Bathalda came on the day after Roger's return, with the news that the two ladies had reached Cuitcatl's house in safety and, as they believed, without exciting observation. The queen was anxious to know if he had seen Cacama, and whether her husband had any instructions for her. Amenche 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 sweetmeats, of which he knew Amenche was particularly fond, and gave them to Bathalda; with the message that he would someday 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 bigotry2 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 Montezuma added an enormous treasure that had been accumulated and hidden by his father, amounting to a sum which astounded3 even the Spaniards. The value of the gold alone was equal to nearly a million and a half pounds sterling4, in the present day, besides a vast amount of gold ornaments5 and jewelry6, 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 content to abstain7 from interference with their religion; but during the weeks that had elapsed since Montezuma had been a prisoner in their hands, they had vainly endeavored to convert the emperor, and the nobles and attendants on him, to Christianity.
They had listened attentively9 to the preaching and exhortations10 of Father Olmedo; but their faith in their own gods was unshaken, the bloody11 sacrifices were carried on as usual in the temples, and these horrible spectacles naturally excited the wrath12 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 consent to have the services of their religion conducted in the palace, but wished to celebrate them publicly; and therefore requested that the great temple should be handed over to them, for their services. Montezuma was much agitated13. He was a devout14 believer in his gods; and his conduct towards the Spaniards had been, in no slight degree, influenced by the belief that their coming had been foretold15 by Quetzalcoatl, and that they were the descendants of that god. However, after a conference with the priests, he consented that they should occupy one of the sanctuaries16 on the summit of the temple.
Great joy was caused among the Spaniards at this permission. They at once took possession of the sanctuary17, and thoroughly18 cleansed19 it. They then decorated its walls with flowers, and raised an altar, surmounted20 by a crucifix and an image of the Virgin21. When all was ready, the whole army moved up the winding22 ascent23 to the summit, and a solemn mass was celebrated24.
The result of this occupation of the temple of their god was soon visible in the conduct of the Mexicans. Montezuma himself became grave and distant towards the Spaniards; and a few days later sent for Cortez, and informed them that they were in great danger, and that they had best leave the country, at once. Cortez replied that he should regret to leave the capital so suddenly, when he had no ship to take him from the country; but that if he should be driven to take such a step, he should feel compelled to carry the emperor along with him.
Montezuma then agreed to send, at once, a number of workmen to the coast, to build vessels25 under the instructions of the Spaniards; and promised to use his authority to restrain his people, assuring them that the Spaniards would leave, as soon as means were provided. A large number of artisans were accordingly sent off at once, with some of the Spaniards most skilled in ship building; and on their arrival at the coast they began to fell trees, and to make all preparations for building the vessels.
In the meantime, at Mexico, every precaution was taken by the Spaniards. Since Montezuma had been in their hands, they had felt in perfect security, had wandered about the city and neighboring 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 armor with their arms beside them, and were no longer permitted to leave the palace.
At this moment news arrived that filled the mind even of Cortez with consternation26. The expedition that he felt sure Velasquez, the Governor of Cuba, would dispatch against him, had arrived on the coast, and had landed. It consisted of eighteen vessels, carrying nine hundred men, of whom eighty were cavalry27. 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 learned very little of what was happening in Mexico, as the vessels which Cortez had dispatched had avoided touching28 at the islands. They now learned, from the Spaniards left on the coast, all that had taken place; and Narvaez found, with indignation, that Cortez was the conqueror29 of a great empire, and that the honor and wealth had been reaped by a man whom he considered as an insolent30 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 garrison31 at Villa32 Rica; and he at once dispatched a messenger with the news to Cortez, and prepared for a vigorous defense33. 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 newcomers were sent by the Governor of Cuba, and had assuredly arrived as enemies, the troops declared that, come what might, they would remain true to their leader.
On the arrival of the prisoners, Cortez received them with the greatest courtesy, apologized for the rough conduct of Sandoval and, loading them with presents, converted them into allies. He learned from the priest that the soldiers of Narvaez had no hostility34 towards them, and that the arrogance35 of their leader caused much discontent among them.
When he was sure of the good offices of the priest, Cortez sent him back with a friendly letter to Narvaez, whom he adjured36 to lay aside his hostile designs which, if persisted in, might cause the loss of all the conquests he had made. He was ready, he said, to greet him as a brother, and to share with him the fruits of his successes. The priest fulfilled his mission, and added his own advice that the offers of Cortez should be accepted.
Narvaez rejected the counsel with scorn, but the accounts of the priest of the splendor37 of the country, the rich spoils won by the soldiers, and also of the generosity38 and popularity of Cortez, exercised a great influence over the soldiers.
The priest was followed by Father Olmedo, with some more letters. These were similarly rejected by Narvaez; but Olmedo, during his stay at the camp, contrived39 largely to add to the feeling in favor of Cortez, by his eloquence40 and the numerous presents he distributed among the officers and soldiers.
Cortez had, some time before, dispatched Don Velasquez de Leon, one of his trusted officers, with a hundred and fifty men, to plant a colony near the mouth of one of the great rivers. He was a kinsman41 of the Governor of Cuba, and Narvaez had, on landing, sent to him begging him to quit the service of Cortez, and march with his troops to join him. Velasquez, instead of doing so, set out at once for Mexico; but on his way was met by a messenger from Cortez, who ordered him to stop at Cholula for further orders.
Cortez summoned a force of two thousand natives from the distant province of Chinantla and, leaving Pedro d'Alvarado in command of a hundred and fifty Spaniards in Mexico, marched with the 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 experience of the fighting powers of the white men to care about taking part in a battle with them, and so many deserted42 on the way that Cortez dismissed 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 to two hundred and sixty-six, only five of whom were mounted.
On their march towards Cempoalla, where Narvaez had now established his headquarters, they were met by an embassy from him, requiring the acknowledgment by Cortez of his authority, offering 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 Cempoalla 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 seriously 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 defenders43 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 loyalty44 to their commander had already been sapped, accepted the offer of Cortez of an amnesty for the past, and a full participation45 in the advantages of the conquest of the country. Having sworn allegiance to Cortez as captain general, they were incorporated in his little army.
In the morning, when they saw how small had been the body of men who had defeated them, many regretted the course they had taken, but in the course of the day the two thousand native allies from Chinantla arrived, and their military appearance, and the proof afforded by their presence of the influence of Cortez with the inhabitants of the country, put a stop to the murmuring; especially as Cortez ordered all the spoils taken from them to be returned, and distributed among them considerable sums of money--exciting, indeed, murmurs46 of discontent among his own veterans, who considered that they had been deprived of the spoil they had rightfully won.
The eloquence of their general, however, as usual, was successful in pacifying48 them; but to prevent further difficulties, he broke up his force, and sent off two hundred men under Diego de Ordaz, and a similar number under Velasquez de Leon, to form settlements on the coasts and rivers; and two hundred men to Vera Cruz, to dismantle50 the fleet of Narvaez.
Scarcely had these parties left when a messenger arrived with letters from Alvarado, saying that the Mexicans had risen and assaulted the Spaniards in their quarters, and had partly undermined the walls; and that, in the fighting, several of the garrison had been killed, and a great number wounded.
Cortez at once dispatched messengers after Velasquez and Ordaz, and ordered them to march to join him at Tlascala; recalled a hundred men from Vera Cruz, and then set forward. The troops suffered much in their march across the low country to the foot of the hills, beneath a sun of terrible power. However, they reached Tlascala, and were there joined by Ordaz and Velasquez. They were most hospitably51 entertained by their allies, and a number of levies52 joined them; and with these and eleven hundred Spaniards, of whom a hundred were cavalry, they marched towards Mexico.
They took a more northern route than before and, crossing the mountains, held their way on to Tezcuco. Upon their route through the plains the peasantry held aloof53, and the greater portion of the population of Tezcuco withdrew before their arrival; and even its new lord, although appointed at the instigation of Cortez, was absent from the city. Dispatches 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 the 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 solitude54 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 newcomers, with joyful55 shouts.
Cortez now learned the reason of the rising of the Mexicans. It was the result of a hideous56 act of treachery, on the part of Alvarado. In the month of May was the great festival of the war god, which was held in his great temple; and the caziques 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 their 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 motives58 were assigned for this most foul59 massacre57. Some writers have ascribed it solely60 to the desire for plunder61; others to the desire of Alvarado to strike a blow that would intimidate62 the Mexicans from making any insurrectionary movement. Alvarado himself declared that he had information that the Mexicans intended to rise, but he gave no proofs, whatever, to justify63 his suspicions. The affair, indeed, seems to have been utterly64 indefensible, and must ever remain a foul blot65 upon Spanish honor.
Cortez was extremely angry at hearing what had taken place and, after listening to Alvarado's explanation, said:
"You have done badly. You have been false to your trust! Your conduct has been that of a madman!"
It was, however, no time for quarrels; and as it was the impolicy of the deed, rather than its treachery, that angered Cortez, he speedily forgave the offender66, who was one of the most popular officers in his army.
The blow Alvarado had struck had a contrary effect to that which he had expected of it. No sooner had the news of the massacre spread through the city than the whole population rose, and at dawn next morning they attacked the palace, with desperate fury. Volumes of missiles were poured upon the defenders. The walls were assaulted, and the works set on fire, and the palace might have been taken had not Montezuma, yielding to the entreaties--and perhaps threats--of the garrison, mounted the walls, and urged the people to desist from the attack, as his own safety would be imperiled did they continue it.
They obeyed him as usual, and withdrew from the assault; but threw up works round the place, and proceeded to starve the Spaniards out. The latter had considerable stores of food, but suffered severely68 from thirst until they were fortunate enough to discover a spring, and were thus enabled to hold out until the arrival of Cortez.
The latter refused to comply with the request of Montezuma to see him. He had some reason to doubt the good faith of the emperor, for he had discovered that the latter had sent envoys69 to Narvaez; and he had, upon his arrival at Tlascala, been informed that the rising at Mexico had been, to a great extent, prepared beforehand by the orders of Montezuma; and even the assurances of the officers of the garrison, that they owed their safety to the emperor's intervention70, did not pacify49 him.
The real reason, no doubt, of his anger was that he found he had overrated the advantages he would gain from Montezuma being in his hands; but for this he himself, and not the emperor, was to blame. At first the capture had all the success that he had expected from it. The people had obeyed their emperor as implicitly71, when a captive, as when his power had been supreme72. They had sent in their nobles, prisoners and bound, at his orders. They had built ships for these strangers. They had suffered them to go unmolested through the country.
But there was an end even to Aztec patience. The avarice73 of the white men had drained the country of its wealth. Their arrogance had humiliated74 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 devotions, had been the signal for an explosion. Their emperor, formerly75 so venerated76, they now regarded with contempt as the creature of the Spaniards; as the betrayer of his country; and the thought of his safety no longer restrained their thirst for vengeance77.
Cortez, however, was in no mood to reflect.
"What have I to do with this dog of a king," he exclaimed, "who suffers us to starve before his eyes?
"Go, tell your master and his people," he said fiercely to the Mexicans, "to open the markets, or we will do it for them, at their cost!"
The chiefs, who were the bearers of Montezuma's message, left his presence in deep resentment78; and reported to the emperor, and to the people outside, the manner in which Montezuma's request for an interview had been refused. Cortez, however, thought it politic79 to release Cuitlahua, Montezuma's brother, who had been among those imprisoned80 for taking share in Cacama's league; and allowed him to go into the city, thinking that he would allay81 the tumult82.
But Cuitlahua was a man of different spirit 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 representative; and chose him to represent the emperor during his confinement83. Cuitlahua accepted the post, and immediately set to work to organize the fighting men, and to arrange a plan of attack.
Roger had not been with the party that accompanied Cortez on his expedition against Narvaez; but, with his two companions, remained to form part of the garrison of the palace.
"You are out of spirits, young fellow," Juan said, on the day after Cortez had marched away. "You are changed, very much, since you first joined us."
"I have much to make me so, Juan," Roger replied, in his broken Spanish. "You see, I am white by blood, but I have dear friends among the natives. What do I see? As a white, I perceive that our position here is one of the gravest danger, and that destruction may fall upon us all. As a friend of the natives, I see the country plundered84, the people trodden down and, sooner or later, the ruin and misery85 of the whole people."
"You mean we are in danger from Narvaez' people," Juan said. "I have faith in Cortez. He will either fight them or bring them over. He is a wonderful man, and will find some way out of the difficulty."
"I do not mean that, entirely," Roger replied. "I mean that there is danger from the natives."
"Pooh!" the old soldier said, disdainfully. "The natives are no better than so many women."
"But even women may be serious opponents, when they are fifty to one, Juan; and you mistake these Mexicans. They have been friendly and submissive, because it has been the order of the emperor; but although physically86 not strong, they are brave. The Aztec army has spread the dominion87 of Mexico over a wide extent of country. They have conquered many peoples, and are by no means to be despised. It is true you beat the Tlascalans, but that was not because you were braver than they were, but because of your superior arms and armor, and above all by the terror inspired by your horses--but this will not last. The Mexicans now know that you are but men, like themselves; and when they fight, inspired both by national spirit and the memory of their wrongs, I tell you that you will have hard work to hold your own."
When Roger learned that orders had been given for the massacre at the temple, he determined89 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 palace 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 liberty, 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 frenzied90 population would have seized any white man they came upon, outside the walls of the palace, and would have carried him to the altars of their gods. It would be hopeless to endeavor 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, he 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 slaughter91 all within it, long before the return of Cortez; and he by no means shared the confident anticipation92 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 intimate communion with them, had their hands been drenched93 with innocent blood. When, upon their being relieved at their posts, they joined each other in the chamber94 they shared in common, the old soldier held up his hand and said gruffly:
"Do you hold your tongue, Sancho. I know what you are thinking, lad, as well as if you said it; and maybe I do not disagree with you; but least said, soonest mended. These rooms without doors are not places for a man to relieve his mind by strong language, if he happens to differ from his superiors. It is a bad business, and a shameful95 one. At Cholula there was some excuse for it. Here there is none. I am an old soldier, and have taken many a life in my time, but never in cold blood like this. Say nothing, lad, at any rate until you get a chance of being outside this city; or on the lake, where none can get near you--then pour it out, as much as you like."
"It is like enough," Roger said, "that none of us will ever go out of the city alive; and it will serve us thoroughly right. If this is to be a Spaniard and a Catholic, let me be a Mexican and a heathen."
"There, there, that is enough," Juan interrupted. "Now let us have our supper."
"I can eat nothing," Roger said, throwing himself down on the couch, where he remained in silence until a sudden outburst of wild shouts and cries, followed instantly by the trumpet96, calling every man to his allotted97 place on the walls, aroused him.
"The work of vengeance has begun," he said gravely, as he put on his thick padded jerkin and helmet, and took up his pike. "I only hope I may see Alvarado, the author of this massacre, killed before I am."
Juan shook his head as Roger left the room, and he followed with Pedro.
"In faith, I do not blame him. He has been brought up among these people."
"He is quite right," the young soldier said. "It is a shameful business. Had I known that we were coming here to be butchers, I would never have taken service under Cortez. What should we have said if, on our first arrival here, when Montezuma entertained Cortez and all the cavaliers, his people had slain98 them at the feast?"
"Hold your tongue, you young fool!" Juan muttered angrily. "The thing is done, and you cannot undo99 it. What we have to do now is to fight for our lives. Even if these poor devils have right on their side, it is not a matter to stop and discuss, now. So keep your breath for fighting. I doubt not that we shall soon scatter100 them like chaff101."
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 deed for its own sake, but simply because it had brought on them peril67 and misfortune.
Roger had borne his share of the fighting on the walls. He was defending his life, and although at first he had fought with little ardor102, the pain given by two arrows which pierced his cotton armor heated his blood; and he afterwards fought as stoutly103 as the rest.
During the period of inaction he had, more than once, tried to obtain an interview with Cacama; but the prisoners were jealously watched, and no one was allowed access to them on any pretext104, and two officers always accompanied the men who took in their daily rations1. They were regarded as hostages, only less important than Montezuma himself; and as most of them were very rich and powerful caziques, they might offer bribes105 which might well shake the fidelity106 of any private soldier.
When the news arrived that Cortez, with the whole of the army of Narvaez, was at hand, the depression that had reigned107 gave way to exultation108; 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 still necessary to him as an interpreter, and her influence with the natives was great. Roger obtained an interview with her, a few hours after her return. She had evidently been crying passionately109.
"My heart is broken, Roger," she said. "I had hoped that the white men would have done great things for my country. They know so much, and although I thought there might be trouble at first, for great changes can never be introduced without trouble, I never dreamed of anything like this. Cholula was bad enough, but there the people brought it on themselves; and the Spaniards would have been slain, had they not first begun to kill. But here it is altogether different. It was an unprovoked massacre, and after this, who can hope that the 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 are cruel, and they are all greedy of wealth; and he, general though 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, being 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 invaders110, I am sure they recognize this, and that they feel no ill will against me. But now I fear that they will curse me, as they will curse them; and that, through all time, my name will be abhorred111 in 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 owing 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 defense of it! As a white man and a Christian8, I feel it is an act of horrible atrocity112; 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 year, slay113 in cold blood fully47 twenty-five thousand people who have done them no wrong. By the side of such horrible slaughter as this, the murder of six hundred, the other day, was but a drop in the ocean of blood annually114 shed here."
"Had it been in battle, it would have been nothing," Malinche said. "Had they offered them up at the altars of the gods, the people would have understood it, for they do it themselves; but this was a foul act of treachery. Who, after this, can believe in the promises of the whites?
"I know the people. You whites despise them, because they have hitherto allowed themselves to be subdued116 without resistance; but now that their first awe117 of the Spaniards has died away, and they have nerved themselves to take up arms, you will find that they are brave. I see nothing but trouble before us. Cortez feels confident that he can easily repulse118 any attack, and subdue115 the city and the country round; but I do not think so."
"Nor do I, Malinche. No men could have fought more bravely than the Mexicans, the other day. It is true that we were but in small numbers, and that we are now many times stronger, and have Cortez to command us; but on the other hand, the attack was but a hasty one, and the next time we shall have the whole Mexican force upon us."
"What will you do, Roger?"
"I must fight for the Spaniards," Roger said gloomily. "They are not my countrymen, but they are white men as I am, and surrounded by foes119. Besides, I have no option. The Mexicans cannot distinguish between Spaniards and Englishmen, and I should be seized and sacrificed, were I to set foot beyond the walls. Were it not for that I would leave the city, join Amenche, and leave the Spaniards and Mexicans to fight out their quarrel as they might; but now, whichever won, the result would be fatal to me. If the Mexicans were victorious120, I, like all other whites, would be sacrificed to their gods. If the Spaniards won, I should be executed as a traitor121. Therefore, there is nothing for me to do but to remain with the Spaniards, and share their fate, whatever it may be."
The next morning silence reigned over the city. Not a Mexican was to be seen anywhere near the palace, within which the Spaniards were virtually prisoners. Cortez hoped, however, that Cuitlahua would soon persuade the people to return to their usual habits, and to open the markets for provisions; but in any case, he felt so confident of his power to overawe the city, that he sent off a messenger with dispatches to the coast, saying that he had arrived safely, and should soon overcome all opposition122.
In half an hour, however, the messenger returned at a gallop, wounded in a score of places. He reported that the city was up in arms, the drawbridges were raised, and the Mexicans were marching towards the palace. Scarcely had he arrived, when the sentinels on the towers shouted that masses of men were approaching, by all the streets leading to the palace; and immediately afterwards the terraces and flat roofs of the houses near were darkened by throngs124 of natives, shouting and brandishing125 their weapons.
The trumpet instantly sounded to arms, and so strict was the discipline that prevailed that, in an incredibly short time, every soldier was at his post. The position was capable of being defended against a very numerous enemy, unprovided with artillery126; for the wall round the great one-storied building, though low, was strong; and the turrets127, placed at intervals128 upon it, enabled the defenders to command its face, and to pour missiles upon any who might be bold enough to endeavor to effect a breach129, by undermining it with crowbars and levers. The garrison, too, were sufficient for its defense; for there were not only some twelve hundred Spaniards, but the eight thousand Tlascalan allies.
The Aztecs rushed forward, with the shrill130 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 palace, to which were added those shot from the terraces and flat roofs.
The Spaniards had pierced the walls with embrasures for their cannon131, and these commanded all the avenues. The gunners waited until the columns were close at hand, and then their terrible discharge swept lanes through the crowded masses in the streets. For a moment the Mexicans paused, paralyzed by the terrible slaughter; and then, rallying, rushed forward again. Three times the cannon were discharged into their midst; but though broken and disordered, they still pressed on until they swept up to the very foot of the walls, pouring in a hail of arrows.
They were well seconded by those on the housetops who, from their elevated position, were on a level with the Spaniards; and whose missiles, arrows, javelins132, and stones thrown with great force from slings133, galled134 the defenders greatly, and wounded great numbers of them.
In vain did the Aztecs strive to climb the walls. These were of no great height but, as they showed their heads above the parapet, they were shot down by the Spanish arquebus men, or struck backwards135 by the weapons of the Tlascalans. Failing to scale the walls, they tried to batter136 down the parapet with heavy pieces of timber. But the stonework was too strong, and they then shot burning arrows into the palace, and hurled137 blazing torches over the wall.
The palace itself was of stone, but some of the exterior138 works which had been constructed were of wood, and these were soon on fire. The defenders had no water with which to extinguish the flames and, at the point where the new works joined the wall, the fire was so fierce that they were afraid it would spread to the palace; and, to extinguish it, were forced to adopt the desperate expedient139 of overthrowing140 the wall upon the burning mass. The breach thus made was guarded by a battery of heavy guns and a party of arquebusiers, and these repelled141 every attempt of the Mexicans to take advantage of the breach which had been thus formed.
The fight continued until night fell, and the Mexicans then drew off. Cortez and his followers142 were astonished at the obstinacy143 with which they had fought, and the contempt of death they had displayed. They had obtained such easy victories, with forces but a fourth of those which Cortez now commanded, that he had formed the lowest opinion of the fighting powers of the Aztecs. But he now found that a nation was not to be trampled144 upon with impunity145.
However, he consoled himself with the thought that this was but a temporary outbreak of fury; and he determined to sally out with all his force, on the following morning, and to inflict146 a terrible chastisement147 upon his assailants.
As soon as the morning broke, the Spaniards were under arms. Cortez was speedily undeceived in his hopes that the slaughter of the previous day would have cowed the Mexicans. The great square and the streets leading to it were seen to be crowded with foes, who appeared better organized than on the previous day, being divided into regiments148, each with its banners. These, the Mexican attendants on Montezuma told them, were the cognizances of the many cities of the plain, showing that the whole people were joining in the movement commenced by those of the capital. Towering above the rest was the royal standard of Mexico.
Among the crowd were numerous priests who, with excited gestures, called upon them to avenge149 the insulted gods, and to destroy the handful of invaders who had brought disgrace upon the nation, had trampled it under foot, had made their sovereign a captive, and murdered their nobles in cold blood. It was evident that, fierce as had been the fighting on the previous day, the renewed assault would be even more formidable.
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1
rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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2
bigotry
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| n.偏见，偏执，持偏见的行为[态度]等 | |
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3
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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sterling
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| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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5
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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6
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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7
abstain
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| v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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9
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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10
exhortations
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| n.敦促( exhortation的名词复数 )；极力推荐；（正式的）演讲；（宗教仪式中的）劝诫 | |
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11
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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12
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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13
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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14
devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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15
foretold
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| v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
sanctuaries
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| n.避难所( sanctuary的名词复数 )；庇护；圣所；庇护所 | |
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17
sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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18
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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19
cleansed
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| 弄干净，清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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21
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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22
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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23
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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24
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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25
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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26
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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27
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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28
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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29
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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30
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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31
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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32
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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33
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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34
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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35
arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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36
adjured
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| v.（以起誓或诅咒等形式）命令要求( adjure的过去式和过去分词 )；祈求；恳求 | |
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37
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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38
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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39
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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40
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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41
kinsman
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| n.男亲属 | |
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42
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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43
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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44
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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45
participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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46
murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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47
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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48
pacifying
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的现在分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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49
pacify
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| vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒)；抚慰 | |
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50
dismantle
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| vt.拆开，拆卸；废除，取消 | |
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51
hospitably
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| 亲切地，招待周到地，善于款待地 | |
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52
levies
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| （部队）征兵( levy的名词复数 )； 募捐； 被征募的军队 | |
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53
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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54
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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55
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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56
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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57
massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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58
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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59
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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60
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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61
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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62
intimidate
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| vt.恐吓，威胁 | |
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63
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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64
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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65
blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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66
offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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67
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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68
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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69
envoys
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| 使节( envoy的名词复数 )； 公使； 谈判代表； 使节身份 | |
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70
intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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71
implicitly
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| adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
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72
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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73
avarice
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| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
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74
humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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75
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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76
venerated
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| 敬重（某人或某事物），崇敬( venerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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78
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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79
politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 | |
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80
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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81
allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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82
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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83
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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84
plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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86
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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87
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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88
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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89
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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90
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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91
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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92
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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93
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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94
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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95
shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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96
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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97
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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98
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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99
undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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100
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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101
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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102
ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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103
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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104
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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105
bribes
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| n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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106
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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107
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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108
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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109
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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110
invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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111
abhorred
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| v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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112
atrocity
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| n.残暴，暴行 | |
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113
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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114
annually
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| adv.一年一次，每年 | |
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115
subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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116
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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117
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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118
repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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119
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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123
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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124
throngs
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| n.人群( throng的名词复数 )v.成群，挤满( throng的第三人称单数 ) | |
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125
brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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126
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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127
turrets
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| （六角）转台( turret的名词复数 )； （战舰和坦克等上的）转动炮塔； （摄影机等上的）镜头转台； （旧时攻城用的）塔车 | |
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128
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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129
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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132
javelins
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| n.标枪( javelin的名词复数 ) | |
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133
slings
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| 抛( sling的第三人称单数 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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134
galled
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| v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 )；擦伤；烦扰；侮辱 | |
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135
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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136
batter
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| v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员 | |
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137
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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138
exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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139
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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140
overthrowing
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| v.打倒，推翻( overthrow的现在分词 )；使终止 | |
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141
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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142
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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143
obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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144
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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145
impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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146
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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147
chastisement
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| n.惩罚 | |
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148
regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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149
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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