just the effect it was meant to have upon
Montezuma. By order of Cortes, messengers were now sent to all the other
Totonac towns, telling them of the defiance that had been shown to the
emperor, and bidding them also refuse to pay the tribute. The Indians
soon came flocking into Chiahuitztla to see and confer with the powerful
strangers, in the hope of regaining liberty by their aid, and so
cleverly had Cortes managed to embroil them with Montezuma, that even
the most timid felt that they had no choice but to accept the protection
of the Spaniards, and make a bold effort for the recovery of freedom.

Cortes accordingly made them swear allegiance to the Spanish sovereign,
and then set out once more for the port where his colony was to be
planted. This was only half a league distant, in a wide and fruitful
plain, and he was not long in determining the circuit of the walls, and
the site of the fort, granary, and other public buildings. The friendly
Indians brought stone, lime, wood, and bricks, and in a few weeks a town
rose up, which served as a good starting-point for future operations, a
retreat for the disabled, a place for the reception of stores, or
whatever might be sent to or from the mother-country, and was, moreover,
strong enough to overawe the surrounding country. This was the first
colony in New Spain, and was hailed with satisfaction by the simple
natives, who could not foresee that their doom was sealed when a white
man set his foot upon their soil.

While the Spaniards were still occupied with their new settlement they
were surprised by another embassy from Mexico. When the account of the
imprisonment of the royal collectors first reached Montezuma, his
feelings of fear and superstition were swallowed up in indignation, and
he began with great energy to make preparations for punishing his
rebellious vassals, and avenging the insult offered to himself. But when
the Aztec officers liberated by Cortes reached the capital and reported
the courteous treatment they had received from the Spanish commander, he
was induced to resume his former timid and conciliatory policy, and sent
an embassy consisting of two young nephews of his own and four of his
chief nobles to the Spanish quarters. As usual they bore a princely gift
of gold, rich cotton stuffs, and wonderful mantles of feather
embroidery. The envoys on coming before Cortes presented this offering,
with the emperor's thanks to him for the courtesy he had shown