The ground was covered with the dying and the | iards extravagantly estimated the number of the dead. Still they remained firm, with an intrepidity which merited victory, as they discharged their javelins, arrows, and other powerless missiles, upon the impenetrable coats of mail which protected their foes. Cortez immediately assembled his soldiers around him, and, like Nelson at Aboukir, ordered prayers. He then sent a message to the natives that he would forgive them if they would send in their entire submission. But he threatened, if they refused, "that he would ride over the land, and put every living thing in it, man, woman, and child, to the sword." The spirit of resistance was utterly crushed. The natives were reduced to abject helplessness. They were now in a suitable frame of mind for conversion. Cortez recommended that they should exchange their idols for the gods of Papal Rome. They made no objections. Their images were dashed in pieces, and, with very imposing religious ceremonies, the Christianity of Cortez-a pitiful burlesque upon the religion of Jesus Christwas instituted in the temples of Yucatan. In all this tremendous crime there was ap At last the whole body of cavalry, sixteen strong, headed by Cortez, having taken a circuitous route, fell suddenly upon their rear. The Indians had never seen a horse before. They thought the rider and the steed one animal. As this terrific apparition came bounding over the plain, the horsemen, cased in steel, and uttering loud outcries, cutting down the naked natives on the right and on the left with their keen blades, while, at the same moment, the artillery and infantry made a charge with their thundering and death-dealing roar, the scene became too awful for mortal courage to endure. The natives, in utter dismay, fled from foes of such demoniac aspect and energy. The slaughter had been so awful before their flight, that the Span-parently no hypocrisy. It requires Infinite wis dom to award judgment to mortals. The two Catholic priests, Olmedo and Diaz, were probably sincere Christians, truly desiring the spiritual renovation of the Indians. They felt deeply the worth of the soul, and did all they could, rightly to instruct these unhappy and deeply-wronged natives. They sincerely pitied their sufferings; but deemIed it wise that the right eye should be plucked out, and that the right arm should be cut off, rather than that the soul should perish. "He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are but dust." Cortez having thus, in the campaign of a week, annexed the whole of these new provinces, of unknown extent, to Spain, and having converted the natives to the Christianity of Rome, prepared for his departure. Decorating his war-boats with palm-leaves-the symbols of peace-he descended the river to his ships, which were anchored at the mouth. Again spreading his sails and catching a favorable breeze, he passed rejoicingly on toward the shores of Mexico. The newly-converted natives were left to bury their dead, to heal, as they could, their splintered bones and gory wounds, and to wail the dirge of the widow and the orphan. How long they continued to prize a religion forced upon them by such arguments of blood and woe we are not informed. The sun shone brightly on the broad Mexican Gulf, and zephyrs, laden with fragrance from the luxuriant shores, swelled the flowing sheets. The temples and houses of the natives, and their waving fields of Indian corn, were distinctly visible from the decks. Many of the promontories and headlands were covered with multitudes of tawny figures, decorated with all the attractions of barbaric splendor, gazing upon the fearful phenomenon of the passing ships. Cortez continued his course several hundred miles, sweeping around the shores of this magnificent gulf, until he arrived at the island of San Juan de Ulua. A previous explorer had touched at this spot. Marina was in all respects an extraordinary woman, and she figures largely in the scenes which we are about to relate. Nature had done much for her. In person she was exceedingly beautiful. She had winning manners, and a warm and loving heart. Her mind was of a superior order. She very quickly mastered the difficulties of the Castilian tongue, and thus spoke three languages with native fluency-that of Mexico, of Yucatan, and of Spain. She was bound to Cortez by the tenderest ties, and soon became the mother of his son. Through her interpretation, Cortez ascertained the most important facts respecting the great Empire of Mexico. He learned that two hundred miles in the interior was situated the capital of the empire; and that a monarch, subjects, reigned over the extended realm. The country was divided into provinces, over each of which a governor presided. The province in which Cortez had landed was under the sway of Teuhtlile, who resided about twenty miles in the interior. It was the afternoon of a lovely day. Earth, sea, and sky smiled serenely, and all the elements of trouble were lulled to repose. As the ships entered the spacious bay, a scene as of enchantment opened around the voyagers. In the distance, on grassy slopes and in the midst of luxuriant groves, the villages and rural dwell-named Montezuma, beloved and revered by his ings of the natives were thickly scattered. The shores were covered with an eager multitude, contemplating with wonder and awe the sublime spectacle of the fleet. Cortez selected a sheltered spot, dropped his anchors, and furled his sails. Soon a light canoe, filled with natives, shot from the shore. The ship which conveyed Cortez was more imposing than the rest, and the banner of Spain floated proudly from its topmast. The Mexicans steered for this vessel, and with the most confiding frankness ascended its sides. They were Government officials, and brought presents of fruits, flowers, and golden ornaments. Cortez, to his great chagrin, found that his interpreter, Aguilar, though perfectly familiar with the language of Yucatan, did not understand the language of Mexico. But from this dilemma he was singularly extricated. Cortez immediately and boldly landed his whole force upon the beach, and constructed a fortified camp, which was protected by his heavy cannon planted upon the hillocks. The kind natives aided the strangers in rearing their huts, brought them food and presents, and entered into the most friendly traffic. Thus they warmed the vipers which were to sting them. It was, indeed, a novel scene, worthy of the pencil of the painter, which that beach presented day after day. Men, women, and children, boys and girls, in every variety of barbaric costume, thronged the encampment, presenting the peaceful and joyful confusion of a fair. The rumor of the strange arrival spread far and wide, and each Governor Teuhtlile heard the astounding tidings, and, with an imposing retinue, set out from his palace to visit his uninvited guests. The in After the terrible battle of Tabasco, Cortez had received, as a propitiatory offering, twenty beautiful native females. Cortez guiltily allowed himself to take one of the most beauti-day accumulating multitudes were gathered. ful of these, Marina, for his wife. It is true that Cortez had a worthy spouse upon his plantation at Cuba-it is true that no civil or religious rites sanctioned this unhallowed union-terview was conducted with all the splendor of it is true that Cortez was sufficiently enlightened to know that he was sinning against the law of God; but the conscience of this extraordinary man was strangely seared. Intense devotion and unblushing sin were marvelously blended in his character. It must be admitted that the Romish faith he cherished favored these inconsistencies. For the Church he toiled, and the Church could forgive sin. Castilian etiquette and Mexican pomp. The pageant was concluded by a military display of the Spaniards, drawn out upon the beach, cavalry, artillery, and infantry, in battle array. No words can describe the amazement of the awestricken Mexicans, as they witnessed the rapid evolutions of the troops, their burnished armor gleaming in the rays of the sun, and the terrible war-horses, animals which they had never before seen, with their mounted riders, careering over the sands. But when the cannons uttered their tremendous roar, and the balls were sent crashing through the trees of the forest, their wonder was lost in unspeakable terror. But Marina was a noble woman. The relation which she sustained to Cortez did no violence to her conscience or to her instincts. She had never been instructed in the school of Christ. Polygamy was the religion of her land. She deemed herself the honored wife of Cortez, and Cortez informed the governor that he was dreamed not of wrong. She was the daughter the subject of a powerful monarch beyond the of a rich and powerful cazique, who had died seas, and that he brought valuable presents for when she was young. Her career had been ro- the Emperor of Mexico, which he must deliver mantic in the extreme. Like Joseph, she had in person. Teuhtlile promised to send immebeen sold, and had passed many years in Mex-diate word to the capital of the arrival of the ico. She was thus familiar with the language Spaniards, and to communicate to Cortez Monand customs of the Mexicans. tezuma's will as soon as it should be ascertained. A week passed while Cortez remained in his encampment awaiting the return of the courier. The friendly natives supplied the Spaniards abundantly with every thing they could need. By the command of the Governor more than a thousand huts, of branches and matting, were reared in the vicinity for the accommodation of the Mexicans, who, without recompense, were supplying the table of Cortez and his men. At the expiration of eight days an embassy arrived at the camp from the Mexican capital. Two nobles of the court, accompanied by a retinue of a hundred soldiers, bearing magnificent gifts from Montezuma, presented themselves before the pavilion of Cortez. The embassadors saluted the Spanish chieftain with the greatest reverence, bowing before him, and enveloping him in clouds of incense which arose from waving censers borne by their attendants. The presents which they brought-in silver, in gold, in works of art, of beauty, and of utilityexcited the rapture and the amazement of the Spaniards. There were specimens of workmanship in the precious metals which no artists in Europe could rival. A Spanish helmet, which had been sent to the capital, was returned filled with grains of pure gold. These costly gifts were opened before Cortez in lavish abundance, and they gave indications of opulence hitherto undreamed of. After they had been sufficiently examined and admired, one of the embassadors very courteously said: "Our master is happy to send these tokens of his respect to the King of Spain. He regrets that he can not enjoy an interview with the Spaniards. But the distance of his capital is too great, and the perils of the journey are too imminent, to allow of this pleasure. The strangers are therefore requested to return to their own homes with these proofs of the friendly feelings of Montezuma." Cortez was much chagrined. He earnestly, however, renewed his application for permission to visit the Emperor. But the embassadors, as they retired, assured him that another application would be unavailing. They, however, took a few meagre presents of shirts and toys, which alone remained to Cortez, and departed on their journey of two hundred miles with the reiterated application to the Emperor. It was now evident that the Mexicans had received instructions from the court, and that all were anxious that the Spaniards should leave the country. Though the natives manifested no hostility, they were cold and reserved, and ceased to supply the camp with food. The charm of novelty was over. Insects annoyed the Spaniards. They were blistered by the rays of a meridian sun reflected from the sands of the beach. Sickness entered the camp, and thirty died. But the treasures which had been received from Montezuma, so rich and so abundant, inspired Cortez and his gold-loving companions with the most intense desire to penetrate an empire of so much opulence. They, however, waited patiently ten days, when the embassadors again returned. As before, they came laden with truly imperial gifts. The gold alone of the ornaments which they brought was valued by the Spaniards at more than fifty thousand dollars. The message from Montezuma was, however, still more peremptory than the first. He declared that he could not permit the Spaniards to approach his capital. Cortez, though excessively vexed, endeavored to smother the outward expression of his irritation. He gave the embassadors a courteous response, but turning to his officers, he said: "This is truly a rich and a powerful prince. | their accommodation. The adventurers were Yet it shall go hard but we will one day pay amazed in meeting such indications of wealth, him a visit in his capital." of civilization, and of refinement, as they encountered on every side. The Cazique, with much barbaric pomp, received his formidable guest and ally. The embassadors again retired, with dignity and with courtesy. That night every hut of the natives was abandoned. Cortez and his companions were left to themselves in entire solitude. No more supplies were brought to their camp. After a few days of perplexity, and when murmurs of discontent began to arise, Cortez decided to establish a colony upon the coast. A city was founded, called the Rich City of the True Cross; Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz. A government was organized, and Cortez accepted the appointment of chief magistrate. He thus assumed the high position of the gov ernor of a new colony, responsible only to the monarch in Spain. By this bold act he renounced all subjection to the Governor of Cuba. He immediately dispatched a strong party into the interior to forage for provisions. Just then five Indians came to the camp, as delegates from a neighboring rebellious province, to solicit the alliance of the Spaniards to aid them in breaking from the yoke of Montezuma. They belonged to the powerful nation of the Totonacs, which had been conquered by the Mexican empire. The capital of their country, Zempoalla, was an important city of thirty thousand inhabitants, but a few days' march from Vera Cruz. Cortez listened eagerly to this statement. It presented just the opportunity he desired, as it opened the way for a quarrel with Montezuma. He immediately put his heavy guns on board the fleet, and ordered it to coast along the shore to an appointed rendezvous at Chiahuitzla. Then heading his troops, he set out on a bold march across the country to the capital of his new-found allies, which was near the spot to which he had sent his fleet. The beauty of the country through which they passed entranced the hearts even of these stern warriors. They were never weary of expressing their delight in view of the terrestrial paradise which they had discovered. A delegation soon met them from the Indian city, large parties of men and women with courteous words, and winning smiles, and gifts of gold, and food, and flowers. The natives had many attractions of person and manners; and a peculiar degree of mental refinement was to be seen in their passionate love of flowers, which adorned their persons, and which bloomed in the utmost profusion around all their dwellings. Cortez and his steed were almost covered with wreaths of roses woven by the fair hands of his newfound friends. The narrow streets of Zempoalla were thronged with admiring and applauding thousands as the stern soldiers of Cortez, headed by the cavalry of sixteen horses, and followed by the lumbering artillery, instruments which with thunder roar sped lightning bolts, marched, with floating banners and pealing music, to the spacious court-yard of the temple appointed for The next morning Cortez, with an imposing retinue of fifty men and with all the accompaniments of Castilian pomp, paid a return visit to the Cazique of Zempoalla in his own palace. He there learned, to his almost unutterable delight, that it would not be difficult to excite one half of the Mexican nation against the other; and that he, by joining either part with his terrible artillery and cavalry, could easily turn the scale of victory. Cortez now continued his march some sixteen miles farther to the bay of Chiahuitzla, where his fleet had already cast anchor. The Cazique supplied his troops with abundant food, and with four hundred men to carry their baggage. They found a pleasant town, on an abrupt headland, which commanded the Gulf, and they were received with great kindness. They were still within the ancient limits of the Totonacs, and the Cazique of Zempoalla had followed the Spaniards, borne on a gorgeous palanquin. Many other chiefs were now assembled, and very important deliberations began to arise. In the midst of this state of things a singular commotion was witnessed in the crowd, and both people and chiefs gave indications of great terror. Five strangers appeared, tall, imposing men, with bouquets of flowers in their hands, and followed by obsequious attendants. Haughtily these strangers passed through the place, looking sternly upon the Spaniards, without deigning to address them either by a word or a gesture. They were lords from the court of Montezuma. Their power was invincible and terrible. They had witnessed, with their own eyes, these rebellious indications. The chiefs of the Totonacs turned pale with consternation. All this was fully explained by Marina to the astonished Spanish chieftain. The Totonac chiefs were summoned to appear immediately before the lords of Montezuma. Like terrified children they obeyed. Soon they returned trembling to Cortez, and informed him that the lords were indignant at the support which they had afforded the Spaniards, contrary to the express will of their Emperor, and that they demanded, as the penalty, twenty young men and twenty young women of the Totonacs to be offered in sacrifice to their gods. Cortez assumed an air of indignation and of authority. He declared that he should never permit any such abominable practices of heathenism. he imperiously ordered the Totonacs immediately to arrest the lords of Montezuma and put them in prison. The poor Totonacs were appalled at the very idea. Montezuma swayed the sceptre of a Cæsar, and bold indeed must he be who would dare thus to brave his wrath. But Cortez was inexorable. The chiefs were in his power. Should he abandon them now, And they were ruined hopelessly. It was possible where they could form their plans, and from that, with the thunder and the lightning at his command, he might protect them even from the wrath of Montezuma. Thus compelled, the chiefs tremblingly arrested the lords. Cortez then condescended to perform a deed of indelible dishonor. In the night he promoted the escape of two of the Mexican lords; had them brought before him, and expressed his sincere regret at the insult and the outrage which they had received from the Totonacs. He assured them that he would do every thing in his power to aid in the escape of the others, and requested them to return to the court of their monarch, and assure him of the friendly spirit of the Spaniards, of which this act of their liberation was to be a conspicuous proof. The next morning the rest were liberated in the same way. With a similar message they were sent to the capital of Mexico. Such was the treachery with which Cortez rewarded his friendly allies. History has no language sufficiently severe to condemn an action so revolting to the instincts of honor. Cortez now informed the Totonacs that matters had gone so far that no possible mercy could be expected from Montezuma. He told them, and with truth which was undeniable, that their only possible hope consisted now in uniting cordially with him. This was manifest. The terrified chiefs took the oath of allegiance to Cortez, and with all their people became his obsequious vassals. Here the spot was selected for the new city, the capital of the Spanish colony. A fort was constructed, public buildings raised, and, all hands being eagerly employed, with the cordial co-operation of the natives, a town rose as by magic. This was the citadel of the Spaniards, whence they could move forward in their enterprises. While thus busily employed a new embassy from the court of Montezuma appeared in the unfinished streets of Vera Cruz. Montezuma, alarmed by the tidings he received of the appalling and supernatural power of the Spaniards, deemed it wise to accept the courtesy which had been offered in the liberation of his imprisoned lords, and to adopt a conciliatory policy. The Totonacs were amazed that the power of the Spaniards was such as thus to intimidate even the mighty Montezuma. This greatly increased the veneration of the Totonacs for their European allies. Cortez now made very strenuous efforts to induce the Cazique of Zempoalla to abandon his idols and the cruel rites of heathenism, among which were human sacrifices, and to accept in their stead the symbols of the true faith. But upon this point the Cazique was inflexible. He declared that his gods were good enough for him, and that inevitable destruction would overwhelm him and his people were he to incur their displeasure. Cortez finding argument utterly in vain, then assembled his warriors, and thus addressed them: "Heaven will never smile on our enterprise if we countenance the atrocities of heathenism. For my part, I am resolved that the idols of the Indians shall be destroyed this very hour, even if it cost me my life." The fanatic warriors now marched for one of the most imposing of the Totonac temples. The alarm spread widely through the thronged streets of Zempoalla. The whole population seized their arms to defend their gods, and a scene of fearful confusion ensued. Sternly the inflexible Spaniard strode on. Fifty men climbed to |