e for success, and
declaring that for his part he was ready to greet Narvaez as a brother
in arms, to share with him the fruits of conquest, and, if he could
produce a royal commission, to submit to his authority. Of course Cortes
knew well enough that he had no such commission to show. Soon after the
departure of Guevara he resolved to send a special envoy of his own, and
chose Father Olmedo for the task, with instructions to converse
privately with as many of the officers and soldiers as he could with a
view to securing their goodwill; and to this end he was also provided
with a liberal supply of gold. During this time Narvaez had abandoned
his idea of planting a colony on the sea-coast, and had marched inland
and taken up his quarters at Cempoalla. He received the letter of Cortes
with scorn, which changed to stern displeasure when Guevara enlarged
upon the power of his rival and urged him to accept his friendly offers.
But the troops, on the other hand, listened with greedy ears to the
accounts of Cortes, his frank and liberal manners, and the wealth of his
camp, where the meanest soldier could stake his ingot and his chain of
gold at play, and where all revelled in plenty. And when Father Olmedo
arrived, his eloquence and his gifts soon created a party in the
interest of Cortes. This could not go on so secretly as not to excite
the suspicions of Narvaez, and the worthy priest was sent back to his
master, but the seed which he had sown was left to grow.

Narvaez continued to speak of Cortes as a traitor whom he intended to
punish, and he also declared he would release Montezuma from captivity
and restore him to his throne. It was rumoured that the Aztec monarch
had sent him a rich gift, and entered into correspondence with him. All
this was observed by the watchful eye of Sandoval, whose spies
frequented his enemy's camp, and he presently sent to Cortes saying that
something must speedily be done to prevent Villa Rica from falling into
the hands of the enemy, and pointing out that many of the Indians, from
sheer perplexity, were no longer to be relied upon.

The general felt that it was indeed time to act, but the situation was
one of great difficulty. However, he marched against Narvaez, defeated
and captured him, embodied his forces, and set out on his return to
Mexico, where he had left Alvarado in command.

On his march he received a letter from Alvarado, which conveyed the
startling news that the Mexicans wer