this town? Our gods are already angry
with us, and who can tell what revenge they contemplate against you? I
will, however, assemble all the papas, to know their opinion."

Cortes made a sign with his hand for the other officers to retire, and
begged of Motecusuma to grant him and father Olmedo a private audience.
Cortes then told the monarch he only knew one way of saving the town
from open rebellion, and the idols from destruction, namely, by our
being allowed to erect an altar, with the cross and Virgin Mary, on the
top of the great temple. He would then pledge himself to silence the
murmurs of his men, and the Mexicans themselves would soon be convinced
how greatly such a change would benefit their souls, what great
blessings would be showered down upon them, and how abundant their
harvests would be.

To this Motecusuma likewise answered, with a deep sigh, and a
countenance full of sorrow, that he would discuss the matter with his
papas. At length, after a good deal of arguing between the papas and
himself, we were allowed to erect an altar, with the cross and holy
Virgin, on the top of the temple, opposite the cursed idol
Huitzilopochtli. We returned heartfelt thanks to the Almighty, and
father Olmedo, assisted by the priest Juan Diaz, and many of our
soldiers, celebrated high mass.[74]

Cortes appointed an old soldier to keep watch over this altar, and
begged, at the same time, of Motecusuma to order his papas not to
obstruct the man in his duty, which was to keep the place clean, burn
incense before the altar, keep the candles lighted there night and day,
and decorate it from time to time with fresh branches and flowers.

I must, however, break off here, and relate something we little
expected.

[74] For a further account of what happened after the building of this
altar, I must refer the reader to the oft-quoted work of Torquemada
(Monarchia, Ind. iv, 53.) (p. 286.)

CHAPTER CVIII.

_How the powerful Motecusuma acquaints Cortes that it is requisite
for his safety to quit Mexico, with the whole of his men, as all the
caziques and papas were upon the point of rising up in arms to
destroy us all, in compliance with the advice given them by their
gods: the steps which Cortes took upon this news._

From the very moment we had erected this altar and cross on the great
temple, and had celebrated high mass there, a storm began to gather over
our heads.

About this time Huitzilopoc