"Who rules the country?" asked Narvaez. "Cortez rules the land like its own sovereign, so that a Spaniard may travel unarmed from one end of the country to the other without insult or injury."

Sandoval, a Spaniard left in charge of the post at La Villa Rica, had his suspicions aroused by the movements of Narvaez, and hurried messengers to the city of Mexico to warn Cortez. He then put his fort in the best possible state of defence. even captured a priest, a notary, and four Spaniards sent to demand his capitulation, and, binding them, sent them hurriedly to Cortez at Mexico.

He

At the capital all was going well for Cortez. Montezuma had been induced to place himself under the protection of the Spaniards, practically their prisoner. The stern conqueror had checked every murmur of discontent on the part of the Mexicans. He was surrounded by every ease and luxury a monarch could desire, and, basking in the smiles of Marina, he forgot the wife at home.

Just when he seemed most secure, messengers from Sandoval at La Villa Rica arrived bringing information of the fleet of Narvaez. This alarming intelligence was at first confided to Marina and Estevan.

"What think you of the situation?" he asked.

"You should return to the coast without delay,

and strike a blow at the invaders," Estevan answered.

"You have excellent ideas of military movements, friend Estevan. To hesitate is fatal, and I shall take immediate action.”

A soldier came and announced the arrival of a party from La Villa Rica with the priest, notary and four soldiers.

"Bring them to me," said Cortez, in no very amiable mood.

The captives were brought to the conqueror, who received them with marked courtesy, apologized for the rude conduct of his companions, and loaded them with presents, and by his most assiduous attentions soothed the irritation of their minds. When the priest Guevara was completely won over to him, he proceeded to draw from him many ımportant particulars.

"What are the designs of Narvaez?" he asked. "To capture you and take you to Cuba for trial." "On what charge?"

"Treason and rebellion."

"What are the feelings of the soldiers?”

"The soldiers in general, so far from desiring a rupture with your army, would willingly co-operate with you, were it not for their commander. They have no feelings of resentment to gratify. Their object is gold.”

"Is Narvaez very popular among his men?"

"His personal influence is not very great, and his arrogance and temper have already gone far to alienate him from the affections of his men."

He had
He dis-

When alone Cortez smiled shrewdly. gained the very information he wished. missed the prisoners with a letter to Narvaez beseeching him not to proclaim their animosity to the world, as it would enkindle a spirit of insubordination among the natives, and prove fatal to both.

"I am ready to greet Narvaez as a brother in arms," he added, "to share the fruits of conquest with him, and if he will produce a royal commission, to submit to his authority."

The conqueror well knew that Narvaez had no such commission to produce. He dispatched an envoy in the person of Father Olmedo to confer with Narvaez.

Neither epistle nor envoy had any effect to retard Narvaez. He declared his intention to apprehend Cortez as a traitor, and release Montezuma. This unwise declaration made him no friends among the tribes of Mexicans hostile to Montezuma. Sandoval, who was still at La Villa Rica, kept Cortez posted of the movements of his enemies.

"The time for action has come," Cortez declared, on learning from Father Olmedo that his letter of conciliation was received in anger by Narvaez,

who gave way to the most opprobrious invectives against his rival. "Are the soldiers as full of wrath as their general, Father Olmedo?"

"The rank and file desire no collision," the priest answered. "One blustering captain, Salvatierra, openly avowed his intention to cut off the rebel's ears and broil them for his breakfast. His soldiers are more ready to support Cortez than Narvaez."

Cortez was active from the first. Shortly before the appearance of Narvaez off the coast, he had

sent Velasquez de Leon, a trusted captain, with one hundred and fifty men to plant a colony on one of the great rivers emptying into the Mexican Gulf. Though Velasquez was a kinsman of the governor of Cuba, he was a true friend of Cortez. The general dispatched a messenger to him to acquaint him of the landing of Narvaez, that he might arrest the advance of the invader. Velasquez had already been importuned by Narvaez to desert his general and enroll under the banner of Cuba. This he declined to do and was marching toward the city of Mexico when the general's messenger met him with orders to wait at Cholula. Cortez determined to head the army against Narvaez himself. He left Pedro de Alvarado in command at Mexico with one hundred and forty men, two-thirds of his whole force, all the

artillery, the greater part of the little body of horse, and most of the arquebusiers. With Estevan, and only seventy men, he began a rapid and unexpected march toward the gulf. Everthing depended on celerity of movement, and the Spaniards were as little encumbered as possible.

On

Cortez dispatched other envoys to Narvaez, more to throw him off his guard than with any hope of arriving at a better understanding. As he pressed on to the coast with all possible speed, he gathered up scattered forces here and there, augmenting his strength by Indian allies. The army marched hurriedly across the level plains of Tierra Caliente, on which nature has exhausted the wonders of creation. For most of the distance the march was through mud and rain, and the soldiers, illy prepared for this hardship, suffered not a little. reaching the Rio de Canoas, or "River of Canoes," they found the inconsiderable stream swollen to a torrent. At one moment the rain poured in floods, and an hour later a tropical sun from a cloudless sky steamed their soaked clothing, only to be followed by another rain, thus alternating heat and moisture. After sunset the clouds became broken, and the sky appeared for a few moments in patches, studded with stars. The river was only a league from the camp of Narvaez, and, before seeking an available ford for crossing, Cortez allowed his men