d of Arguello, who most
likely died on the road of his wounds. We afterwards learnt that
Motecusuma was quite horror-struck at the sight of this enormous head
with the thick curly beard. He could not bear to look at it, and would
not allow the head to be brought near any of the temples in Mexico, but
ordered it to be presented to the idols of some other town; yet he
inquired how it came that his troops, which had been many thousands in
number, had not been able to overthrow such a handful of teules? His
captains replied, that notwithstanding all their courageous fighting
they had not been able to make the Spaniards give way, because a great
Spanish _tecleciguata_[69] had stood at their head, who had filled the
Mexicans with fear, and animated the teules by her speeches.

Motecusuma was convinced that this illustrious warrior was the Virgin
Mary, who, we had told him, with her heavenly Son, whom she held in her
arms, was our strong rock.

This wonderful apparition I did not behold with mine own eyes, as I was
at the time in Mexico. However, several of the Conquistadores spoke of
it as a fact; and may it please God that it was so. It is, however,
certainly true that the blessing of the Virgin Mary was always upon us.

[68] The Mexican name of this township was Nauhtlan. (p. 248.)

[69] The Mexican name for goddess. (p. 249.)

CHAPTER XCV.

_Of the imprisonment of Motecusuma, and what further happened._

After we had come to the determination of seizing the person of
Motecusuma, and had been on our knees the whole night in prayer, to
supplicate the Almighty's assistance in this bold attempt, and that it
might redound to the glory of his holy religion, we made the necessary
arrangements when morning came for that purpose.

Every one received orders to be ready to march out at a moment's notice,
and the horses were to be kept saddled. It is not necessary for me to
repeat here that our arms were always in readiness; for they were never
out of our hands either day or night; while our alpargates, the only
covering we had to our feet, were never taken off.

Our general now sallied forth, accompanied by our five chief officers,
Alvarado, Sandoval, Lugo, Leon, and Avila; besides our interpreters,
Marina, and Aguilar. Cortes and his officers were completely armed; yet
this would not appear strange to Motecusuma, as he had never seen them
otherwise whenever they paid him a visit. Cortes, as on the former
occasi