By Right of Conquest; Or, With Cortez in Mexico

by G. A. Henty

  Chapter 16: A Treasure Room.

  "'Tis infamous," Cacama said, as he paced up and down the room;"but what is to be done? They hold him in their hands as a hostage,in the heart of his own capital, and among his own people; and arecapable of hanging him from the walls, should a hostile movement bemade against them.

  "You were right, Roger Hawkshaw, in warning us against these men.They are without faith and honor, thus to seize a host who hasloaded them with presents, who has emptied his treasuries toappease their greed, and who has treated them with the mostextraordinary condescension. It is a crime unheard of, an act ofbase ingratitude, without a parallel. What is to be done?"

  Roger was silent. Such a situation, so strange and unlooked for,confounded him.

  "I should say," Cuitcatl burst out passionately, "that everyMexican should take up arms, and annihilate this handful ofinvaders. What though Montezuma fall? Better that a monarch shouldperish than a nation. Besides, Montezuma has shown himself unfit togovern. It is his weakness that has brought things to this pass.Think you that the white men could ever have advanced beyond theplateau of Tlascala, had all the forces of Mexico barred the way?Think you that they could ever have entered the capital, had itbeen defended with resolution? One moment he flattered thestrangers and loaded them with gifts; the next he was ready to sendhis forces against them. The Cholulans had good reason forbelieving that he designed the annihilation of the Whites, if hedid not actually order the attack upon them.

  "So on the seacoast. Had the chiefs believed that Montezuma wasreally friendly to the whites, would they ever have attacked them?There were two courses open: he might from the first have receivedthe Spaniards frankly, and sent a mission to escort them honorablyto the capital; or he might have called upon every man in hisdominion to take up arms, and drive them into the sea. He tookneither. It is he who has brought them here; and it is better, athousand times, that he should die than that ruin should fall uponthe country.

  "My advice is, that the troops be called out; that messengers besent to every city in the valley, bidding them send in theircontingent; and that we march to aid the people of Mexico toannihilate this handful of treacherous white men."

  Cacama was silent. The advice was in accordance with his ownfeelings and temperament; but the extreme reverence with which theAztecs regarded their emperor paralyzed him.

  "We shall see," he said, gloomily. "In a short time we shall knowwhy Montezuma thus tamely suhmitted to be made a prisoner. He mayhave some motives which we cannot fathom. I cannot believe him tobe a coward. No Aztec monarch, yet, has ever shown want ofcourage."

  Three or four days later, another event occurred which heightenedthe fury of the Mexicans against the Spaniards. The cazique who hadattacked the Spaniards on the coast arrived at Mexico, accompaniedby his son and fifteen other chiefs who had acted with them.Montezuma referred the matter to the examination of Cortez. Thecazique admitted the part he had taken in the attack on theSpaniards, and did not seek to shelter himself under royalauthority; until sentence of death was passed on him and the otherchiefs, when they all declared that they had acted on the authorityof Montezuma. They were condemned to be burnt alive, in the spacein front of the palace, and this sentence was carried out.

  Not content with this, Cortez placed irons upon Montezuma himself,saying there could now be no longer a doubt as to his guilt. Afterthe execution was carried out, Montezuma was released from hisfetters.

  The news of this insult to their monarch created a profoundimpression upon the Mexicans. Although they despised the weaknessof a sovereign who appeared ready to suffer every indignity, andyet to claim an appearance of courtesy and goodwill towards hisoppressors, the bolder spirits determined that the nation should beno longer humiliated in the person of its sovereign, and that evenshould it cost Montezuma his life, an effort should be made tooverthrow his oppressors.

  As soon as the news of the execution of the seventeen nobles, andof the indignity to Montezuma was received; Cacama said to Roger:

  "My friend, I can no longer retain you here. You have told me whyyou cannot have it proclaimed that you are of different blood tothe Spaniards, and I quite understand your motives; but there aretwo reasons why, in that case, you must for a time return to thecapital. My people would look upon me with scorn, did I retain hereas my friend one whom they regard as the countryman of the men whohave so outraged us. Moreover, you yourself cannot wish to stay.You have told me that Cortez has charged you to acquaint him withthe state of feeling in this city; and were you to remain here, youwould be placed in the painful position of either givinginformation which would ruin my plans, or of deceiving the man whomyou nominally serve. I know that you would say nothing against me,but should I fail and the Spaniards triumph, Cortez would accuseyou of being a traitor, and you would be put to death by him.

  "Therefore, I think it in all ways best that you should returnthere, for the present. You will, of course, inform Cortez that Ihave sent you back because the feeling against the white men, onaccount of their treatment of the emperor, is so great that I feltthat I could not protect you against their fury."

  "I quite agree with you, Cacama. My position here has become a verypainful one. I abhor, as much as you do, the doings of theSpaniards; and am perfectly ready to avow that I belong to anothernation, and to join you in an enterprise against them."

  "But that, as you have told me," Cacama said, "would cut off anychance of your ever being able to return to your own country."

  "I am ready to accept that," Roger said firmly. "In marrying yoursister, I shall become one of yourselves, and am ready to cast inmy lot with you, altogether."

  The prince was silent for a minute or two.

  "No, Roger, I think that my plan is the best. Were you to do as yousay, the Spaniards would be at once placed on their guard; while,save by the strength of your arm, you could aid but little in anyenterprise against them. Moreover, if you return to the Spaniards,I shall have the satisfaction that, if I fall and ruin comes uponmy house, you will take care of my sister, and that my wife willalso have a protector. For all reasons, therefore, it is better youshould go. But if aught is to be attempted against the Spaniards, Iwill take care to give you notice, so that you can leave them indisguise and come here, and so avoid their fate."

  Although Roger's own feelings would have led him to throw in hislot openly against the Spaniards, he saw that Cacama's plan was thebest. The boat was ordered to be at once got in readiness; andafter a painful parting with Amenche, who wept bitterly, Roger leftthe palace; and again accompanied by Cuitcatl, in order to ensurehis safety across the lake, was taken over to Mexico.

  He at once sought the presence of Cortez, and through Marinaexplained to him that Cacama had sent him back, fearing that in theexcited state of the population harm might come to him. He had,since he had been in Tezcuco, sent a letter across each day toCortez, saying that all was tranquil there; that the young king waspursuing his ordinary round of court ceremonial, and was certainly,as far as he could learn, taking no steps whatever towardsinterfering with the affairs of the capital, although theimprisonment of Montezuma had evidently made a painful impressionupon him.

  Cortez asked him a few questions, and when he left the room said toMarina:

  "That young fellow must be watched, Marina. He has been brought upwith these people, and must to some extent feel with them. I knowthat he is a friend of yours, but see that you say nothing to himon public affairs. Let him be kept wholly in the dark, as to ourplans and intentions. This Cacama is, next to Montezuma, the mostpowerful and important of the Aztec chiefs. He is young andenergetic, and although he has been so badly treated by Montezuma,he resents our treatment of him. Had it been otherwise he wouldprobably, ere this, have made some propositions to us, throughSancho, for a closer alliance with us, on the understanding thatthe territories Montezuma has taken from him shall be returned.

  "We must have Cacama's actions closely watched. There are otherAztecs who are willing enough to act as our s
pies, and who willkeep us informed of what is going on. Hitherto their reports haveagreed with Sancho's, but from his sending the young fellow backhere, Cacama may now be intending to act against us."

  Cacama, indeed, lost no time in setting to work, and began to forma league with many of the leading nobles, to rescue the emperor anddestroy the Spaniards. Montezuma's brother Cuitlahua and manyothers agreed, at once, to join him; but the greater part of theAztec nobles hung back, upon the ground that they did not like tomove in the matter, without the orders of their emperor. Theirrefusal prevented any general rising taking place, and thusdestroyed the last chance of Mexico retaining its independence.

  Cortez learned from his spies what was going on, and would havemarched against Tezcuco, had not Montezuma dissuaded him; tellinghim that Cacama was a powerful prince, and would certainly be aidedby many other chiefs, and that the enterprise would be hazardous inthe extreme. Cortez then endeavored to negotiate, but received ahaughty answer from Cacama. He then tried threats, asserting thesupremacy of the Spanish emperor.

  Cacama replied "that he acknowledged no such authority, he knewnothing of the Spanish sovereign or his people, nor did he wish toknow anything of them."

  Cortez then invited Cacama to come to Mexico to discuss theirdifferences; but Cacama had no faith in Spanish loyalty, and hereplied "that when he did visit the capital, it would be to rescueit, as well as the emperor himself, and their common gods, frombondage. He should come, not with his hand upon his breast but onhis sword, to drive out the Spaniards, who had brought suchdisgrace upon the country."

  While this had been going on, Montezuma had still further forfeitedall claim to sympathy, by the willingness with which he acceptedthe attentions of those who were, in fact, his gaolers. They paidhim all the outward marks of respect, pretending still to regardhim as a powerful sovereign; and he, in return, was present attheir exercises and sports, took the greatest interest in two shipsthey were building for navigation on the lake, and in all respectsbehaved to them as if they were his best friends. He now carriedhis baseness still further, and informed Cortez that several of theTezcucan nobles were regularly in his pay, and that it would beeasy, through them, to capture Cacama and thus break up theconfederacy.

  Cortez at once took means to carry out the suggestion. The traitorsinvited Cacama to a conference, at a house overhanging the lakenear Tezcuco. Upon going there he was seized by them, bound, placedin a boat, and carried to Mexico. He was there brought beforeMontezuma.

  In spite of the perils of his position, Cacama bore himself nobly.He boldly accused his uncle of foul treachery, and with thecowardice which he had betrayed since the Spaniards had entered hiskingdom. Montezuma handed him over to Cortez, who ordered him to beloaded with fetters and thrown into a dungeon. The emperor thenissued an order, declaring that Cacama had forfeited hissovereignty by his rebellion, and that he therefore deposed him,and appointed a younger brother named Cuicuitzca in his place. Theother leaders of the confederacy were all seized by the orders ofMontezuma in their own cities, and brought in chains to thecapital, where they were imprisoned with Cacama.

  Upon Roger, the news of Cacama's arrest and imprisonment came likea thunderclap. He was in the habit of frequently seeing Malinche,who still retained the warm feeling of friendship for him that hadoriginated at Tabasco, and with whom he often had long talks oftheir life in those days; but she had let no word drop as to thedoings of Cacama. She had questioned him somewhat closely as to hisrelations with that prince; and he had made no secret to her of thefact that Cacama had promised him his sister's hand in marriage. Asmany of the Spaniards had already married the daughters of greatcaziques, this appeared to her natural; and she had congratulatedhim upon the prospect of an alliance which would bring him wealthand land, but had said that, for the present, it would not do tothink of marriage, as it would be unsafe for him to leave thecapital.

  When therefore Roger heard of the misfortune that had befallenCacama, he was filled alike with surprise and consternation, andhurrying to Malinche, begged her to use her influence with Cortezto spare the young prince's life.

  "I have already done so," she said; "and he has promised that noblood shall be shed, though the chiefs who have leagued themselveswith Cacama must all be imprisoned. The safety of the army requiresit. No harm, however, shall befall Cacama, of that be assured. Imay tell you, now, that it has been settled that his brotherCuicuitzca shall be appointed Lord of Tezcuco in his place. Thiswill be done by a decree, tomorrow."

  "Malinche, I must go at whatever hazard to warn Cacama's wife andsister, in order to give them the opportunity of leaving the palacebefore this young prince arrives. Pray obtain for me leave fromCortez to go away for twenty-four hours. You can tell him of theinterest I have in the matter."

  "I will manage it for you," Malinche said; "but as your princess isalso sister to the new king, I see no reason for uneasiness."

  "She is devoted to Cacama," Roger replied; "and would not, I feelsure, consent to remain in the palace with the usurper."

  "You had best advise her," Malinche said, with a little nod of thehead, "to disguise her sentiments, and make the best of the matter.It may make, you know, a good deal of difference in the amount ofdowry you will get with her."

  "I am not greedy, Malinche," Roger said; "but the present is, atany rate, no time for talking of marriage."

  "Most of the officers have married," Malinche said.

  "They may have done so, but they are officers, and can maintaintheir wives in all honor and respect, and have apartments allottedto them here. I have neither rank nor station, and shall certainlynot ask my princess to share my rough quarters as a soldier. Thereis no hurry. As I told you but a year ago, Malinche, I am scarcelyout of my boyhood; and there will be plenty of time when matterssettle down, and we see what is going to happen, to think ofmarrying."

  "I will go and speak to Cortez at once, and get leave for you. Butyou had best disguise yourself well--Tezcuco will be in an uproartonight; for the capture of Cacama will be known there ere manyhours, if it is not known already."

  She soon returned with the required permission. This time Rogerdressed himself in the attire of a trader, as being less likely toattract attention. Malinche again secured a boat for him, andhaving dyed his face and hands, he started at once, as it would bedark before he reached Tezcuco. Since Montezuma had been captive intheir hands, there was no longer any fear of an attack being madeupon the Spaniards; and the soldiers were now able to come and gothrough the town, at pleasure.

  Upon landing, Roger at once made his way to the palace. There wasgreat excitement in the town. The people were assembled in crowds,discussing the news that had reached them; and even at the palacegate the guards were careless of their duty, and Roger enteredwithout question.

  He hurried direct to the royal apartments. An official who wouldhave barred his way allowed him to pass at once, when he recognizedhis identity.

  When he entered, he found a scene of grief and confusion. The queenwas extended upon a couch, weeping bitterly; while Amenche and someof her ladies, although themselves weeping, were trying to consoleher.

  The princess gave a cry of joy when she saw him and, runningforward, threw herself into his arms.

  "You have heard the news?" she exclaimed. "Cacama is lost. Thesemonsters will put him to death."

  "I can reassure you as to that," Roger said. "He is a captive, buthis life is not in danger. Malinche has interceded for him, andCortez has promised that his life shall be spared."

  A cry of gladness burst from all present.

  "I have other and less pleasant news to give you, Amenche," Rogerwhispered in her ear. "Get rid of all these ladies. My news must befor you, only."

  A minute or two later, the queen dismissed her ladies.

  "The news I have to tell you," Roger went on, "is that tomorrowMontezuma will issue a decree deposing Cacama, and appointingCuicuitzca Lord of Tezcuco."

  An exclamation of anger and indignation broke from the queen a
ndAmenche.

  "He cannot do it," the latter exclaimed, passionately. "It isbeyond his power. The emperor has a voice in the council, butbeyond that he has no power to make or unmake the Lords ofTezcuco."

  "At the present moment," Roger said gravely; "he has got theSpanish power at his back; or rather, he is but the mouthpiece ofthe Spaniards. They are the masters, and care nothing for the lawor usages of your country."

  "The Tezcucans will not receive Cuicuitzca," Amenche said."Everyone knows that he is weak and cowardly, and of late he hasbeen at Mexico, dancing attendance on the Spaniards. They willnever receive him."

  The queen raised her head from the couch.

  "We must not build on that, Amenche. He comes, sent here by thewhites; and when Mexico dares not rise against them, you may besure that the people here will not dare to provoke their anger.Besides, who have they to lead them? Was not Cacama betrayed by hisown nobles? Let us send for Cuitcatl, and hear what he advises us."

  Cuitcatl, on his arrival, was so thunderstruck on hearing thatMontezuma had so debased himself, to the Spaniards, as to deposehis own nephew, whose only fault was patriotism, and who had beenendeavoring to effect his rescue, that he was for a minute or twospeechless with indignation.

  "The gods have, indeed, deserted us," he said; "when they haveturned a monarch who was considered brave and honorable into a baseslave. May their vengeance fall upon him! May the curse of ourruined country descend upon the man who is the real author of ourmisfortunes!"

  "Do you think, Cuitcatl," Amenche asked, "that the people willreceive this usurper?"

  "I fear, indeed, that they will do so," he replied. "Montezuma hasappointed him, and Montezuma's name still has power. At any rate,it will afford them an excuse for submission. Besides, how couldthey fight when so many of our own nobles are treacherous?Doubtless Cacama will not be the only victim, and Montezuma will,at the orders of the Spaniards, disgrace all who have acted withhim."

  "Then what would you advise us to do? We are both resolved that wewill not await the coming of this usurper."

  "My house is at your service," Cuitcatl said. "It lies, as youknow, near the foot of the hills; and whatever strife may go onhere, its quiet is little likely to be invaded. Cuicuitzca will notconcern himself at present with you, nor would he venture to takeany hostile steps against you; for did he do so, it would excite astorm of indignation.

  "As to you, Princess, as his own sister, and of the royal blood,you could if you liked stay here, as at present; and indeed, wereit not that I am sure you would not leave the queen, I shouldadvise you to do so; for you might then act in the interests ofCacama, should you see an opportunity."

  Amenche shook her head.

  "No," she said, "brother though he is, I would not bend my headbefore a usurper, while Cacama lives. When do you think we hadbetter leave here?"

  "I should say it were best to leave at once," Cuitcatl replied. "Iwill order three or four litters to be prepared; for yourselvesand, say, two of your most trusted attendants. Bathalda will find,in the town, men on whom he can rely to take you. In this way nonehere will know where you have gone. I will have the litters inreadiness at a short distance from the palace, and you can thenissue out by the garden gate, unobserved. I shall, of course,myself escort you."

  "What shall we take with us, Cuitcatl?"

  "I will get, in addition to those who carry the litters, five orsix porters. These I will bring up through the gardens to theprivate door, and Roger and I will carry down to them such parcelsof your clothes as you may make up. I should then make up two largecaskets with your own jewels, those of Cacama, and some of the mostvaluable stones and jewels from the royal treasury--leaving all theroyal ornaments worn on state occasions, so that the usurper willnot know that any have been abstracted."

  "I would rather take nothing but my own and Cacama's personaljewels," the queen said.

  "The contents of the whole treasury are his, by rights; and youmust remember, Madam, that jewels may be very useful to you. Youwill have to work for Cacama, and unhappily there are many who arenot insensible to bribes; and the possession of valuable jewels mayenable you to be of great assistance to the king."

  "I did not think of that," the queen said. "Yes, you are right.There is a hoard stowed away by the late king, and by his fatherbefore him. Its existence is only known to my husband and myself. Ihave never seen it, but Cacama tells me that it is of immensevalue; and was to be used only in case of an extreme emergency, anddanger to the state. We can take what we choose from this separatehoard, and Cuicuitzca will find, from the list in the hands of thechief of the treasury, that the royal store is untouched."

  "That will be vastly better, indeed," Cuitcatl said. "It is wellthat he should have no possible cause of complaint against you.Where is this hidden receptacle?"

  "Before I show it you, I will send all our attendants to bed, savethe two we will take with us--my own maid, and Amenche's."

  "I will be going. Roger Hawkshaw will help you," Cuitcatl said. "Itwill take some time for Bathalda to get the litters and the men.

  "It is now ten o'clock. In three hours the litters shall be outsidethe little gate of the garden, and I will bring six porters to theprivate door at the foot of the stairs."

  "That will be enough," the queen said. "Two will be ample for ourgarments, and you and Roger Hawkshaw can take the jewels; which,when we start, can go in the litters with us."

  Cuitcatl left. The two ladies who were to accompany the party werethen called in, and informed of what had taken place, and that theyhad been chosen to accompany the queen and princess in theirflight.

  "Tell all the others," the queen said, "that we are overcome withthe news we have received, and will dispense with all furtherattendance, except your own, for the night. When all is quiet, makeup your jewels and such clothes as you may wish to bring inbundles. Then go to the wardrobe room and make up two bundles, eachas much as a man can carry, of my garments; and two of the samesize, of those of the princess. Take all our jewels out of thecaskets, and put them in with our clothes."

  When the two waiting ladies had retired, the queen said to Roger:

  "Now come with me, and we will open the treasure closet."

  The palace was by this time hushed and quiet, the greater part ofthe courtiers had long since left, having hurried away to theirhomes when the news came of Cacama's arrest; and the remainder hadgone to friends in the town or neighborhood, as it was thoughtprobable that the Spaniards might, at once, send a force to takepossession of the palace, and arrest all found there.

  Taking some keys from a strong coffer in Cacama's room, and biddingRoger take a torch from the wall, the queen led the way to theroyal treasury. A massive door was first unlocked, and in a largeroom were seen ranged vessels of gold and silver; strong boxescontaining gold necklaces, armlets, and other ornaments; while onlower shelves were bars of gold and silver, ready to be worked up.

  They passed through this room into another the same size. Around itran deep shelves, in which were piled the treasury papers; with theaccounts of the royal revenues, and the tributes paid by thevarious cities and villages and land owners of the kingdom. In onecorner stood a small cupboard of about four feet high, also filledwith papers. The queen put her hand inside, and touched a smallspring at the back.

  "Now," she said to Roger; "pull at that corner of the cupboard."

  He obeyed her instructions, and at a vigorous pull the cupboard,which had appeared solidly embedded in the wall, swung round on oneof its angles. Nothing, however, was to be seen save a bare wallbehind it.

  "Now, Roger Hawkshaw, take your dagger and cut away thatplaster--for it is but plaster, though it looks like stone."

  Roger obeyed. The task was an easy one, for the plaster was buthalf an inch thick, and came off in flakes; showing a massivecopper door, three feet six in height, and three feet in width,behind it. No keyhole was visible.

  "Press upwards against the lintel," the queen said. "That willrelease the catch of the
door."

  Roger did so, and at the same moment pushed with his shoulderagainst the door, and it swung round with ease.

  "Do you enter first, with the torch, and we will follow," the queensaid.

  Roger found himself in a room about twelve feet square. At thefarther end was a pile of gold bars, four feet deep and as muchhigh, extending right across the room. On the floor, along theother two sides, were ranged a number of large chests.

  "Open these," the queen said. "The gold is of no use to us."

  The chests were full of manufactured gold ornaments, many of themstudded with jewels. Roger was astounded at the amount of wealththus stored away.

  "Cacama told me," the queen said, "that even the treasure houses ofMontezuma are poor, in comparison to the treasure his grandfatherand father stowed away here; and I can well believe it. You havenot opened that small chest, yet."

  This was opened, and was found to contain a number of bags whichwere full of pearls, turquoise, and other precious stones, of largesize and immense value.

  "We will take this chest away, as it stands," the queen said.

  "It would be awkward to carry," Roger objected. "It is very heavy,and its shape would tell at once that it contained valuables. Thecontents do not weigh many pounds, and could easily be wrapped upin a cloth and put into one of the litters, without excitingobservation. If you will allow me, I will go back to one of thesleeping rooms and fetch two or three thick rugs."

  He hurried away, and in a few minutes returned. The bags weretransferred from the chest to one of the rugs he had brought, whichwas then wrapped round and tied into a bundle. On two other rugswere placed heaps of necklaces and other ornaments from the largerchests, until each contained, as nearly as Roger could guess bylifting them, some sixty pounds' weight of gold ornaments. Thesewere similarly tied up, and the three bundles were then carried outfrom the hidden room, and conveyed to the apartment they had beforeleft.

  Roger then went back to the treasury, closed the copper door, sweptup and placed in a rug every particle of plaster, and then swungthe cabinet back into its position, where it fastened with a loudclick. So firmly was it fixed that, although Roger tried with hiswhole strength, it did not shake in the slightest; and the work wasso admirably done that, from the closest inspection, he was unableto discern aught that would have shown that the cabinet was notbuilt into the wall. He then returned to where the ladies werewaiting him.

  The queen urged him to take two or three of the bags of jewels, butthis he absolutely refused to do.

  "I am acting as Cacama's friend," he said; "and as the promisedhusband of his sister; and I should feel myself degraded, indeed,were I to receive even one of those jewels."

  "But there is no saying when we shall meet again," the queen said."There is no knowing what terrible events may occur."

  "Whatever occurs, lady, I shall see you again, if I live," Rogersaid. "If not, of what use are the jewels to me?"

  At the appointed hour, Cuitcatl returned.

  "All is in readiness," he said.

  The two attendants were summoned from the apartments where they hadbeen waiting. Roger and his friend first carried down the bundlesof clothing, and then took up the rugs containing the heavy goldornaments; Roger taking, in addition, the small parcel with thejewels. The attendants then took up their own bundles, and thewhole party proceeded downstairs, and out into the garden.

  Cuitcatl led the way with the queen. Roger followed with Amenche,the two ladies with the porters came behind.

  "How strange," Roger said. "Last time I came at night through thisgarden I was a fugitive, and you came down to bid me farewell. Nowit is you who have to fly!"

  "When shall we meet again?" the girl sobbed.

  "I cannot tell you, dear; but if I live, we will meet again. Thingsmay right themselves, yet; and at least, whatever happens to thisunfortunate country, we may be happy together. I have a good friendin Malinche, and if the Spaniards conquer, Cortez will certainlygive me leave to marry you. It is his policy to marry his soldiersto the daughters of Mexicans. If Cortez fails, and the Spaniardsare finally driven out, Cacama will recover his own again, and canthen proclaim that I am not of Spanish birth, and can give you tome. So you see that, whatever comes, there is hope that things willgo happily with us."

  "I am afraid, Roger. I fear there is to be no happiness in thisunfortunate country."

  "Then we must leave it together," Roger said cheerfully. "You arenaturally depressed now, and see things in their darkest light; butyou will grow more hopeful again, when you are once established inCuitcatl's home. Arrange with him for Bathalda to act as messengerbetween us. He is faithful and brave, and will manage to reach me,whatever comes of it."

  A few minutes later they were beyond the gardens. The four littersstood ready. The queen and princess and the two ladies took theirseats in them, and the three bundles of valuables were also placedinside.

  "I shall love you--I shall love you until death," Amenche sobbedout, and then the procession moved away, leaving Roger standing byhimself.

  Skirting the outside wall of the garden, he made his way to theshore of the lake. He found the boatmen asleep in their canoe. Assoon as he aroused them, they seized their paddles and, on histaking his seat, pushed off.

  "There is no occasion for speed," he said. "It is but two o'clocknow, and it is of no use our reaching Mexico until daybreak; forthe gates of the palace will be closed, and there will be nogetting in, dressed as I am, until sunrise."

  They therefore paddled quietly across the lake, often resting for aconsiderable time, and so arranging that they approached the cityat the same time as a number of market boats, from the villages onthe lake.

  "Well," Malinche asked with a smile, as he met her in one of thecourts, as he entered, "and where is your lady love?"

  "I have not brought her here," he said, rather indignantly. "Youdid not suppose that I was going to bring her back to a barrackroom? I am not an officer, to have a suite of apartments to myself.Besides, if I could have had the whole palace to myself, I shouldnot have asked her to forsake her sister-in-law, in her distress.The two have fled together, and when the usurper arrives theretoday, he will find that no one knows where they have gone.

  "However, I hope he will not trouble himself about them. Afterhaving taken Cacama's place, he could hardly wish to have Cacama'swife there; and I think he will be very glad when he hears that shehas left.

  "Can I see Cacama? I should like to tell him that his wife is insafety."

  "I will take you with me," Malinche said. "I saw him yesterday,when he was brought before Montezuma. He is a gallant prince, and Igrieve that misfortune has befallen him."

  Malinche led the way to the prison room where Cacama was confined.The sentries at the door passed her and her companion withouthesitation, for they knew that her influence was supreme withCortez, and that orders did not apply to her.

  "I will come again for you, in half an hour," she said, as thesentry unbolted the door.

  Cacama was lying on a couch, covered with rough mats. He sat up asthe door opened; and leaped to his feet, with an exclamation ofsatisfaction, when he saw who his visitor was.

  "I have been longing to see you, Roger," he said. "I knew that youwould come to me, as soon as you could. Have you heard thatMontezuma has deposed me, and appointed Cuicuitzca Lord ofTezcuco?"

  "I heard it yesterday afternoon, Cacama; and crossed at nightfallto Tezcuco, with the news."

  "You saw my wife?" Cacama asked eagerly. "How is she? How does shebear the blow?"

  "She was lost in grief when I first arrived there, but thenecessity for action aroused her. She and Amenche agreed that theywould not await the coming of the usurper today. They left thepalace secretly, under the charge of Cuitcatl, who had litters inreadiness for them; and started for his house, which he placed attheir disposal. None save two attendants, whom they took with them,knew that they had left; and should the usurper seek forthem--which, Cuitcatl agreed with me, is not likely to
be the case,as he will have enough to occupy his time and thoughts--it will belong before he can find whither they have gone.

  "I must tell you, Prince, that the queen last night opened thesecret treasury, and took with her a considerable amount of thegold ornaments and the precious stones; so that she should have themeans, if opportunity occur, of offering bribes either to thenobles of Tezcuco, or to your guards here."

  "I would I were free but for an hour," Cacama said passionately. "Iwould make an example of the treacherous nobles who betrayed us.The queen has done well, in going to the secret chamber. It was tobe kept for an emergency, and never was there a greater emergencyfor Tezcuco than now. Still, there were a large number of jewels inthe public treasury, which she might have taken without breaking inupon the hoard."

  "She thought that Cuicuitzca would, on his arrival, inquire fromthe chief of the treasury if everything was untouched. If he hadfound that a large number of valuables had been taken, he wouldconnect it with the flight, and would at once send in alldirections to overtake them; whereas, if he found that everythingwere untouched, he would think no more of her."

  "Quite right," Cacama agreed. "Yes, it was certainly better to openthe secret chamber. It was closed up again, I hope; for I would notthat all the treasure which my father and grandfather stored awayshould be wasted by Cuicuitzca, or fall into the hands of hisgreedy friends, the Spaniards."

  Roger informed him of the steps that had been taken; and that, withthe exception of the fact that the plaster had been removed, allwas exactly as before; and that the entrance could never bediscovered, unless the cupboard was torn from its place.

  "There is little fear of that being done. All the shelves andfittings of the treasury are of the plainest wood, and offer noinducement to anyone to take the trouble to break them down. Thetreasury might be sacked a dozen times, without its occurring toanyone to break down that small cupboard in the corner."

  Roger now told Cacama of the arrangement that had been made, thatBathalda should act as messenger between himself and Amenche; andsaid he doubted not that, on the following day, the man wouldpresent himself.

  "Have you any message to send to the queen?" he asked.

  "Tell her that I am well, and that I am delighted to hear she hasleft the palace before Cuicuitzca arrives. Bid her on no account totry to stir up the false nobles in my favor. They would only betrayher to Montezuma. And so long as the Spaniards are masters here, itis useless to think of revolt elsewhere.

  "I do not believe that this will last long. The Mexicans arepatient and submissive, but there is a limit, and Montezuma hasalmost reached it. The time cannot be far off when the people willno longer endure the present state of things, here; and when theyrise, they will overwhelm these Spanish tyrants, and then I shallbe freed. I can wait for a few weeks, and I shall doubtless havecompanions here, ere long."

  The door now opened, and Malinche, looking in, told Roger that hemust leave, as she was required by Cortez. Saying goodbye toCacama, therefore, he returned to his quarters.