tching up their arms, ran to the rescue of their monarch; but the
Spaniards closed round the litter and, had a blow been struck, the
emperor would doubtless have been murdered. Montezuma exhorted the
people to be tranquil, assuring them that he was going willingly;
and the Mexicans, accustomed to implicit obedience, and fearing
that harm would come to the emperor if a struggle began, drew back
and allowed the Spaniards to pass; and Montezuma was conveyed, a
prisoner, into the palace occupied by the Spaniards.

The act was one of almost unparalleled boldness; but as performed
upon a monarch who was the host of his assailants, and with whom
they were previously on the most friendly relations, it was an act
of treachery, and reflects dishonor upon the fame of Cortez. At the
same time, the position occupied by the Spaniards was so strange,
and even desperate, as to palliate, though it cannot excuse, such a
course of action.

There is no reason to believe that Montezuma intended to act
treacherously. But he was under the domination of the priests, and
had he again changed his mind, as he had already several times
done, nothing could have saved the Spaniards from absolute
destruction. No honorable man would have acted as Cortez did; but
Cortez was a rough soldier, and moreover, firmly held the doctrine,
at that time and long afterwards held by the Spaniards in their
dealing with those of other religions, that faith need not be kept
with heretics and heathen.

Chapter 16: A Treasure Room.

"'Tis infamous," Cacama said, as he paced up and down the room;
"but what is to be done? They hold him in their hands as a hostage,
in the heart of his own capital, and among his own people; and are
capable of hanging him from the walls, should a hostile movement be
made against them.

"You were right, Roger Hawkshaw, in warning us against these men.
They are without faith and honor, thus to seize a host who has
loaded them with presents, who has emptied his treasuries to
appease their greed, and who has treated them with the most
extraordinary condescension. It is a crime unheard of, an act of
base ingratitude, without a parallel. What is to be done?"

Roger was silent. Such a situation, so strange and unlooked for,
confounded him.

"I should say," Cuitcatl burst out passionately, "that every
Mexican should take up arms, and annihilate this handful of
invaders. What though Montezuma fall? Better that a monarch should
perish