The National tribune., 1899-04-27
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.

During the year after the landing o
Cortez in Mexico, Amador de Leste,
young Spanish nobleman, arrives at Verf
Cruz and learns that the Knight Calavar
of whom he is i'll search, is with Cortez
He makes his way to him in compan,
with a STRIPPING secretary, sent with hin
by Admiral .Caya!lero. In the cavalcads
are Moorish prisoner and his boy
Jacinto, whom Amador defends from al
officer, Salvatierra. After much difficulty
An,ador reaches Cortez's army, and finds
his Ilinsman, Calavar, afflicted with
triunphS CT CGrteZ have fired with jeal
ousy the heart Of NelasqueZ, Governor o
Cuba, who sent him to conquer Mexico.
C0rtcz routs The army sent against him
by EeIasquez, and goes TO T,aScala, a
republican city III the midst of the Aztec
Empire. The army advances to Choiu!a,
whose people are vassalS to Mexico, and
var is struck down by the specteT of a
beautiful woman, murdered by him long
years ago at Granada. Abdalla the Moor
deserts to the Mcxicans. Don Amador
becomes the protector Of JacintO. CorteZ' S
army reaches the Aztec Capital after n
periious march, ard Jacinto disappears.
Cortez insults Alontezurna and arOuses
the wrath Of the populacc. Cortez's army
is fierceIy attacked and the Mexicans Per
isll in thousands before called away by
the sounding Of the sacred bugle of Mex
It'll. Accompanied by anumber of mounted
men, Cortez rides toward the temple.
Don Amador sees in the prieSteSS a
Moorish maiden named Leila, whom he
had loved, and Precipitates an attack
by daslling into the procession. The
Spaniards regain the protection Of the
palace walls only after hours Of fighting,
where they are besieged by the Mexicans.
IL H.,
from his couch, refreshed, but not re-
animated by slumber. An oppressive
gloorn lay ct his heart, with the feeling
OF physical weight; and without yet yield
ing to any definite apprehension, he was
conscious OF some presentiment, or vague
forehoding OF sorrow. The taper had e1-
pired on the pedestal, but an obscure
light, the first beam of morning, guided
him to the bedside OF his kinsman. The
form of Baltasar was added to that Oh
Marco on the floor; and the serving men
slept as soundly as their master. lie
bent moment over Don Gabriel, and
though unable to perceive his counte-
nance in the gloom, he Judged, by the
calmness of his breathing, that the fever
had abated. Heaven grant that the de-
1irium may have departed with it!' he
muttered to himself, "and that my poor
friend may look upon me nationally once
nlorel II we are to perish under the
as now seems to nee somewhat more than
possible, better will it be for my kins-
mans soul that he die with the name
of God on his lips, instead of those OF the
spirits which torment him."
While the cavalier gave way to such
thoughts, he heard very distinctly,
though at great distance, such sounds
as convinced him that "the unwearyins
barbarians" were indeed rousing again
for another day OF battle. Ee armed him
self with the more haste that he heard
also in the passage the sound of feet, as
if the garrison had been already sum-
moned, and were hurrying to the walls
AS he passed from the apartment, he
found himself suddenly in the midst of
group of cavaliers, one of whom grasped
his hand, and pressing it warmly whis-
pered in his ear: 81 will not forget that 1
owe thee the life of Benita!-Come with |
me, nv friend, and thou shalt see how |
pride is punished With sl, $ shame, and in
II thought" said Don AmadOr, "that |
we were about to be attacked, and that
NV friends were running to the defense"