o chance against their foes. After a
scene of indescribable horror, which appalled even the soldiers of
Cortes, used as they were to war and violence, the Spanish commander
sounded a retreat and withdrew to his quarters, leaving behind him forty
thousand corpses and a smouldering ruin. Through the long night that
followed all was silent in the Mexican quarter. There was neither light
nor movement. This last blow seemed to have utterly stunned them. They
had nothing left to hope for. In the Spanish camp, however, all was
rejoicing at the prospect of a speedy termination to the wearisome
campaign. The great object of Cortes was now to secure the person of
Guatemozin, and the next day, which was August 18, 1521, he led his
forces for the last time across the black and blasted ruin which was all
that remained of the once beautiful city. In order to give the
distressed garrison one more chance, he obtained an interview with the
principal chiefs and reasoned with them about the conduct of their
emperor.

'Surely,' he said, 'Guatemozin will not see you all perish when he can
so easily save you.' But when he had with difficulty prevailed upon them
to urge the king to confer with him, the only answer they could bring
was that Guatemozin was ready to die where he was, but would hold no
communication with the Spanish commander. 'Go then,' replied the stern
conqueror, 'and prepare your countrymen for death. Their last moment is
come.' Still, however, he postponed the attack for several hours; but
the troops were impatient at the delay, and a rumour spread that
Guatemozin was preparing to escape by the lake. It was useless to
hesitate: the word was given, and the terrible scene that ensued
repeated the horrors of the day before. While this was going forward on
shore numbers of canoes pushed off across the lake, most of them only
to be intercepted and sunk by the Spanish ships, which beat down upon
them, firing to right and left. Some few, however, under cover of the
smoke, succeeded in getting into open water. Sandoval had given
particular orders that his captains should watch any boat that might
contain Guatemozin, and now two or three large canoes together attracted
the attention of one named Garci Holguin, who instantly gave chase, and
with a favourable wind soon overtook the fugitives, though they rowed
with the energy of despair. As his men levelled their guns at the
occupants of the boat one rose saying, 'I am Guatemozin; lead