n
the watch for any chance of arresting the coming ruin, descried in the
distance a chief, who, from his dress and surroundings, he knew must be
the commander of the Aztec forces. He wore a rich surcoat of
feather-work, and a gorgeous plume of jewelled feathers floated from his
helmet, while above this, and attached to his back between the
shoulders, showed a golden net fastened to a short staff--the customary
symbol of authority for an Aztec commander. Turning quickly round to
Sandoval, Olid, Alvarado, and Avila who surrounded him, he cried,
pointing to the chief, 'There is our mark! Follow and support me!' And
shouting his war-cry he plunged into the thickest of the press. Taken by
surprise the enemy fell back; those who could not escape were trampled
under his horse's feet, or pierced by his long lance; the cavaliers
followed him closely; in a few minutes they were close to the Aztec
chief, and Cortes hurled him to the ground with one stroke from his
lance; a young cavalier named Juan de Salamanca hastily dismounted and
slew him where he lay, and tearing away his banner presented it to the
Spanish general. The cacique's guard, overpowered by this sudden onset,
fled precipitately, and their panic spread to the other Indians, who,
on hearing of the death of their chief, fought no more, but thought only
of escape. In their blind terror they impeded and trampled down their
own comrades, and the Spaniards, availing themselves fully of the
marvellous turn affairs had taken, pursued them off the field, and then
returned to secure the rich booty they had left behind them.

[Illustration]

Cortes reached Tlascala in safety, and at once began to prepare his
revenge on the Mexicans, aided by reinforcements of a few Spaniards from
Vera Cruz. Gunpowder had also to be manufactured, and a cavalier named
Francio Montano undertook the perilous task of obtaining sulphur for the
purpose from the terrible volcano of Popocatepetl. He set out with four
comrades, and after some days journeying, they reached the dense forest
which covered the base of the mountain, and forcing their way upward,
came by degrees to a more open region. As they neared the top the track
ended, and they had to climb as best they could over the black glazed
surface of the lava, which, having issued from the crater in a boiling
flood, had risen into a thousand odd forms wherever it met with any
obstacle, and continually impeded their progress. After this they
arri