News of Fernando Cortes
Roger de Luce sat on the terrace of the great temple, where dwelt the
fierce and remorseless god of war, and looked down upon Mexico, the
delightful city nestling on the bosom of the lake. From his elevated
perch he could command every cranny, see the outline of the enormous
square dedicated to the priests, the huge palace in which the king
lived, and the market. Then he followed the orderly streets, noticing
that some had broad pavements, while some were composed of canals
communicating with the lake, while yet others had pathway and canal,
allowing the foot passengers to chat with those in the skiffs. Thousands
of the latter were about, plying amongst the houses or on the lake. From
the roof-tops came the smoke of many a fire, mingling with that from the
altars. And the gardens were a delight. They stretched on every roof,
scarlet, and pink, and mauve, and the finest green. They floated on the
water of the lake--actually floated--for the Mexicans loved their
flowers, and made up for lack of space by tying withies together, and
covering them with reeds and earth. These were anchored in the lake, and
arranged as gardens.
Roger could even catch the sparkle of the water as it flowed through the
aqueducts on its way from the country outside, and was marvelling at the
ingenuity displayed in bringing it to the city in this manner, when some
one touched his shoulder, and he turned to find the priest and the
noble. Both bowed low, as before, casting their eyes down as he looked
at them.
"We ask you to fulfil your promise," said the latter. "It is time that
some one went to the people, and we propose that the priest should first
descend. Later on, when he has returned to this spot, I will go to the
king, and he will come to do you honour. He, too, will see his mistake.
We shall all be glad to admit that we have placed this Malinché in the
wrong position. That he is no god of air as we thought. We shall rejoice
that you have come at such a time to help us."
He bowed again, while the priest followed his action with the utmost
humility. Roger stamped his foot and flushed with vexation.
"It is hard luck that I should be treated with more bobs and curtsies
than King Harry at home," he said in English. "No matter how often I
repeat it, these fellows will take me for one of their gods. I suppose
it is the result of being so tall."
It was undoubtedly partly due to that, for Roger overtopped any one in
Mexico. But Nature had given him a pleasant appearance and much courage,
all of which played upon the imagination of the people. Then none had
ever seen such a combat as had taken place on the previous evening. It
seemed incredible that one so young could oppose so many. The success of
the defence and the novel methods employed had convinced the Mexican
priest that Roger was the god of air, the very one who was supposed to
have returned in the person of Fernando Cortes. And the supposition
explained why Roger was an enemy of the Spaniards. The latter had proved
cruel and grasping, and had long ago shown that they were impostors, and
had nothing to do with the god of air. Then this Roger must be he; and
the priest prepared to descend and tell the people.
"They will believe me," he said to the noble. "There can be no doubt.
This youth has no fear. When danger comes he stands to his full height,
and watches. None could drag him to the ground, while at the touch of
his hand men fell with a crash. We must show our friendship, for there
is now no mistake. Have I his permission to go?"
"He will trust you. You will return when you have spoken, and then I
will go to the palace. Have you anything to say before you leave?"
"Nothing, save that I crave the pardon of this gallant youth."
The priest evidently meant every word. He had been brought up in the
precincts of the temple, and superstition was engrafted in his mind. It
was, therefore, only natural that he should think of Roger as he did,
and ask for his pardon. The noble repeated the words and the request.
"Tell him there is nothing to forgive on my side, but that I am sorry if
I hurt him. Ask him how he feels, and whether I did much damage."
"He is well," was the answer. "He has no pain, and was well punished. He
may go."
The priest gathered his black garments about him and hobbled to the
steps, for despite his assertion to the contrary he still felt the
effects of the toss which our young giant had given him. Then he
disappeared from sight, to be seen again as he gradually circled the
tower in his descent.
"Men are coming to meet him, and they are shamefaced," said the noble,
looking over the edge. "There will be sorrow in Mexico when the full
tale is learned, and afterwards there will be rejoicing. Will my lord
eat? I will stand beside him, and any question that he may care to ask I
will answer."
Roger had already satisfied his appetite, but his hunger for news was
far from appeased, and for long he kept the noble beside him, telling
him the names of the streets and of the town at various parts of the
lakes. Then he suddenly turned and reminded him of his promise of the
previous evening.
"Where are these Spaniards?" he asked. "You have said that they came to
Mexico. Then where are they now, for I see no sign of them in the city."
"You can see traces of their going, my lord. Look there, and there
also."
The noble took Roger's arm and attracted his attention to the causeway.
"Watch the line of the masonry and trace it to the bank from the heart
of the city," he said. "Can you not see that it is broken, and that men
are now labouring to repair the injury? That is where the fight took
place. Yes, my lord, we showed them at length that we could fight, and
we drove them out. Many lie beneath the water, or are covered by the
fallen bricks, while their allies were slain in thousands."
"Then there has been a battle?" exclaimed Roger, in astonishment, for
he had had no information. "And you have defeated the Spaniards?"
"Defeated them and driven them beyond the valley. We took them for gods
at first. Their boldness amazed us, and the late king Montezuma had
faith in them. He was too good and too kind, and these men preyed upon
him. They induced him to swear vassalage to their own king, and
afterwards took him to the quarters which he had had prepared for them,
saying that they would hold him as hostage. And we lived close at hand
and did not move."
The announcement almost took our hero's breath away. It seemed
incredible that four or five hundred strangers with their native allies
could dare to do such a thing. And yet it had actually occurred. This
Fernando Cortes had already showed both boldness and astuteness, and
when in Mexico he displayed both qualities. He took advantage of Mexican
superstition, to which the whole nation were abject slaves, and he
actually persuaded Montezuma, a king who was feared by millions of
subjects and vassals, to declare himself a vassal of a king whom he had
never seen, and to come to the Spanish quarters as a hostage for the
safety of the Spaniards, or on some such feeble excuse. Such boldness
was almost ludicrous; it was impudence. But we have to remember the
circumstances, and that a Western nation were here treating with a
people who had never heard of Europe, and to whom their own religion was
of supreme importance.
"Yes," continued the noble bitterly, "we lived at hand and did not stir;
we made no effort to bring him back. But let me give you my name. I am
Teotlili, and was selected at the first to act as envoy to these
strangers. I went to the coast at the order of Montezuma to meet these
men, and from my intercourse with them, and my conversation with Marina,
their woman slave, I learned to speak the language. For they remained on
the coast for a long time, founding their town of Vera Cruz. It was
there that I took them a number of presents, amongst them the image of
the sun, which was composed of pure gold."
Roger pricked up his ears. "Had it a sketch of this city on one side and
the sun on the other?" he demanded.
"You know it--you have heard the tale then?" exclaimed Teotlili, in
astonishment. "How is that, then? I thought that the matter was almost a
secret. But then I am forgetting. It is only to be expected that you
should have heard."
Roger was mystified. "Heard what?" he demanded hotly. "I know about the
disc of course, for it brought me and my friends out to this part; and I
have seen the sketch of the city. It seems exact."
"You have seen it. Then where?" demanded the noble, showing unusual
excitement. "Tell me, my lord, where was it that you saw the disc?"
"In England first of all, and recently within fifty miles, or perhaps a
little more, of Mexico. It was sent home to Spain by Fernando Cortes,
this Malinché, as you call him, and some men of another nation, captured
the ship, and were in turn captured by our sailors. The disc came into
possession of one of the sailors who came here with us, and it was the
sight of it, and the news of discoveries, and of gold in these parts,
that brought about the formation of our expedition and our sailing here.
I told you that I was no god. I am a simple crossbow man, and can fight
if driven to it. Like the Spaniards, we desire riches; but we shall not
take them from you in such a manner. We do not desire to destroy your
city, though if you care to form an alliance with our king you can do
so. Our main purpose out here is to obtain gold and jewels, to return
home with a rich harvest."
"Could you give anything in return? Could you get comrades to aid us, or
give us your own help? My lord, we need a leader--a cacique. We are not
skilled in the class of fighting practised by these Spaniards. Their
horses overcome us, and their lances kill before we can get to close
quarters. Then who can sever the tough material of which their clothing
is made? It is of some metal which breaks our swords, and turns aside
every blow!"
For a little while the noble looked closely at Roger, and it was obvious
that he was thinking. Then he began to speak again, earnestly, and in
low tones, so that Tamba could not hear.
"Would you fight for us?" he asked. "As I have said, we need a leader
who knows these Spanish methods, and we are prepared to give a handsome
reward to any one who can help us, and who will accept the post of
cacique or chief. You can fight. Have you not proved it to us? Have you
not faced us all boldly, and beaten us too? Then will you help, and in
return you shall have a prize which will amply repay? Yes, if
successful, enough gold and jewels shall be given to you to make you and
your friends rich for life, and to require a hundred men to carry to
the coast; while if the Spaniards get the better of us and drive us from
this fair city, our stores of gold will be useless to us, and you can
have all that there is. But you must produce the disc of gold. For
listen----"
He moistened his lips, while Roger sat forward, staring at him in
amazement, while the thought and the mention of riches led him to wonder
how his friends were faring, and whether it would not be possible to
bring them to Mexico. Failing that, he would endeavour to earn this
reward, and take back to the brigantine a sufficient sum to make the
voyage a success, and to satisfy all parties concerned with its
preparation. Suddenly the noble interrupted him as he was puzzling about
the disc, and wondering what it could have to do with the treasure.
"You must produce this disc," he said quietly, lifting a finger to
impress his words. "But to tell you why, I must relate more of these
adventurers who came to us, domineered here, and captured our king--the
wise and gentle Montezuma. They asked for gold, and were given an
enormous pile, amounting to a fortune in their own country, so Marina
has told me. But they demanded more, and we had none to give; for listen
again, my lord, this disc commands the key to the treasury. We have
little or no need of gold or jewels in this country, and we prize them
most as ornaments. They do not pass as money, as with these Spaniards,
for our currency is composed of maize and cocoa-beans. For very many
years different races have lived in this beautiful valley, and they have
gathered gold, some from the valley alone, while many have collected it
from the states in the province which we now control. Thus, for seven
hundred years, as you people speak of time, and even perhaps for longer,
the treasure has been increasing. We who are Aztecs found it here when
we came two hundred years ago, and we have gathered a hoard in that
time. Of our store we set aside enough for all needs, and the remainder
was secreted by the priests, for the day may come when Mexico may need
more. Our customs may change, and it might happen that gold would take
the place of the cocoa-bean. The fact remains that the priests stored
away a huge treasure, and that they alone knew of its whereabouts. So
that none should tamper with the hoard, the priest to whom it was
handed, and who died more than a hundred years ago, caused a plan to be
made in gold, so that those who followed might know of the spot. The
plan was engraved on a disc, on which was also an image of the sun, such
as our metal-workers are in the habit of making, and the disc was handed
down from one priest to another. Now listen carefully to the end of this
tale. In his generosity of heart Montezuma sent rich presents with me to
the coast, so as to pacify these marauders, though instead the gold
attracted them. The priests prepared the gifts, and arranged for the
bearers, for their duties in the city are many. Somehow, I know not in
what manner, this very disc was included, and handed by me to Malinché.
You say that that disc was captured twice, and that it returned here to
the country. Surely that is a marvellous happening! And if your friends
possess it you will be able to recover it from them. Then the priest who
has the secret, and can read the picture, will tell where the treasure
is, and you will be given the reward. All seems to work favourably for
our ends."
"But the disc is not in our possession," exclaimed Roger, aghast at the
calamity which had happened to him when it had been stolen by Alvarez.
"We picked up a Spaniard on the way out, and he stole it from me. Look,
here is the treacherous wound he dealt me."
He bared his shoulder and showed the scar where the dagger had entered.
"We treated him as a friend and a comrade," he said bitterly, "and he
repaid us in this manner. He has the disc now, and for aught I know is
with his comrades. This Malinché, as you call him, must have heard of
the disc and its secret, and he offered a reward. This fellow will have
sought it already."
"If he has not kept the disc and the fact that he has it from his
comrades, my lord," said Teotlili. "He might have done that. These
Spaniards live for gold, as I can swear, for I saw many here die for it.
They sacrificed their lives by carrying a weight of it when, had they
been free of the burden, they might have lived. This man--a crafty and
unscrupulous cheat, I should esteem him--will think not of the reward
for the disc, but of the riches which the secret may bring him. He will
hide it, and when the Spaniards come here again, as they will, I am
assured, he will endeavour to worm out the secret, and discover the
treasure. Then, as the first-comer, he will have the choice, and since
jewels are more valuable than gold, and lighter to bear, he might within
an hour secure more wealth than all these comrades of his put together.
He must be captured, my lord. Upon his death and the return of the disc
depends your reward."
"Then I will take him," answered Roger, quietly, after a few moments'
silence. "I have sworn to punish him for the treacherous blow he dealt
me, and now that I hear of the importance of the disc, I will redouble
my efforts; for I do not desire this reward so much for myself as for
the ship's company, and for those who sent us out. It is only right that
we should do all that is possible to repay them, and any wealth that we
may obtain will be divided. But, in any case, until I can return to my
comrades I shall help you to prepare for the Spaniards. Let all this
excitement die down, and an assurance be given me that no attempt will
be made to sacrifice me, or Tamba, and I will help. I would wish also
that your people would promise never to kill one human being for the
sake of those hideous idols."
The noble looked pained for a few seconds, while he stared out at the
city.
"We have been brought up from childhood to this belief," he said sadly,
"and we cannot break ourselves of it all in a moment. If it is wrong,
and we are shown so clearly, then as sensible beings we shall change,
and for myself I shall be glad. For there is constant bloodshed here.
The altar reeks of it, and we never know when our dearest and best will
be summoned. But we will not be driven. These Spaniards have done with
us what no others would have dared to attempt. They took Montezuma as a
hostage, while we knew him only as a powerful king, swaying the people
from here for many miles, till the sea is reached on either hand. We
dared not look into his face, but always turned our eyes to the wall.
And these barbarians came and took him. Then they gathered the gold,
and, having our chief and head, ruled us. They cast our idols down from
the towers, and ordered that there should be no more sacrifice. Then
this Malinché went to the coast; for it happened that eighteen ships
arrived, bearing a second expedition. While he was gone, his lieutenant
attacked us treacherously, and we drove him and his followers into their
quarters. Then Malinché returned, and we continued to fight, till our
unhappy king fell at the discharge of our arrows. We slew many of the
Spaniards and their allies, and we never left them at peace for a
moment. Our arrows flew over their quarters day and night, while our
labourers broke down the viaducts so that none could come or go, and no
food or water reach the garrison. Look, my lord, there, where the men
are now at work, is the spot where the viaduct was cut."
He pointed to a spot to which he had previously drawn Roger's attention,
while the latter noticed that not only was this viaduct under repair,
but that others also had been damaged. In fact, Cortes had barely
returned in time. His call to the coast had been an urgent one, for the
reader must remember that he was already in danger himself from the
party in authority at Cuba. He was to all intents and purposes a
political offender awaiting arrest, and this expedition had come to take
the command from him, and to snatch the fruits of his hard work and
daring. That was hardly suitable, and Cortes having first sent secret
gifts to the soldiers, fell upon the troops in the darkness of night,
captured their cannon, and those who were his opponents. At that the
remainder went over to his side, and agreed to follow him as leader.
Then he returned to Mexico to find the natives risen and his troops
surrounded.
"We fought so fiercely, and hemmed them in so closely, that they were
like to starve or die of thirst," continued Teotlili. "They were
outnumbered by many thousands, and at length they stole away in the
darkness, carrying their treasure with them. That was our opportunity.
Our soldiers crowded the viaduct, and our men were everywhere on the
lake in their boats. We clutched them and dragged them beneath the
water. Some we upset, and the weight of gold dragged them down, while
others lost their lives at the spot where we had broken the bridges or
the masonry. We read them a lesson, and sent them out of our valley
discomfited, and punished in some measure for the wrong they had done
us. But these reinforcements have come to Cortes, who survived the
retreat, and our spies tell us that he is about to renew the attack."
"At once?" demanded Roger, eagerly; "for if so, you must put thousands
to work instead of the few I see below."
"Hardly so soon," was the answer; "for news reaches our ears that this
Malinché will attack by way of the lake also. Hitherto his men have had
to remain on the land, on the viaducts, while we have showered arrows
upon them from the water, for we have an abundance of canoes. But he is
having some big ships built--brigantines, they are called--and these are
to be transported by the allies to the water, for they are under
construction some distance away."
The information was serious, and for a little while Roger sat looking
down at the smiling city, wondering how its defenders would fare when
the Spaniards returned. He recognized already that these unfortunate
Mexicans, who were so engrossed with their superstitions, were for all
that a race of fierce fighters, to whom death was of little moment; for
to die in battle or upon the altars was to be instantly transferred to
the regions of the sun, to a Valhalla which was more than alluring. But
they were badly led. Their attack was spasmodic, and often the work of a
few men alone, when for success it was necessary that assault should be
followed up, and forces combined. Against such fighting the Spaniards
were bound to triumph.
"The ships will give them an enormous advantage," said Roger, at length,
"and I advise that means be taken as soon as possible to prepare for
them, and to stake the bottom of the lake so as to keep them from
approaching. As to the land work, your thousands should be powerful
enough."
"They should be, but are not, I fear," answered Teotlili; "for the
horses strike dismay into the hearts of our men. The beasts are strange
to them, and their struggles, the noise of their feet, and the sounds
which they make startle our warriors."
"Then they must get over their nervousness. These horses are seen
everywhere in England, and have long ago been servants to men, not their
masters. You and your countrymen must rid your minds of all these
superstitions, and recollect that these Spaniards are men like
yourselves, though better armed, mounted in many cases, and trained to a
form of warfare which is new to you. But I will teach you how to deal
with them. I had a training under my father at the Tower of London, the
fortress in our city, and there I saw many a sham attack and many a
gallant defence. We will put our heads together, I and your king and
some others, and we will commence to make preparations at once, for we
must be ready when the day for action comes. Now tell me the allies upon
whom you can rely, and their numbers, and the positions of their towns."
The two sat chatting on the terrace which encircled the summit of the
tower, looking down as they talked into the busy streets, where the
daily work of the city was progressing. The events of the previous day
seemed to have made little if any difference, for the market was already
thronged with buyers, while in the alcoves built round the vast square
sat the king's officers, ready to settle any disputes, and prepared to
pounce upon any who might make use of false weights. And round the
square hummed the people of the city, thousands wafted along in boats,
while a few were to be seen in the streets and on the viaducts. Farther
afield the workers in the gardens could be seen tramping along the edges
of the floating rafts of withies which bore the fruits of their
cultivation, while outside were many canoes, some drifting idly, while
others manned by five or six men were paddling off into the lake at
their fastest pace. In the distance, backed by gorgeous mountains in
broken array, were other cities, all well built, well governed, and
inhabited by people who, till the coming of the enemy, had been happy
and contented, if overcast by the shadow of the terrible altars. But
times had changed, and now nations once friendly with the Mexicans were
allies of the Spaniards, and therefore enemies of the Mexicans, while
others who had groaned under Montezuma's tributes, and had thrown off
his sway for the rule of the new-comers, had changed again, finding
already that the rule of the Mexicans was light compared with the
rapacious greed and the overbearing manners of the Spaniards. And beyond
the mountains lay Vera Cruz, the town founded by Cortes, where he was
making his preparations, and getting his men together.
Teotlili, the noble who sat beside Roger, had spoken barely the truth
when he told how the Mexicans had turned in their anger, and had driven
the Spaniards out with loss; for when Cortes came to review his men
after their escape from Mexico, he found that he had lost four hundred
and fifty of his own men, and all his artillery. In addition, he had to
mourn the death of some of his principal lieutenants, and of one son and
two daughters of the late King Montezuma, who also were held as
hostages. Four thousand of the Indian allies had been slain as well as
forty-six horses, while in the days which followed numbers of others
lost their lives; for the Mexicans hung on their flanks, till it is said
that the plain was black with them. But Cortes was not the man even then
to admit that he was beaten, and he and his men fought on, till at
length he charged home with a few of his officers to the spot where the
Mexican general directed his army, and himself cut the noble down. Then
the enemy fled, and in due course Cortes and his remnant of men reached
friends. After that, as the reader will remember, he set to work to
construct some brigantines, and while they were building he went
through the province of Mexico, despoiling those cities which would not
ally themselves to him, and making friends elsewhere. Thus in a few
months he had gained huge treasures and larger reinforcements. Meanwhile
the Mexicans had set up their gods again, and seeing that trouble was
before them, had made big efforts to secure allies to their own side.
They sent into the provinces and granted freedom from taxation for a
year, provided the cities would come to their aid. Then they turned
their attention to their own city, and began to prepare for attack. It
was at this moment, when they were incensed with the Spaniards, that
Roger arrived, and, as can readily be imagined, it was at this
particular period that they were in urgent need of advice and of help in
their work of preparation. What wonder if, in the arrival of this tall
youth, who fought so valiantly and resisted their efforts to slay him on
the altar, the Mexicans, led by their priests and by Teotlili,
discovered in Roger their long-lost god of air, and now that they had
made the discovery, looked to him for guidance, and for a plan with
which to beat back the enemy.
As for our hero, the thought of the struggle which could not be much
longer delayed occupied his mind less than did that of his comrades.
"If only they were here," he said to himself. "Then we would beat back
these Spaniards, and drive them from the country. What a fine thing to
return to England with the tale that there was a people out here ready
to be vassals to King Harry--people whom we had conquered by kindness!
And we could truly say that they are not ordinary natives, for they are
as civilized as are our own people, except in their hideous forms of
worship. Even that we could alter in time and with the use of patience."
He sat looking out at the streets for a little while, till Teotlili
turned to him.
"My lord is lost in thought," he said. "He looks troubled."
"I was thinking of my comrades," answered Roger, "and wondering whether
I could bring them here. I will try, that I promise, even for no reward.
But if possible I will find this Alvarez who has the disc, and will
bring that back also. How strange it is that it should have been in my
possession, and that I should have so soon learned its history! We knew
that it was connected in some way with the treasure here, but never
guessed that it had come to Fernando Cortes' hands by a mischance. And
now, supposing he has received it from Alvarez, or the latter, who is a
traitor and deserving of death, has kept its possession to himself?"
"There will be nothing gained," was the answer, "for to make use of it
our high priest must be consulted. He alone can read the secret written
on the plan, for he has the special training. He then can learn where
the treasure lies, and I promise that he will show it to you."
"And I will have it taken to another spot, for it might happen that this
Alvarez might capture the priest and force him to disclose the place."
"A wise precaution," said Teotlili. "Capture the disc and it shall be
carried out. But I see a stir in the streets below, and I think that the
king is coming from his palace. I will descend and meet them if you will
give your permission."
Roger nodded, and then stood at the very edge of the tower, looking down
from this giddy height. He saw that the crowd was again collecting in
the courtyard below, and that a procession was passing toward it from
the palace. There was the glitter of golden armour and the shimmer of
silver plumes. Bright dresses were to be seen, while the blowing of
horns became almost deafening. Then on every tower appeared a load of
human beings, their path to the top being marked quite plainly; for
there was only one method of gaining the summit, and that by climbing
the steps which encircled the building.
Was the procession bent on a peaceful errand? Had the people collected
together to witness a sacrifice, or to see king and white man shake
hands in friendship? Roger wondered, while he looked down on the scene
uneasily. Then he recollected the words of Teotlili, and the abject
humility of the priest, while his mind went back to the contest of the
previous afternoon, and of the night which had just passed. His
assurance returned in an instant, and he turned to Tamba with a smile.
"Let them choose," he said quietly. "If it be war they shall have it,
and I will fight to the very last. If peace, then they shall find that I
will work for them as if they were my own people, and will do all that I
can to beat off the Spaniards."