The Fair God; or, The Last of the 'Tzins: A Tale of the Conquest of Mexico

by Lew Wallace

  CHAPTER XI.

  THE CHRISTIAN TAKES CARE OF HIS OWN.

  Hualpa returned to the city about the time the stars, which in thatclime and season herald the morning, take their places in the sky. Hehad lightened his heart, and received the sympathy of a lover in return;he had told the great things done and promised by the king, and sorrowedthat his friend could take no part in the events which, he imagined,were to make the day heroic forever; and now, his enthusiasm of youthsobered by the plaints to which he had listened while traversing thedusky walks of the beautiful garden, he clomb the stairs of the_teocallis_. Before the day was fairly dawned, he was at his post,waiting, dreaming of Nenetzin, and hearkening to the spirit-songs ofambition, always so charming to unpractised souls.

  And the lord Cuitlahua perfected his measures. On all the dikes, and atthe entrance of all the canals, guards were stationed. The bridgesnearest the palace occupied by the strangers were held by chosendetachments. Except those thus detailed, the entire military in the citywere pent in the temples. And to all, including the lord steward, theproper orders were confided. All awaited the signal.

  And the king, early in the night, ignorant of the flight of Nenetzin,had come from Chapultepec to his palace in the capital. He retired as hewas wont, and slept the sleep as restful to a mind long distracted byirresolution as to a body exhausted by labor; such slumber as comes tohim who, in time of doubt, involving all dearest interests, at lastdiscovers what his duty is, and, fully determined, simply awaits thehour of performance, trustful of the action taken, and of the good-willof the god or gods of his faith.

  On the side of the Christians, the preparation, more simple, was alsocomplete. From mass the little host went to breakfast, then to arms. Thecompanies formed; even the Tlascalans behaved as if impressed with asense that their fate had been challenged.

  To the captains, again convoked in the audience-chamber, Cortes detailedhis plan of operation. His salutation of each was grave and calm. Thoughvery watchful, they heard him without question; and when they went out,they might have said, The hour of trial is come, and now will be seenwhich holds the conquering destiny,--the God of the Christian or that ofthe Aztec.

  From the council, Alvarado went first to Marina; finding that Nenetzinslept, he joined his companions in the great court, where, gay andcareless, he carolled a song, and twirled his sword, and, in thought ofsmiling fortune and a princely Indian love, walked complacently to andfro. And so wait, ready for action, the Christian lover and theheathen,--one in the palace, the other in the temple,--both, in fancy,lord of the same sweet mistress.

  At the stated hour, as had been the custom, the three lords came, insplendid costume, and with stately ceremonial, bringing the king'scompliments, and asking Cortes will for the day. And they returned withcompliments equally courteous and deceptive, taking with themOrteguilla, the page, instructed to inform the monarch that directly, ifsuch were the royal pleasure, Malinche would be happy to visit him inhis palace.

  A little later there went out parties of soldiers, apparently to viewthe city; yet the point was noticeable that, besides being fully armed,each was in charge of a chosen subordinate. Later, the army was drawnup, massed in the garden; the matches of the gunners were lighted; thehorsemen stood at their bridles; the Tlascalans were stationed to defendthe outer walls. De Oli, Morla, Marin, and Monjarez passed through thelines in careful inspection.

  "Heard'st thou when the drum was to be sounded?" asked De Oli, lookingto the sun.

  "At noon," answered Marin.

  "Three hours yet, as I judge. Short time, by Our Lady!"

  The party was impatient. To their relief, Cortes at last came out, withhis five chosen cavaliers, Sandoval, Alvarado, Leon, Avila, and Lugo. Ashe proceeded to the gate, all eyes turned to him, all hearts becameconfident,--so much of power over the weak is there in the look of onemaster spirit.

  At the gate he waited for the Dona Marina.

  "Are ye ready, gentlemen?"

  "All ready," they replied.

  "With thee, De Oli, I leave the command. At sight or sound of attack orcombat, come quickly. Charge straight to the palace, lances in the lead.Bring our horses. Farewell. Christ and the Mother for us!" And withthat, Cortes stepped into the street.

  For a time the party proceeded silently.

  "Is not this what the pagans call the beautiful street?" Sandoval asked.

  "Why the question?"

  "I have gone through graveyards not more deserted."

  "Thou'rt right," said Lugo. "By Our Lady! when last we went this way, Iremember the pavements, doors, porticos, and roofs were crowded. Now,not a woman or a child."

  "In faith, Senor, we are a show suddenly become stale."

  "Be it so," replied Leon, sneeringly. "We will give the public a newtrick."

  "_Mirad, Senores!_" said Cortes. "Last night, all through this district,particularly along this street, there went patrols, removing theinhabitants, and making ready for what the drum is advertised to letloose upon us. Don Pedro, thy princess hath told the truth." And lookingback to the towers of the _teocallis_, he added, after a fit oflaughter, "The fools, the swine! They have undone themselves; or,rather,"--his face became grave on the instant,--"the Holy Mother hathundone them for us. Give thanks, gentlemen, our emprise is already won!Yonder the infidel general hath his army in waiting for the word of theking. Keep we that unspoken or undelivered,--only that,--and the way ofour return, prisoner in hand, will be as clear of armed men as the goingis."

  The customary guard of nobles kept the portal of the palace; theantechamber, however, was crowded to its full capacity with unarmedcourtiers, through whom the Christians passed with grave assurance. Toacquaintances Cortes bowed courteously. Close by the door of theaudience-chamber, he found Orteguilla conversing with Maxtla, who, atsight of him, knelt, and, touching the floor with his palm, offered toconduct the party to the royal presence; such were his orders. Cortesstopped an instant.

  "Hath the king company?" he asked Orteguilla.

  "None of account,--a boy and three or four old men."

  "He is ours. Let us on, gentlemen!"

  And forthwith they passed under the curtains held aside for them byMaxtla.

  On a dais covered with a carpet of _plumaje_, the monarch sat. Threevenerable men stood behind him. At his feet, a little to the right, wasthe prince Io', in uniform. A flood of light poured through a window onthe northern side of the chamber, and fell full on the group, bringingout with intense clearness the rich habiliments of the monarch, andevery feature of his face. The Christians numbered the attendance, and,trained to measure dangers and discover advantages by a glance, smiledat the confidence of the treacherous heathen. Upon the stillness, brokenonly by their ringing tread, sped the voice of Cortes.

  "Alvarado, Lugo, all of ye, watch well whom we have here. On your lives,see that the boy escape not."

  Montezuma kept his seat.

  "The gods keep you this pleasant morning," he said. "I am glad to seeyou."

  They bowed to him, and Cortes replied,--

  "We thank thee, good king. May the Holy Virgin, of our Christian faith,have thee in care. Thus pray we, than whom thou hast no truer servants."

  "If you prefer to sit, I will have seats brought."

  "We thank thee again. In the presence of our master, it is the custom tostand, and he would hold us discourteous if we did otherwise before asovereign friend as dear to him as thou art, great king."

  The monarch waved his hand.

  "Your master is no doubt a rare and excellent sovereign," he said, thenchanged the subject. "The lords, whom I sent to you this morning,reported that all goes well with you in the palace. I hope so. Ifanything is wanted, you have only to speak. My provinces are at yourservice."

  "The lords reported truly."

  "I am very glad. Thinking of you, Malinche, and studying to make yourcontentment perfect, I have wondered if you have any amusements or gameswith which to pass the t
ime."

  As there were not in all the New World, however it might be in the Old,more desperate gamblers than the cavaliers, they looked at each otherwhen the translation was concluded, and smiled at the simplicity of thespeaker. Nevertheless, Cortes replied with becoming gravity,--

  "We have our pastimes, good king, as all must have; for without them,nature hath ordered that the body shall grow old and the mind incapable.Our pastimes, however, relate almost entirely to war."

  "That is labor, Malinche."

  "So is hunting," said Cortes, smiling.

  "My practice is not," answered the monarch, taking the remark as anallusion to his own love of the sport, and laughing. "The lords drivethe game to me, and my pleasure is in exercising the skill required totake it. Some day you must go with me to my preserves over the lake, andI will show you my modes; but I did not mean that kind of amusement. Iwill explain my meaning. Io'," he said to the prince, who had arisen,"bid Maxtla bring hither the silver balls. I will teach Malinche to play_totoloque_."

  "Have a care, gentlemen!" said Cortes, divining the speech from theaction of the speaker. "The lad must stay. And thou, Marina, tell himso."

  The comely, gentle-hearted Indian woman hastened tremulously to say,"Most mighty king, Malinche bids me tell thee that he has heard of thebeautiful game, and will be glad to learn it, but not now. He wishes theprince to remain."

  One step Io' had in the mean time taken,--but one; in front of him Leonstepped, hand on sword, and menace on his brow. The blood fled themonarch's face.

  "Go not," he at length said to the boy; and to Cortes, "I do notunderstand you, Malinche."

  The time of demand was come. Cortes moved nearer the dais, and replied,his eyes fixed coldly and steadily on those of the victim,--

  "I have business with thee, king; and until it is concluded, thou, theprince, and thy councillors must stay. Outcry, or attempt at escape,will be at peril of life."

  The monarch sat upright, pale and rigid; the ancients dropped upon theirknees. Io' alone was brave; he stepped upon the platform, as if todefend the royal person. Then in the same cold, inflexible manner,Cortes proceeded,--

  "I have been thy guest, false king, long enough to learn thee well. Thepower which, on all occasions, thou hast been so careful to impress uponme, hath but made thy hypocrisy the more astonishing. Listen, while Iexpose thee to thyself. We started hither at thy invitation. In Cholula,nevertheless, we were set upon by the army. No thanks to thee that weare alive to-day. And, in the same connection, when thou wert upbraidedfor inviting us, the lords and princes were told that such was theinstruction of one of thy bloody gods, who had promised here in thecapital to deliver us prisoners for sacrifice." Montezuma offered tospeak.

  "Deny it not, deny it not!" said Cortes, with the slightest show ofpassion. "In god or man, such perfidy cannot be excused. But that is notall. Say nothing about the command sent the troops near Tuzpan to attackmy people; nor about the demand upon townships under protection of myroyal master for women and children to feed to thy hungry idols; now--"

  Here the king broke in upon the interpreter,--

  "I do not understand what Malinche says about my troops attacking hispeople at Tuzpan."

  "Thy governor killed one of my captains."

  "Not by my order."

  "Then make good the denial, by sending for the officer who did themurder, that he may be punished according to the wickedness of hiscrime."

  The king took a signet from his wrist, and said to one of hiscouncillors, "Let this be shown to the governor of that province. Irequire him to come here immediately, with all who were concerned withhim at the time spoken of by Malinche."

  The smile with which the monarch then turned to the Spaniard was lostupon him, for he continued, pitilessly as before,--

  "The punishment of the governor is not enough. I accuse thee further.Thou treacherous king! Go with me to the temple, and now,--thisinstant,--I will show thee thy brother, with an army at call, waitingthy signal to attack us in the palace where so lately we received thyroyal welcome."

  The listener started from his seat. Upon his bewildered facultiesflashed the remembrance of how carefully and with what solemn injunctionhe had locked his plans of war in the breasts of the members of hisfamily, gathered about him on the _azoteas_ at Chapultepec. His faithin them forbade suspicion. Whence then the exposure? And to the dealerin mysteries Mystery answered, "The gods!" If his former faith in thedivinity of the stranger came not back, now, at least, he knew himsustained by powers with which contention were folly. He sunk downagain; his head dropped upon his struggling breast;--HE WAS CONQUERED!

  And the stern Spaniard, as if moved by the sight, said, in a softenedvoice,--

  "I know not of thy religion; but there is a law of ours,--a mercy of thedear Christ who hath us in his almighty keeping,--by which every sin maybe atoned by sacrifices, not of innocent victims, but of the sinner'sself. In the world I come from, so much is the law esteemed, that kingsgreater than thou have laid down their crowns, the better to availthemselves of its salvation. Thou art an unbeliever, and I may dowrong,--if so, I pray pardon of the Holy Ghost that heareth me,--I maydo wrong, I say, but, infidel as thou art, if thou wilt obey theprecept, thou shalt have the benefit of the privilege. I do not want warwhich would end in thy destruction and the ruin of thy city and people;therefore I make thee a proposal. Hear me!"

  The unhappy king raised his head, and listened eagerly.

  "Arise, and go with us to our quarters, and take up thy abode there.King shalt thou continue. Thy court can go with thee, and thou canstgovern from one palace as well as another. To make an end ofspeech,"--and Cortes raised his hand tightly clenched,--"to make an endof speech, finally and plainly, choose now: go with us or die! I havenot brought these officers without a purpose."

  All eyes centred on the pale face of the monarch, and the stillness ofthe waiting was painful and breathless. At last, from the depths of histortured soul, up rose a sparkle of resentment.

  "Who ever heard of a great prince, like myself, voluntarily leaving hisown palace to become a prisoner in the hands of a stranger?"

  "Prisoner! Not so. Hear me again. Court, household, and power, with fullfreedom for its exercise, and the treatment due a crowned prince,--allthese shalt thou have. So, in my master's name, I pledge thee."

  "No, Malinche, press me not so hardly. Were I to consent to such adegradation, my people would not. Take one of my sons rather. Thisone,"--and he laid his hand on Io's shoulder,--"whom I love best, andhave thought to make my successor. Take him as hostage; but spare methis infamy."

  The debate continued; an hour passed.

  "Gentlemen, why waste words on this wretched barbarian?" exclaimed Leon,at last, half drawing his sword, while his face darkened with dreadfulpurpose. "We cannot recede now. In Christ's name, let us seize him, orplunge our swords in his body!"

  The captains advanced, baring their swords; Cortes retired a step, as ifto make way for them. Brief time remained for decision. Trembling andconfused, the monarch turned to Marina, and asked, "What did the _teule_say?"

  As became a gentle woman, fearful lest death be done before her, shereplied,--

  "O king, I pray you make no further objection. If you yield, they willtreat you kindly; if you refuse, they will kill you. Go with them, Ipray you."

  Upon the advance of the captains, Io' stepped in front of the king; asthey hesitated, either waiting Cortes' order or the answer to Marina'sprayer, he knelt, and clasped his father's knees, and cried tearfully,--

  "Do not go, O king! Rather than endure such shame, let us die!"

  Stupefied, almost distraught, the monarch seemed not to hear the heroicentreaty. His gaze was on the face of Cortes, now as impenetrable andiron-like as the armor on his breast. "The gods have abandoned me!" hecried, despairingly. "I am lost! Malinche, I will go with you!" His headdrooped, and his hands fell nerveless on the chair.

  The boy arose, and turned to the conquerors, every feature convulsedwith hate
.

  "Thanks, good king, thanks!" said Cortes, smiling. "Thou hast saved mysoul a sin. I will be thy friend till death!"

  Thereupon, he stepped forward, and kissed the royal hand, which fellfrom his lips as if palsied--I will not say profaned--by the touch. And,one after another, Leon, Lugo, Avila, Alvarado, and Sandoval approached,and knelt on the dais, and in like manner saluted the fallen prince.

  "Are you done, Malinche?" the victim asked, when somewhat revived.

  "What I wish now, above all things," was the reply, spoken with rarepretence of feeling, "is to be assured, good king, that we are forgiventhe pain we have caused thee, since, though of our doing, it was not ofour will as much as of the ambition of some of thy own lords and chiefs.What I desire next is, that thy goodness may not be without immediateresults. I and my officers, thy son and these councillors, are witnessesthat thou didst consent to my proposal out of great love of peace andthy people. To secure the object,--noble beyond praise,--the lords herein the palace, and those of influence throughout the provinces, must beconvinced that thou dost go with me of thine own free will; not asprisoner, but as trusted guest returning the favor of guest. How to dothat best is in thy knowledge more than mine. Only, what thy judgmentapproveth, set about quickly. We wait thy orders."

  "Io', uncles," said Montezuma, his eyes dim with tears, "as you love me,be silent as to what has here taken place. I charge you that you tell itto no man, while I live. Bid Maxtla come."

  Summoning all his strength to meet the shrewd eyes of the chief, themonarch sat up with a show of cheerfulness.

  "Bring my palanquin," he said, after Maxtla's salutation, "and directsome of the elder lords to be ready to accompany me without arms orceremony. As advised by Huitzil', and these good uncles, I have resolvedto go, and for a time abide with Malinche in the old palace. Send anofficer, with the workmen, to prepare quarters for my use and that ofthe court. Publish my intention. Go quickly."

  Afterwhile from the palace issued a procession which no man, uninformed,might look upon and say was not a funeral: in the palanquin, the dead;on its right and left, the guard of honor; behind, the friends, a longtrain, speechless and sorrowing. The movement was quiet and solemn;three squares and as many bridges were passed, when, from down thestreet, a man came running with all speed. He gained the rear of thecortege, and spoke a few hurried words there; a murmur arose, andspread, and grew into a furious outcry,--a moment more, and the cortegewas dissolved in tumult. At the last corner on the way, the cavaliershad been joined by some of the armed parties, who, for the purpose, hadpreceded them into the city in the early morning; these closed firmlyaround, a welcome support.

  "_Mirad!_" cried Cortes, loudly. "The varlets are without arms. Let noone strike until I say so."

  The demonstration increased. Closer drew the mob, some adjuring themonarch, some threatening the Christians. That an understanding of thesituation was abroad was no longer doubtful; still Cortes held his menin check, for he knew, if blood were shed now, the common-sense of thepeople would refuse the story he so relied upon,--that the king'scoming was voluntary.

  "Can our guest," he asked of Sandoval, "be sleeping the while?"

  "Treachery, Senor."

  "By God's love, captain, if it so turn out, drive thy sword first of allthings through him!"

  While yet he spoke, the curtains of the carriage were drawn aside; thecarriers halted instantly; and of the concourse, all the natives fellupon their knees, and became still, so that the voice of the monarch wasdistinctly heard.

  "The noise disturbs me," he said, in ordinary tone. "Let the street becleared."

  The lords whom he addressed kept their faces to the ground.

  "What is the cause of the clamor?"

  No one answered. A frown was gathering upon his face, when an Aztecsprang up, and drew near him. He was dressed as a citizen of the lowerclass. At the side of the carriage he stopped, and touched the pavementwith his palm.

  "Guatamozin!" said the king, more in astonishment than anger.

  "Even so. O king,--father,--to bear a soldier's part to-day, I havedared your judgment." Lifting his eyes to the monarch's, he endured hisgaze steadily, but, at the same time, with such an expression ofsympathy that reproof was impossible. "I am prepared for any sentence;but first, let me know, let these lords and all the people know, is thisgoing in truth of your own free will?"

  Montezuma regarded him fixedly, but not in wrath.

  "I conjure you, uncle, father, king,--I conjure you, by our royal blood,by our country, by all the gods,--are these strangers guests or guards?Speak,--I pray you, speak but one word."

  The poor, stricken monarch heard, and was penetrated by the tone ofanguish; yet he replied,--

  "My brother's son insults me by his question. I am still the king,--freeto go and come, to reward and punish."

  He would have spoken further, and kindly, but for the interruption ofCortes, who cried impatiently,--

  "Ho, there! Why this delay? Forward!"

  And thereupon Avila stepped rudely and insolently between the king and'tzin. The latter's broad breast swelled, and his eyes blazed; he seemedlike a tiger about to leap.

  "Beware!" said the king, and the warning was in time. "Beware! Not here,not now!"

  The 'tzin turned to him with a quick, anxious look of inquiry; arevulsion of feeling ensued; he arose, and said, with bowed head, "Iunderstand. O king, if we help not ourselves, we are lost. 'Not here,not now.' I catch the permission." Pointing to Avila, he added, "Thisman's life is in my hands, but I pass it by; thine, O uncle, is the mostprecious. We will punish these insolents, but _not here_; we will giveyou rescue, but _not now_. Be of cheer."

  He stepped aside, and the melancholy cortege passed on, leaving thelords and people and the empire, as represented by them, in the dust.Before the _teocallis_, under the eyes of Cuitlahua, within hailingdistance of the ten thousand warriors, the doughty cavaliers bore theirprize unchallenged.

  And through the gates of the old palace, through the files of Spaniardsin order of battle waiting, they also carried what they thought was theempire, won without a blow, to be parcelled at pleasure,--its lands, itstreasure, its cities, and its people.

  BOOK SIX.