burnt alive, in the space
in front of the palace, and this sentence was carried out.

Not content with this, Cortez placed irons upon Montezuma himself,
saying there could now be no longer a doubt as to his guilt. After
the execution was carried out, Montezuma was released from his
fetters.

The news of this insult to their monarch created a profound
impression upon the Mexicans. Although they despised the weakness
of a sovereign who appeared ready to suffer every indignity, and
yet to claim an appearance of courtesy and goodwill towards his
oppressors, the bolder spirits determined that the nation should be
no longer humiliated in the person of its sovereign, and that even
should it cost Montezuma his life, an effort should be made to
overthrow his oppressors.

As soon as the news of the execution of the seventeen nobles, and
of the indignity to Montezuma was received; Cacama said to Roger:

"My friend, I can no longer retain you here. You have told me why
you cannot have it proclaimed that you are of different blood to
the Spaniards, and I quite understand your motives; but there are
two reasons why, in that case, you must for a time return to the
capital. My people would look upon me with scorn, did I retain here
as my friend one whom they regard as the countryman of the men who
have so outraged us. Moreover, you yourself cannot wish to stay.
You have told me that Cortez has charged you to acquaint him with
the state of feeling in this city; and were you to remain here, you
would be placed in the painful position of either giving
information which would ruin my plans, or of deceiving the man whom
you nominally serve. I know that you would say nothing against me,
but should I fail and the Spaniards triumph, Cortez would accuse
you of being a traitor, and you would be put to death by him.

"Therefore, I think it in all ways best that you should return
there, for the present. You will, of course, inform Cortez that I
have sent you back because the feeling against the white men, on
account of their treatment of the emperor, is so great that I felt
that I could not protect you against their fury."

"I quite agree with you, Cacama. My position here has become a very
painful one. I abhor, as much as you do, the doings of the
Spaniards; and am perfectly ready to avow that I belong to another
nation, and to join you in an enterprise against them."

"But that, as you have told me," Cacama said, "would cut off any
ch