d wholly by the advice of the
priests; and sought protection, not from the armies at his command,
but from the gods, whom he strove to influence in his favor by
hecatombs of human victims, sacrificed upon their altars.

In the month that had elapsed since he joined Cortez at Tlascala,
Roger had made considerable progress in Spanish; and although
incapable of supporting a long conversation with his comrades,
could make himself understood in simple matters. His behavior at
the fight in Cholula had gained him the respect of the old soldier;
who, however, was not wholly satisfied with him.

"The young fellow is no coward," he said to Pedro. "When the
Mexicans were pressing us sorely, he fought as stoutly and well as
any in our ranks. He is well skilled in the use of the sword, which
is wonderful, seeing that the Mexicans among whom he has been
brought up are but poor hands with that weapon; and both with
thrust and point he showed himself perfectly at home with the heavy
blade the general gave him. I saw him pressed at one time by four
Mexicans together, and was making to his assistance. But there was
no need for it. He ran one through the body, and with heavy
downright blows, well-nigh cleft the heads of two others; and the
fourth, with a cry of astonishment and fear, sprang back into the
crowd.

"But though he fought so stoutly when attacked, he showed less
ardor in the assault, and lagged behind when we were pursuing the
enemy."

"I like him none the worse for that, Juan," Pedro said. "He has
lived among these people, and though I hear that, when they heard
of our landing, they would have sacrificed him, and he had to fly
for his life and fight hard to make his escape, he must in other
respects look upon them without animosity; and doubtless he felt
some pity for the poor wretches."

"I felt some pity myself," Juan said; "but as they had intended so
treacherously towards us, and proposed to put us all to a cruel
death, I did not let my pity interfere with my sword arm."

"Ah, but you have been accustomed to battles and bloodshed all your
life, Juan. One does not take to the trade of killing all at once,
and I like him none the worse that he was disinclined for the
slaughter of the people among whom he had been brought up."

"Well, we shall see," the old soldier grumbled. "It seems to me
that when two or three hundred men are fighting against a whole
nation, and that nation proposes to cut all their throats on t