The San Francisco call., 1910-06-19
WHY MANS EFFORTS TO SAVE THE AZTEC EMPIRE FAILED

that III the merchants saw thHN lhey
were trying to get away they would
take alarm. Soon the glow OF the hres
showed through the mist
what did I tell you?' said Nam to
the merchants.
Apparently they were convinced Tor
they did not hesitate. but padded on
straight for the shore Suddenly the
outline of the buildings became visible
behind the fires and the merchants
knew then that they had been trapped.
for the Spaniards had torn down all
the houses on their side OF the CITY
One OF the merchants uttered cry,
and at the same moment Nam shouted
"Montezumal" at the top of his voice
and before Ital knew what was hap
pening he found himself in the water.
Nam had overturned the canoe to es-
cape the weapons that he knew would
be hurled at them by the merchants.
Both boys dived and swan toward
the shore The merchants halted in
confusion. and in twinklng 1t was too
late for them to escapes The Aztec
craft shot out upon the lake and sur
rounded them. and all the canoes were
taken. BY means of this capture thou
sands were saved from starvation and
the Aztecs were able to continue their
resistance for several days longer; but
the time soon came when food again
failed them.
Nam and Ital were fishing one day in
a canal that ran close to the wall OF
the house where the emperor was
lodged. A poor woman with a crying
baby in her arms sat near watching
them with hungry eyes,
I'VE shall never get away alive, ltal
said. after long silence.
Perhaps not" Nam replied, but at
any rate the priests say that II we die
here we shall be certain of happiness in
the next world under the protection of
their war god.
II don't think much of his promises,
Ital said contemptuously since he has
allowed the Spaniards to roll him down
the steps of his own temple"
Here's fish, cried Nam, and he
drew up small fish with bright silver
scales. Ital pounced upon it and split
it into two parts with his knife before
it ceased to wriggle. The boys were
about to devour it. raw as it was. when
the woman who had been watching
them drew nearer, holding out her
child.
Have PITY! she said in trembling
voice His father has been killed by
the foes of the emperor and he can not
live through the night unless l find
food"
Nam and Ital looked at her and then
at each other. The pangs of their hun
ger were sharp, but without a word
each handed to the woman his share
of the fish.
"We may catch another" said Nam.
dropping his line again as she fastened
away.
There is no danger that we shall
starve TO DEATH said Ital.
why not?' Nam asked,
"Do you see that boat?" Ital replied,
pointing to magnificent barge that
had been moored in the canal.
YES what of it?
"It has been brought here for the
emperor" said Ital "He intends to
escape If he can. There is nothing left
of the city, and he will continue the
war on Shore"
when will he go?"
"In the next battle, when every one
will be thinking of something else and
his boat will not be noticed"
Ital was wrong in this. for the en-
peror remained in the city through the
next fight. in which terrible losses
were inflicted upon the Aztecs, who
were so weak that they could scarcely
shoot their arrows or hurl their spears.
But on the following day, when the at
tack was renewed, the royal barge.
with the emperor on board, dashed out
of the canal and started for the shore
across the lake. 1t was seen by one
OF the Spanish ships and captured be-
fore 1t had gone half way. The en-
peror was prisoner. AS soon as the
fact became known TO the Aztecs they
laid down their arms. All their sacri-
fees and sufferings had been in vain.
Cortez spared the lives OF the sur
vivors and gave them permission to
leave the hunger stricken city. For
three days they dragged themselves by
thousands mournfully along the cause
ways to the shore. After giving such
aid as they could to the more helpless,
Nam and Ital went to take leave of the
emperor and TO ask him whether there
was anything that they could do for
him.
mo" he replied sadly. 81 thank
you, but all is ended for me and my
unfortunate people. You have been
faithful to the last"
He gave them each a ring with his
royal seal and they left his presence
Sore at heart and faint with privation