The National tribune., 1899-04-06
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.

During the wear after the landing O
Cortez in Mexico, Arador de Ieste, {
young Spanish nobleman. arrives at Vera
Cruz and learns that the Knight Calavar
of whom he is in search, is with Cortez
He makes his way TO him in company
with a STRIPPING secretary. sent with hin
by Admiral Cavailero. In the cavalcade
are n Moorish prisoner and his boy
Jacinto, whom Amador defends from an
officer, Salvaiierra. After much difficulty
Amador reaches Cortez's army, and finds
his kinsman, Calayar, afflicted with
melancholy and forgetfulness. The
triumphs of Cortez have fired with ieal-
ousy the heart of Veiasquez, Governor o
Cuba, who sent him to conquer Mexico.
Cortez routs the army sent against him
by Nelasquez, and goes TO TtaScata, a
republican city in the midst of the Aztec
Empire. The army advances to Cholu!a,
whose people are vasSais to Mexico, and
whose enemies are the TlascalanS. Gala
var is struck down by the specter of a
beautiful woman, murdered by him long
years ago at Granada. Abdalla the Moor
deserts to the MeAicans. Don Amador
becomes the protector of Jacinto. Cortez' S
army reaches the Aztec Capital after 4
perilous march, and .Jacinto disappears.
Cortez insults Montezuma and arouses
the wrath of the populace. Cortez'S army
is fiercely attacked and the Mexicans per
ish in thousands before called away by
the sounding of the sacred bugle of Mex
It'll. Accompanied by number of mounted
men, Cortez rides toward the temple,
where a festival is being held in honor Oi
of some Aztec deity. Don Amador sees in
the prieSteSS a Moorish maiden named
Leila, whom he had loved, and precipi-
tates an attack by dashing into the pro
cesSiOn.
Before the Spaniard could recover from
their astonishment, the members of the
procession, deity, priests, censer-bear-
ers, and musicians,-withl loud screams
vanished under the portals; and the in
fidels, starting up in a rage that could be
suppressed no longer, rushed upon the
novice to ayenge, in his blood, the insult
he had offered to their deity.
Quick, a-Gods namei and rescueP
cried Cortez; 'for the young Il an is madi'
There seemed grounds for this imputa-
ton; for, besides the inexplicable folly
of his first act, Don Amador appeared
now, for moment, to be lost in such a
maze, that blows of the heavy maqua-
huitl were rained upon his stout armor,
and several furious hands had clutched
not only upon his spear, but upon him
self, to drag him from the saddle, before
he bethought him to draw his sword and
defend his life. But his sword was, at
last, drawn, his fit dispelled; and before
his countrymen had yet reached him, he
was dealing such blows around him, and
SO urging his courageous steed upon the
assailants, as quickly to put himself out
of the danger OF immediate death.
The passions of the multitude re-
strained, for a moment, by their super
stition or their rulers, were now fully and
unappeasably reused; and with yells that
came at once from the pyramid, from the
temple yard, from the great square, and
the neighboring streets, they rushed upon
the Christians, surrounding them, and
displaying such ferocious determination,
as left them but small hopes of escape.
''God and Spain! honor and famep
cried AlvaradO, spearing barbarian at
Mexicans now, true friends7"
His cheer was lost in the roar of
screams; and nothing but the voice of
Don fernando. we'll known to be as clear
and powerful in battle as the trumpet