the religion that is held in common among all white
people. To the Spaniards was assigned that vast space of water
lying towards the setting sun."

"You do not belong to that nation?"

"No. My country is called England. It is a great island divided
into two kingdoms, of which ours is the larger."

"Are your people great fighters?"

"Yes. We have fought many obstinate wars with the nation lying on
the mainland opposite to us, and our men have beaten theirs when
they have outnumbered us many-fold; but at present we are at peace.
We found that, while we could beat them in battle, we could not
continue to hold a country that lay separated from us by the sea."

"And you are friends with the Spaniards also?"

"Yes. We have never warred with Spain, and our king has as his wife
a princess of that country. Trading at Spanish ports, we learned
that there was a rumor among the Spaniards that, far to the west,
lay a great people possessing vast stores of gold, and riches of
all kinds; and so my father, who was the captain of one of these
floating castles, determined to sail across the sea and, in despite
of the Spaniards and their rules, endeavor to perform the adventure
of discovering, if possible, this great nation."

"What would have happened if the Spaniards had met you, as you
passed through their waters?"

"Had they succeeded in taking our ship, they would have killed us
without mercy; but we had a strong crew, and would have matched
ourselves, willingly enough, against any Spanish ship, however big,
that interfered with us."

"And what became of your ship?"

"She struck during a gale on the coast of Tabasco, and was dashed
to pieces. My father and all on board were drowned. But God
protected me, and I was thrown ashore unhurt; it being doubtless
His intention that I should live to be the first white man to see
your great country, and to bring to you the news of the white
peoples beyond the sea."

"You know the story about our god, Quetzalcoatl," the king said,
after a long pause. "We had news that you knew all about him. We
believe that his descendants will return hither, to teach us many
things."

"I am aware of it, Sire."

"But do you know, also, that we of Tezcuco have reason to view the
arrival of the Whites with fear? My father, who was full of
learning and wisdom, predicted when on his deathbed that a white
people would shortly arrive, from the sea, and would overthrow the
Anahuac kingdoms. It is str