tion with the outside world, might hold them prisoners in his capital. The drawbridge was crossed, and the army boldly advanced up the main street of this wonderful city, the fair Cathay of the unknown world.

"Close up the files, Estevan," said Cortez. "We are in the imperial city now, with a treacherous enemy on every side, and we must present a solid phalanx.

"Can the Tlascalans be depended on?" asked Estevan.

66 "They can. The national hatred they bear the Aztecs makes them our friends. Capture with them means death. Be watchful and keep a sharp lookout for treachery. Montezuma is a cunning warrior, and his boasted friendship may be an artful dodge to get us in his power. But be vigilant and brave and all this countless wealth will be ours.'

In the midst of these unpleasant reflections they beheld the glittering retinue of the emperor emerging from the great street which led through the heart of the city. Amid a crowd of Indian nobles, preceded by three officers of state bearing golden wands, came the royal palanquin blazing with burnished gold. It was borne on the shoulders of nobles, and over it a canopy of gaudy featherwork, powdered with jewels and fringed with sil

ver, was supported by four attendants of the same rank. They were barefooted and walked with slow, measured steps, their eyes on the ground. When the train came within a convenient distance, it halted, and Montezuma, descending from his palanquin, and leaning on the arms of his brother and nephew, advanced to meet the new-comers.

As the monarch walked under the canopy, attendants covered the ground with cotton tapestry, that his imperial feet might be uncontaminated with the soil. His subjects, high and low, bowed their heads as he passed, many of the humbler class prostrating themselves before him. The homage paid

this Indian despot equalled the

Oriental adulation of the period.

slavish forms of

Estevan, who had heard much of the superior qualities of this emperor, was naturally very curious to see what he was like. He now beheld a tall, thin man of about forty years of age, with short black hair, a thin, dark beard, a complexion much paler than was usually found in the coppercolored race, and features serious without being melancholy. He He wore the girdle and ample, square cloak, tilmatli, of his nation. It was made of the finest cotton, with embroidered ends gathered in a knot round his neck. He wore sandals with soles of gold on his feet, and the leathern thongs which bound them were embossed with the same

metal. Both cloak and sandals were sprinkled with pearls, among which the emerald and the chalchivit a green stone of higher estimation than any other among the Aztecs-were conspicuous. On his head he wore no other ornament than a panache of plumes of royal green, which floated down his back, the badge of military rather than legal rank. He moved with dignity, and his whole

demeanor was worthy of a great prince.

Dismounting, Cortez threw his rein to an attendant, and called on Estevan and Marina to accompany him.

"General, had you not better bring a few of the cavaliers to more fully impress the emperor with your power?" suggested Estevan.

"I will," Cortez answered, and he added a few of his principal cavaliers to the list.

As they advanced, Montezuma paused, his heart almost ceasing to beat, while his breath came hard, for he saw in this conqueror the strange being whose history was shadowed forth in one of his oracles, and whose achievements proclaimed him something more than human.

After a moment's pause, Montezuma advanced and received his guest with princely courtesy.

"I am very much gratified," he said, "to see so great a man as General Cortez in Mexico, and to welcome him to my capital."

“I have come to thank you, in the name of my king," answered Cortez, "for the many gifts you have bestowed upon his subjects, and to behold with my own eyes the greatness of Montezuma, as well as to give you substantial proof of the respect and love of my king for the emperor of this new world."

He hung a chain of colored crystals about the neck of the emperor, and was about to embrace him, when he was restrained by the two Aztec lords, who were shocked at the attempt to pollute the sacred person of their emperor by personal

contact.

Montezuma seemed greatly pleased with the glittering ornament hanging about his neck, little dreaming that it was to become the clanking chain of a despotic conqueror. From that moment Montezuma was, in fact, a prisoner and his empire conquered. The pale strangers from an unknown land had planted themselves in the heart of his imperial city, and would not be ejected. He who had been a stern, daring soldier in other wars had, with this strange, new enemy, proved to be weak and unworthy the name he had won. But Montezuma was a fatalist, and, believing from the first that his empire was to be overthrown by the invaders, dared not resist them.

CHAPTER XI.

MATCHLOCKS IN THE AIR.

DAY by day, as reports of the success of Cortez reached Velasquez, he grew more and more desper

ate.

He had declared the conqueror a rebel, and so reported him to the king.

"He shall hang to the highest mast on his ship!" exclaimed Velasquez, on learning of his triumphant march through the land of the Atecs.

"He has anticipated you, good master," said Gerund, who heard the governor's remark.

"What

governor.

mean you, rogue?" demanded the

"Surely you will not hang him to the tallest mast of his ship, since he has destroyed his fleet.” "Never mind, Gerund, we will hang him to some other ship then."

"There is catching, first, my lord." "Who says we won't catch him?"

"Not I; yet the king may object.”

66

Why should the king object, since he is a rebel against the crown?"