Estevan noticed that some of his own true and tried cavaliers began to shrink from the unequal contest before them and he galloped quickly to the side of Cortez.

"Some of the men shrink from the invasion, now that they see what a city we are to conquer," he whispered.

"We cannot turn back now," answered Cortez.

The scene had no such effect on the sanguine general. His avarice was sharpened by the display of dazzling spoil at his feet; and, if he felt a natural anxiety at the formidable odds, his confidence was renewed as he gazed on the lines of his weatherbeaten veterans, while his bold barbarian allies, with appetites whetted by the view of their enemies' country, seemed like eagles ready to swoop down upon their prey.

'Why have you cause to falter now?" Cortez asked his shrinking soldiers. "Have we not sucdifficulty until the

ceeded in overcoming every

golden conquest is in our hands. We have reached the goal at last, and, now that the gates are open to receive us, should we turn back?"

He was ably seconded by Estevan in his efforts to restore the spirits of the faltering, until the faintest hearts caught some of their leader's fire, and the general had the satisfaction of seeing his

hesitating columns, with buoyant step, once more on their march down the slope of the sierra.

Having desended to the valley, the army advanced by easy stages, somewhat retarded by the crowd of curious inhabitants gathered on the highways to see the wonderful strangers. Another embassy from the capital met them. It was composed of Aztec lords, bearing richer gifts of gold and robes, and more delicate furs and feathers, than they had hitherto seen. The object of the embassy was to bribe their return, Montezuma promising four loads of gold to Cortez, one to each of his captains, and a yearly tribute to their sovereign. The very offer increased the determination of Cortez to press on to the golden conquest, and he continued his advance to the city.

Meanwhile Montezuma was a prey to the most gloomy forebodings and apprehensions. When his last embassadors returned with the information that the mysterious strangers would not turn back, but continued to advance; that they had crossed the mountain chain and were on their march across the valley to the very threshold of his capital, his heart sank within him. From the first, he had believed himself in the web of inexorable fate, against which no precaution or foresight could avail. It was as if the strange beings, who had thus invaded his shores, had dropped from some distant planet, so

different were they from all he had ever seen. Though a mere handful in numbers, they were so superior in strength and science, and all the fearful accompaniments of war, that all the banded nations of Anahuac could not prevail against them. They were now in the valley. The huge mountain screen, which nature had so kindly drawn around for its defence, had been overleaped by the pale-faced descendants of Quetzalcoatl. The golden vision of security in which Montezuma had so long indulged, the lordly sway descended from his ancestors, his broad imperial domain, were all to pass away. It seemed like some terrible dream, from which he was to awake to a still more terrible reality.

Halting at Ajotzinco, a town of considerable size, the army remained until morning, when, as they were preparing to leave the place, a courier came, requesting them to postpone their departure until the arrival of the king of Tezcuco, who was advancing to meet Cortez.

"Here is an opportunity to gain another ally!" said the wily conqueror to Estevan. Before long the king appeared on a palanquin which literally glittered with gold and precious stones, having pillars curiously wrought, supporting green plumes, a favorite color with Aztec princes. After an in

terchange of courtesies, and the most friendly and respectful assurances on the part of Cortez, the

Indian king withdrew, leaving the Spaniards strongly impressed with the superiority of his state and bearing over anything they had hitherto seen in the country.

After his departure Cortez resumed his march, keeping along the southern borders of Lake Chalco, overshadowed, at that time, by noble woods, and orchards glowing with autumnal fruits of unknown names, but rich and tempting hues. On every side were cultivated fields, waving with yellow harvests, irrigated by canals introduced from the neighboring lake, the whole showing careful cultivation, and looking to the invaders like a veritable paradise.

Bewildered, the Spaniards advanced through the wonderful country, half believing that they were entering a new world. Leaving the main land, they came to the great dike, or causeway, which stretched some four or five miles in length, and divided Lake Chalco from Xochialco on the west. It was ten or twelve feet in breadth at the narrowest place, and at others wide enough for eight horsemen to ride abreast. It was a solid structure of stone and lime, running directly through the lake, and was the most marvellous piece of workmanship the Spaniards had yet seen in this land of wonders.

As they passed along, they beheld the gay spectacle of multitudes of Indians darting up and down