The National tribune., 1899-03-30
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS,

During the year after the landing O
COrteZ in Mexico, AmadOr de Ieste, {
young Spanish nobleman, arrives at Vera
Cruz and learns that the Knight Caiavar
OF whom he is in search, is with CorteZ
He makes his way to him in compan,
with STRIPPING secretary, sent with hin
by Admiral Cavallero. In the cavalcadt
are Moorish prisoner and his bo,
Jacinto, whom Amador defends from IN
officer, Salvatierra. After much difficult,
Amador reaches Cortez's army, and finds
his kinsman, Calavar, afflicted with
melancholy and forgetfulness. The
triumphs of CorteZ have fired with ieal-
ousy the heart of VelasqueZ, Governor oi
Cuba, who sent him 10 conquer Me cxicc.
Cortez routs The army sent against him
by EelaSqueZ, and goes TO T!asca!a. a
republican city in the midst of the Azicc
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 Il
beautiful woman, murdered by him long
years ago at Granada. Abdalla the Moor
deserts 10 the McAicans. Don A:nador
becomes the protector of .Iacinto. C1rtcz' $
army reaches the Aztec Capital after Il
perilous march, and Jacinto disappears.
CorteZ insults MonteZuma and arouSes
the wrath Of the populace. The Spanish
garrison is attacked
The neophyte had been informed by his
friend De Morla, as proof of the degree Of
civilization reached by the MeXicans, that
their armies were formed with method,
and as regularly div ided and commanded
as those of ChristendOm.-each tribe dis
playing under a peculiar banner, repre-.
senting the arms, or, as we should say OF
our Northern bands, the totem, of the
race, and each tribe separated into squad
ronS and companies. led by Subalterns vi
precisely aScertained rank and power.
Ea perceived none of these marks OF dis
cipline among the assailants; and, while
properly appreciating their devoted c0ur-
age, was obliged TO consider them no bet
ter than a furious and confused mob.
He was right: the warriors of Mexico
had not yet appeared, and these Wild
creatures, who came ungeneralled and
unadvised to the attack, were no more
than the common citizens, fired by the
distresses of their king, and rushing TO
his aid, without any bond of connection
or government, save the unanimity of
their fury. The violence with which they
feaped to the attack carried them TO the
gates of the court and to the mouths OF
the artillery, where they fell under the
spears of the Spaniards, or were scattered
like chaf at each murderous discharge
of the cannon.
Added to this, the Tlascalans, animated
by their ancient hatred, and the presence
of him whom they esteemed almost
god, cianIbered upon the wall, and with
their clubs and lances did bloody execu-
ton on the multitudes below. 7 he Tlas-
calans were, indeed almost the only per
sons of the garrison who suffered much
loss; for the Spaniards, cased in iron and
escaupil, and fenced behind the wall, or
the battlements of the terrace, discharged
their cToSshowS and musketS and
handled their long spears in compare
tive safety.
The din of yells and screams, mingled
with the crash of arquebuses and the |
sharp clang of steel crossbows, was, in
itself, internal; while the peals of artil-
lery, served with such skill and con-
stancy, that, every half minute, there |
was one or other discharged from some |
quarter OF the palace, leaving, at each |
discharge, a long avenue OF death among
The crowds, converted what might have
seemed a scene of elysium into a spec
tacle OF hell.