The San Francisco call., 1910-06-19
ny ACToN AnCHER


fought with the most desperate courage
and finally drove the invaders for a
time from the city in the lake of Tex
coco. They fed In disorder by means
of the long causeways of earth and
stone which had been built TO connect
the city with the shore. They even re-
treated across the mountains. but it
was only to prepare for another attack.
Montezuma. the emperor. had been
killed and his brother. who succeeded
him. lived only a few months after com
ing to the throne. The Aztecs then
chose his nephew, Guatemo, a young
man OF great bravery. to rule over
them Guatemo made such preparation
as he could. but the enemy came back
with larger army than before. Cortes
this time brought ships. which had been
built beyond the mountains. They were
carried i'm pieces by the natives over
the rocky passes and put together on
the lake. They gave the Spaniards
command of the water, and Cortes soon
made himself master of large part of
the city. The. Aztecs. though they
fought desperately were forced back
little by little until they were cooped
up in small quarter of the city. to de-
fend themselves as best they could.
Here thousands of men. women and
children were herded together. They
had no water, for the lake was salt and
the pipes that had brought water from
the shore had been cut Nor had they
any means Of getting food. and the
small supply that had been provided
was nearly gone. The wailing of hun
CRY children sounded dolefnlly through
days and nights.
Nam and Ital, who had been pages of
the Emperor Montezuma made up their
minds that the end must come soon un-
less food could be brought from the
rh iS
Aztecs attempted to obtain supplies in
their canoes, but few of them managed
to escape the ships. which were always
on the watch. The bold canoes were
sunk by cannon shot and the men in
them went to the bottom of the lake.
While the unfortunate Aztecs were
starving their hunger was made
sharper by the sight of fleets of canoes
which passed daily between that part
of the city held by the Spaniards and
the shore laden with food. 1t was cas-
ier to bring it by water than along the
causeways for there were no horses in
Mexico excepting those brought by the
Spaniards for use in battle Some of
the provision fleets came from distant
parts OF the lake. making long jour
neys and the boys watched them BY
the hour trying to devise some plan
for getting at their precious cargoes
There came day at last when the
sultry air seemed heavy with moisture
and the sun looked faint in the hazy'
sky The Aztecs prayed that 1t would
rain and thus give them water. Nam
and Itai. looking out over the lake from
housetop, noticed provision fleet OF
several hundred canoes putting out
from the distant shore for the Spanish
side of the city.
II think that we are going to have a
chance to get something TO eat Nam
remarked
What do you mean?' said Ital in
surprise.
"waitw Nam replied. II have a
plan.'
He had noticed that the mountain
tops were gradually being hidden by q
mist that settled lower and lower
toward the surface of the lake The
canoes advanced from the shore over
the smooth water. trailing long ripples
behind them. Apparently the rowers
had not seen the mist. or, IL they had.
thought nothing OF IT.. since there was
nothing to be feared from the Aztecs
any longer upon the lake. But Nam
saw that the misty curtain would soon
hide everything.
Come he said. when he had made
sure OF what was to take place. Let
us go to the emperor"
Ital followed, very curious to learn
what Nam was thinking about. He
knew that his companion was far ciev-
cerer than he and he admired him
greatly. They were admitted at once
into the emperor's presence and Nam
lost no time In explaining his idea.
II would take all the canoes that can
be made TO float" he said "and let
them be in readiness upon the water
side, but in concealment. Ital and /
will go out in a canoe and meet the
fleet. The mist will lie thick upon the
water. and we may be able to persuade
them to land in our quarter OF the city
instead of on the other side. Night
will fall soon and fires should be
lighted to resemble the camp fires of
the Spaniards."
He spoke eagerly and Guatemo. sad
as he was, could not help smiling at his
enthusiasm. what would you have
fha ofhar % poas do9't he aaxad