rse, result
from the success of the Spaniards; and that success would be
imperiled, by exciting the animosity of the whole people by
violence to their gods. As the great teocalli had been captured in
fair fight, and a large portion of its buildings burnt, Cortez
converted a massive stone edifice that had escaped the flames into
a church, and erected a gigantic crucifix on the summit of the
teocalli, visible from all points of the city.

A fortnight after his entrance to Cholula, Cortez again began to
move forward. His Cempoallan allies, who had fought with great
bravery against the Tlascalans, and had rendered him immense
assistance upon the march, now asked to be allowed to return home;
for much as they believed in the prowess of the whites, the dread
of Montezuma's name was too great for them to dare trust themselves
in his capital. Cortez dismissed them with many presents and, with
his Tlascalan army, set forward towards the capital.

As they proceeded on their way, parties came in from various towns
on the plateau with friendly messages. The enormous taxation,
imposed to keep up the luxurious court of the emperor, pressed
heavily upon the land; and the greater portion of the inhabitants
hailed, with real satisfaction, the coming of a power that appeared
likely to overthrow the Aztec tyranny. Had it not been for this
widespread disaffection, the little army of Cortez would, in spite
of its bravery and superior weapons, have been powerless against
the vast hosts which could have been hurled against it. But the
people of the empire, in general, regarded Mexico as its oppressor
and tyrant, and hailed the opportunity of freeing themselves from
its dominations. Cortez, except when the question of religion was
concerned, was politic in the highest degree; and inspired all the
natives who came to him with the full belief that, in him, they
would have a kind and generous protector against Montezuma.

Warm as were the assurances of friendship sent by that monarch, the
Spaniards were well aware that no confidence could be placed in
them. Their new friends, indeed, informed them that he was already
preparing for an attack upon the Spaniards; and that the straight
and level road had been blocked up, in order that they might be
forced to take their passage through the mountains, where they
could be attacked and overwhelmed at points at which their cavalry
and artillery would be unable to act.

On arriving, therefore, at the