That active commander, secure in his new authority, now marched with all his troops to Cempoalla. At this place, which contained about thirty thousand inhabitants, the Spaniards met with the most friendly and hospitable reception, and the heart of their leader throbbed high at the prospect of powerful native assistance in his ambitious schemes. He explained to the Cempoallan chieftain, a portly dignitary, the power of his master the emperor, and his zeal for the salvation of souls, and went at considerable length into a doctrinal disquisition on the holy faith. "As soon as the fat cacique. had heard him out," says a witness, "heaving a deep sigh, he complained bitterly of Montezuma and his officers, saying that having been lately compelled to submit to the yoke of that monarch, he had seized all his gold, and now held him completely enthralled." This disaffection promised well; but on the following day, the arrival of five officers from the court of Montezuma filled the Totonacs with dismay. Trembling with fear, all hastened to receive the imperial emissaries, who passed to their quarters with extraordinary state, not deigning to cast a look on the Spaniards. They were elegantly attired, and each held in his hand a nosegay, which he occasionally smelt at-a curious piece of tyrannic foppery, considering their errand. This was nothing less than to demand twenty young people for sacrifice to their gods, in expiation of the offence of receiving the Spaniards. But such was the influence already acquired by Cortes, that the Totonacs, at his command, forthwith put these high ambassadors in the stocks-the Spanish commander, by artful policy, saving their lives, and secretly dispatching them home to propitiate the emperor. The Totonacs, fully committed in rebellion, now took oath of allegiance to the Spanish sovereign; and a town called Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz (at some distance from the present city of that name) was founded by the Spaniards. A fresh embassy, with splendid presents, soon arrived from Montezuma, and Cortes, having studiously displayed to the envoys the terrors of European warfare, rëiterated his intention of visiting their master. Scandalized at the idolatrous rites and human sacrifices practised by his allies, the Spanish general made fierce remonstrance. Inflamed with crusading zeal, he suddenly issued orders for the immediate destruction of the idols-a work zealously completed by his men, to the horror of their worshippers. The caciques who resisted were seized, and Cortes made a long sermon to the aghast multitude, VOL. III.-8 assuring them of the protection of the Virgin, "with many other good and holy reasons and arguments, which could not be better expressed by any one, and all which the people listened to with much attention." Mass was performed, and all the principal persons of the neighbourhood, with respectful, but, no doubt, with greatlypuzzled attention, participated in the ceremony. To propitiate the crown, and to secure its protection against the anticipated vengeance of Velasquez, Cortes now resolved to dispatch the whole of the splen. did presents of Montezuma as an offering to the emperor (Charles V.), and, by his almost-unbounded influence with the soldiery, preiled on them to relinquish their share of the treasure. A letter, entreating a confirmation of his authority, seconded by the petitions of the whole army, was written; and, with wonderful audacity, he assured the emperor that in a brief time the Aztec sovereign should be made to own his sway, or, dead or alive, be placed at his disposal. On the 26th of July, a vessel, bearing the treasure and these momentous tidings, was dispatched to Spain; but, by the indiscretion of her commander, in touching at Cuba, Velasquez became informed of the whole proceedings. With indescribable rage and fury, he set to work to prepare a fresh expedition for the purpose of reducing his refractory officer, and gaining possession of the wealthy realms of Mexico. A few malcontents in the army had plotted to seize a vessel and return to the island. This piece of defection was punished with merciless severity; and, to guard against any renewal of the attempt, Cortes now took the extraordinary resolution of destroying his fleet. Accordingly, all except one small vessel were privately scuttled and sunk. The alarm and indignation of the soldiers were allayed, and their courage inflamed by a harangue so stirring and eloquent, that, when it was finished, they cried eagerly, "To Mexico! to Mexico!" All, indeed, could see that there was no chance of drawing back, and that the only hope of safety itself lay in victory and conquest. Active preparations were now made for the expected campaign. Juan de Escalente, a sure friend of the general's, was left in command. of a small garrison at Cempoalla. With a little more than four hundred Spaniards and two thousand Totonacs, on the 16th of August, 1519, Cortes set forth on the most wonderful of martial enterprises recorded in history-the March to Mexico. CHAPTER IV. THE MARCH TOWARD MEXICO. -SPIRITED RESISTANCE OF THE TLASCALANS.- -SUCCESS OF THE SPANIARDS.-THEIR DIS COURAGEMENTS.-FIRMNESS OF CORTES. -SUBMISSION OF THE TLASCALANS.-SINGULAR CHANGE OF FEELING. EMERGING from the tierra caliente, the invaders ascended to the great plateau, and were received in a friendly manner at the cities of Jalapa and Naulinco, allies of the Totonacs. At Tlatlauqnitepec, which they reached after several days of wearisome march, were many teocallies or mound-temples, and in the vicinity were a vast number of skeletons, regularly arranged, perhaps those of the victims of sacrifice. The cacique of this city, dreading the anger of his 30vereign, gave them a cool reception, and declined imparting to them any gold. He added, however, "should he" (Montezuma) "command it, my gold, my person, and all that I possess, shall be at your disposal." Disappointed in his hopes of treasure, the general's zeal for conversion seems to have received a sudden stimulus, for, uplifting his voice, he demanded of all present to renounce their idolatries, and would have planted the cross at once, but for the remonstrances of the reverend Father Olmedo, the chaplain of the expedition, who, to his honour, often interfered in behalf of the natives, and who now assured him that the time was unpropitious for making proselytes. By advice of his Totonac allies, Cortes now took up his march for Flascala, an independent republic, which, for many ages, had successfully stemmed the tide of Aztec conquest. Though surrounded on all sides by the territories of the Mexican sovereigns, these people, from the natural fertility of their country, and the strength of its position, had been enabled to set the conquerors of Anahuac at defiIn their warlike habits, and in the deadly enmity which they cherished toward the Aztecs, the general trusted to find efficient alliance and assistance in his ambitious schemes. He accordingly sent an Indian embassy, with a letter in Spanish, desiring a friendly interview. ance. On coming to their territory, the invaders were surprised to find it protected by a massive wall of masonry, built between two mount ains, and having but a single entrance, curiously constructed for defence. No one, however, appeared to oppose them, and the little army, defiling through the gate-way, pushed on toward the capital. Their hopes of a friendly reception were soon grievously disappointed. A force of three thousand Tlascalans appeared to dispute their passage, and though compelled to give ground before the discharge of artillery and the charge of cavalry, retreated in good order. On the next day (September 2d) a fresh body of the enemy appeared, who, to a formal protest, recorded as usual by a notary, replied only with a shower of missiles. A fight commenced, and the Indians, artfully retreating, decoyed their invaders into a narrow defile, where Xicotencatl, the greatest general of Tlascala, with an army of many thousand warriors, was waiting to receive them. Amid the hideous roar of barbarian drums, the shrill notes of flutes, and a terrific outbreak of cries and whistlings, the little army of Cortes engaged the enemy-his Indian allies, now three thousand in number, standing stoutly by him. Destruction, indeed, seemed almost inevitable. "I see nothing but death before us," said one of the chiefs; "we shall never get through the pass alive." But the little body of cavalry, Cortes at their head, charging with the desperation of men whose lives were at stake, at length cleared a way for the artillery, which played with terrible effect on the crowded ranks of the enemy. Eight of the bravest Tlascalan chiefs and a great number of their followers fell, and Xicotencatl, discouraged, at last drew off his forces. The Spaniards retreated, for safe encampment, to an eminence called the "Hill of Tzompach," on which stood a temple, the ruins of which yet remain. Their loss had been small, owing to the anxiety of the enemy to take them alive for sacrifice; but an abundance of cruel wounds were distributed among them, which, with the revolting aid of a chirurgery common in these wars, they dressed with the fat of the Indians who had fallen. Overtures of peace, which Cortes now made to the Tlascalans, were fiercely and peremptorily rejected; and news came that Xicotencatl, with fifty thousand men, was awaiting the invaders on the road to Tlascala. On hearing these portentous tidings, says the honest chronicler, "being but mortals, and like all others fearing death, we prepared for battle by confessing to our reverend fathers, who were occupied during the whole night in that holy office." On the morning of September 15th, the little host, resolved on conquest or death, again took the road to Tlascala. The Indian army, drawn up in a vast meadow, was awaiting it at no great distance. It formed a splendid sight, many of the warriors being decorated with armour of gold and silver, and the whole array being gorgeous with mantles of feather-work and the fluttering of innumerable standards. Their weapons were javelins, darts, and arrows, headed with copper or sharp stones-skilfully and elegantly made, but feeble and inefficient in comparison with the artillery, the muskets, and the sabres of their European foes. Still, so determined was their onset, that by mere force of numbers, the Spaniards were at first driven back in confusion. By a desperate use of their swords, room was finally cleared for the artillery, and great havoc was made among the dense ranks of the assailants. The cavalry, under Cortes, charged fiercely wherever they had space, and drove back the assailants with much slaughter. Again and again, with terrible loss, did the Tlascalans close around the little army of Spaniards and Totonacs; and, but for dissension among themselves, would, probably, by their overwhelming superiority of numbers, have carried the day. But two powerful chiefs, disagreeing with Xicotencatl, retreated with their respective forces; and that general, after a contest of four hours, during which he had displayed the most chivalrous courage, was fain to draw off the remainder of his command. The Spaniards, exhausted with wounds and fatigue, retreated to Tzompach, where they secretly buried in a subterranean vault the small number of their own soldiers that had fallen. It was contrary to the usual custom of the natives of Anahuac to war by night; yet, stimulated by the encouragement of their priests and wizards, who assured them that the strangers were "Children of the Sun," and dependent on that luminary for strength and protection, the defeated army made a midnight assault on the Spanish camp. But these hardy adventurers, sleeping, as usual, on their arms, were instantly on the alert, and repulsed with considerable loss the advancing assailants-who, however, consoled themselves by sacrificing two of their unreliable wizards. The Tlascalan council would now have made peace, and for that purpose dispatched to the Christian camp an embassy of their own-which, however, was intercepted on the way by Xicotencatl, eager to avenge the successive defeats which he had encountered. The Spaniards themselves, fifty-five of whom had perished since leaving Vera Cruz, were heartily wearied of fighting and privation. They strongly remonstrated with Cortes against attempting to reach Mexico, the name of which |