon the Spanish flanks, and clouds of missiles were shot from the boats which crowded the canals everywhere intersecting the streets. Cortes and his cavaliers continued to make desjierate charges through the Aztecs, who, although unable to withstand the weight and impetus of the horses, closed round them, striving to throw the riders from their backs and to stab the horse° themselves- throwing away their Hves without hesitation oa the chance of getting one blow at the Spaniards. The COHTEZ WOUNDED. 'iW and the metal k. Tliey wore >us wild beasts, bright feather ir lioad, havin" deiiotinir o some lieir own rank ioldier, had all the Spaniards' rowded ranks ; Bz at the hoad imtry and the made by the tlie onslaught, ed them down nd Tlascalans )f destruction, IS alroady over e moment the ad thrown up they made a )ourod showers the advancing roiight up, and ire still others wed. Cominsr n the Spanish e boats which treets. perate charges withstand the them, striving ab the horses )ut hesitation aniards. The I followed moment the horsemen drew back, the Az although their loss was immense their ranks were instantly died up again, while the Spaniards oouil ill spare the compara- tively small number who fell on their side. At last after hours of carnage, the Spaniards, exhausted by their exertions, an.) having eaten nothing since the night before, fell back to the palace. Diaz, one of the histori.ins of the events, who was present «t the con, -at, expresse.1 the c^stonishmont felt by the Siumiards at the desperation with which the despised ]\Icxi( ans Jiad fought. " The Mexicans " ho said; "fought with such ferocity that if we had ha.l the assistance of ten thousan 1 Hectors and as many Orlandos we should have made no impression on them. There were several of our troops who had served in the Italian wai-s but neither there nor in the battles with the Turk have they ever seen anything like the desperation shown by these Indians. "^ As the Spaniards fell back, the Aztecs followed them pouring in volleys of stones and arrows ; and as soon as they hadentered the palace encamped around it, showin-that tlieir spintwas wholly unbroken. Although-as it was contrary to their custom to fight at night-they did not renew the attack they shouted insulting threats as to the Spaniards' fate when they should fall into their hands, and were evidently well satisfied with the events of the day and looked for victory on the morrow. Cortez had received a severe wound in the hand durin" the fight, and he and his companions felt how grievously they had mistaken the character of the Aztecs. Tliey had sallied out that morning confident in their power to eriisli out the insurrection; they returned, feeling that their situation was well-mgh desperate, and that henceforth they must fiyht not for dominion but for life. ' As soon as day broke the fight was renewed, but this time It was the Aztecs and not the Spaniards who began it There was no idea of a fresh sortie, "all that the garrison could hope was to defend their position. So furiously did the natives 300 "l DEBIIIE ONLY TO DIH.** |!i attack, that, for a time, thoy forced their way into the entretichiiiciita; but tlio 8[)nniai(1s, whose turn it was to ti^'ht with tlio lira very of despair, foil upon thom witli Huch fury that none of thoso wlio had pained an entry returned. Cortoz now sent to Montezuma, to request him to interpose as lie had done before between them and liis people. The emperor refu.scd to interfere. Ifo liad viewed the desperate fighting of tho last two days with bitter humiliation. lie had fieen his brother Cnitlaliua leading on his troops with the greatest gallantry, while ho himself, thanks to his own conduct, was a helpless prisoner. He mourned over tlie terrible kxsses his people were sunbring; and tho fact that his kindness to the Spaniards had brought upon him nothing but ill-treatment and in.sult at their hands, had earned him the contempt of his people, and had involved his country in misfortune and ruin, cut him to the heart. " Wliat have I to do with IMalinzin ? " he said coldly, "I desire only to die." When still further urged, he added : " It is useless; they will neither believe me nor the false words and promises of Malinzin. You will never leave these walls alive." On being assured that the Spaniards would willingly depart and leave the country, if their assailants would open a way to them, he at last consented to address the people. Clothing himself in his richest robes of state he asc ended the central turret of the palace, surrounded by a guard of Spaniards, and accompanied by several Aztec nobles. When he was seen, the din of war ceased as if by magic. A dead silence fell upon the multitude, and they knelt and prostrated themselves before the sovereign they had so long held in tho deepest reverence. But when he addressed them, assuring them that he was a guest, and not a prisoner, of the Spaniards, and ordered them to lay down their arms and to allow the Spaniards to march to the coast, indignation at his cowardice overpowei-ed their feelings of reverence and respect. They burst into taunts and execrations, and a moment later a storTn of missiles were hurled at tho man who had betrayed Lkem. i«t.4. MONTEZUMA WOUNDED. 801 [vay into the t was to tight nich fury that 1 to interpose people. The the desperate ion. Ilo had ops with the I own conduct, ;erriblo kwses ndncss to the ill-treatniont contempt of isfortune and id coldly, "I B added: "It 3 false words 9 these walls llingly depait pen a way to le. Clothing 1 the central jf Spaniards, hen he was (lead silence i prostrated : held in the ?m, assuring be Spaniards, to allow the lis cowardice spect. They later a storm yed theui. I The P(pani),h guards, seoing the etToct his presence had I-n-ducod, had Kt.MuI nsido, to onal^le him tho lioLtcr to bo seen • and 1. nro th.y coul.l closo around him and cover him with 1 ; '' '"" "'''''^'' '^''''^ '^•°>' «"«' '^ «tone hurled r U Tyf- """'V^' '''"^ °" *''" •'^'^^ ^ith such violence tluit ho fell insoMsible, When the A/.tocs saw him fall, their brief outburst of .nd.gnatmn was succeeded by one of .sorrow, an.l with a cry of gnot tlw. w liolo multitude di-porsol, and in a minute or two tlie crowded .square was wliolly deserted Monte/.iuna was earrie.l to his chamber. When he recovered sons.!., ,(y he refused absolutely to allow his woun.ls to b dr...ssed an,l tore oil" the bandages. Not a word passed hi. lips. Ho ,sat in an attitude of the deepest dejection. His own P|"<>I'I" «iosp,sed him. and had raised their hands against him. e ad ,,,.,.k deeply of the -up of humiliati.n at"tho hands of the Spaniards; but this last drop tilled it to overflomng • there was n<.thing for him but to die «iuomng , The Spanish leaders tried, but in vain, to persuade him to .submit to surgical treatment; he paid no attention to their voids, and they were soon called away by fresh dan-er t.on, without. The Aztecs had speedily ;eco^'el•ed from th'e .•.notion at seeing the fall of the emperor, and a body of five or .SIX hundred of them, including many nobles and military < e s of ugh rank, bad taken possession of the great tempi? au.l now from its summit, a hundred and fifty feet hiH, ciT no't T :' ,r"''" "'"" '•" P'-^^^^-- The Spaniards could not ef o.tually return their fire, for the Aztecs were sheltered by tl. . sanctuaries on the summit of the pyramid.s to dir,' '''T;''"'°'/ ''^'"''^'-y f«r the safety of the defender ; di lo, Ige them from this position, and C^ortez ordered hi. amberlain, Don Escobar, with a hundred men to storm the w t. '" r^ ''' *° *'" sanctuaries. But the little force jvore three times repulsed, and forced to fall back with onsiderabelcss. Cortez then, though suflering much frl «-«ault. As he was incapable of holding his shield, he had it w 302 THE ASSAULT OF THE PTRAMID. if-! a^ strajjped to his loft arm, and with three hundred picked men, and some thousands of the Tlasralans, sallied out from the palace, and attacked the Aztecs in the temple at the foot of the pyramid. The Spaniards made their way through these without much diiHiculty, and then commenced the ascent of the pyramid. This offered great facilities for defence. There were five terraces, connected by steps so placed, that those mounting the pyramid had to make the whole circuit on each terrace before reaching the steps leading to the next. It was thus necessary to pass round the pyramid four times, or nearly two miles, exposed to the missiles of those upon the summit. Leaving a strong body of Spaniards and Tlascalans at the bottom, to prevent the natives ascending and attacking him in the rear, Cortez led the way up the staircase, followed closely by his principal oflScei-s. In spite of the heavy stones and beams of wood which, with a storm of arrows, were hurled down upon them, the Spaniards won their way from terrace to terrace, supported by the fire of their musketeers below, until at last they reached the great platform on the summit of the pyramid, Here a terrible conflict commenced : the Aztecs, brought to bay, and fighting not only for life, but in the presence of their country's gods, displayed a valour at least equal to that of the Spaniards. Numbers were slightly in their favour, but this was far more than counter-balanced by the superior arms of the Spaniards, and by the armour, which rendered them almo.«t invulnerable to the comparatively puny weapons of the Mexicans ; and yet for three hours the fight continued. At the end of that time, all the Mexicans, save two or three priests, were killed, while forty-five of the Spaniards had fallen, and almost all the others were wounded. While tliis fight had been raging, the combat had ceased elsewhere, the combatants on both sides being absorbed in the struggle taking place at the summit of the temple. They could not of course judge how it was going, though they caught sight of the combatants as they neared the edges of the plat- form, which was unprotected by wall or fence, and many in D. Ired picked men, d out from the s> at the foot of se without much 3 pyramid. This re five terraces, ing the pyramid before reaching ecessary to pass 'o miles, exposed lascalans at the ittacking him in followed closely ;tones and beams urled down upon race to terrace, )w, until at last of the pyramid, tecs, brought to the presence of ,st equal to that iu their favour, by the superior which rendered ly puny weapons I fight continued, ive two or three liards had fallen, nbat had ceased ing absorbed in ,e temple. They lugli they caught nlges of the plat- ce, and many in CORTEZ OFFERS TERMS. sas tho course of tlie struggle fell or were hurled over it Th« moment the struggle was over tlio ^,.., i °'®V '^^ exulting shouts int^ thelanctuarvo the^M " ''""t^ ""''^ with the blood of ^resl.^^'^^^^'^'^^'^^f-S Its pedestal, rolled it across tho plaTfo'rm tl h« T f /T steps, and then amid shout., that wte eeh-d bv Li ' "' f' theUof Me;^::;ll Lvta^TroiY' 'Tr^' ^^«^ these had proved impoton to protect h' ". "' '""l '^^''^^' dread invaders. So dismayed were the mL '\ ^T '^* fortune, that tliev off^rp/nr ! ^^^-'^ans at the mis- burnt several hundred houses "e^^^ng at night, and the words of Correr He toM H "^ M^'"" '' '^' ''^^'^^'^^ they could not st";^,if 1!: 1 '!" *,^«^ -"? "«- feel that had been cast dow^ theT dwel fn^s ^'f !. -"^'^^ '""'^ slaughtered. And al Wm! tv, ! ^ f ''''''*' ^^^'^ warriors their rebellion Yet ih^^ ?. ?''"^^' "'^ themselves by return to he obe^Ln e of Th7 ' ''^•'°"" ''''''' ^'^' ^-^ hand; if not he would 'tj/iy ''"''"'^'' ^' ^""^^ ''^y ^^' leave n^ a soulVi^t itn'lZ T ' '''' '' '^«' ^^ i!ut Cortez learned at once thnf, f he -r^Jrif },« • ' f ij: m if: 304 A NOBLE SPIRIT. of the great chiefs answered Ijim that it was true he had huilod down their gods and massacred their countrymen, but they wcro content to lose a thousand Hves for every one that they took. "Our streets," he said, "are still thronged with warriors; our nuiiibers are scarcely diminished. Yours are lessening every day. You ai'o dying with hunger and sickness. Your provisions and water are failing ; you must soon fall into our hands. The bridges are broken down, and you cannot escape. There will be too few of you left to satisfy the vengeance of the gods." When he had finished a sliower of arrows showed that hostilities had recommenced. The garrison were now com- pletely dishcarloncd. Of what use the tremendous exertions they had made, and the lives that had been lost. They were still, as they had been on the first day of tlioir arrival, hemmed in in their fortress, surrounded by foes thirsting for their blood ; groat numbers wore wounded more or less severely ; their provisions were well-nigh gone ; the enemy were bolder than ever; they had been promised wealth and honour, they were starving, and death stared them in the face. They loudly exclaimed that they had been deceived and betrayed. lUit the men who bad served all along with Cortez stood firm. They had still every confidence in their leader. It was not his fault that they had been brought to this pass, but by the misconduct of others during his absence. At any rate, as they pointed out to their comrades, the only chance of escape was unity and obedience. Cortez himself was, as always in a moment of great danger, calm and collected. The thought of having to leave the city, to abandon all the treasures they had taken, was even more painful to him than to the soldiers. It was not the loss of his own share of the booty, but of that of the emperor, that he regretted, for he felt that this, together with the downfall of all his plans, and the loss of the kingdom he had already counted won, would bring upon him the dis- pleasure of his emperor, would give strength to his enemies at court, and would probably ensura his being recalled in disgrace. 'as true he had countrymen, but r every one that I with warriors; rs are lessening sickness. Your wn fall into our u cannot escape, he vengeance of ws showed that were now com- Midous exertions ost. They were nrrival, hemmed rsting for their ir less severely ; my were bolder nd honour, they ;he face. They md betrayed, th Cortez stood leader. It was his pass, but by At any rate, as ihance of escape , as always in a The thought of asures they had ;he soldiers. It , but of that of t this, together of the kingdom 3n him the dis- his enemies at ■lied in disgrace. PREPARING FOR RETPT5AT. 305 Nevoptheless he saw tliat retreat was nocoss-n-v fnr fl,« • . . ., . , . "'"j *'e, one or tJie narrow dvkflL\^lr'-'"' ™^^"^' «""^=^-' '- « iK^nd- 0-3 fight with he Mexicans and drove them from tl .ir positions ^ But from the lofty houses of the noble, the Mexicans still maintained their resistance. The towers were Lt irgrenoS to overlook these, and as they came up beams of wood afd orce that it soon became evident to those within them that how!vr'"T" "°'/"^' *^^^*^^^- ^^h«^-«- dragged on to a^standstill. The latte^'' were ^a^a:!::.:::/^^ 306 A CONTINUED STRUQOLB. ordeied his troops to malsre a road forward by filling up tLe canal with stones and wood from the houses near. While en- gaged in this operation they were exposed to an incessant fire from every point of advantage in the neighbourhood, and from the opposite bank of the canal. The work Avas, however, com- pleted, and the cavalry crossing, drove the Mexicans head- long down the great street, until they came to another canal, where the same work had again to be performed. No less than seven canals crossed the street, and it took two days of constant fighting before the last of these was crossed, and the whole street in their hands. Just as the last canal had been captured, Cortez, who was ever at the head of his men, received news that the Mexicans desired to open a parley with him, and tlat some of their nobles had arrived at the palace for that purpose. Delighted at the news he rode back with his officers. The Mexicans requested that the two piiests who had been cnptured in the great temple, should be released, and should be the bearers of his terms and discuss the negotiations. Cortez at once consented, and the priests left with the envoys, with instructions that if the Mexicans would lay down their arms the past should be forgiven. The mission was, however, a mere trick. The Mexicans were most anxious to rescue the priests, one of whom was the high-priest, and therefora most sacred in their eyes. Cortez had scarcely sat down to a meal, which he sorely needed after his fatigues, when the news was brought that the Mexicans had again attacked with greater fury than ever, and at three points had driven off the detachments placed to guard the newly-made causeways across the canal. Cortez and his com- panions leaped on their hor.ses, and riding down the great street again cleared it. But no sooner had he reached the other end, than the Mexicans gathering in the lanes and side streets, poured in again, and overpowered the guard at one of the principal canals. Swarms of warriors poured in on all sides, and a storm of arrows and ether missiles was poured down upon Cortez and i ' filling up tbe ir. While en- 1 incessant fire iiood, and from however, com- lexicans head- another canal, 1. t, and it took of these was list as the last at the head of red to open a had arrived at news he rode 1 that the two iple, should be ind discuss the ith the envoys, ay down their rhe Mexicans whom was the eyes. Cortez Y needed after the Mexicans , and at three to guard the ; and his com- wn the great 9 reached the anes and side guard at one nd a storm of )n Cortez and DEATH OP MONTEZUMA. 307 J^rlrcaJX^::^'"^? 1 ^^« ^-'^- ^^'^^«- ..men- crowds of foefwhl otIJ" f''^ ''"?^"'"' ^'"'■^'y -tJ> the which the M;xTcat had "'! '»"'•" *" ''P^'' '^^ '^'''J^- performed prodt'of valoT" " '"'" ^^^*«^ ^"^'^^ m^uigiuj, or valour m coveru)f» tho rofrr.o+ ^e i,- men, daslnng alone into the midst of the'ranks TT "" shouting his battle-cry, and dealiL ,l!.fV 1 ^ '"'"^' his sword. So far did h« T 7 . "^^^ "''""^ ^^°^ «f reports spread that he was kin r'! ?""»" ^'' ^'''' '^^' his way back and lP.n7v;- ' ^""^ '''^'" '"^^ '^«*^ ^^« f°"ght ing in the tidt h^ """ ''''' "" '^'^'"^ «<^i" remain- lug in tne Dndge, his escape was retrarrJorl k„ u- ± absolutely miraculous, and if wis sakf thlt 1 ^. ^^^^'^P^ ^« That evening Montezuma died. He had ref,i,«,1 oil officeiTU™ ,:"1*j: ^' ^»'^' ,"" ™>^ f- «>« w™% but for this I bra:;S"m:nr°''° ''°°'°*'"°"**-'' IrinM of ChristianftvTn^ ^ ™'' '"'^"■^W '» ths doc- ha„*„.« dot srit;,;:':,::--^-'-^ '° ^"^-'^ -«« -<> kindneiand genT„« of 1„T.^'.' generosity and constant -n be but Ht.l douuXt" ?p , ofth-tT' r'"' "'"■■' ^™ Of meditating troacher,, M-onte/ul" "J^ltrtbeT™ 'm 308 RETREAT DETERMINED tJPON. g ::i they entoicd the capital, sincere in his good will towards the Spaniaids. llc! was devoted to his own gods, and believed implicitly in the prophecy that Qiietzalcoatl or his descendants would return to rule Mexico. Their superior science and attainments confirmed him in his belief that the Spaniards fulfilled the prophecy, and he was willing to resign alike his power, his possessions, and himself to their hands. In his early days he had shown great personal bravery, and the cowardice he displayed throughout the whole of his dealing with the Spaniards was the result of superstition, and not that of personal fear, Cortez paid all respect to the remains of his late unhappy captive. The body was arrayed in royal • obes, and laid on a bier, and was carried by the nobles — who had remained faithful to him during his imprisonment — into the city. It is uncertain where Montezuma was finally buried. With the death of the emperor the last hope of the Spaniards of making terms with their assailants vanished; there was nothing now but retreat. After some debate it was settled that this should take place at night, when they would find the Mexicans unprepared. The diflSculties of passage would be greater, but these would, it was thought, be counterbalanced by the advantage of being able to make at least a portion of their retreat unobserved. It was determined that no time should be lost. The Mexicans would doubtless be mourning over the body of Montezuma, and would be unprepared for such prompt action on the part of the Spaniards. The first question was the disposal of the treasure ; the soldiera had for the most part converted their share of the gold into chains, which they wore round their necks. But there was a vast amount in bars and ornaments, constituting the one-fifth which had been set aside for the crown, the one-fifth for Cortez himself, and the shares of his principal officers. One of the sti-ongest horses was laden with the richest portion of the crown treasure, but all the rest was abandoned. The gold lay in great heaps. •* Take what you like of it 1 " Cortez said to his men, " but A FAULTY ARRANGEMENT. 309 be careful not to overload yourselves: 'He travels safest in the dark, who travels lightest.' " His own veterans took his advice, and contented themsolves with picking out a few of the most valuable ornaments; but the soldiers of Narvaez could not bring themselves to leave such treasures behind them, and loaded themselves up with as oTdlrof V\7 ""^' ^^"^- ^«^'*«^ -- arranged the order of march ; the van was composed of two hundred Spanish foot and twenty horsemen, under the orders of Gonzalo de Sandoval; the rearguard with the main body of the infantry and the greater portion of the guns was commanded by centr V^f ^"^"'T' ^' ^^^"- ^'"''^ b^'^elf led the Zf' ""a'Iu ''^'■'' '''^'^' °^ *^^" ^^Sg^S^' ^"'"^ of ttie heavy guns and the prisoners, among whom were a son and tTVo daughters of Montezuma, Cacama, and the other nobles who had been m prison with him. no^hl Jk'-^'*"u T^ ^'""'^'^ ^™°"S *h« <^hree corps. A portable bridge had been prepared for crossing the canals s'outd TTT the causeway; the intention feing thatt should be laid across a canal, that the army should pass over _,t, and that it should then be carried forward to the nex" gap m the causeway. ITiis was a most faulty arrangement, nec.s,tating frequent and long delays, and entailing^almos certain disaster. Had three such portable bridges been construe ed, the column could have crossed the causeway ^th comparatively little risk, and there was no reason wly^rese bridges should not have been constructed, as they coiJd have been carried without difficulty by the Tlascalans. At midnight the troops were in readiness for the march fur iT TstTh ' 'i ^'^^'7 °^°^^^^' -^ ^' «- o'Zrln Tl i ' . ?' *^^ Spaniards sallied out from the fortress hat they had so stoutly defended. Silence reigned tthe down ,f'J"'''f'fy ^« Po^^^ible, the troops made their way hTJ^ .rf "^' 'T'"'''^ '""''y "^°^«"* *« b« attacked ; bSgar :':iT?i"f ^^i^^^^^-r- -^^ *^- --^ling of th^ Mexic Tft ^f '"■*'"®'^^ '''" ""^ •'^"'^'^« the Seep m ans, and the head of the col mg imn arrived at the he«d 310 " ALL HOPE SEKMED LOST." of the causeway before they were discovered. Then, as the ad- vanced guard weie prejiaring to lay the portable bridge across the first opening, some Aztec sentinels gave the alarm. Ite priests on the summits of the temples heard their cries, and at once sounded their horns and the huge war-drum. Instantly the city awoke, and the silence was succeeded by a roar of sound ; the vanguard had scarcely got upon the cause- way when canoes shot out upon the lake, and soon a storm of stones and arrows burst upon the column. More and more terrible did it become, as fresh canoes crowded with the warriors came up. Many of these pushed up to the causeway itself, and the natives landing fell upon the Spaniards with fury. The latter made no stay; fighting their way through their foes they pressed on until they reached the next opening in the causeway, and there waited for the bridge to come up. But a column many thousands strong, with baggage and artillery, takes a long time to cross a bridge, and the advanced guard had reached the opening long before the rear had passed the bridge, and there stood helpless, exposed to the terrible storm of missiles, until at last the column were all across the bridge. Then forty picked men, who had been specially told off for the task, tried to raise it so that it might be carried to the front, but the weight of the baggage waggons and artillery had so wedged it into the earth, that they were unable to move it. They p ^rsevered in their efforts until most of them had fallen ; the rest bore the terrible news to the army that the brid<^e was immovable. A terrible cry of despair aiose as the news spread. All hope seemed lost; and, regardless of order or discipline, all pressed forward to endeavour in some way or other to cross the obstacle that barred their way. Pressed on by those behind them, Sandoval and his cavaliers dashed into the water. The distance was short, but the horses were weak from hunger, and burdened by their own heavy armour and that of their riders. Some succeeded in swimming across, others sank, while some reached the opposite side only to fall back again, as they tried to climb the steep bank. ' THR PASSAGE OF THE GAPS. 311 The infantry followed them, throwing away their armour to enable them to swim ; some succeeded, others were pressed down by their comrades; many were killed by the war-clubs or spears of the Mexicans in their canoes ; others again, half stunned by the clubs, were dragged into the canoes and carried off to the city to be sacrificed. All along the causeway the fight raged unceasingly, the Aztecs in the boats alongside leaping ashore and grappling with their foes, and roUing with them down the causeway into the water, while those in the distance kept up their rain of missiles. The opening in the causeway was at last filled : choked up with ammunition waggons and guns, hales of rich goods, chests of gold, and the bodies of men and horses, and over these the Spaniards made their way. Cortez had swum or waded across on his horse, and he rode on until he joined Sandoval and the remains of the advanced guard, who were checked at the third and last opening. The cavaliers set the example to their followers by plunging into the water ; the rest followed as best they could. Many were drowned by the weight of the gold they carried, others got across by clinging to the tails and manes of the horses. Cortez, with Sandoval and other cavaliers, led the retreat until they reached the end of the causeway. The din of battle was now far behind, but those who came up brought the news that the rearguard were so sorely pressed, that they would be destroyed unless aid reached them. Cortez and his companions did not hesitate. They dashed along the causeway, again swam the canal, and made their way through the crowd until they reached the rearguard. Morning was breaking now, and it showed the lake covered with canoes filled with warriors. Along the whole length of the causeway a desperate fight was raging. Cortez found Alvarado on foot, his horse had been killed under him. With a handful of followers he was still desperately defending the rear against th.e Mexicans, who had poured out from the city in pursuit. The artillery had at first done good service, sweeping the pauseway and mowing down hundreds of their assailants, but 312 ALVATIADO'S LEAP. I 9 .11 the Aztecs were careless of life, and rushed on so furiously that they swept over the guns, killing those who served them, and fell upon the infantry. The cha.-ge of Cortoz, and hia companions for a moment bore bac'k the foe, but pressed by those behind they swept aside !■ distance, and bore back the Spaniards to the edge of the canal. Cortoz and his companions plunged in and swam across. Alvarado stood on the brink hesitating; unhorsed and defence- less he could not make his way across the gap, which was now crowded with tlie canoes of the enemy. He set his strong lance on the bottom of the canal, and usixig it as a leaping pole sprang across. Tlie feat was an extraordinary one, for although the width is not gi\en, it was declared by those who witnassed it, to be impossible for any mortal. It filled friends and foes alike with astonishment, and the spot is to this day known by the Mexicans as " Alvarado's Leap." The Aztecs followed no farther. They were occupied now in securing the enormous wealth the Spaniards had left behind them; and the remnants of the army marched along the causeway unmolested, and took possession of the village at its end. Cortez, iron-hearted as he was, .'at down and burst into tears as he viewed the broken remnant of his army. He was consoled, however, by finding that many of his most trusted companions had escaped, Sandoval, Alvar do, Olid, Ordaz, and Avila were safe ; and, so to his great joy, was Marina. She had, with a daugliter of a Tlascalan chief, been placed under the escort of a i)arty of Tlascalan warriors, in the van of the column, and had passed unharmed through the dangers of the night. The loss of the Spaniards in their retreat is variously estimated, but the balance of authority among contemporary writers places it at four hundred and fifty Spaniards and four thousand Tlascalans. This, with the loss sustained in the previous conflicts, reduced the Spaniards to about a third and the Tlascalans to a fifth of the force which had entered the capital. Tlie greater part of the soldiers of Narvaez had been killed ; they had formed the rearguard, AN EXHAUSTED BAND. 313 ana had not only borne the brunt of the battle, but had sufTored rom the efToct of thoir cupidity. Of the cavah-y but twenty-three roiuained mounted, all the artillery had been lost, and every muiket thrown away in the fli<'ht Velos.iuez de Leon had fallen in the early part of the retreat, bravely do ending the roar; and several others among the eaders had also fallen, together with all the prisoners ^hom they had brought out from the capital. The remains of the army straggled on into the town of riacopan, but Co.tez would allow of no halt there. At anv moment the exultant Aztecs from the capital might arrive and m a battle in the streets the Spaniards would stand no chance whatever with their foes; he therefore hurried the soldiers thrcigh, and when outside endeavoured to form them mto some sort of order. It was necessary to give them a few hours of repose, and he led them towards an eminence o.owned by a temr.le which commanded the plain. It was held by a party of natives, and the troops, ch.spirited and exhausted, refused at first to advance against them, but the influence of Cortez backed by the example of his officers had its usual oflect. The column moved forward against the temple, and the natives after a few discharges of missiles abandoned the place. It was a arge budding, affording ample shelter for the Spaniards and their alhes; provisions were found there and a large supply of fuel intended or the service of the temple. Heret lighting groat fires, they dried their clothing, bound up their wounds^ and after partaking of food threw themselves down to sleep Fortunate it was for the Spaniards that the Mexicans, contented with the slaughter they had inflicted, the plunde^ they had captured, and most of all with the prisoners whom they had carried off to be sacrificed on their altars, retired to the capital and allowed the invaders twenty-four hours' breathing time. Had they pressed them hotly and relentlessly, from the moment when they emerged from the causeway, they would have annihilated the.n ; for at that time the Hpani..irds were too worn-out and dispirited to be capable of any efiectual 814 ^ I I, i :' 5 STAUNCH TROOPS. reBistanoe. Food and rest, however, did wonders for them ; they were hardy veterans, and with Cortez and the loaders they most tnisted with them, they soon came to look at matters in a more cheerful liglit. They were still stronger than they were when they first marchod upon Mexico, why, then, should they despair of making their way hack to Tlascala where they would have rest and friends? They knew there was a long and painful march before them, and probably desperate battles to fight; but in a fair field they felt them- selves a match for any number of the enemy, and when, late m the evening, their officers bade them form up and prepare for a night's march they fell in steadily and willingly, and Cortez felt that they could again be relied upon under every emergency. Si CHAPTER XIX. THE PASSAGE OF THE CAUSEWAY. ON marching out from the city Roger and his two comrades formed part of a picked band, to whom was entrusted the charge of the prisoners. Roger had beoii specially selected, as he could translate to them any order given by the officer of the party; and he was ordered to march next to them. He had once or twice in the past few days been enabled, by the intervention of Marina, to visit the prisoners. Cacama's spirit was in no way shaken by captivity. "Your general has made a fatal mistake," he said, "in sending Cuitlahua out to pacify the populace. He is of very difierent stuff from Montezftma, who has become a woman in the hands of the Spanish. You will see that he will never return, but will lead the people on to the attack. It matters little to us, I know that we shall never escape; the .Spaniards will fllay us all rather than that we should rejoin our people. ^■nt iOr that I eare not ; cae would rather die in "battle than i A. **1 AM WBLL CONTENT NOW.** ndera for them ; and the loadei-H ame to loi)k at re still strorij^'er jn Mexico, wh}', buck to Tlascala hey knew there , and probably I they felt theni- , and when, late up and pt-epare 1 willingly, and ion under every 316 is two comrades IS entrusted the ecially selected, n by the officer t to them. i been enabled, lers. Cacama's ," he said, "in He is of very ;ome a woman it he will never k. It matteis ; the Spaniards oin our people. in buttle than be slain as a captive, but in either case we shall be dying for our country, and what can we wish for more? It is the duty of all to risk their lives whenever they be needed for their country. Some here have foii,<,'ht in fifty battles for Mexico. I am younger, but not too yoiin;r to have shared in many a battle. r foai- d.tath in no way, my friend, and should welcome it as a change from captivity. I am well content now. I should have giiovod to have di«d boliesing that the Mexicans had lost all their ancient spiiit and courage, and were content to 1)0 slaves beneath the yoke of a handful of strangers ; but now I see that they were asleep and not dead, and that these boasting strangers will tind that the despised Mexican is a nuitch for them, I shall dis happy." The news of the wounding of Montezuma and the desperate fighting in the streets and round the palace, excited the prisonois to the utmost. In their place of confinement they heard the thunder of the gun.s, the perpetual rattle of the musketry, and the shouts and yells of the combatants ; but it was only when Roger vi.^ited \\mv that they obtained any dotnils as to the combat was going on. They were filL' with enthusiasm as they lioard how desperately their country- men wore fighting; and ii.fir only regret was that they could not join in the strugLlc and die leading the assault against the Spaniards. Roger did not see them upon the last day until he took his place by their side, when the column formed up in the courtyard. " I am to keep near you, Cacama," he said, " in order to translate anything the officer may have to say to you." " We are going to leave the city 1 " Cacama asked, eagerly. "Yes, we are going to cross the causeway." The officer in charge here came up and gave an order which T^ger interpreted : " He asks whether you will all give a pledge to remain silent as we march out. If you will do so he \v^!l accept your promise ; but if not he will be forced to gag you, as the safety of the army depends upon our getting beyond the streets befoi-e our march ia diacoveipd." "I wonder that they are ready to take our promise," 816 "the gamb has bequnJ Cacama said disdainfully, " after their own treachery. How- ever, an Aztec noble is not like a Spaniard, our faith may be depended upon ; we will give our word to be silent." The other prisoners also promised, and were allowed to take their places in the column ungugged. The alarm was given long before the rear of the column had got out from tlie street. Cucama gave an exclamation of joy when he heard the silence broken by loud cries at the end of the street, and immediately afterwards by the shouts of the priests on the lofty temples, by the blowing of horns, and the beating of the great war-drum. " The game has begun," he said. " We shall see how many Spaniards remain alive when the sun rises. Long before they can get across the causeway, our people will be upon them. We shall not see the triumph, for without defensive aimour we shall fall in the darkness beneath the missiles of our own people. That matters not : better to die at the hands of a Mexican struggling to be free than at those of these treacherous invaders." The missiles showered down thickly upon the column from the houses till they emerged from the street and made their way out on to the causeway; then they became exposed to the storm of arrows, darts, and stones, from the canoes on the lake By their officer's orders the soldiers immecUately in charge of the prisoners drew their swords and formed a circle round them, with orders to fall upon and kill them at once did they make the slightest movement to escape. Roger translated to the captives the officer's assurance that, although he was most anxious for their safety, he had no resource but to order the soldiers to slay them at once if they made any movement to escape. " We .shall not try to escape," Cacama said. " How can we do .so with our hands bound 1 " During the long pause that ensued before the rear of the column passed over the bridge on to the causeway the im- patience among the soldiers was great. Many had alreadv fallen beneath the missiles of the enemy. Scarce one but hi j " Ah ! " the exclamation was caused by an arrow striking the young prince in the chest. At this time a terrible fight was raging all around them. The natives had gained a footing on the causeway, and the Spaniards were fighting hand tS hand with them. " I am mortally wounded, Roger," Cacama said. " Most of he others have already fallen. It is better so; I have lived ong enough to see vengeance taken on our oppressors. Ro-er there is one chance for you, wiap round you one of our mantles; in the darkness none will see that you are not a Mexican, and they will not shoot at you. Listen, there is tmtcatl 8 war cry. I know his voice, and doubtless they have discerned our white dresses in the darkness, and he is tryin- to rescue us." * The crowd pressing along the causeway had swept the guards away from the prisoners-indeed there were now scarcely any prison.r.s left to guard. Unprotected by any defensive armour, most of them had fallen very early in the 818 DEATH OV CACAMA. I J I 'I 1>' coTiflict. Roger was supporting Cacama, and another prisoner lay (lead at tlieir feet. Roger stooped and snatched off his mantle, then, lifting t'acama in his arms, forced his way through the press to the edge of the causeway just as a canoe ran up alongside, and a number of Aztecs sprang ashore. " Cuitcatl ! " Roger shouted at the top of his voice. " Here," the young noble exclaimed as he sprang forward. " Here is Cacama," Roger cried. At the same moment he received a stunning blow on the back of his helmet from one of the Spaniards, who took him for a Mexican, and fell down the side of the causeway into the water with his burden in his arms." When Roger recovered his senses, he was lying in a canoe which was being paddled rapidly. He had been insensible but a few minutes, for the cries of the combatants still sounded close at hand. Cuitcatl was bending over him. " How is Cacama ? " he asked, as soon as he could speak. " Alas 1 he is dead," Cuitcatl replied, " you did your best to save him, Roger ; he spoke but once after we had got him into the canoe. He said : ' Protect my wife, Cuitcatl, and save our friend.' " " Where are you taking usi " Roger asked next. " We will land some distance up the lake. There I will obtain bearers and carry Cacama home that he may be buried as one of his rank should be. As to you, we must think what had best be done. None of those with me know who you are, believing, in the darkness, that you are one of ourselves. They are my own men, and I can rely upon them when their blood is cooled, but it were best that at present they remained in ignorance. Bathalda is in the bow, and his influence and mine will be suliicient to control them when we are once out of hearing of the conflict. Nothing save my duty to Cacama would have withdrawn me from it, but they must do without me. Not a Spaniard will geo to-morrow's sun. Are you badly hurt, Roger 1 It is too dark to see anything." "Not badly, I have several arrow-poi- ts sticking in me in one place or another, but they have not gene deep, my another prisoner snatched off his forced his way T just as a canoe ang ashore. s voice. srang forward, lame moment he helmet from one ,n, and fell down his burden in his lying in a canoe len insensible but nts still sounded a. » could speak, did your best to had got him into ;atl, and save our next. "here I will obtain lay be buried as t think what had )w who you are, me of ourselves, them when their nt they remained his influence and w« are once out r duty to Cacama must do without I sun. Are you thing." ticking in me in gone deep, my "l THINK THAT ALL HAVK FALLEN." 310 armour kept them out. It was a blow on the head that felled me. There w^re many Mexicans on the causeway fighting with the Spaniards, and I was of course mistaken for one of hem._ My helmet broke the blow, and I was stunned rather than injured, I think. How came you to be just at that to'lrf ?f *^' '°f "°"* ^°' ^'^^ P''^^"^^^' being determined to rescue Caaima it possible; and as I was fighting farther buck, I heard xt sad that there were several' whit^e IZ^ among the Spaniards ahead, so I made to that point, Tnl just as I was springing ashore heard your shout, and saw you roU aown, you ami another. I guessed it might be Cacama, or I knew .h..h you would do your best to save him, and so sprang b. ,. in to the water's edge and found that it w^ w' ""^l 'ri["' ^, '•' ^''^* ^'''''""* ^^« mortally wounded How about the other prisoners ? " """uea. " I think that all had fallen before he did. You see they had no protection and even we who had armour were suffering ernbly from the missiles poured in among us. I know thaf wo ladies, Montezuma's daughters, were "among the first to hoping that in some way I might find an opportunity t<^ aid Li3 escape; and had he not been struck j^ist when he was I might have done so, for after the news came that the bridge could not be removed all was confusion, and each man thought only of saving his own life." _ After rowing for throe hours, the canoe, having made a circmt of the city and crossed the lake, reached the'sCe at a istance of a few miles from Tezcuco. Cacama'g body was lifted ashore, then CuitcatI said to Bathalda •— rnZ'^i'f •''' f " r^". ^' ^^^"^ *° ^'^"^^ *bat we have saved Cacama s friend and mine, Roger Hawkshaw." .he forester gave an exclamation of pleasure : " I am glad b tl fighr ""''' "I wondered what had become oftm Bathalda's exclamation silenced th« mu-n^— ---i- -' -• ' - .ths« h.d hea... that one of the whft, ^^^'^r^::^^ 'A "I m 320 u A MOURNFUL SOBNB. '! ■■■ J, m uhem from the general destruction whivh as they beh'eved had fallen npon their oppressors. " He is a friend of our people," Cuitcatl went on, " and is of another race to these Spaniards. As you see, men, he speaks our language well, and is like one of ourselves. Cacama held him as a dear friend; and, as you know, Cacama hated the Spaniards, and had it not been for treason would have attacked them long ago. Now form a litter with the paddles and lay Cacama upon it; morning is breaking and we have far to go. The new Lord of Tezcuco is a friend of the Spaniards, we must get well away as soon as we can." Roger threw aside the Spanish helmet, Cuitcatl took some of the plumes from his own head-dress and bound thorn round his head, and as soon as the bier was constructed the little party started. In the afternoon they arrived at Cuitcatl's house, the chief having himself gone forward to inform the queen of Cacama's fate, and of the near approach of the party with his body. It was a mournful scene when they arrived ; the whole of the male and female retainers were assembled outside the house, the women filling the air with cries and lamentations, the men weeping and wailing. The bearers of the bier passed into the house, where INIaclutha awaited it. Roger, unwilling to intrude upon the grief of the unhappy queen, remained without talking to Bathalda, the natives viemng him with hostility and wonder, being unable to understand how it was that their lord had brought one of the white men to his house. In a minute or two, however, Amenche's attendant ran down the steps to Roger, and, telling him to follow her, led the way to the apartment where the princess was waiting him. She fell crying into his ax-ms. " It is terrible, Roger," she sobbed ; " as long as my brother was but a captive we had hoped that he might be restored to us, and now he is brought home dead— slain, too, by a Mexican arrow." " Cacama was ready for death, Amenche ; 1 was beside him from the time he left his prison. He was sure that we ^^.. hey believed had ivent on, " and is ie, men, he speaks 33. Cacama held acama hated the lid have attacked paddles and lay 5 have far to go. •aniards, we must litcatl took some ound thorn round iructed the little ! house, the chief leen of Cacama's ith his body. It ;he whole of the itside the house, imentations, the ) bier passed into lev, unwilling to emained without m with hostility it was that their his house. In -nt ran down the ler, led the way iting him. She ig as my brother t be restored to 00, by a Mexican I ; 1 was beside 'as surw tuat ww ! "if your people will allow MB." should be attacked, and saw that as he and tho- 321 saw were unprotecfcod by any armour they woiiM l)e the first to fall •e with him when the fj-ditin;; be San, as in the d trknr ■^s the Moj - ■ w - - -- ■. ...V. ..xoxicans would not be able to di.sfcingiush tliem from tlieir onemies; but he said that he was quite content to die, seeing that the people had now recovered their ancient spirit and were battlin'- with heroes against tlicir oppressors." "^ ^^^j And they are all destroyed," Amenche exclaimed, passion- " We do not know that," Roger replied. " Their position was a terrible one and seemed well-nigh hopeless. I know tnat Ciutcatl regarded it as quite hopeless, and deems that all have fallen, but I do not think so. The passages to bo crossed were of no great width, and tliough numbers may have fallen I believe that some will have made tlieir way across They vvill have lost their guns, and if the Aztecs continue to press them as hotly as they did upon the causeway they may slay them all ; but if they give them time to rally they may vet fight their way back to Tlascala." " And you will stop here with us, Roger ; is it not so ? " " If your people will allow me to do so I will, Amenche I ask for nothing better ; but remember that even Cac ua him- self felt doubtful whether he could protect me fro>n the power of the priests— and at that time their reason for hating the Spaniards was small to what it now is, and Cacama himself has gone. Cuitcatl, though a powerful cacique, has but small influence in comparison Mith that which Cacama as King of Tezcnco and nephew of ^Montci'.uma posse.-sed." " How is Montezuma ? What has Ijeconie of him ? We heard that he was wounded ; but it scarce seems possible that his own subjects should raise a hand against him." "He died yesterday afternoon, and Coitez delivered his body to the people of the city." The gi 1 1 uttered an exclamation of horror. " This is dreadful mdeed," she said, bursting again into tears. " To tiiink of the great emperor being dead ! What horrors and .uisfoi-tunes have befallen us I ' is bad for uc, too, Roi HI :or : was one (818) : i 322 "not one shall leave the countbt.'* il \ t ^ - f 1 1 1 1 ff ■ \\: < Ml ■ 1 , \\ of his favourite nieces, and 1 thought of going to him and obtaining his permission to marry you, in order that you should be received into the nation; now that hope is gone. But I must leave you for a while and go to Maclutha. I must not leave her longer alone in her grief." Soon afterwards Cuitcatl entered the room. " Come, Roger," he said ; " a meal has been prepared, and we both sorely need food and rest. To-morrow we shall have time to talk over the future, and by that time I shall have news whether any of the Spaniards have escaped. If tliey have, I must hurry off again ; for Cuitlahua has sworn that not one shall leave the country alive, and every man who can bear arms must take the field against them. But it will be an easy task, for, at any rate, few can have got off that causeway alive." Roger was glad, as soon as he had finished his meal, to throw himself down on a couch. He had been on guard the greater part of the night before the sortie to clear the street leading to the causeway, and had slept but an hour or two the following evening. He had lost a good deal of blood from the blow he had received on the head, and from the arrow wounds, of which he had several, although none were serious, and he was now completely done up. Amen^'he stole away from Maclutha for a few minutes' talk with him and Cuitcatl, while they had their meal ; and after hearing an outline of the later events of the siege of the palace and of the fight on the causeway she had herself insisted that Roger should instantly seek repose. " I shall be occupied with Maclutha, and there is much to see about in such times as these. There can be no pomp and ceremonial of burial ; that must come when peace is restored, and we carry Cacama's ashes to be laid with his father's at Tezcuco. Bathalda and some of the slaves have already started to bring in wood for the funeral pile. All will be ready by sui.. '.se to-morrow." Roger's wounds were dressed by one of oue slaves, who was skilled in all operations connected with wounds, and he slept, without once waking, until Cuitcatl came to him in the morning, and bade him arise, as all was ready for the ceremony PRY." tg to him and rder that you hope is gone, iutha. I must Come, Roger," )th sorely need ) to talk over 1 whether any I must hurry ne shall leave lar arms must easy task, for, alive." i his meal, to on guard the ear the street 1 hour or two of blood from ■om the arrow 5 were serious, k few minutes' eir meal ; and le siege of the berself insisted all be occupied in such times lial of burial ; jarry Cacama's Bathalda and ng in wood for o-morrow." laves, who was , and he slept, him in the r the ceremony "the unknown god.** 323 of Cacama's cremation. The rule in Mexico was, that on the death of anyone the body was attired in tl.e garments pecuhar o h,s tute ary deity; but Cacama was dressed simply in the robe indicating his rank. f j ^ ^juv Jllr '"'''' ^'"^"^^he said, when Roger joined them; "we have dressed him in a warrior's robes, not in tl>ose of a Lord of hSIn 'tb^ "' T "°"' ""^ ^''•'' "- ^^-« ^« attired him in the garments of our god, for Cacama, as you know worshipped chiefly tlie great Unknown God in whom his' grandfather beheved, who is Lord of all the gods, anZf a ^^^^' ""-'' '' ''' — ' ^"^-' '^-Vou whS^ " No doubt He is the same," Roger said ; " and I am glad AmencLe, that you and your brother have already come to love Him. He is not Lord of all gods, for He is the onl^ Gou. There are none others; some day, dear, when you come to England v.th me, a priest shall instruct yoi in all we know «L „ 1 fV • 'V^'^ ^'^ ^"'"- *^° ^^«^'^' «^« pile. What are all those pieces of paper that cover his body?" They are charms, Roger, against the dangers of the unknown road he has to travel. It is the custom of he from S^' r T T ""'' '^""' '' '^'^'"^ -hile Z le,^ and s«;^ .1 '' r t" ?"'*"'" *° '""'"'^'^ '^""^^^rs of slaves, the Tlnkn O ; u\ ^"' ,^"°"d-"*« -Pon the road. Bu although forced to yield to the power of the priests, would have had none, could he have helped it, in Tezcuco." tn?Tr,C" ?' "l^''* ^^"^"^^ "^ *he dead prince, applied a torch to the pile, which was composed for the most part of aromatic wood Maclutha and Anienche broke into a pWi^e leS'i" "'"'; ''t '''^"'^"*^ '^' *^- ^^-^1- who had 01- ectod m considerable numbers from the neighbouring villages ^th them, untU the dirge culminated in a loud wailing cxy! as the flames reached the corpse and hjH it fr^j^ %1' h«^'\ln h^""? ;«-^«^°^enc.d, and continued 'untU the ^ile had been burnt down. The mournei-s then re-entered ?he !'l 324 "l CANNOT BEJOIOB WITH YOU.'* i| 11 house, leaving tbo two or thico priosts who were present to collect the allies and to pUuo them in a large gold vase, of which they would act as guardians, until the time came for its removal in solemn procession to Tozcuco. Cuitcatl tciok Eogor aside, " I have bad news from Mexico," he said. " You were right, and I was mistaken ; a portion of the Spaniards and Tlasealaus succeeded in crossing the breaches in the causeway and gaining the mainland. However, it is said that two-tliirds of their number perished. As they have lost the terrible weapons that committed such destruction they will be at our mercy. We know now that they are not invinci- ble, their terror has departed. Be assured that they will not escape us ; they have reached land on the opposite side of the lake, and will have to make a great circuit, which will give us time to collect our forces. C'uitlahua has already despatched a messenger to every town and village, ordering all to assemble under their chiel's, and to be prepared to march at a moment's notice when the rendezvous is settled upon. I would it had all been finished on the causeway, but there can be no doubt as to the result. "At most there are but four hundred Whites and four thousand Tlas( alans, while we shall number over one hundred thousand. They say the white men have lost not only their great guns, but those they carry on their shoulders, and that only twenty or thirty of their strange animals have survived. Therefore this time, we shall fight with soD.ething like equal arms, and shall overwhelm them as the t>ea overwhelms the rock." " Your simile is an unfortunate one, Cuitcatl. The sea covers the rock, but when it retires the rock remains. Still, it does seem to me that, however valiantly the Spaniards may fight, they cannot withstand such terrible odds. " But I cannot rejoice with you. You know that I abhor as much as you do the cruel massacre at the temple. My sympathies were with your people while struggling to throw off the yoke that the Spaniards had imposed upon them ; but I am white like them. I know that many among them are 3 present to jold vase, of came for its Dm Mexico," a portion of the breaches -er, it is said ey have lost uction they not invinci- hey will not 3 side of the will give us iespatched a to assemble i a moment's lid it had all no doubt as 33 and four one hundred t only their rs, and that Lve sin-vived. g like equal Lwhelms the he sea covers Still, it does a may fight, that I abhor ;emple. My ng to throw Qg them are "my fatk is altogether uncertain." 325 noble men and that mucli of the harm they have committed has been done from cons.io.itions motives, j.ist as your people have from a desn-oto please the gods, o(T md up thousands of human victims ev^ry year. Mucli as tlioy love God, many of them- and certninly Co.toz among them-think more of spreadin<» their religion than th.y do of personal ambition or even of gam. I have many acquaintances, and some good friends among tliom; and I cannot tliink of their being all destroyed without regrot an.l horror. I do not say that you are not justified in kilhng all, for your e.^dstence as a nation is at stake, but to me it is torriblo." "I can understand that, my friend; but nothing can avert their destruction. Now as to yourself, had it not been for Cacamas death I should have said it were best that you should marry Amenche at once- but among us it would be most unseemly for a sister to think of marrying when her brother has but just died." "It is the same with us," Roger said. "A certain time must_ always pass after the death of a near relative before Tv."""^^' ,. f ^''' *^^ P""'"^' ^' "° *'^« fo»- tliinking of such a thing. My fate is altogether uncertain, and I own that 1 consider there is small ground for hope that I can escape from the present troubles. If, as seems certain now, the Spaniards are all destroyed, the people will more than ever vener.ate their gods, and the power of the priests will be almost unlimited It IS useless for me to try to deceive myself, Ouitoatl. I know your friendship; but you would not have the power to with- stand the decision of the priests. They will never permit a single white man to remain aUve in the land. Had Cacama lived he might possibly have protected na; but I think that even his authority would have been insulHcIent to do so If the Spaniards are destroyed, I have but one chance of my life • and that is, to make my way down to tlie coast, and to sail away with the Spaniards there." Cuitcatl was silent, for he felt the force of what Roger said. « A ~ ^l" ^" ^'''*' ^''^°^ ""'' ^'" alone," iie rephed at Jaat. Amenche would die were you to desert her." hi I'll • • ) il 326 "thebb is nothing to do but to watt." " I viill assuredly take her if she will accompany me," Roger said ; " but I do not think that there is much chance of my escape, even in that way. The uow.s of tlie destruction of the Spaniards will be carried with the spood of Lho wind down to the coast, and the tribes tlifio will instantly rise and fall upon the Spaniards; tho.-e who iuive boon the most frioiully with them will be tiio vory first to tako up arms ai,Miast them, in order to make their peace with the Aztecs, and to avert their vengeance for the aid tliey liave given tlie Spaniards. Long before we could roach the coast the Spaniards there would either bo killed or driven on board their sJiips." Ouitcatl could not deny the justice of Roger's reasoning. "There is noiiiin;? to do," the latter wont on, " but to wait — at any rate until this battle li.is taken place. Impossible as it sooma, the Spaniards may yet extricate themselves from the toils, in which case I should join thorn ; if not, and f find my escape by the ccast cut oiT by the rising of the tribes there, the only thing that I can sco is to tako to the mountains, and to live there as I did with Eathalda, on the proceeds of the chase. I might then, perhaps, in time make my way to people in the far noith, who iiave not such reason as they have here for hating a man with a white skin, or I might wait until the Spaniards send another xpedition to carry out what Cortez has failed to accomplish." Leaving thoir fires burning the remains of the Spanish army marched at midnight from the temple where they had enjoyed rest, and had recruited their strength and spirits. The sick and wounded were placed in the centre, and carried on litters or on the backs of the porters, while others, who were strong enough to sit upright, rode on the horses behind the mounted soldiers. All night the march continued without disturbance; but in the morning large parties of natives were seen moving about. Tlacopan lay on the most westerly point of the lake, and the most direct route of the Spaniards would have been to keep along by its margin ; but had they done so, they would have been liable to attack from the capital, as the troops could have poured out across the causeway to Tepejacac, and headed k. r me," Roger lance of my iction of the ind down to ad fall upon i-ioiidly with ist them, in I avert their lids. Long there would i reasoning, it to wait^ II possible as es from the id r find my ribes there, intains, and 3eeds of the ay to people f have here lit until the phat Cortez )anish army had enjoyed . The sick (d on litters were strong he mounted isturbance j leen moving af the lake, ave been to they would iroops could and headed THE RETREAT. 827 them there. They therefore struck oft due north, with the intention of passing to the west of Lake Xaltocan. The country was a broken one, and the Mexicans, gathering on the hills, rolled stones down upon them with volleys of arrows and darts. Soinotimes they even ventured to descend into the plain and fall upon the rear of the column. As often as they did so, however, the little body of cavalry drove them off. The infantry column kept steadily on its way, though greatly harassed by the continued attacks. Day after day passed in this manner, the Spaniards being reduced to great strains from want of food, as the natives, in the small townsand villaores through which they passed, carried off all provisions and stores, aad the only iood the soldiers could obtain were wild cheri-ies and a few ears of corn that had been left by the harvesters. Sometimes a horse fell dead from exhaustion, and afforded a welcome supply of food. Many of the soldiers dropped lifeless from fatigue and famine; others, unable to keep up the march, fell behind and wore captured by the enemy, and carried off to furnish sacrifices for the gods. To lighten them- selves the soldiers threw away the gold to obtain which they had dared so many dangers and suffered so many hardships. Life itself was at stake, and the precious metal had ceased to have any value in their eyes. Through those terrible days, Cortez as usual set a splendid example to his soldiers. He was in the front wherever danger threatened ; he bore his full share of the hardships, and by his cheerfulness and calm- ness kept up the spirits of the soldiers and cheered them by assuring them they might yet escape from the dangers that menaced them. The Tlascalans also behaved admirably, and appeared to bear no grudge whatever against the Spaniards for the sufler- ings which their alliance had brought upon them. Passing through the town of Quauhtitlan, and round the north of Lake Tzompanco, they at last turned their faces enst, and on the seventh d_ay reached the edge of the pla terra and looked down upon the plains of Otompan. They were still but thirty miles » 328 A MIOIITY ABMT. ',. Us 1' " W i in a direct line from the capital ; but they had traversed fully three times that distance in thoir circuitous joiirnoy. During the I.ist day's march tho nuuil»ors of the natives who surrounded tlicin luid coiisidoiiiMy incroasod, and menacing shouts of tho fato that awaited thoin procted thoin as they marched along. Tho nature of tlio jiim-II was not understood until, on reaching tiio crtvst from wliidi (li<^y iouiiod down on the valley of Otouipan, they saw that it was filled with a mighty army, whoso wliito cotton mail gave it — as one of their historians states -the appearance of Inung co\ rod with snow. Here were all the levies that Cuitlahua had collected; the whole of the cities of the plains had sent in their quota, and the bright banners of the cliicfs and nobles waved gaily over the snowy array of thoir followers. The numbers of the INIoxicans were put down at varying amounts by the Spanish historians, some of them laying them as high as two hundred thousand ; but it is probable that at least half that number were assembled to liar the march of the worn-out little force that survoyeJ thom from the heights. Even the most hopeful and courageous of tlio Spaniards felt something like dismay as they viewed the tremendous array before them. Deprived of the weapons on wiiich they had chiefly depended for victory, with their cavalry reduced to a mere handful, the prospect seemed indeed desperate. But there was no room for hesitation, they must cut a way through the enemy or die. Cortez addressed the troops in a short speech of encourage- ment. He reminded them that they had already won victories against enormous odds, and that numbers, indeed, were but of slight consequence, when the arm of God was with them. "Assuredly He who had carried them safely through so many perils, would not now abandon them and His own good cause, to perish by the hand of these infidels." With steady step and in compact array, the little force descended the hill into the plain, and as soon as they reached the level ground, the Aztec host attacked them on all sides. The baiidfui of calvary, consisting almost eutli-ely of the Taversed fully rioy. )f the natives aiul menacing thoin as they ot nndorstood (ikod down on (iUed with a .s one of their cd witl) snow. coIloL'ted ; the (ir quota, and red gaily over 'n at varying n laying theni ibable that at the march of Q the heights. Spaniards felt lendous array ich they had reduced to a operate. But I. way through jf encourage- won victories 1, were but of 1 with them. )ugh so many n good cause, e little force they reached on all sides. iii-ely of the AN UNKQUAL STnUflCJLB. 329 porHonal fnends and offico.s of Porto.,, cleared the way for the ...Hi of thn column by r^pcafod and .Ic.p.uato charges ; while the mfantry wjtii p.ke and sword maintai.iod a fn.nt (luit tiie A/tocsnltl.M,.d, fighting with tl,. greatest l.avery, wore unable ohreak. Tho Tlascalans fought as stoutly as tt Spani^i heir nat.vo land lay ahaost • 'Mnn siglit, an.l tho love o home and the rcnuMnbranc of ma.;' a vict.ry gained over ti.e Aztocs, anunatcd (hem ;o rival tl- steadfastness of their white comrades. Yet though unbroken the i'^!. fnv.. was but as an island in tho midst o an ocean ; the af ks, although ahvays repulsed were cons antly renewed ; the gaps in the ranks .,f tho enem^ worefdlo.1 up w.th fro.h combatanis, ang, redoubled their shouts and pressed more iieartily and eagerly than ever upon the Spaniards, di-iving 330 "there is our mark I" the cavalry back by sheer weight into the ranks of the infantry, Cortez at this supreme moment still maintained his calmness he saw that all was lost unless a change was made, and that speedily. Another hour at latest, and the resistance would be over, and the brave men who had followed him be either dead or prisoners reserved for sacrifice. Throughout the day he had ordered his cavahers to strike ever at the chiefs, know- ing well that undisciplined bodies of men become lost without leaders. Raising himself in his stirrups, he looked round over the seething mass of the foe, and at some distance beheld a smaUbodyof officers whose gay and ghttering attire showed them to belong to the highest rank of nobles, gathered round a litter on which was a chief, gorgeously attired with a lofty I-lume of feathers floating above his head, rising above which WIS a short staff bearing a golden net. Cortez knew that this was the symbol carried by the Aztec commanders-in-chief He called to his comrades- Sandoval, Ohd Alvarado, Avila, and the other cavaliers -and pointin.^ to the chief cried : " There is our mark ! Follow and support i^tnf J?r ^"f""^^, his wearied horse forward, and dashed into the throng followed by his cavaliers. The fury and sudden- ness of the attack bore all before it ; the compact little body of horsemen, shouting their battle-cry, clove through the ranks of the enemy, making straight for the Indian commander, whose name _wa^ Cihuaca. In vain the Mexicans tried to bar the way ; m vain when, after a few minutes of tremendous exertion Cortez reached his gool, the nobles and the body-guard strove to defend their chiet. Cortez, fighting with almost super- human vigour, clove his way through all opposition, and with his lance ran through the Aztec general and hurled him to the ground, when one of his foUowers, leaping from his horse, quickly dispatched him. Th-j guard, appalled by the suddenness of the attack, broke and tied in all directions, scattering panic among the lately riumphan host. Scarce knowing what had happened, bul 10(1 :g tnat some dreadiul misfortune had occurred and all was ) ranks of the ed his calmness, made, and that esistanco would I him be either ugliout the day le chiefs, know- me lost without >ked round over ;tance beheld a [ attire showed gathered round ed with a lofty ig above which sd by the Aztec des— Sandoval, —and pointing )w and support rd, and dashed iry and sudden- ;t little body of ;h the ranks of mander, whose ied to bar the ndous exertion, ly-guard strove almost super- tion, and with hurled him to rom his horse, » attack, broke mg the lately happened, but ed and all was A MARVELLOUS DBLIVERANOB. 331 fljtaKm,^ S'LV* 'r ■"', ,"""y ™ transformed into a tSe or h„ > ^P'-'f * ""J Tlascalans took instant Mvan- their Lllen foes ' ^''' "'^^ ''''''^ "^^^ '^' bodies of of fh°«?r'p T l^'"'* '" gathering the booty from the bodies of the chiefs of whom great numbers had fallen; and then after offenng up thanks to God for their marvellous deliverance the army aga.n renewed their march. It was already llteln the afternoon, and they halted at sunset at a temple, standing on an eminence which afforded them shelter and TTf^ ■ position, should the Aztecs renew the assau^ But tfT' there was little fear, their defeat had been utt andtlt^ there was no chance of their rallying complete, eve?lo'f Thr'.'^*"'^'" "^' ^'^^ '^ *^« "^-* r«--kable ever won. The discrepancy of numbers was immense • tl,« Spaniards were unprovided with artillery or fiTa mV a^d owed their success to their discipline and^ravery Ind st^U CHAPTER XX AT TLASCALA. tl el^t . - Tt ^ P'-'^^^bilities of the battle that was expe.t.u ^ take place on that day, when Cuitcatl y ; : ; ■ I 1 ? ' '. ; k ' I ill 882 "the white man's god has tiuumphbd." suddenly entered. His robe of bright featherwork was gone ; the panache of floating plumes was shorn from his head; his white garment was stained with blood ; he was overcome by exhaustion and grief. No words were needed to explain what had taken place. Impossible as it had seemed, the Aztec army had been defeated. A cry broke from the two ladies as he entered. " The white man's God has triumphed," he said ; " and the Aztecs have been defeated. You wore right, Roger. Mere handful as they were, the white men have gained the day. Even now I hardly know how it came about. Never did my countiymen fight moi'O bravely. For hours the Spaniards stood as a wall which we in vain tried to break ; thousands fell on our side, but not for a moment did we waver. Others took their places until, as the hours went on, the Spaniards grew weary and victory seemed in our grasp. Their horsemen had charged through and through us, but though many chiefs were slain, it mattered little; the ranks closed up, and each time they fell back on their infantxy having achieved nothing. Their horses were weary, and their attacks grew more feeble. " Already our cries of victory were I'aised ; an hour more, and not a Spaniard would have remained on foot. Just at this time my command had been ordered up, and we were fighting in the front rank. Suddenly T heard from all parts of the field loud cries. What had happened I knew not. We stood for a moment irresolute, not knowing what had befallen us elsewhere, then a panic seized my men. In vain I shouted and ordered ; they were deaf to my voice, they were deaf to every ll ig save fear. I was swept away with them as a leaf on a stiuam. When at last I freed myself from the torrent, and looked round, I saw that the whole army was in mad flight, while the Whites and Tlascalans, like hounds in pursuit of door, were hang'ng on their rear, slaughtering all they overtook. "In vain I gathered a few men and made a stand. It was usrl(>ss ; we were beaten down and overpowered. With the greatest difliculty I broke away and escaped; and had JMl'HBD." srwork was gone; from his head ; he was overcome leeded to explain had seemed, the ke from the two * YOU MUST LEAVE US TO-NIGHT.* 833 3 said ; " and the it, Roger. Mere gained the day. ;. Never did my 'S the Spaniards k ; thousands fell ver. Others took e Spaniards grew oir horsemen had ugh many chiefs i.sed up, and each achieved nothing. L-ew more feeble. ; an hour more, 3n foot. Just at up, and we were rd from all parts I knew not. We rhat had befallen In vain I shouted hey were deaf to th them as a leaf From the torrent, rmy was in mad hounds in pursuit ^htering all they ade a stand. Tt iri lowered. With ocuped; and had it not been for Bntlmlda, who fought side by side with me, I should have been taken by two or three fleet-footed Tlasculans. For the present all is lost ; the fight cannot bo renewed to- morrow, and before the sun fets the • nemy will have reached the borders of Tlascala, and will be sa.u tliere." " But what was it that caused so sudden a panic in your ranks ? " Roger asked. "It was the death of Cihuaea, our leader. The Spanish horse, headed, as I hear, by their general himself, burst through our ranks, cut their way to his litter, overthrew his body-guard, and slew him. His death would have mattered little, as the victory was rJready won. W^e needed no further orders, we had but to keep on fighting, antl the end would soon have come. It was simply a panic; none knew what had happened. The word passed from man to man, 'AH is lost !' and, like a herd of de.^r, our brave-t soldiers fled. It is not a thing to reason about— the goils deserted us, and we were no longer men. That is all I can tell you about it." And the chief flung himself dnvn upon a pile of rugs. Wine and food were brought to him, and his wounds dressed. ' " Roger," he said presently, " you must leave us to-night. Those of my followers who have escaped will soon make their way back, and my authority will bo unable to save j^ou. The priests would head the movement against you ; you woidd be bound and carried to Mexico at once. The Whites, in their march to-morrow, will pass along the road fuur miles to the north of this. Conceal yourself in a wood until morning, and join them as they come along. As to the future you can make no plans now; you know not whelher Cortez will retire to the coast and take ship there, or whether he will remain at Tlascala till reinforcements arrive from across the sea, and then again advance. When tliis is decided, you will know what course to take. Bathalda will accompany you, I have already given him orders to do .so. He will bring down a me.spage from you when you know what course has been "And if you go, dear, I will go with you," Amenche said, it "^tami^^mmSSi I ' 334 "there IB NO TIME TO BE LOST* ll I -if!* I > 1 1 ( ! * -> 1 I L ■: rising and pfttting her hand on Roger's shoulder. " Send for me, and Bathalda will escort me to you. I will bring such gems and gold as we can carry, so I shall not be a bride without a do, er. ^ You promise to send for me, do you not, Roger ? " y Certainly I do," Roger said, pressing her to him; "if I quit this land alive you shall accompany me. I should be unworthy of your love indeed, Amenche, ware I to prove faithless to you now. I regard you as being as truly my wife as if we were already married." A short time afterwards Bathalda entered, and said that a number of soldiers were gathering in the courtyard, that some priests were among them, and that they were talking loudly about carrying the white man to Mexico, as a sacrifice to appease the wrath of the gods. "There is no time to be lost," Cuitcatl said; "you had best go, Roger, before they surround the house and make escape impossible. I will fetch you a dark-coloured robe, so that you may escape unseen by anyone who may be approach- ing the house on this side." So say:ng he left the room. Macluthi signed to Bathalda to follow her, and they went out leavin- itoger alone with Amenche. The girl's firmness deserted h?! now, and she threw herself weeping into Roger's arms. He consoled her by his assurances that their parting would not be for long, and that the next time they met, whatever the circumstances, he would make her his own. " If we retire and you join me in Tlascala," he said ; « we will be married by Father Olmedo in Christian fashion. If I return hither to you, we will be married at once in Mexican fashion, and go through the ceremony again when we join the Spaniards." A few minutes later Cuitcatl returned, as did Maclutha and Bathalda, the latter bearing a basket with some pro- visions. The parting was brief, for the sei . - had brought news that the soldiers were becoming more ar ■- clamorous and were threatening to force an entrance u » wrhite ms^. were not handed over to them. ,OST. uWer. « Send for li bring such gems e a bride without tu not, Roger ? " er to him; "if I aae. I should be were I to prove ; as truly my wife 3d, and said that ) courtyard, that hey were talking sico, as a sacrifice said; "you had house and make coloured robe, so may be approach- gned to Bathalda ioger alone with )w, and she threw isoled her by his 3r long, and that 3tances, he would I," he said ; " we fcian fashion. If once in Mexican when we join the as did Maclutha with some pro- ■ -^ had brought iTi. ' clamorous, ' o wrhit« inAu REJOINING THE SPANIARDS. 335 Bathalda and Roger left by a ..m.Il door at the back of the hov,so,and passing through the garden took tl,eir wlv acro^ the country. An ho.u-'s walking°bvou,he them to a wood „ea^ the road by which the Spaniards would travel in the mornW and there tJ,ey sat down and awaited davlight. It was not until some hours after sunrise that the littfo army was seen appmaciung. On its flanks wore largo bodies of n!Les who however, contented thom.oKos bv hov,M-;n« of *7^' ^^O' except whore the ground was impLtS^birirlh at^TTf cavaJry, when they approached near enough to di.senar'e thel missdes at the lino of troops. As the\ead of thefolumn approached Roger tlu-ew olf his Aztec cloak and, accompS by Bathalda issued from the wood and ran towa ds thZ and ihe van." " """'" ""'^' ^'^ ^^^^^'^^ -^° -de^ " W,^y' f «"«ho ! " Cortez exclaimed, as Roger ran up « Is It you? We all thought you had fallen in "the fight ^n the c«y. I am glad to see that you are safe. hL did you A '1^ ^^'' J^^« °^a"y others, your Excellency, seized by the I^houid^" k'^"". f" ""^^"^^' ^"d thrown into a boat Jin th J7.' '^^f *° ^'"^^° ^'^d ^'^'^"fi^ed^ had it no been that the commander of the boat was a young cacique who had been my closest friend while dwelling in^Tezcuco He directed Ins men to row me across the lake, and took me to his house, which is but four miles away from here; thei^ I have remained, having my wounds cared for until now W« f^^ part n the fight at Otompan, and returned last :;enS ^S e news of your wonderful victory, and that you would mss along here this morning. I had a narrow escape hs niS or some of the Aztec soldiers would have se' ed L !nd aKen nie a prisoner to Mexico; but the cacique 11?.. et^ escape, and gave me this follower of his as a guide He \Tthl same man who accompanied me in my flight from TezTuco and brought me to join you at Tlascala." ' ^ "I am right glad that you have escaped, Sanehc firstlv l-ause every s<.ut arm is sorely needed; ^ndly:becfui m m i I p-^i l!'i ih 836 « CORTRZ WILL MANAGE TniNQB,'* Marina has grieved much for your loss. Truly, 'i> hi you been her brother she couM not iiavo l>ooii the centre of tlie col more afT'H'teJ. She is in I'iin. YvHi ijid l:w.st tarry here until she comes along, and thou join hei ; she will be rejoiced to seo you again." Maritia was indeed dulightod when she caught H^.ghi of Roger's tall figure, and greeted him with mu-ih emotion, as they walked together she jieurd how lie had oscapGd, and she related to him hov,- she, under the guard of the TIascalans, had sui'V«\od the tc-rtililo light on the causeway, and then gave him a f' 1.1 atcoi'.at of tlio great battle on the previous day. "AncI what are we going to do now?" lioger asked, when she had finished her narration. " Tliink you that we shall proceed to the coast, and taJce ship fur Europe 'I" Marhia tossed her head ; corufully. " You do not liLuoAv Cortez," she said ; " or you would not ask such a question. IFo is already thinking how he can return and cajiture the capital." "But unless ho receives large reinforcements, that would seem impossible," Ilogor said. "You have yourself told me that had it not been fur the fall of the Miixican leader, nothin" could have saved you from destruction. The Aztec loss was heavy, no doubt ; but they can fill up their ranks and take the field again in a week or two, with a force as large as that which fought at Otonipan. They will not bo dispirited, for they will know that it was but an accident which deprived them of victory, and will no longer deem the Spaniards invincible." " It matters not," Marina said carelessly ; " Cortez will manage things. Whatever he undertakes that he will carry out." Late in the afternoon the army arrived at the barrier, across the road that marked the boundary of the Tlascalan territory. As they passed it the native allies burst into cries of gladness, and the Spaniards joined in the she ' for to them, too, it seemed that their dang.rs were at an cr . ' that they had reach'-,! rest and abundance. C' ^ez ■ the leaders, however, r - by no means sanguine as • reception they AMONG FRIENDS. 837 upon the 11 • T'^" •'^""^"" '"' ^^-^"^^'^^ -'«f-t"- upon he Jlascalans; httle more than one thousat.d out of the eight thousand men who had marched with theui had returned to tell the tale, the rest had fallen in the defence of the palace, m the fighting in the streets of Mexico, in the passage of the causeway, or m the battle of Otompan rZ'^l Tl'i'^ '^" Tlascalans think when they saw the broken IZTTl. 1 T T^' Z^'''^ '^"'^ "^'•'^^^^ '-^^0 proudly, and t^rJ) / 7 ^'^T*^' "'^ themselves the bitter enmSy of the whole of the people of Anahuac ? Might they not well be tempted to avert the wrath of the Aztec^rby falling upon the strangers, whose alliance had cost them so dearly ? At the place at which they halted for the night, a town of ^me fifteen thousand inhabitants, they were so kindly recTved by the natives that these apprehensions were somewhat laid to ZL /fP ! T\^ ''"* *° '"'"* *'^'°^' ^"^-ited them to their houses, and treated them with the greatest hospitality. Here they remained three days, resting after their terrible fatigues They were visited here by Maxixca, the most influential of the ordifw f' 1u''' '"'"'''''■'''''■ He had been their mo t cordial friend on their first arrival, and his sentiments were in nowise changed by the misfortunes that had befallen them. Indeed his admiration for them was heightened by the manner in which they had withstood the whole power of the Aztec weri'ofTbf r- rf '"?! ^^^'^ '' '^''"^ ^y ''"^ ^^^°«« counsels were of the highest authority in the Tlascalan nation, restored the confidence of Cortez ; and he accepted the invi atti to continue his march at once to the capital, which was some fifteen miles away. The sick and wounded were placed 1 hammocks, which were carried on the shoulders of the f riend y natives; and as the army approached the capital, crowds of people flocked out to meet them with cries of wdcome and escorted them into the city. Cortez and his officersTook'p their abode m the palace of Maxixca, and the rest of the army were quartered in that part of the city over which he exercised special authority. * 338 BENDLNO FOR AMENCHB. I '. ^ ' i ■ !■■' ^'1 1, ) ! ' I n Ilore they remained for some weeks, during which the wounded recovored from their iajuries, the sick regained Ihoii- strength in tlio bracing mountain air, and the whole army shook off the eilects of the terrible hardsliips they had umler- gone while retren.ting from Mexico. C'ortez, during this time, was confined to his conch, the wound on the hand which he had received in the conflict in the capital had been so in- flamed and aggravated that he had lost the use of two fingers j and he had in the retieat received two severe wounds in the head, one of wliich became so inflamed from inattention, and from the fatigue and excitement he had gone through, that a portion of the bone had to be removed, and the general lay for some time at the point of death. The news came in a day or" two after the army reached its resting-place that a j>arty of five horsemen and forty foot, who had gone forward in chaige of invalids and treasure from Tlascala, had all Icen massacred, and twelve other soldiers marching in the same direction had also heen killed. Upon the other hand they heard that all was quiet on the coast, and the friendly domeinour of the natives there was in no 'way changed. Eoger, seeing for a time that nothing could be done, and that the troops Avore all eager to retire to the coast,' dt>spatched Bathalda a few days after his arrival at Tlascala,' to Amenche, to say that he consideied it certain that the Spaniards would retire, and that if she would come up to him in charge of Cuitcatl, whose safety he could guarantee while in Tlascalan territory, they might be united, as Malinche had promised to obtain the consent of C'ortez, who always encouraged marriages between his followers and the natives. Before leav- ing, Bathalda handed to Uoger a small bag, "This," he said, "I^laclutha gave to me for you; it was for that purpose she drew me aside before you started. She bade me not deliver it to you unless I was compelled to part from you. It contains some of the principal jewels taken from the treasure house, and she said, they might make you and the princess rich when you reach home. They are useless to her ; she has no children, and now that C'acama has gone it is nought BAD NEWS. tig which the legaiued their e whole army ley had untler- •ing this time, land which I\e d been so in- »f two fingers ; vounds in the attention, and through, that lie general lay army reached en and forty 3 and treasure other soldiers killed. Upon the coast, ant' IS in no way 3ould be done, to the coast, 1 at Tliis(!ala, ain that the me up to him iranteo while Malinc he had ys encouraged Before leav- you; it was started. She celled to part Is taken from 3 you and the seless to her ; e it is noucht 339 I I to her who rules over To.cuco. Moreover, these am but a small portion ot the treasure in her possession " Roger sent his warm thanks to Maclutha, and after Bathalda had started examined the contents of the bag, which he saw at once were very vakiable-consisting of large pearls, diamonds, and other gems On the evening of the second day afte; starting, Bathalda returned alone. uZitZrV"^,""^''- ^' '■"^' "'' ""'^ that I hardly f^l M • v^ f '^' ""'"' "'^ ''^^''' "'"1 S^'^'-d arrived from Mexico with orders to arrest Cuitcatl, who was reported by the priests m the neighbourhood to have harboured a white man, and to have permitted him to escape. Maclutha and Amenche were also arrested, and though treated with every personal courtesy, were conducted to Mexico, where the official said they were for the present to remain in seclusion in the royal palace. ' Roger was stupefied by the news. What was to be done he knew not. To desert Amenclie was not to be thouc^ht of and yet he saw no way of rejoining her, still less of rescuin- her. In the present excited state of the Aztec population it would be certain death to venture beyond the frontier of . u ^ "^''^o*^•ded his heigl.t now as the greatest misfor- tune; had he been short and slight he would have disguised himself as a Mexican, and under the guidance of Bathalda, have made his way to the capital ; but with a figure which would be instantly remarked wherever he went this would be impossible. He entered the palace, and sent in an urgent message to Malinche, who was nursing Cortez. She listened patiently to his narrative. " I pity you, Roger," she said when he had finished ; "but there is nothing to be done." " But I cannot march away and leave her," he said. " Rather than that I will disguise myself and take aU risks, even though I know that I must fail." "You mus: K:ve patience, Roger," she said. "Cortez will. 1 tee! sure, '-■ . gr," * " But if 8j, it will only be to march down to the coast," fij 1^ ! m ^ ji': 1 . Ill; 340 THE INFLUENOB OF CORTEZ. Eogflr Woke in. " Tho wliole army are eiij^^er to be off before the Rlexi^'iins can gathei' thoir forces "nd be ready to fall upon them." " The army may think what it likes, and wish what it likes," Malinche said qniotly; "I am sure tliat Cortez will not go down to the coast ; and what he wills he does. The others may grumble, but Cortez leads them like tame deer. When he is well enough to speak to them they will listen and obey him. His thoughts, ill as he is, are all of a fresh march to Mexico." Hitherto Roger had been as desirous as any of his comrades of a return to the coast. It had seemed to him that there was no po^nbility of success, and he longed to be on his way to Europe with his Indian bri'e. But now everything was changed; he had come o have a faith in Cortez, alt -t as absolute as < hat entertained by the general's devoted followers; and he well knew that if he still thought there was a possi- bjhty ov a successful march to IMexico, that march would be made ; he now theiefore waited with impatience for Cortez to be on his feet again. But the waiting was long and tedious. Four weeks passed before the general wa„ again himself. As soon as he became convalescent, the regidations /hich he issued for the army and the ord ^ that ha sent ■ the coast for every available man to be se.,' up to reinforce him, showed the soldiers that he had no intentions of retiring, and a remonstrance was signed by a lar^-p number of officers and Foldiers against a further stay in the country. Eut Cortez was not shaken; he prayed them not to discredit the gre,.t name th( y had won, nor to leave their glorious enter; - i ,« tor others more dai uig to finish. How could they wl -.h honour desert their aUies who at their persuasion had \ i im arms, and had bared their fortunes, and so leave th( to 3 vengeance of the Aztecs ? To retreat now would o, but to proclaim their weakness and give confidence to their foes. If, however, theio were any who preferred going home to the glory of this great mter- prise, then in God s Kame let them go, he would feel stronger THH AZTEO PROPOSAL. 341 ) be off before \y to fall upon ivhat it likes," itez will not . The others (leer. When ton and obey esh march to his comrades hat there was n his way to arything was tez, all ■■.■:t as ed followers; • was a possi- ich would be for Cortez to iveeks pass?i s he became ar the army ery available soldiers that strance was irs against a ; shaken ; he u^ had won, Dre dai liig to r allies who shared their the Aztecs? jir weakness »re were any greal mter- feel etrougor with but a fpw brave spirits with him than if surrounded by a host of false or cowardly men. The troops of Narvaez had been the loudest in their com- plaints, but they were silenced now by the enthusiasm with which the soMiers of Cortez responded to the appeal of their leader; and aU agreed to postpone their departure for the present. A fresh source of danger .oedily arose. Six Aztec ambas- sadoi-s arrived, bearing presents and inviting the Tlascalans to forget old animosities, and to enter into a treaty with them. All the nations of Anahuac, they urged, should make common cause in defence of their country; and they conjured fliem by their common religion not to allow the whife men to escape from their hands, but to saciifice them ut once to their gods. These proposals were made at a scifemn council called to receive them. There had, even before the arrival of the ambassadors, been a strong party in Tlascala who viewed the Spaniards with hostility as the nuthors of the heavy losses they had suffered, and as becoming, by their continued stay therf burden to the state. Tilt ead of this party was the young chief Xicotencatl, who had led the Tlascalan armies in the desperate resistance they offered to the Spaniards on their first coming. When the ambassadors had made their offers he rose and urged his hearers to assiait to the proposal, saying that it were better to unite with their kindred and those of their own agua.!;;i , faith, and custom, than with these fierce strangers. Ii.' young warriors enthusiastically agreed; but, happily fo» the Spaniaids the foiu- great chiefs, one of whom was the father of Xicotencatl, were opposed to the proposal. Maxixca especially combated the idea. " The Aztecs," he said, " are always fal.-e in speech and false in heai . It is fear that drives them now to offer theii- friendship to the Tlascalans, and when the cause for fear has pasf5ed they will again be hostile^ What? Are we ti! sfifritico the white men to the gods— the mt n who have fought with us side by I 842 M A TERIilBLE 8C0UBGE." iii ^liii : * i' j : 1 Bide against our enemies, and who are now our guests t Were we to act thus it would be an act of the grossest porfldy " Xicotoncatl replied, but .Maxivi-a, losing his temper," seized him and with sudden violence thrust him from the ch.iT.ber. So unusual a step so astonished the assembly that it silenced all opposition, and the alliance with the IMexi.an. was unani- mously rejected. Contidont now tiiat the 'Huscalans were to be trusted, C'ortez sent out expeditions composed of his own men and bodies of the allies, and inflicted terrible punishment on the districts where the isolated parties of Spaniards hatl been cut off and destroyed, and defeated the natives in several hardly fought battles, capturing their towns and enslavin-^ the inhabitants. " Having thus restored the con6dence of his followers and allies he prepared for a forward movament. lilartin Lopez, shipbuUder to the expedition, liad escaped the slaughter on the causeway, and he now (ji-.Ianish rule. r f ^""ji h i ili"'-' *■**«„ 344 AT TEZCUCO AGAIN. But Cortez had no idea of taking all these with him, as It would be difficult to obtain provisions for such a host; 'and he left them behind, to bring on the vessels when completed, and to aid in further operations. Ho himself marched with tie Spaniards and a small body of allies, and reached Tezcuco without opposition. The prince whom Montezuma had ap- pointed to succeed Cacama, fearing the vengeance of the popu- lation, had fled to Tlascala; but returning, in hopes of findinc^ a party there in his favour, was seized and put to death by Coanaco, another brother, who had been recognized as king by the Tezcucans. When the Spaniards approached the city they found it almost entirely deserted, the inhabitants having fled across the kke to Mexico. Their ruler had accompanied them, and Cortez appointed another brother in his place. This prince lived but a few months, and was succeeded by another member of the royal house^tlio prince wlio had, during Oacama's life- time obtained a lai-ge portion of his dominion, and who proved a valiant and faithful aUy of the Spaniards in their struggle with his countrymen. The Tezcucans gradually returned after Cortez had nominated new sovereign, and Cortez at once set a large number of them to dig a canal from the town its(4f to tlie^lake, so that the men putting together the ships could labour under his very eye. Several of the cities round sent in to make their sub- mission ; and a week after his arrival Cortez marched with a body of Spaniards and allies against Iztapalapan, a town of Iitty thousand inhabitants, lying near the narrow ton-ue of land dividing the great lake from that of Xochicalco ° The natives came out to meet them, and fought bravely, but were driven into the city. The greater part of those who could not escape were slaughtered. While engaged in the work of plunder the Spaniards were alarmed by a rush of water the natives having broken the bank of the great lake. The troops with the greatest dilficulty escaped with their lives, many of tne allies being drowned. ' with him, as 3h a host ; and lien completed, marched with, cached Tezcuco znma had ap- 36 of the popu- )pesof finding t to deatli by nized as king ;hey found it fled across the sd them, and This prince other member Oacama's Ufe- d who proved their struggle ad nominated ^e number of lake, so that ur under his :e their sub- irched with a n, a town of ow tongue of licalco. The 3ly, but were ie who could the work of of water, the The troops I'es, many of THE SHirS BROUGHT DOWN. 345 The fate of Iztapalapan excited consternation amon- the tlem t::' '"' "'7 fT'r '' "^^"^^ ^'^-^ submission among them Otompan and C'halco. Not only had tbn Mav,- virttt " ''--r' '\' '-^^^^^^^^^^ intofllme Z TT "" 'T' «--'^'«-"g rivalries broke into flame. The Aztecs were but a small portion even of the people of the ^^alley of Mexico, and the greater ZtLn of to bieak up the union that had so long existed. Cortez bv promises and presents assisted the work ^ After some weeks' stay at Tezcuco, the news came that the hips were a 1 completed, and ready to be carried down; and two hundred foot and fifteen horse, under the comma;d of fr? T ; T" ''"^ .*" '''''' '^'''^- B"*^ «<=^rcely had he advancing, ihe ships had already been put together and 5o^ in ^.''"'r^'^^ ^'- '^^^' -d were now being brought down m pieces by an immense number of porters a ^th great ^co tT '""t ^T'""'^ ^°"' ^'« ^^^'S- P--*-- of the InTn ZZtt a' ^^^\k^P\^7»ty thousand of the best warriors. After four days of painful labour the host of porters and fight- ing men reached Tezcuco. ^ It was indeed, an immense undertaking that had been acoompushed, for the whole of the wood Tnd iron work of thu-teen sh,ps had to be carried for upwards of sixty miles over a difficult and mouutainous country ^ ' A few days later Coitez took half of his Spanish force and the who e of his allies, and started on an expedition to lUn noitre the capital and to punish some of the towns wTdch had returned insolent answers in reply to his summons. Tl e rdvket ;""'/'-r'"^°" ^^ ^^'^"^' -- ^-^ -"ackoJ Ihe dyke leading to it was found to be cut through, and the Spaniards for a time suffered greatly. They found a fo,^ JoT'tZ: V'': '""'^' T' P"^ ^" who^.esisted to the inTab-; ! " ^"'"'''' ''^''^' ^''''^ •^^^^ d^««''^d bv their against TIacopaa, and alter a battle outsf ie the town occupied 34« CONTINUED FIGHTING. the suburb8. Another hot fight was necessary before the town was fully taken. Here the Spaniards halted for some days, fighting almost daily with the Aztecs. In one encounter, Cortez alluwed himself to be decoyed on to the great causeway upon which he had before suH'ered such disiister. When he was lialf-way across the Aztecs turned, reinforcements arrived from the city, swarms of cano'js attacked the Spaniards in flank, and it wiis oidy after desperate fighting and some loss that they regained the mainland. Having accomplished their object, the force returned to Tezcuco, greatly harassed on the march by the enemy. Other expeditions were undertaken. During these events the work of putting together the vessels was continued, and, to the great satisfaction of the Spaniards, news reached them from the coast of the arrival of three ships witli reinforcements : two hundi-ed men, seventy or eighty horses, arms, and ammunition. When these reached Tezcuco, Cortoz felt confident that he should now be able to overcome all opposition. On the fifth of April he again started on an expedition; passing through Bome deep gorges he attempted to carry a mountain fortress, but was repulsed with los, from the volleys of stones and rocks rolled down upon the assailants. After several other battles they neared Xochimilco, on* of the richest of the Aztec towns. Like IMe-vico, it stood in the water, but at a small distance from the edge of the lake. This was only captured after desperate fighting, Cortez himself having a narrow escape of his life. The next morning at dawn, great numbers of Aztecs landed from canoes, and fell upon the Spaniards, and it was only after a long and desperate struggle that the latter gained the day. Th(y now continued their march to Tlacopan, theenemj' following closely, and striking whenever they saw an oppor- tunity, and the troops wor*' glad, indeed, when they again reached 'iezcuco. By this time the canal wa.s finished and the ships were put together, and aftor discovering and punishing aaothur conspiracy against his life, Coitez gave orders lor tiie r before the town fighting almost Cortez all(jwed way upon which he was Jialf-way rrived from the ;ls in flank, and e loss that they rce returned to 3 enemy. Other •ents the work of nd, to the great m from the coast ts : two hundred unition. jnfitlout that he On the fifth of passing through puntain fortress, s of stones and )chimilco, on* of , it stood in the Ige of the lake. I, Cortez himself of Aztecs landed md it was only atter gained the opan, the enemy T saw an oppor- 'hen they again finished and the I and punishing orders for thtt AN EXECUTION. 347 fn tl!lv,l7"r ^"''^" ^^^^ "^^ ^'^^> -°^ '^-^ *he vessels, in the feiyht of an enormous concourse of oeonle drnnn«^ a the canal one after the other and reacltuhet'ke ^'P^' ''"" Cortez mustered his men and found that he had eighty-seven horse; eight hundred and eighteen foot, of which onf hurdled and eighteen were nu.sketcers or cross- bowmen ; three k!e iron fiejd-pieces, and fifteen light brass guns. Three hund ^d of the men were told off to man the ships The Indian confederates arrived punctually: fifty thousand Tlascalans, and a vast number of levies from the otlL t rlT The army was divided into three corps : one was to take up ts post under Alvarado at Tlacopan ; another, under Olid, was to ad in capturing the causeway; while Saii-loval had commLd of the third, vThose moven.ents were to be detern.ined by cir- cumstances. Cortez himself took charge of tlie fleet A quarrel arose between a Spr.nish soldier and a Tlascalan chief, who was a relation of Xicoteneatl, who at once le he army, and started for Tlascala. Ho had always been btte I hostile to the Spaniards; and Cortez saw that unles tl e movement was stopped it u,igl>t bocome very .seiious. He sent a party of natives after him, with instructions to prevaU upon him If possible to return. He refused to do so. Cortez despatched a body of cavalry in pursuit, arretted him t Tla cala, bi^ought him down to Tezcuco, and there hung him m the sight of his own countrymen. estabhshing themselves at Tlacopan. They cut the reservoir that supplied tLe city with fresh water, the great lake being sail 1 he next day the two divisions marched on to the causeway to make then.selvos masters, if possible, of the first bridge l!n.,vfr'''.r''" ^^^^"•f^^^r tactics, desperately defending bamcades thrown across the causeway, and attacking the in vaders with a crowd of missiles from canoe.. After a lon-^ and obstu.ate fight the Spaniards and their allies were obliged li V f , r V I' ,^:«"«'<'^''^^ble loss, and Olid drew oft with his Un us on to his station commanding the other causeway Iztapalapan having been again occupied by the enemy, 848 THE CAUSEWAY CArTURBD. Sandoval's division attacked them by land while Cortez with his fleet lay oft' the shore. After capturing the town, Cortez turned his attention to the canoes of the natives which darkened the surface of the lake. At this moment a fresh breeze sprang up, and the ships, spreading their canvas, dashed amongst the canoes, overturning and destroying great numbei-s, while the cannon tore others to pieces with discharges of bullets, and comparatively few succeeded in regaining the city. It was now getting nearly dark, and the fleet coasted along the great southern causeway to tlie fort of Xoloc, where another branch of the causeway joined the main dyke. The fort was feebly garrisoned. Cortez landed his soldiers and carried it by storm. Here he established his head-quaiters, landing some of the cannon from the ships to strengthen the position. He was now within half a league of the city, and two out of the three great approaches were already in his hands. Night and day the natives attacked the garrison, but the ships and the guns in positions repulsed thoii' assaults. After some days' delay a simultaneous attack was made by the Spaniards. Two of the ships, one on each side of the cause- way, advanced abreast of the army, sweeping the dyke with their fire ; the enemy were diiven back, and Cortez, passing gap after gap, reached the island on which the city stood. Behind them, as they advanced, the native allies filled up the breaches, and made them practicable for artillery and cavalry, and as soon as the work was completed, the Spaniards who had already passed were reinforced by large numbers of their allies. CHAPTER XXL A VICTIM FOR THE GODS. rpHE street which the Spaniard--^ entered niter leaving the JL causeway intersected the city from north to .«;outh. It was broad and perfectly straight, and from the roofs of the IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. 349 houses winch l,nod it, a storm of missiles was ponrcd on the fepaniards as they advanced. Cortex set the allien to work l!''!l ! houses as fast as the Spaniards won their way a ong the s reet. This they did until they reached the firsi canal ; the bndge here ha.l Lcen broken down, and after the Indmns had crossed, the temporary planks were pulled after them, and they joined their countrymen behind a solid ram- part of stone, erected on the other side of the canal .? Jl^ '^'^\"'^<^;' ^!*«^' ^^^ hours' hard fighting and the use of artillery, that this obstacle was cleared atvay, and the Spaniards wading across the canal pressed forward without further resistance until they reached the great square, on one side of which stood the palace they had so long occupied. The Aztecs-disheartened at the n.anner in which all the defences on which they relied had been captured by the Spaniards, and by their presence m the heart of the city-for some time desisted from the>r efforts; but they were roused to fury as a body of Spaniards rushed up the wi.uliug terraces to the summit of the great temple, and hurled the priests from its summit. Then with a yell of fury they threw themselves upon their enemies; their headlong ru.h s.ept the Spaniards back into the square, when they were attacked by bodies of natives pouring down every street. For once the Spaniards lost their presence of mind, fell into disorder, and were swept before the torrent down the street wliich they had just traveiid. In vain C^rtez attea^pted to stem the stream, the panic spread to the alhe. and the whole mass were flying before the natives, when a body of cavalry came up and plunged into the crowd. The natives were shaken by the appearance of the enemies they eared so much, and Cortez taking advantage of the confusion ralhed his followers, and again drove the Aztecs back into the Night was now at hand, and dragging off the cannon which had been abandoned in their flight, the force marched off in good order, though hotly pressed by the natives, and retired to Xoloc. Alvarado laid Sandoval also succeeded fn rrn«.«in<. ihm re«i;ective causeways, but neither of them could penetratij w ii '"1 I 350 OONTINUBD ATTACKa. into the city. The attack had failed, but it had strengthened the position of the Spaniards, for seeing the speedy manner in which they had overcouie all the defences erected by the Mexicans, many of tie cities which had hitherto stood aloof, now sent in their submis^iion and supplied levies to assist them in their work, while i xtlilxochitl, who had noAV become Lord of Tezcuco, and was a strong adherent of the Spaniaid;:., brought up a force of fifty thousand Tezcucans, who were divided among the three armies. Another simultaneous attack was now made, the advance alz/ng the causeway being, as before, covered by the ships; but th« mmmy fought stoutly, and some hours elapsed before the Hpaniards again entered the city. The advance was now more easy than on the pievious occasion, owing to the destruction of the buildings bordering the streets. The natives, however, still fought with the greato.st obstinacy; but the great square was Hib last reached. ffeinkin^ to discourage the natives by the destruction of sonie of the principal edifices, Cortez ordered the palace which h»-" attaksontre I ^^ ■"''^'' °^'^" "^'^'^'"^ -simultaneou attacks on the throe divisions on the causeways, while at the same moment troops from the neighbouring [o vis at tck d zxr b t''^ T-, ''' ''' °°^ ^«"^-^* himsrif':- h had a a b T" f '" '''^"'^Sem. On one occasion he had a a,ge number of canoes in ambuscade amon^ some neai the Spanish vessels. Believing that tliey were filled with p::sZ"ti;ert-h '°i t- f' ''-^ ^^ ^^' ^^t:i puisued tJiem Ihe Aztec boats made for the reeds the Spaniards fol owed, and presently struck upon submJed timbers the Indians had driven in. Thev were .-n^trnH attacked by the whole fieot of canoes, miZf T e ^ ^^ 0^0^; S^t^T^'ir^'r'"^, ^'^ ''^^ -P^--' ^-^-. -d one or tne fepanisli cralt captured. It was now three months since the sie^e hnd horm,, ^ i s rraitt^ '':'-''r-'' ^^^ ^^ ^-^ -?;! :?::; :' Several attempts which Cortez had made U> open negotiations with the young emperor had been received with sfo n 1 .as certain that, sooner or later, famine would do its work for the approaches to the city were all in the hands o7 the Spaniards ; and as the towns of the lake vveit e fcher fnendly or oyenawed by the gi-eat army of their allies even the canoes which at lir..t mnde their way in at n tf -^f provisions had ceased to steal across inTh^d i inet Tl e great mvtiv. levies were of little use to the Sp niar Is tthe ab olute figh ing, but they did good service by ove awi ' the towns, making expeditions against the tribes that 1 .^d not yet consented to throw in their lot with the hn | "/ anj by sweeping in provisions from a wide extent of count ;' But to wait until famine did its work lirtle suited the snirit oi the Spaniards. The process would assuredlv h. ! T!..' "-«, ror iaeu wlio fought so stoutly would resist starvation M 352 THE GRAND ASSAULT. with eqtial tenacity; besides, the diiration of the siege was already beginning; to excite discontent amoncj tlie allies, whose wars wore generally of very short duration. The S[)nniards, too, were suiTering from severe illness brought on by fatigue, expo- sure, and hardship. It was now determined to make a grand effort to obtain possession of the great market of Tlatelolco, which lay on the north-western part of tlie city. Its posscssioQ would enable the force of Cortez to join hands with those of Alvarado and Sandoval ; and the spacious market itself, with its halls and porticoes, would furnish accommodation for the army, and enable them to attack the city at close quarters, instead of having to fight their way every day along the causeway. Sandoval was to join Alvarado, snnding seventy picked troops to support Cortez. Advancing along the causeway, and sup- ported not only by the ships, but by a countless host of canoes filled with the allies of the lake cities, who penetrated the canals, and caused confusion in the rear of the Aztecs, the division of Cortez cleared the suburbs of their opponents, and then advanced towards the square of Tlatelolco by three great streets. Alderete commanded the force that advanced by the main central aven\ie. This was a raised causeway with canals running on either side of the road, Tapia and a brother of Alvarado commanded one of the other columns, while Cortez led the third. A small body of cavalry with three guns remained in reserve in the gieat street leading to the cavise- way, and here the column were to rally in case of disaster. The three columns advanced simultaneously. The Spanish pressed the Aztecs back before them ; their allies filled up the canals as they took them one by one ; the Tlascalans stormed the houses, and attacked the enemy on their roofs, while the canoes engaged those of the Aztecs, and so prevented them from interfering with the men occupied in filling up the breaches. The parallel streets were near enough to each other for the Spaniards to hear the shouts of their companions in the other columns, and to know that all were gainins: ground steadily. The enemy in the streets fought with less oli.-t iuacy than usual; and Cortez, witli his usual keen-sightedness, at once apprehended THE SIGNAL. 853 r the siege was blie allies, whose 9 Spaniards, too, )y fatigue, expo- o make a grand it of Tlatelolco, Its possession Is with those of et itself, with its )n for the army, ,rters, instead of causeway. ity picked troops se^v^ay, and sup- luntless host of who penetrated f the Aztecs, the ,heir opponents, itelolco by three e that advanced d causeway with )ia and a brother columns, while with three guns Hi' to the cause- e of disaster. y. The Spanish lies filled up the ascalans stormed [■ roofs, while the ented them from lip the breaches, ch other for the ions in the other ground steadily, nacy than usual ; Dnce apprehended that' fCJT!""'""" °^ '^^ '''■'''^*""°« '"''^^^^^'^ ««°^« ^«vioe, and itlttoit:r^ ' '"'"^ '' '^'^^"^^ °^^ ^^-^ the S!!f^ ' ^""^ *^'* ^^ ^^^ ^"^ ^ «l'«rt distance from the great square. Fearing that this officer, eager to be the first to gam the market-place, was not taking proper precau! tions to secure his retreat, Cortez, with a sn.aU body of Cns retraced his steps, and turned up the street by wh ch I derete^ resaTtha\ h ,7"'- /^?'^^-- ^ut a shit distance ,2^ be saw that his stringent orders had been neglected ; for he came trveTeTd""' T? '.'""^^ '''' ''''^' ^"" «f -te: at as the 11 In- '^'S^'.^'^'^P' «»ly had been made to stop it hali Wn K r' ^f '''''''' '^^"° ^^ *^^« «ide showed that It had been abandoned as soon as commenced Ihe general saw too, that the road had been narrowed as It approached this point, and that the work had evidently been recently done. Much alarmed at the consequence of Z neglect, he at once set his men to fill up the brelh, but they had scarcely begun the operation when a terrific ;ell arose drowning the mingled clamour of the distant conflict ' Aztcs'^fl f ' *' ?"'"" '"PP°''^' '^''''''^ °" <^h« retreating Aztecs with too great eagerness; he had carried the barricadj which defended the breach, and had given orders that th^ intTe '"'"'' 'I'^'f "P- ^"^ '^ *^«^^' eagerne: to be f^t in the square the Spaniards had pressed on, none carin.. to stop to see that the allies carried out the o^der: so tTkin^ fotHqut: '''''-'" ''-' '-'-' - -^ the;:.:!"! Suddenly the horn of Guatimozin, the emperor, sent forth a piercing note from the summit of a temple.^ As if by ma.ic the retreating Aztecs turned and fell on their pursuers 3 swarms of warriors from the adjoining streets lane's and corners at^tacked the advancing column. Taken c^m Sly bv surprise, bewildered by the suddenness and f^ry of th^on^ slaugh^ appalled by ^the terrific war-yells, smitL do^ bv •"* .au. ux implies rrom the Aztecs, the Spaniards fell into 354 DEFEAT OF THE SPANIARDS. * confusion, and were swept down the street like foam on the crest of a wave. In vain their leaders attempted to rally them. Their voices were drowned in the din, and their followers, panic-stricken, now thought only of preserving their lives. On they came until they reached the edge of the cut. Here some plunged in, others were pushed in by the pressure from behind. Those who could swim were pulled down by their struggling comrades. Some got across and tried to climb the slippery side of the dyke, but fell back and were seized by the Aztecs, whose canoes now dashed up and added 1o the confusion by hurling a storm of missiles into the crowd. Cortez, with his little party; kept his station on the other side of the breach. They were already surrounded by Aztecs, who had landed on the causeway behind them, but held their ground desperatel /, and endeavoured, as far as possible, to assist their comrades to clin.>'' out of the water, ' 'oi tc-r was speedily recognized and storms of missiles were j[i«>\a,'«ig their lives, the cut. Here I pressure from heir struggling lb the slippery by the Aztecs, the confusion . Cortez, with t of the breach. had landed on nd desperate! , their comrades )f missiles were rom his helmet BS upon him to- into their boat, he leg and fell, le, severed the •ough the body, ma and by a ; and drove oflf mts ; but Olid Quinones, the now fought his lid him on the it fell, wounded mberlain, then helped into the and carried off fought on, but med it to tbo A GENERAL RBPUL8B. 856 trarmv'toi:',,''"' "' ''"'""' "'^ "■^'' "*^ -l-'^ant to me army to be tluown away there ! " The mass of ft.gitives puuied along the ca„.seway. The road was soft, and was s„ cut up that it was kn.- deep in mud and xn some place, the water of the canals 1 f Lt Jrl' It. Those on the flanks were otien f,>,.ceu the mX^ ct^fed :fft''T" ^""' ""• ''''■' instantly captuS an" earned off by tho moe- of the enemy. Corte/s standarT ^arer was among those w.o fell in the cf.nal, b t he s rcceed^' in reooven,.g las footing and saved the standard. cava rv td'b>"1'" !' •"*'''' '^' '^"' ''^''' '^^ ^^^non and cavalry had been placed in reserve. Here (!orto7 rnli;-.^ tv. and charged the A.tees with the littrbody tf'ho t 'l S^^ ^i::Tzzzv '^i '-^ "^^^^ '^^^ «« tii s ' had xlioined h ^ .. '.• •""'^ '' ^""^ ^''"'^' ^'^^ ^^en these had lejomed lum the division retired, Cortez covering the movement with the cavalry. "vcimg me As soon as they were freed from the city, Tapia was sent disUnce, and knew that the division of Corte^ had been driven furv" L Itl *'"' f\^^^-^-^ "Pon themselves increased in nZ'ilod inT "?r Y' '"^" ^"^"^S^'' "'^^ <^'-*«^ returned headiwere/h "^ T"" '''^^- ^wo or three bloody ShTu 'h S '7 T""! f'"" ^^*^ ^^°"*« °f " Malinzin ! " ^ Although feandoval and Alvarado did not credit the death of their commander they felt that it was useless to petseve e the Aztecs. With great difficulty they drew off their troops to the entrenchment on the causeway, and here the guns o the ships sweeping the read drnv« bank ti..,-„ ,„.„:,,L^ ' ''^ greatest anxiety prevailed as to the'fate of CortXuntU Ta^a' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 7 A i< C/a ^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 ■ 50 '""^^ IM 14 IIIIII.6 m ^ /a ^? <^ o\ ruuujgiupiiiL; Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 iV iV %^ i\ \ 'C^ -s^v ^\ ». ^ "^ o~ i/j if 356 "you fight like a paladin." 1 ■ 1 1 Ml \ ■ arrived, bleeding from several wounds which he had received from parties of men whom Giustiiuozin had stationed to interrupt the communication between the two camps. Sandoval at once lode round. lie, too, was attacked on the road, but his armour and that of his horse protected him from the missiles showered upon them. On arriving at the camp he found the troops much dispirited. Numbers had been killed and -wounded, and no less than sixty-two Spaniards, with a multitude of allies, had fallen into the hands of the enemy. Indeed, the column around Alverete had been almost entirely destroyed, and two guns and seven horses had been lost. Cortez explained to his follower the cause of the disaster, and told Sandoval that as he should be unable to take the field for a few days, he must take his place and watch over the safety of the camps, Eoger Hawkshaw had borne his f ill share in the desperate conflicts that had taken place. In the previous combats he had fought only to preserve his own life, but now he was eager for the fray : his friend Cuitcatl and his promised bride were prisoners in IMexico, and he fought now to deliver them. It was nearly a year from the time when he had first retreated along the fatal causeway, and in that time his frame had broadened out and his strength increased, and so terrible were the blows he dealt that Cortez himself had several times spoken to him in terms of approval of his valour, and had appointed him to be o'.e of his own body-guard. He had stood beside him at the edge of the breach, and had done good service there. " You fight like a paladin," Cortez said, as Roger cut down three natives who had rushed upon him ; " but see, Sancho, put up your sword for a minute and take up that pike. If you hand the end to those poor fellows in the water your strength will be sufficient to haul them up." Eoger at once set to at the work of saving life, and dragged up more than a score of men who would otherwis? have been drowned. He heard the cry which was raised when Cortez was attacked, and throwing down his pike and drawing IU;3 he had received oned to interrupt I attacked on the itected him from ing at the camp 3 had been killed aaniards, with a 3 of the enemy. 1 almost entirely had been lost, the disaster, and to take the field 1 watch over the in the desperate ious combats he but now he was s promised bride to deliver them, id first retreated 9 his frame had 1 so terrible were bd several times valour, and had guard. He had id had done good Roger cut down see, Sancho, put it pike. If you er your strength life, and dragged rwiss have been ied when Cortez md drawing his A PRISONER. 357 8word turned to rush to his assistance, but at this moment two Mexicans threw themselves upon him, his foot slipped in the mud, and in another moment he and his two assailants were rolling down the deep bank into the water. With a mighty effort he freed himself from their grasp and gaining the bank tried to climb up; but a canoe dashed up alongside, a dozen Mexicans threw themselves upon him, and with a triumphant shout drew him into the boat, which at once paddled oflF from the scene of conflict. Roger as he lay at the bottom of the canoe felt that all hope was over. He knew that the Aztecs never spared a captive taken in war and that all who fell into their hands were destined for the altars of their gods. He regretted deeply that he had not tallen m battle, but determined that at any rate he would not die tamely, and resolved that rather than be slaughtered in cold blood on the altar, when the time came, he would offer so desperate a resistance that they would be forced to kill him. Passing along several canals, the canoe stopped at some stairs. Roger was taken out, and led through a shouting crowd to a great temple, where he was thrust into a prison- room already occupied by several Spaniards. Their numbers increased until they amounted to twenty. Few words were spoken among the prisoners ; their arms were free, but their legs firmly secured with ropes; and ten armed Aztecs kept watch over them, to see that they made no attempt to unfi.sten their bonds. One of the prisoners Roger saw, to his regret, was his friend Juan. He was severely wounded in several places, as indeed was Roger himself, although in the excitement of the battle, he had scarce noticed it. " Well, lad ! " the old soldier said. " This is a bad ending of our gold-seeking. Who would have thought that it was to be ones lot first to be murdered on the altars of a hideous god and then to furnish a meal to a race of savages ? " ' "The furnishing the meal does not trouble me," Ro<^er replied. «' Whether one is drowned and eaten by fishes, *or killed and eaten by Aztecs, makes, as far as 1 can see, but ht.tU diUeieuce to one. However, 1 d< quite make up my mine" 358 "nBVBR did I SEE MEN SO RBCKLB88.' ipi, HI to the worst yet, Juan. They must have captured a great number of us, for I saw many carried off who are not here, besides a multitude of Tlascalans and our other allies. I do not suppose they will sacrifice us all at once, but are likely to take so many a day. In that case we may have the luck to be among the last, and before our tui'n comes the Spaniards may be masters of the town. Juan shook his head : " It is just as well to hope, lad ; but I think the chances are next to nothing. Even if Cortez him- self gets out safe, and the troops draw off without much further loss, it will be some days before they will attack again, after such a maiming as we got this time. Even then their chances of success will be no better than they were to-day ; worse, in fact, for we have lost something like a sixth of our force, beside what may have fallen in the attack from the other side, put it at a quarter altogether. Our natives will be dispirited by their defeat to-day, and the Aztecs will have gained in confidence. By St. James, but those fellows fight well ! Who would have thought when we saw them bowing and smiling when we first " ' -ed in the city, and submitting so meekly to everythii. lat they could fight like fiends ? Never did I see men so ockless of life. Pedro has fallen ; I loved him as a son. But far better dead than here." " I am sorry, indeed, to hear that he has fallen, Juan. I feared that he had, for he would not have let you be captured had he been alive. I don't give up all hope for ourselves. The Mexicans fight like heroes, but in the end we must win in spite of their valour. Even if we do not take the town by storm, which I don't think we ever should do if it were pro- visioned, we shall take it by hunger. They must be well-nigh starving now. In another month there will not be a soul alive in the city. You do not think there is any chance of our making our escape ? " "Not unless wings could sprout out from cur shoulders," Juan said, " and we could fly through the air. You may be sure th6?3 feliows vvill keep too sharp a look-out upon us to iaptured a great ho are not here, ■ aUies. I do not ire likely to take I the luck to be e Spaniards may hope, lad ; but in if Cortez him- F without much hey will attack lis time. Even than they were hing like a sixth the attack from ir. Our natives the Aztecs will ut those fellows a we saw them a the city, and hey could fight i of life. Pedro etter dead than 'alien, Juan. I you be captured le for ourselves, tid we must win Lke the town by 3 if it were pro- ust be well-nigh 1 not be a soul I any chance of our shoulders," r. You may be out upon us to THE VICTIMS. 859 II give us the shadow of a chance ; besides, if we were to get out, we could not go on foot without being detected. You might manage, lad, with a dark night to hide your colour, and with the aid of a native dress, for you can speak their tongue; but as for me the idea is hopeless, and not to be thought of. No, no, lad, I do not delude myself; my time has come, and I shall bear it I hope, like a man, and a Christian." From time to time Aztecs came in to see that the prisoners were safe. From their conversation with the guards Roger gathered that the attack had everywhere failed, and that the Spaniards had retired to their camps. Late in the afternoon some priests entered ; two of the prisoners were selected by them, their bonds cut, and they were taken away. Soon afterwards, the sound of the great war-drum reverberated through the city. The Spaniards in their camps started to arms on hearing the sound; but they were not long in understanding its meaning, for from their camps they beheld a great procession winding up the principal pvramid. Alvar- ado's camp, which was the nearest to the city, was a short mile away from the temple, and in the clear evening air the troops could see that there were five or six white figures among them. ^ " As usual, the victims were decorated with plumes of feathers to do honour to their own sacrifice. They were driven along with blows, and when they reached the summit of the temple were seized and thrown one by one upon their backs upon the sacrificial store, which was convex, so as to give a curve to their bodies. The principal priest then with a sharp stone knife cut through the skin and flesh, between two of the ribs, and plunging his hand into the orifice dragged out the heart," which he presented to the figure of the god. The sight, distant as it was, excited the Spaniards to the verge of madness, and if it had not been for their officers, they would have seized their weapons and rushed forward again to the attack to avenge the murder of their comrades. The feelings of the captives, as they heard the sound of tht drums, the shouts of the natives, and once or twice caught 360 A FRIEND. li !l terrible. Thia od men who had > face shuddered I, and the same rather surprised ad, as his height ig his comrades ; ose reserved for ;y, the captives long the Aztecs I in good health Y six hours, and sf Roger recog- Bathalda. The t)n to Roger, aa recognized him. ing. They had to escape in the '■ exercised any empt to unloose into the corner a low voice, led to the young came to know ivour, and now 79 not seen the e tell you that before the time h is too strict." bed the priests st ; so you need id watchful. If Che time is at I "the time is at hand." 861 hand,' you will know that he is a friend ; act as he tells you. 1 dare not say more now." Ten days passed, Juan had gone, and Roger had been mucH moved at parting with him-more so, in^Ieed, than the old soldier himself, who had kept up firmly and was prepared to meet his fate with contempt for his enemies, in the assurance that his death would be terribly avenged. Bathal.la had not reappeared. As the number of prisoners had decreased the guard had been diminished ; and as there now only remained Roger and one other, and both were still bound, a single uard ' *^^ ^''^ ""^^ ^""^ *^® ""^Sht before kept He stood indifferently gazing through the loophole untU Rogers companion fell asleep; then he approached him and said: The time is at hand. To-morrow the other will be A."' *^^,°!^^bf ^^i" be made up from the other prisons. At night Cuitoatl will be outside; the door here will not be bolted. You mil have but one man to watch you; but we know not whom he may be, and may not be able to arrange with him. If we do he will give you the password; if not you must deal with him. The man who will follow me IS in the secret ; you must unfasten your ropes while he is here and he wUl aid you to do them up again, so that, while to the eye they will seem secure, they can be shaken off instantly. Bathalda and another will accompany you I do undettand"''' '''" "'^"" ^' '"' ^ ^"^ '^'^ '^"' ^^^ "-^'* That other Roger felt sure must be Amenche ; and his heart beat hotly at the thought that his dear princess would share his flight. The hours passed quickly; the next day the last Spaniard was taken, and no sooner had he been forced strugghng and resisting from the chamber than the guard who, since he had taken up his post four hours before, had made no sign to Roger, gave the password agreed upon. The atter rose to his feet, and with the aid of the native unfastened the cords that bound his ankles together. For haii-au-hour he paced up and down the chamber to 302 FREB I lilii li; \h mil restore the circulation to his feet. Then the guard replaced the cords, but did it in such a way that, though they seemed as tight and secure as before, they would at a slight effort fall off am^. leave him free. At eight o'clock in the evening the guard was reliexed ; he had told Roger that he was to listen fof the cry of an owl outside, twice repeated ; and that upon hearing this he would know that his friends were without. Roger listened anxiou.sly for the password from his new guard ; but as it did not come he concluded that Cuitcatl had not been able to bribe him, and that he must himself overpower the man. The Aztec placed himself at the loop-hole, and stood looking out, turning from time to time to see by the light of the torch which was fixed close to where Roger was lying, that he was making no attempt to release himself from his bonds. It was not until neariy midnight that Roger heard the expected signal. No sooner was the second call given than he pulled the knot which kept the cords together, raised himself noiselessly to his feet and sprang upon the Aztec. Taken by surprise, the man was no more than a child in Roger's strong grasp. In a moment he was thrown down, his cloth was twisted round his mouth so as to prevent any cry from escaping him, and his arms were bound behind him with Roger's rope. Roger then took his sword and javelin and went to the door. As he had been told would be the case, the outer bolts were unfastened ; passing along a passage he came to the outside gate. This was securely fastened, but Roger had no difficulty in scaling the roof of a building leaning against the outer wall ; and on reaching this he pulled himself up and dropped down into the street beyond. Three persons were standing at the gate, and he at once made towards them. One ran forward with a little cry, and threw herself into his arms. The others were, as he' had expected, Cuitcatl and Bathalda. The former saluted him warmly. " Thank the gods you are free, Roger," he said. " I have a cauoe clase at hand for you. Bathalda will accompany you ie guard replaced ^h they seemed as light effort fall off the evening the t he was to listen 1 ; and that upon ids were without, m his new guard ; Cuitcatl had not limself overpower fie loop-hole, and ae to see by the whore Roger was sase himself from Roger heard the I call given than together, raised upon the Aztec. than a child in thrown down, his prevent any cry behind him with javelin and went le case, the outer ;e he came to the it Roger had no leaning against d himself up and and he at once a little cry, and ^ere, as he had ler saluted him ' said. " I have accompany you " I CARK NOT TO LIVB." 333 fam.ne IS among you, and that hundreds are dyinri iv I hope that I may be able to aid you as you are aiSn^ me "'^~ .. ,7] f^T.u"°''''^"'"°"' ^"*^^*'"I^oger replied. "No men could defend thomselves more bravely th^n you^^ave done TnS tu;r:LT"°""" ;"'"""" ^""^"^-^'-^ b/supenor Trl 1 trust that you may hve and be happy yet." "Let us not stand hero f'lll.-intY" +i,„ " It i« nnf «= if I c , ""'"o' the young cacique said. It IS not as It was before; then you might walk throu-h the city at muln.ght witliout meeting with a .single pe^^ on We sleep no longer now, but make nightly attacks on the Spaniards and at any moment bodies of troops may .,n.e along^^ ' the steps Caldrf IT^'^' ^"' ^° ^ "^''^"^ « ^^--^^ed there ^'" ^^^'' ^ * '"^^^^ ^^'^oe lying swordrndlveir''^;^'' '"fu "I" ^"^' ^°" ^«"«^ ^han that sword and javelin, he 3aid, han.Iing him a war-dub a heavv weapon wxth pieces of sharp-pointed obsidian f t in It^ paddle in the water, and the boat glided noiseleky away I on J thlTl. 'i^7 ''^''^''' '''^ *^« narrow'^wateLay on to the lake; and then the boat's head was turned inthl' direction in which lay the TIacopan causeway " '^' Presently Amenche, who had been sitting nestled close to bel^nd " 7««^--"g = "There is a large canoe coming up beh nd us, he said, listening intently. "I can hen. .the^ on the lake beyond ug." ' "" ^ ■,' I II 1 I' 864 "l WILL DEAL WITH THEM.** " We had better make into the shore again," Roger Baid. " and let tlioni pasa us." Tlie canoe, however, was not very far behind, and those on board caught sight of the littlo craft as she rowed in towards shore. It was unusual to see so small a boat at night; the idea that it might contain a spy occurred to them, and they shouted to them to stop. Bathalda exerted himself to the utmo.st, but the canoe came rapidly up to them. As the com- mand to stop was again disregarded, a volley of javelins was discharged. "We cannot escape," Bathalda said. "They will be upon U8 before we can land." "Cease rowing," Roger said. " Amenche, lie still, dear, at the bottom of the boat. I will deal with them." Seeing that the oarsmen had stopped paddling, the volley of javelins ceased ; and the canoe, which contained some twenty men, ran alongside. As she did so Roger sprang on board her. Tliree or four of the natives were struck down in an instant with his terrible weapon. The others, as soon as they recovered from their astonishment, rose from thei-r seats and attacked him. Their numbers were but of slight avail. Stand- ing in the bow of the boat, and swinging his weapon round his head, Roger kept them off, beating dovvn one each time his weapon fell. In vain they tried to close with him ; his great size, and the suddenness with which he had attacked them, acted upon their superstitious fears. They knew not what sort of being it was with whom they had to deal, and the terrible strength dis- played and the instant fate that fell on all who approached him, appalled them. Roger soon took the offensive, and making his way along the boat, drove them back before him. At last, when more than half their number had fallen, the rest sprang overboard and swam to the shore. Roger had been wounded by three or four spear-thrusts, but these had been too hastily given to penetrate very deeply. " I am unhurt, Amenche," he said, making his way forward again and stepping into the canoe. There was no reply. He in," Roger aaid. id, and those on owed in towards at at night ; the them, and they himself to the n. As the com- of javelins was ey will be upon lie still, dear, at I." ng, the volley of ed some twenty jrang on board ick down in an as soon as they thei-r seats and t avail. Stand- eapon round his ) each time his »at size, and the Lcted upon their of being it was le strength dis- ipproached him, '^e, and making > him. At last, the rest sprang i been wounded been too hastily lis way forward ; no reply. He 1 f( f. 1 i 1 i i H * 1 I i W '• 1 1 -' ii 1 1 R 1 : f ' ' (I! 618 MALINCHE UNDKRTAKES TIIK CAKE OV THE WOUNDED AMENCIin. iisgMass.f' /^ WJ ii&- )ED AMENCIin. AlfBNCnE's FACE WAS BLOODLESS. 365 Btooprd over aa she lay (,uietly there. " Hlie has fainted " he Haul. " \Uav on, Hathalda. You had host give mo the othor paddle; I o.mi lu-ar boatH coming in tliis direction. No doubt tliey lieard the yolla. Skirt along the shore, we Hliall be nn.seen close in, and if they approach ua can take refuge in a canal." ^ But they passed along imnoticed. When they canijht sight of the cau.seway, «trt.t.hing away dindy in front of them, they again rowed out into the lake, ami making a long circuit to avoid the canoos attacking Xoloc, the guns of which wore fii-ing hotly, came down on the cau.seway again in its rear. 'ne canoes, pied by Marina. i a hot one, and cry of welcome 1 1 fear that she ' to you, as you Dn a couch, eave her to me, 1, an officer met ad just heard of iral received him des back again. Line has befallen lore was she of bat she did not hat the princess ihe was sure, do sar at the cost of was a brother 3," Cortez said ; other prisoners lat terrible pro- light have been ly more remain, .nd which were mly one left out hey were taken is there can be until th© last because the priest who had daily chosen n.,f fi,« • *• been bribed by my friend Cuitcatl " '^' '''''"'' ^^^ " We have taken out the arrow." she fiaid "«>,«• 4-ii CHAPTER XXIL HOME. and devotio„TthX,f:, tit Z'^J^nrl ""V"*^ .p^h when *e .aid that she ™ TJ? to Z Zr^Z B nm^ ae hau sailed iroia England 368 "she is sensiblb.** m ^1 1 ^1 to his first meeting with her, he had pictured to himself that some dcay, when he came to command a ship of his own he would marry his cousin, if she had borne him in mind since he parted with her on Plymouth Hoe. This dream had faded away from the time he had first met Amenche. and when Cacama had proposed the marriage to him he had accepted the offer gLully. His chance of ever leaving the country at that time seemed slight, and he felt sure that he should be happy with Amenche Since that time the girl's frank expression of her love for him' her tender devotion, and her willingness to sacrifice country and people and all to throw in her lot with him, had crreatly heightened the feeling he had towards her, and he had come to love her truly; but still, perhaps, rather with the calm earnest affection of a brother than the passionate devotion of a lover. But now he knew that she had his whole heart If she died It seemed of little consequence to him what became ot his life. It was for his sake that she had risked everything had left all— friends and home and country— and he felt that he would gladly die with her. Morning was breaking before Malincbe came into his room '' She is sensible," she said, " and my countryman who IS with her thinks that she will live." The relief was so great that Roger burst into tears " Come with me," Malinche said, taking his hand. " We do not think she knows what has happened, but she looks anxiously about the room. She is very, very weak, but the leech thinks that If she sees you, and knows that you are safe and well, It will rouse her and put her in the way of recovery. You must not talk to her or excite her in any way." Roger followed Malinclie into her room.' Amenche was lying without a ves :ge of colour on her face, and with her eyes closed and her breathing so faint that Roger as he looked at her thought that she was dead. "Take her hand and kneel down beside her" MaUnche whispered. Eogsr took the girl's hand; as he did so a slight tremour ed to himself that lip of his own, he Q in mind since he dream had faded lenche, and when he had accepted that time seemed py with Amenche, her love for him, sacrifice country him, had greatly and he had come )r with the calm ionate devotion of whole heart. If him what became risked everything, -and he felt that I came into his countryman who ito tears. I hand. " We do le looks anxiously ; the leech thinks re safe and well, ' recovery. You Amenche was ce, and with her 3ger aa he looked her," Malinche a tiiight tremour AMfiNCHE REVIVES. 869 Then her eyes ran through her as if she recognized his touch, opened. "Amenche, my darling, do you know me?" Roger said as he stooped his face close to hers. Her face brightened suddenly, and a look of intense happi- ness came into her eyes. "O Roger!" she whispered; "I dreamt that they had killed you." •' " I am safe and well, as you see," he said ; "they have hurt you, darling, but you will get better, and we shall be happy together. You must not talk, but I may stay by you if you will keep quiet. Drink this first," and he handed to her a cup that the Mexican doctor held out to him, and placing his arm under Amenche's head raised it and poured the liquid between her lips. Then he laid her head down again on the pillow, and kneeling beside her held her hand in his She lay looking up into his face with an expression of quiet happiness, occasionally murmuring, " Dear Roger." Presently her eyelid^ drooped, and in a few minutes her regular breathing showed that she was asleep. The Mexican doctor placed another cup of medicine within Rogers reach, and murmured in his ear, "I think that she will do now ; give her this when she awakes. I shall be within call if I am wanted." Amenche slept for some hours, and Roger, overcome by want of sleep and from the anxiety through which he had passed, dropped off many times into short dozes. He woke from one of these at a slight movement of Amenche's hand and opened his eyes at the moment that she was opening hers! What has happened, Roger? and where am I?" she asked in wonder. "First drink this medicine, and then I will teU you" he said. " You remember, dear, we were in the boat together and we were attacked. An arrow struck you, but I knew nothing about it until I had reached the causeway and found you sensele.^-,, ...nd brought you here to Maliuche's room, and •he and one of the doctors of your country dressed your 2A 870 "I CANNOT LEAVE ROGER AGAIN." wound, and now you have been sleeping quietly for some hours." " I remember now " Oh yes," she said ; an arrow ; it was a sharp pain, but I was struck with I did not cry out, for you had need of all your strength and vigour. I lay there quietly and heard the din of fighting, and at last when I knew that you had conquered I felt a faintness stealing over me, and thought that I was dying, and then I remember nothing more ; only it seemed that in my dreams you came to me and knelt by the side of me and kissed me, and now I know that that part is true ; and I have been having such happy dreams ever since. But why should I lie here ; cannot I get up 1 " " No, dear ; you are weak from loss of blood, and quiet is necessary. Lie here a minute ; I will fetch the leech in to see how you are." The Mexican was sleeping on some mats outside the door • he at once came in, and after examining Amenche pronounced her decidedly better. Malinche, who had given orders that she was to be informed as soon as the princess was awake, came ir. a minute or two, and a consultation was held, when it was decided that Amenche should at once be taken from the fort which was crowded with soldiers, as well as exposed to the din and turmoil of the night attacks. Malinche went out and soon returned, saying that she had spoken to one of the Tezcucan caciques in alliance with the Spaniards. He had at once offered to receive Amenche at his palace, which was situate but three miles from the end of the causeway. " I cannot leave Roger again," the princess said when she understood what was proposed. " There is no thought of your leaving him," Malinche said kindly; " Roger is to accompany you, he needs rest and peace almost as much as you do; besides he has been seriously wounded, though he makes light of it. The cacique has sent off a messenger for a party of his people to meet you ; a boat will be in readiness to take you across the lake at sunset. You will be carried in litters from the landing-place to his i.alace." ^..is programme was canied out, and by nine o'clock that N." uietly for gome was struck with cry out, for you ly there quietly len I knew that y over me, and ■ nothing more ; me and knelt know that that •py dreams ever tup?" id, and quiet is the leech in to itside the door ; che pronounced orders that she awake, came ir. i, when it was 1 from the fort, losed to the din went out and to one of the 3s. He had at lich was situate said when she Malinche said rest and peace been seriously icique has sent 'ou ; a boat will nset. You will s i..alace." le o'clock that A SUMMONS TO 8URRBNDBR. 371 apartments in the canque's palace .A^llT "r/''"""'!-^ ^'""^ ^'' ^°""'^^^' P'^P'-^'-^d for a fresh advance, winch was th.s time to be conducted in a different n ust be rresisfble, steady, and continued. In future no step t S f A"P "°/r^y ^"^ ^°"^"^' *''at it could never Lain nriv t", ' r^ ^' *^'^ P"^^"^« ^'^■-•>' building-wheth^r a pr vate house ten.ple, or palace- was to be demolished. It was w th the greatest reluctance that Cortez arrived at this deter- mination : he would fain have saved the city intact, as tbo most glorious trophy of his success; but his experience showed Jiim that with every house a fortress, every street cut up by canals, it was hopeless to expect to conquer it. satlf'ct^ion'T T" ^'""'^ ^'' ^"''^"*^°" ^^^ *^« greatest stuld tt' > ■' 7^' ^''' '"^ '^'''' '"^"'1 the dread that should the white men depart, the Aztecs would take a terrible levenge upon their rebellious subjects. Enormous numbers of men were assembled and provided with implements for the work : this was steadily carried out, until the whole of the suburbs were levelled and a wide space round the city left open for the manoeuvres o the cavalry and the play of the artillery. Before makmg the last attack, Cortez tried once more to persuade the emperor to yield, and sent three Aztec nobles who had been captured in one of the late fights to bear a message to him. He told Guatimozin that he and his people had done all that brave men could, and that there remained no hope, no chance, of escape. Their provisions were exhausted, their commumcations cu oft. Their vass.ls had deserted them, and the nations of Anahuac were banded against them. He prayed him, therefore, to have compassion on his brave subjects, who were daily penshing before his eyes, and on the fair cit; now dleir« 'T. """ '"^'^'- ^^' ^'^^'^ h^°^ *« acknowledge his allegiance to the sovereign of Spain; in which case he should oe eonnrmpri in h'o "ii'^lin— "f- t i j^' i J 11 ., ". u,noi,Cj, and cue persons, the nrooertv and aU the rights of the Aztecs should be respected. ^ ^' 372 THE WOnK OF DESTRUCTION. |! I The young monaicli woulrl have instantly refused the terms, but lie called a council to deliberate upon them. Many would have accepted them, but the priests threw all their influence in the scale against it, reminding the king of the fate of Monte- zuma after all his hospitality to the "Whites, of the seizure and imprisonment of Cacama, of the massacre of the nobles, of the profanation of the temple, and of the insatiable greed that had stripped the country of its treasures. The answer to the Spaniards was given in the form of a tremendous sortie along each causeway ; but the guns of the Spanish batteries and ships drove the assailants back, and the operations of destruction went on. Day by day the army of workers levelled the houses and filled the canals, although the Mexicans made incessant attacks upon the troops who covered the workmen. For several weeks the work continued, while the wretched inhabitants were fast wasting away with hunger; all the food stored up had long :""nce been consumed, and the population reduced to feed on roots dug up in the gardens, on the bark of trees, leaves, and grass, and on such rats, mice, and lizards as they could capture. The houses, as the besiegeis advanced, were found to be full of dead, while in some lay men, women, and children in the last stage of famine ; and yet, weakened and suflfering as they were, the Aztecs maintained their resolution, rejecting eTery overture of Cortez. At last the division of Alvarado cleared its way into the great square, and a party mounting the great temple, where so many of their comrades had been massacred, defeated the Aztecs who guarded the position, slaughtered the priests and set fire to the sanctuary, and the next day the division of Cortez won their way to the same spot and joined that of Alvarado. Seven-eighths of the city was now destroyed ; and, with the exception of the king's palace and a few temples, all the build- ings that had when they first saw it so excited the admiration of the Spaniards, and had made the city one of the loveliest in the world, had been levelled. In the portion that remained the whole of the Aztec population were crowded. Their vised the terms, Many would eir influence in fate of Monte- the seizure and 5 nobles, of the greed that had the form of a le guns of the back, and the y the army of , although the 3S who covered ntinued, while ' with hunger ; Limed, and the he gardens, on rats, mice, and )und to be full hildren in the fering as they ejecting erery tarado cleared ting the great >en massacred, aughtered the next day the ot and joined and, with the all the build- he admiration ' the loveliest ibat remained vded. Their THE HNAL ASSAULT. 373 ?Z^ maTv f\r'' ''' ^f "'^ *'' ^^^Se began the people cZal P^ n '''''^'}f^S «itie« had flocked into the capital Pestilence was aiding famine in its work; and the lay s^th^k latl '^'' " '' t '''^'^^ "^^^--^ ^^e bodie: on them/' ""^^ impossible to walk without treading emte^t'' ^"^ again Cortez endeavoured to negotiate with the empei-or. Although so reduced by weakness that they could SZde a'nd tt" 'T' ''^ f^^^^^ ^"'^"^^^'-^ their 'desTi^t atttude and the advance of the allies recommenced. The that their missiles were no longer dangerous, and their arms mild scarce hft their weapons. It was a dreadful carnaTe Ihe confederates, panting with hatred of the race that hid subdued and so long humiliated them, showed no pity and even when Cortez ordered that quarter should be sh/^n to all who asked it, the allies refused to be checked, anlthe Tretrelt ° "' ""' °" ""'^ "" '^'^^^^^ *--P«^« --^ed During that day alone it was calculated that forty thousand oveTtL > ''"r- •,'''"*' "^='^ ^ °^«"-f"^ «*i"-- rdgned sulnS 'If A ? ''^'^' '^"•^P""' ""^ y'' ^^'^ «° thought of surrender the Aztecs awaited their fate. The next morning August 15th, 1521, the troops were formed up again; but before ordering the advance Cortez obtained an interview with some of the principal chiefs, and peisuaded them to see the emperor, and try to induce hi,n to surrender; but the answer came that Guatimozin was ready to die where he was, and would hold no parley with the Spanish commander. Cortez still post- poned the assau t for several hours ; then, finding delay unavail- ing he reluctantly gave the orderfor the attack to recommence. As upon the previous day it was a mere slaughter. Many a he Aztecs sought to fly in canoes, but these were cut off by the fleet Presently, however, while the butchery was still hSr^' J" r "" ■"°^' "'^' ^^^ ^'•'^"ght that Guatimozin Himself had been captured by one of the vp^.a]. \v.-fu i,- was hia wife, the beautiful Princess Tecuichpo, a' daughter of 374 TIIR END OF TnE BlRr.K. m , I Montezuma, and twonty nol.les of high rank. The news of his cnpture sproml lyUUy through (he fleet and city, and the feeble rosistance tho A .tecs still oflered ceased at once Guati- n.ozin was brought before Co.tez, and behaved with a dignity and en niness that excited the admiration and respect of the general and Ins followers. The next morning, at tlie emperor's request, Cortez gave permission for all tho survivors of the siege to leave the town, and issued strict onlors both to the Spaniards and their savage allies that no insult or injury should be oilered to them. For tJireo days sad processions of men, women, and children— worn OMt with fatigue, wasted with fever and hunger, and in many cases scarred with wounds- made their wavalong the causeways. Ihe-number of men alone was variously estimated at from thirty to seventy thousand. The losses during the siege were also placed at varying figures by contemporary writers, the lowest estimate was one hundred and twenty thousand, while some writeivs place it at double that amount. The higher figures probably approximate most nearly to the truth, for the population of the city, in itself very large, was enormously swelled by the vast number of persons froiii all the surrounding cities, who took refuge there at the approach of the Spaniards. The Spanish loss was comparatively small, the larger portion of it being incurred upon the day of the destruction of Al.lerete's column. The loss of the allies, how- ever, was very large, as thoy were not provided, as were the Spaniards, with armour which defied the missiles of the enemy. Ut the lezcucans alone it is said that tliii ty thousand perished. Ihe amount of booty taken in the city was comparatively small, and the army was bitterly disui>pointed at the poor reward which it reaped for its labours and saciifices. There can be no doubt that the Aztec treasures were removed and buried before the approach of the Spaniards to the city. Indeed, during the siege the Aztecs constantly taunted them witti shouts that even if they ever took the city, they would find no gold there to reward their eflbrts. The defence of the city of Mexico has been frequently hkeneu to that of Jerusalem against Titus. In each case a vast population, ignorant of the arts of war, resisted with beroic constancy the efibrts of a civilized enemy, and suc- cumbed tfl lujngor and disease rather than to the foe. THB CAUSE OF THE FALL OF MEXICO. 376 rhe news of hia city, and the t once. Guati- with a dignity respect of the it, Cortez gave eave the town, id their savage to them. For liildren — worn , and in many the causeways, lated at from the siege were y writers, the lousand, while nearly to the ery large, was sons from all the approach •atively small, le day of the le allies, how- , as were the of the enemy, sand perished. :omparatively at the poor ifices. There removed and to the city, aimted them ey would find Q frequently each case a resisted with ay, and suc- foe. The fate of the Aztecs befell them because, while a con- quering people, they had enslaved and tyrannized over the nations they subdued, extending to them no rights or privilocres but using them simply as means of supplying the pomp and luxury of the capital, and of providing men for its wars Even the cities of the valley, the near neighbours of Mexico were kept in a galling state of dependence, and the result was that the whole of the Aztec Empire broke up at once and fell upon its oppressors as sodu as the coming of the Spaniards afforded them the opportunity for retaliation and revenge. Had it not been for this it would have needed a force many times as numerous as that of Cortez to conquer an empire so extensive and populous, and composed of peoples 80 brave and fearless of death. Terrible as the destruction of Me was m the capture of Mexico, the Spaniards were not open to blame for it, except in the massacre of the nobles, for which conduct Cortez was in no way responsible. The war was not conducted with the cruelty that too often distinguished the warfare of the Spaniards, Cortez had certainly no desire to destroy the beautiful capital of the country he had conquered for Spain. The prisoners taken during the siege, and the people who came out and surrendered were always treated with kindness, even when the Spaniards were maddened by the sight of the daily .sacrifices of their countrymen by the Aztecs. Again and again during the siege Cortez endeavoured to induce the enemy to come to ternrs and after the fighting was over the whole of the survivors were permitted to depart unharmed. A fortnight after the fall of Mexico Amenche and Roger were both convalescent. Amenche's wound had after the first day caused but little anxiety; she had fainted from loss of blood and from the effects of the long strain which she had undergone from the time that she had heard that Roger was a captive in the hands of the Mexicans, and destined for sacrifice at the temple. Under the influence then of happiness and of the care and attention she received, she was in two or three days well enough to get up and go into the adioinindue those who have served them LZ" Ti "' ^:'°'P^"gn against us. Their allies will in tim^ become their subjects until the whole empire of the Az ecs will he prostrate at their feet. But whatever happens I shall take no fmther part in it. I have fought hyZheLT^ ! i. ' 1}% d a warm affec- ed him one day lid, "and to go aid. " I apoke it many days ill be no more rere so shaken )e a long time and that you nd he has con- wit h the first Of course he inche, and said ; he says that i wide portion at it was little I Amenche in lay before the II of Mexico, 1 the marriage z and most of atl. He was the emperor, he latter waa and released talk together. come in time, t this terrible r Cacama or ibles that yet 3seo that the served them 3 will in time f the Aztecs ppens I shall the side of COITCATL'8 HOPES. 377 the Aztecs against my own countrymen • I h«„« ^ to save our nation from fallin.^ 3"/ tL T ^^"^^ ''1^^*' Spaniards. I shall rotim «,»« 1" '® ^'^'"•nion of the to them. Corte as ; ven me a 7 "'*"*'' '^"'^ ^«^«*« ">y«elf that I, although tigl^nra^ainst him''''' JT^^^ ''""' ^ing pri«oner, who^va/thS one of Thr''^ '1'° '^^f"^ " '^''■'^""^h being 8acrifice.l; .nd tharther« o •« T '''P '"■'^' who escaped to treat me with iJndne's llTiTi^ \''-''^''' '^'' ^P-^^iards me and my heirs to a 1 tfme ^f '■'""' '''i '^^^^'''"-'^ ^o free from all taxes or^mpoS! w Lf '"''r ,^^ '"^ ''^^^^' this document from hii^ and h! fn »'"'• , ?^'^"^'^« "Stained chamberlain also to affix thehsLuf-r'^ \^^ *'"«^«»'-«r '^nd will be undoubtedly Respected ' '^' "^^^ *^^* '^ cciLx who tr;„^Tkl1utt-stf"^° ^'^^^ ---<* -y deferred it until these roubfo ho ,Mr '" ''""'''''S' ^^^ ^« to Tezcuco to-day, and we " "h tl r"'- ^ ^'"^^ been week, so that I Iw ve m^ry o i of TV"'^ '* *^« ^°^ "^ t'^« We, and think that in the en H ! ''f^'T,'' "^'"'^^ ^^"^ happy happiness of the peol o the 00^7 ™"i'''' )"'" *«"<^ '^^^^^ acknowledge that^he^lteo " a' nvSas a f ' ''"""""' ^ «^" people were soicly oppressed tll^ Tf ^^^^one, that the temples, now abolished fot'ew'r'' '''''''^''' ^' *!>« wars ; and I think tha when the Z • ! '*"'" °^ ''^^^^ant resistance, and establi h a firm and T m' °"^« ^^^''^'^'^^ a" people will be happier thL TI ^^""^^^ government, the occupy your house, to see tlm^T, n . , °^'"^ fnends and troubles to plunder it. I l.on 1.^1 .advantage of the Cuitcatl." -^ lOLommeud hjm to your care, faiS^tn? aTdTend' and't'lf^^T ^« '^ ^-n a hand." ^"^"''' '^"^ «hall m future be my right The next morniner Malinrho r „v,„ * ^ " How much has tak n S i^H,! ,*; ,T ^^''^^ ^" *° '^em. 8he said. " Then, I was till • ^'* ^°"'" ^^^'-^^ I^«g^r ! " strange courtry. \viTat lir-^"' ' ^"" ^^'^''^ * ^'aptive in a then 1 I am sL.l^liaZZl '" ?^'''^^^' '^'•""^'^ ^^-« tears came into her e/es <' tj wZ ^°"'f' "'^T^''" ^"'^ ^he ^ ' ^"" ^«^e my fii-st friend, and I 878 "l HAVE BOMRTHINO OF YOURS.** :' m have loved you ever since as a brother. I shall mm you sorely, indeed; however, I know that you and Aniem lie will he happy together. Princess, I have honiethiiii? of yours," and Hhe hold up a heavy girdle. Amencho gave a cry of joy. "I missed it," she said, "but I thought tliat it must li;tve fallen off in the boat, or as linger carriod me thonc. tr ,lie castle. See, Koger," she said, holding it out to thorn, " this is my dowry. I told you I shoid.] not come to you a penni- less bride, but I have thought lately that I was mistaken. Maclutha, when she died, gave me all the jewels we carried away from the treasure-room at Tezciico. I selected all the most valuable ones, and sewed them into this broad giidle, which I put on under my things on the night when you escaped. Its loss has grieved me, though you liave said that the two little bags you have already would suflice to make you rich ; still they were Maclutha's, and I wanted to give you mine, but I could not thiMk what had become of the belt." " I found it on you, Amenche, when we loosened your robe to examine your wound, and put it by to give to you or Roger, which ever might recover ; and now T am glad to hand it over as your joint property. I have alroiidy returned Roger his own two little bags that he had given me to take care of. And now farewell to you both. You will think of me sometimes in your distant home in England?" And Malinche, bursting into tears, hurried away. The journey to the coast was an easy one, as the sick were all traufiported on litters carried by native porters. The bracing air of the high land did much to restore the strength of the sick men, who had been suffer 'i :' iiuch from the terrible heat of the vnMey. The officer in comraard of the 'onvoy halted them for a week on the ':.' 'u',.: 'ateau, i.i order that they might get the full bene^L vi cue cool air j and by the time they reached the coast, and were carried on board ship, Roger felt his strength fast returning. A comfortable cabin was assigned to him and Amenche, as Oortez had at Malinche's requast written a letter specially commending them to the care of the officer in command of the ship. The voyage to Spain was a long one ; and, before the vessel arrived at Cadiz, Roger and Amenche were completely restored to health and strength. Pv ; oi's success, indeed, had been beyond his wildest hopes. The two baga of jewels and those which Amenche had brought 1." miss you sorely, le will be happy s," and Hhe lield it it must hive e thduc" li: lUe to thoni, "this to you a penni- was uiiMtaken. we carried away ed all the most d girdle, wliich m you escaped, d that the two iiake you rich; e you mine, but ened your robe you or Roger, to hand it over 1 Roger his own » care of. And ae sometimes in inche, bursting s the sick were porters. The ire the strength •om the tonihle of the 'onvoy ateau, i.i oi-der air ; and by the on board ship, nfortable cabin d at Malinche's hem to the care 'oyage to Spain it Cadiz, Roger h and strength. } wildest hopes, he had brought ON AN KNQLISK SHIP. 879 vonsels in luii lour. f ntiwn nag Bymn on 8,»i;al n.,mde7w"„''eZ7c™^H' T"^"""' '""*'" ""^ ""' "'■■- m^mm having >,„Ie2;St". mother lit is Roger come Srer.Z/-et£''"-°"--^^^^^^^^ It was a blow for Digfrorv Beo-o-q Wc ),o j ■ j , , given up all hope of ever seelfc; .^^ ^''^'. '"deed, long since obtaining any return for fLf , u' f ""'" ^^^^^n. or of Swan; b?t thVs Xf Ce, haS f ^'^ ''"^^^^^'^ °° *^« f,h«f. fbe — f n- ) 3 f^oget had for a moment raised his l,ore= V^^^^^t^:!! t«en p^uetive, Ho.vev«/S 382 "l KNOW WHAT YOU ABB THINKING OF.** " I am grieved to hear it, Eoger, though in no waya sur- prised. For two years we looked for your return, but we have all long since given up hope, and written off our shares in the Swan as lost money. I am sorry for Reuben, very sorry, for I loved him like a brother. Well, well, do not let us talk about it now. You are restored to us safe and sound ; and though the loss was a heavy one and crippled me for a time, I have got over it. Now tell us what have you been doing ever since ; and by what miracle have you returned safe and sound? " " It is a long story, uncle, a very long story ; but before I begin it, I may tell you that, though the ship and its Y«inturo were lost, I myself have returned by no means penniltii. , and can, indeed, repay to the full all the money expended upon the Swan and her outfit. Now I want you all to come round with me to the inn, for there I have left a lady whom I would fain introduce to you." " Your wife ? " Mistress Mercy cried. " You don't say you have brought home a wife, Eoger ? " " That do I, aunt. She is a princess in her own country ; but what is much better she is the dearest of women, and all but gave her life to save mine." Mistress Mercy looked grave, and was about to speak when Roger interrupted her. " I know what you are about to say, aunt. The thought of having a foreign woman for your niece is shocking to you. Never mind, leave it unsaid until you have seen her. But as we go let us call in and see Dorothy, and take her on with us ; I should wish her to be one of the first to welcome my wife." Dorothy was as astonished as the others had been when they arrived at her house with Roger, and cast a meaning glance at him when she heard that he had brought home a wife. " I know what you are thinking of, Dorothy — our parting on the Iloe." Dorothy laughed. " I meant it when I said it, Dorothy and meant it for a good time afterwards. It was only when it seemed that I should never come back again that I fell in love with some one else ; and when you have heard my story, and know what she did for me, and how much I owe her, and come to love her for herself, you won't blame me." " I don't blame you one bit, Roger," she said, frankly. " When you went avv ay we thought we cared for each other ; but of course we were only boy and girl then, and when L [NQ OF. in no ways 8ur- turn, but we have our shares in the m, very sorry, for tlet us talk about und ; and though or a time, I have doing ever since ; md sound 1 " >vy; but before I ip and its -venture ns pennilbi.'. , and xpended upon the come round with horn I would fain 'ou don't say you aer own country ; )f women, and all ut to speak when it. The thought I shocking to you. 5een her. But as e her on with us ; Icome my wife." ,d been when they neaning glance at ne a wife. ithy — our parting it when I said it, erwards. It was e back again that 1 you have heard 1 how much I owe n't blame me." he said, frankly. d for each othor ; then, and when DAME MKRCY'8 LAST PREJUDICE VANISHED. 383 ne^^^^SircoC hoL^s^^: t^m '' 7"^^ ''-' ^-' one else. And now I will n„rnn ^V ^f '" ^°^« ^^<^^ some see your wife. What S "e'r name"^''''' """^ ^^^^ ^'^"-^ -^ mlnZcT^J' mrshfwasT-f'V'r^ ^^^^^ I had to be christ;ned before 'rt;^^^^ "^ ^°»^«« «he said she must have a rLrf.r '"'^''"ed-Father Olmedo Caterina; but for aU thaf hi ''-"'?' ^"^ christened her to stick ti it ' But coLe alo' /T l' 'T'''^'' ^^^ -« «>ean this strange place Xadv „nH /'l^'-'' ^^ ^^"^ ^'^^^ ^ have run away fx^m heT"^' '""'*^ ^'^'° ^ ^^^^ ^^^^t I the'^drklw^p'JL:^^^^^^ ^y ^^«.-ft beauty of the story of all that had L\ T ■ *¥.* ®^^"'"g ^^^ger told last prejudice vanished and \^ T ? f '''''''' ^^"'^ Percy's and kissed her tenderly ' '^" '""^ ^^«^^^« ^^ ^e^ arms As to Diggorv his dXif ! ^Tf '"^^^^"ghters." great for woTd^'l?: Stl^o J^^^^^^^^^^ ^ vastly gratified that the monpv b« « T^^®"" ^,^^ returned, to be repaid, and greatly ^0^1! h T''''^ ^ ^^^ '^^"'^^ ^a« could speak 'but I few wSd of FnJi^^^T^^^ The princess afraid to commence heTtuSon fr, flfl'^' ^°' ^°^"^ ^^^ been -felyinEngland: buTsttS^^Xfe^^^^^^^ she received, and be^an for thfTfi^Tl.^ , the welcome she might come to il^ard tH« .f '""^ *" ^"^^ *^^* '^^^ day There was a loL S w *T^' ''"""^''^ *« ^^^e. ^ steps that shou IdTe tlen Twat''''' ^f^"" ""^^^ ^« *» ^^e England were so cbsely allied Z "^TJ *^^^ ^"^ ^P^^" ^nd extreme to allow if to w! ' , "^'^ ^ imprudent in the sailed for the'wo Ln In eT orTa"t 'l.'"' *\^ f"'"^ ^"^^ wealth there ; for if it came to the eas of tfe ^f '^^'"^^ strange news would travel fa.f if !! • i . *^f. ?ourt— and such fine .ight be i.p„»/;^J:,5-t:S S^^^^^^^ b«n wrecked inll^L^^S^JT,^'^^^^^^ kad »1« survivor o! the wreokTad rlMf''' ''''° '»'' b^'" there, and Ud •^^^J'^'i^^tt^'^tZiSl 384 WEALTH AND HONOUR. en would be unnecessary to tell. The gems could be sent over a few at a time to Amsterdam, and there sold to merchants who would care nothing whence they came ; and the partners of Diggory Beggs in the venture of the !:iwan would be only too glad to receive their money back again, and to ask no questions as to how it had been obtained. And so matters were carried out. For some months Roger remained in nominal partnership with his uncle, and then bought a large estate a few miles out of the town, where he set up as a country gentleman. He was for a time somewhat shyly looked upon by the magistrates of the county, who deemed it an unheard-of thing for a Plymouth merchant thus to settle among them ; but in time he was accepted, especially after it became known that when he went up to Town be held his place among the highest there, and kept a state and expenditure eaual to that of many of the nobles. His wife was remarkable not only for her beauty but for the richness of her jewels, many of which were fashioned in a way such as had never before been seen at the English Court. As time went on, and the relations between England and Spain grew cold, there was no longer any occasion for secrecy, and little by little it became known that the Sivan had sailed to tl.e Spanish main, that Roger had formed one of the conquering band of Cortez, and that Amencbe was not a Spaniard but an Aztec Princess. This caused a great talk at the time, and added much to the con- sideration in which Roger was held. He took a leading position in the country, and many years after fitted out two ships at his own cost to fight against the Spanish Armada. Happily Amenche's health never suftered fi-om the change to the comparatively cold climate of Devonshire. She bore Roger several children, and to this day many of the first families in Devonshire are prodd that there runs in their veins the blood of the Aztec princess. f f THE BND. R. ;ould be sent over a 9 sold to merchants le J and the partners an would be only too to ask no questions as ters were carried out. nominal partnership 3 estate a few miles country gentleman, ooked upon by the d it an unheard-of settle among them ; ter it became known his place among the nditure eaual to that femarka'ule not only her jewels, many of id never before been on, and the relations there was no longer ;le it became known ih main, that Roger of Coi'tez, and that .ztec Princess. This led much to the con- He took a leading after fitted out two he Spanish Armada. [ from the change to ire. She bore Roger ■ the first families in their veins the blood 1