the general ordered the cannon to be fired,
and they saw for the first time the smoke and flame, and beheld the
balls crashing among the trees of the neighbouring forest and reducing
them to splinters. Nothing of this sort was lost upon the painters, who
faithfully recorded every particular, not omitting the ships--the
'water-houses,' as they called them--which swung at anchor in the bay.
Finally, the governor departed as ceremoniously as he had come, leaving
orders with his people to supply the Spanish general with all he might
require till further instructions should come from the emperor.

In the meantime the arrival of the strangers was causing no small stir
in the Mexican capital. A general feeling seems to have prevailed that
the Return of the White God, Quetzalcoatl, was at hand, and many
wonderful signs and occurrences seemed to confirm the belief.

In 1510 the great lake of Tezcuco, without tempest, earthquake, or any
visible cause, became violently agitated, overflowed its banks, and,
pouring into the streets of Mexico, swept away many buildings by the
fury of its waters. In 1511 one of the towers of the great temple took
fire, equally without any apparent cause, and continued to burn in
defiance of all attempts to extinguish it. In the following years three
comets were seen, and not long before the coming of the Spaniards a
strange light broke forth in the east, resembling a great pyramid or
flood of fire thickly powdered with stars: at the same time low voices
were heard in the air, and doleful wailings, as if to announce some
strange, mysterious calamity. A lady of the Royal house died, was
buried, and rose again, prophesying ruin to come. After the conquest she
became a Christian.

Montezuma, terrified at these apparitions, took counsel of
Nezahualpilli, King of Tezcuco, who was a great proficient in astrology;
but far from obtaining any comfort from him, he was still further
depressed by being told that all these things predicted the speedy
downfall of his empire. When, therefore, the picture-writings showing
the Spanish invaders reached Montezuma, they caused him great
apprehension, and he summoned the kings of Tezcuco and Tlacopan to
consult with them as to how the strangers should be received. There was
much division of opinion, but finally Montezuma resolved to send a rich
present which should impress them with a high idea of his wealth and
grandeur, while at the same time he would forbid them to ap