was not unprepared. Marching to the palace, he seized the general and fifty of his men, and burned them alive, after carrying off Montezuma in irons to his camp. The promise of liberty induced the captive emperor to give large sums of gold to the perfidious Cortez, who received them but under various pretexts refused to release his prisoner.

The Mexicans at length took up arms in a body against their oppressors; and, with the view of appeasing them, Cortez compelled Montezuma to appear before them, and urge them to submission. When he showed himself on the battlements in his royal robes, the multitude bowed in respectful silence. But when they heard him argue for peace with the perfidious foe, violent reproaches and threats burst forth on every side. In a moment, a shower of arrows and stones fell round the unfortunate monarch. A blow from a heavy stone prostrated him, and he died soon after from its effects.

90. A fierce and sudden attack enabled the Mexicans to drive the Spaniards from their capital. Guatimozin [gwahte-mo'-zin] was placed on the throne, and proved a brave and skilful leader; but he was no match for Cortez, with his horses and artillery. Having received a reinforcement of his countrymen and induced a native tribe to join his standard, the Spanish chief laid siege to the city, and after 75 days' hard fighting succeeded in taking it, August 13, 1521. The royal family and the chief personages of the empire thus fell into his hands.

Guatimozin was treated with the greatest barbarity. To compel him to tell into what part of the lake he had thrown the royal treasure, Cortez ordered him to be stretched on a bed of burning coals; but he bore his sufferings with the fortitude of an American warrior. One of his favorites who was subjected to the same tortures, overcome by agony,

religion? At last what secret order did Montezuma give? What course did Cortez take? How did he afterwards perfidiously break his promise? What were the Mexicans at length driven to do? How did Cortez try to appease them? What followed? 90. With what reverse did the Spaniards now meet? Who succeeded Montezuma ? What kind of a leader did he make? What aid did Cortez receive? With this what did he succeed in doing? How was Guatimozin treated? What incident happened

1521]

END OF THE CAREER OF CORTEZ.

63

turned a dejected eye on his master, which seemed to implore permission to reveal the secret. The monarch with a look of authority and scorn replied, "Am I reposing on a bed of flowers ?" No further complaint escaped the faithful attendant, who soon died under the torture. The emperor was spared, only to suffer death shortly afterwards with the princes and chief nobles of his country. This was a fatal blow to Mexican power, and henceforth the supremacy of the Spanish was acknowledged.

91. The king of Spain had by this time become jealous of the renown of Cortez. Commissioners were sent to inquire into his conduct, who seized his property and imprisoned his officers. Cortez made his way to Spain and was received with honor, though not restored to his former position. He made another expedition to the new world, and explored Lower California. Returning a second time to Spain, he was treated with coldness and neglect. On one occasion desiring an audience with the king, he was obliged to force his way through the crowd and place his foot on the step of the carriage before he could gain attention. "Who are you?" said the king. "I am a man," answered Cortez, "who has gained you more provinces than your father left you towns." Cortez passed the rest of his life in solitude,

and died at the age of sixty-two.

92. Among the bravest and most distinguished Spanish adventurers of this period, was Pizarro. Rumors of its wealth and splendor attracted his attention to the Peruvian empire. He started from Panama on his first expedition in 1524, but effected nothing more than the discovery of some islands on the coast.

93. A second attempt was made two years later. The interior of the country was visited, but with incredible labor and suffering. On one occasion, worn out by fatigue and

What was the conse

during his torture? What finally became of Guatimozin? quence? 91. What obliged Cortez to return to Spain? What expedition did he afterwards make? How was he treated at court? How did he rebuke the king on one occasion? At what age did he die? 92. What distinguished adventurer is next mentioned? To what empire did he turn his attention? What is said of his first expedi tion? 98. Give an account of his second expedition. What story is told of Pizarro

disease, many of the Spaniards wished to give up the enter prise. Pizarro called them together, drew a line on the sand with his sword from east to west, and thus addressed them: -"Comrades, on that side are toil, hunger, nakedness, the drenching storm, battle, and death; on this side are ease and safety. But on that side lies Peru with its wealth; on this is Panama with its poverty. Choose, each man, what best becomes a brave Castilian. For my part, I go to the south." With these words Pizarro crossed the line, and thirteen of his company followed. With this small but determined band Pizarro persevered. Succor reached him, and he was enabled to penetrate to the city of Tumbez [toom'-bāth], and see with his own eyes the riches of which he had heard.

94. In 1531, armed with authority from the Spanish court, Pizarro commenced his last expedition for the conquest of Peru. With an insignificant force of 110 foot-soldiers, 67

and his men? How far did they penetrate? 94. When did Pizarro commence his last

horsemen, and two pieces of artillery, he overthrew the empire of the Incas, extending 2,000 miles in length, inhabited by millions of wealthy and civilized natives, and defended by large and well-disciplined armies. It was only by consummate skill and bravery, and too often by brutality and fraud, that he succeeded in this vast enterprise. The country being subdued, Pizarro ruled it with royal power, and cruelly oppressed the natives. He founded Lima [le'-ma], and made it his capital, planted various colonies, and worked the mines with which the land abounded. A conspiracy was formed against him in 1541, to which he fell a victim.

95. About the time that Cortez was engaged in conquering Mexico, Magellan [ma-jel'-lan], a Portuguese navigator in the service of Spain, was trying to find the southern extremity of America, and to reach the East Indies by sailing around it. In 1520, he entered the strait since called by his name. Clearing it in safety, he saw the great ocean spread out before him. With tears of joy, he returned thanks to Heaven for having crowned his labors with success. He pursued his way westward as far as the Philippine [fe-lip'pin] Islands, and called the ocean the Pacific, on account of its tranquillity during his voyage. The king of Ze-bu', one of the Philippines, promised to embrace Christianity with his subjects, on condition that the Spaniards would aid him against the inhabitants of a neighboring island. Magellan accepted the offer, but was killed in the engagement that followed. The expedition was carried on under another commander. One of the ships finally reached home by way of the Cape of Good Hope, after an absence of a little over three years. This was the first vessel that ever sailed round the globe.

expedition? With what force? How was it that he succeeded in his enterprise ! Having subdued the country, how did Pizarro rule? What became of him at last? 95. What great navigator flourished at this time? What achievement did he perform? Where did he then go? What ocean did he name? What was his fate? After Magellan's death, what became of the expedition?

CHAPTER IV.

ENGLISH EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS.

96. DURING the reigns of Edward VI. and Mary, no attempts were made by England to explore or colonize America; but with the accession of Elizabeth the spirit of adventure revived. Sir Francis Drake made several voyages to the new world, during which he suffered much from the Spaniards; but in 1572 he avenged his injuries, by landing on the Isthmus of Panama and capturing a large amount of treasure that was about to be shipped for Spain. On this expedition, one of the native guides showed Drake "a goodlie and great high tree", from the top of which the Pacific Ocean could be seen. Drake climbed it; and gazing out on that broad expanse whose shores were thought to teem with riches, he solemnly "besought God to give him health and life once to sail an English ship in those seas".

On his return to England,Drake fitted out a squadron to explore the unknown ocean he had beheld. Passing through the Strait of Magellan, he cruised on the Pacific, took a number of Spanish vessels and a vast amount of treasure, and penetrated as far north

as latitude 43, on the coast of Oregon. He spent the winter of 1579-80 in the harbor of San Francisco, and gave the

96. In whose reign did the spirit of adventure revive in England? Who made sev eral voyages to the new world? From what people did he suffer? How did he avenge his injuries? What incident took place on the Isthmus? On his return to England,