ved at the region of perpetual snow, which increased their
difficulties, the treacherous ice giving way at every step, so that many
times they narrowly escaped falling into the frozen chasms that yawned
all round them. At last, however, they reached the mouth of the crater,
and, crawling cautiously to the very edge, peered down into its gloomy
depths. At the bottom of the abyss, which seemed to them to go down into
the very heart of the earth, a lurid flame burned sullenly, sending up a
sulphureous steam, which cooling as it rose, fell again in showers upon
the sides of the cavity. Into this one of the brave explorers had to
descend, and when they had cast lots the choice fell upon Montano
himself. His preparations were soon made, and his companions lowered him
in a basket into the horrible chasm to a depth of four hundred feet, and
there as he hung, he scraped the sulphur from the sides of the crater,
descending again and again until he had procured enough for the wants of
the army, with which they returned triumphantly to Tlascala. Meanwhile
the construction of the ships went forward prosperously, and by
Christmas, in the year 1520, there was no longer any reason to delay the
march to Mexico.

[Illustration]

While all these preparations were being made, some changes had taken
place among the Aztecs. Cuitlahua had suddenly died after reigning four
months, and Guatemozin his nephew had been chosen in his stead. This
young prince had married one of Montezuma's daughters. He was handsome
and valiant, and so terrible that his followers trembled in his
presence. He had a sort of religious hatred of the Spaniards, and
prepared manfully to meet the perils which he saw threatening his
country, for by means of spies he had kept a watch upon the movements of
the Spaniards, and had discovered their intention of besieging the
capital. Cortes, upon reviewing his army, found that his whole force
fell little short of six hundred men, of whom forty were cavalry, and
eighty arquebusiers and cross-bowmen. The rest were armed with sword,
target, and the long copper-headed pikes, which had been made specially
by the general's directions. There were also nine cannons of moderate
size, but the supply of powder was but indifferent. Cortes published a
code of strict regulations for the guidance of his men before they set
out, and addressed them as usual with stirring words, touching all the
springs of devotion, honour, and ambition in their