“HOW now, thou here yet? In God's name, what
madness hast thou? Up, idiot! up, and fly, or in
mercy I will slay thee here!”

As he spoke, Alvarado touched Orteguilla with the handle
of his axe. The latter sprang up, alarmed.

“Mira, Señor! She is just dead. I could not leave her
dying. I had a vow.”

The cavalier looked at the dead girl; his heart softened.

“I give thee honor, lad, I give thee honor. Hadst thou
left her living, shame would have been to thee forever. But
waste not time in maudlin. Hell's spawn is loose.” With
raised visor, he stood in his stirrups. “See, far as eye can
reach, the street is full! And hark to their yells! Here,
mount behind me; we must go at speed.”

The infidels, faced about, were coming back. The page
gave them one glance, then caught the hand reached out
to him, and placing his foot on the captain's swung
himself behind. At a word, up the street, over the bridges,
by the palaces and temples, the horsemen galloped. The
detachment, at the head of which they had sallied from
the palace, — gunners, arquebusiers, and cross-bowmen, —
had been started in return some time before; upon overtaking
them, Alvarado rode to a broad-shouldered fellow,

[figure description] Page 428.[end figure description]

whose grizzly beard overflowed the chin-piece of his morion: —

“Ho, Mesa! the hounds we followed so merrily were only
feigning; they have turned upon us. Do thou take the rear,
with thy guns. We will to the front, and cut a path to the
gate. Follow closely.”

“Doubt not, captain. I know the trick. I caught it in
Italy.”

“Cierto! What thou knowest not about a gun is not
worth the knowing,” Alvarado said; then to the page, “Dismount,
lad, and take place with these. What we have ahead
may require free man and free horse. Picaro! If anybody
is killed, thou hast permission to use his arms. What say
ye, compañeros mios?” he cried, facing the detachment.
“What say ye? Here I bring one whom we thought roasted
and eaten by the cannibals in the temples. Either he hath
escaped by miracle, or they are not judges of bones good
to mess upon. He is without arms. Will ye take care of
him? I leave him my shield. Will ye take care of that
also?”

And Najerra, the hunchback, replied, “The shield we
will take, Señor; but —”

“But what?”

“Señor, may a Christian lawfully take what the infidels
have refused?”

And they looked at Orteguilla, and laughed roundly, —
the bold, confident adventurers; in the midst of the jollity,
however, down the street came a sound deeper than that of
the guns, — a sound of abysmal depth, like thunder, but
without its continuity, — a divided, throbbing sound, such
as has been heard in the throat of a volcano. Alvarado
threw up his visor.

“What now?” asked Serrano, first to speak.

“One, two, three, — I have it!” the captain replied.

[figure description] Page 429.[end figure description]

“Count ye the strokes, — one, two, three. By the bones of
the saints, the drum in the great temple! Forward, comrades!
Our friends are in peril! If they are lost, so are
we. Forward, in Christ's name!”

Afterwards they became familiar with the sound; but
now, heard the first time in battle, every man of them was
affected. They moved off rapidly, and there was no jesting,—
none of the grim wit with which old soldiers sometimes
cover the nervousness preceding the primary plunge into a
doubtful fight.

“Close the files. Be ready!” shouted Serrano.

And ready they were, — matches lighted, steel-cords full
drawn. Every drum-beat welded them a firmer unit.

The roar of the combat in progress around the palace had
been all the time audible to the returning party; now they
beheld the teocallis covered with infidels, and the street
blockaded with them, while a cloud of smoke, slowly rising
and slowly fading, bespoke the toils and braveries of the
defence enacting under its dun shade. Suddenly, Alvarado
stood in his stirrups, —

“Ola! what have we here?”

A body of Aztecs, in excellent order, armed with spears of
unusual length, and with a front that swept the street from
wall to wall, was marching swiftly to meet him.

“There is wood enough in those spears to build a ship,”
said a horseman.

A few steps on another spoke, —

“If I may be allowed, Señor, I suggest that Mesa be called
up to play upon them awhile.”

But Alvarado's spirit rose.

“No; there is an enemy fast coming behind us; turn thy
ear in that direction, and thou mayest hear them already. We
cannot wait. Battle-axe and horse first; if they fail, then
the guns. Look to girth and buckle!”

[figure description] Page 430.[end figure description]

Rode they then without halt or speech until the space between
them and the coming line was not more than forty
yards.

“Are ye ready?” asked Alvarado, closing his visor.

“Ready, Señor.”

“Axes, then! Follow me. Forward! Christo y Santiago!”

At the last word, the riders loosed reins, and standing in
their stirrups bent forward over the saddle-bow, as well to
guard the horse as to discover points of attack; each poised
his shield to protect his breast and left side, — the axe and
right arm would take care of the right side; each took up
the cry, Christo y Santiago; then, like pillars of iron on
steeds of iron, they charged. From the infidels one answering
yell, and down they sank, each upon his knee; and
thereupon, the spears, planted on the ground, presented a
front so bristling that leader less reckless than Alvarado
would have stopped in mid-career. Forward, foremost in the
charge, he drove, right upon the brazen points, a score or
more of which rattled against his mail or that of his steed,
and glanced harmlessly, or were dashed aside by the axe
whirled from right to left with wonderful strength and skill.
Something similar happened to each of his followers. A
moment of confusion, — man and beast in furious action,
clang of blows, splintering of wood, and battle-cries, — then
two results: the Christians were repulsed, and that before
the second infidel rank had been reached; and while they
were in amongst the long spears, fencing and striking, clear
above the medley of the mêlée they heard a shout, Al-a-lala!
Al-a-lala! Alvarado looked that way; looked
through the yellow shafts and brazen points. Brief time
had he; yet he beheld and recognized the opposing leader.
Behind the kneeling ranks he stood, without trappings,
without a shield even; a maquahuitl, edged with flint,

[figure description] Page 431.[end figure description]

sharp as glass, hard as steel, was his only weapon; behind
him appeared an irregular mass of probably half a thousand
men, unarmed and almost naked. Even as the good
captain looked, the horde sprang forward, and by pressing
between the files of spearmen, or leaping panther-like
over their shoulders, gained the front. There they rushed
upon the horsemen, entangled amidst the spears, — to capture,
not slay them; for, by the Aztec code of honor, the
measure of a warrior's greatness was the number of prisoners
he brought out of battle, a present to the gods, not the number
of foemen he slew. The rush was like that of wolves
upon a herd of deer. First to encounter a Christian was the
chief. The exchange of blows was incredibly quick. The
horse reared, plunged blindly, then rolled upon the ground;
the flinty maquahuitl, surer than the axe, had broken its
leg. A cry, sharpened by mortal terror, — a Spanish cry
for help, in the Mother's name. Christians and infidels
looked that way, and from the latter burst a jubilant
yell, —

“The 'tzin! The 'tzin!”

The successful leader stooped, and wrenched the shield
from the fallen man; then he swung the maquahuitl twice,
and brought it down on the mailed head of the horse: the
weapon broke in pieces; the steed lay still forever.

Now, Alvarado was not the man to let the cry of a comrade
go unheeded.

“Turn, gentlemen! One of us is down; hear ye not the
name of Christ and the Mother? To the rescue! Charge!
Christo y Santiago!”

Forward the brave men spurred; the spears closed around
them as before, while the unarmed foe, encouraged by the
'tzin's achievement, redoubled their efforts to drag them from
their saddles. In disregard of blows, given fast as skilled
hands could rise and fall, some flung themselves upon the

[figure description] Page 432.[end figure description]

legs and necks of the horses, where they seemed to cling
after the axe had spattered their brains or the hoofs crushed
their bones; some caught the bridle-reins, and hung to them
full weight; others struggled with the riders directly, hauling
at them, leaping behind them, catching sword-arm and
shield; and so did the peril finally grow that the Christians
were forced to give up the rescue, the better to take care of
themselves.

“God's curses upon the dogs!” shouted Alvarado, in fury
at sight of the Spaniard dragged away. “Back, some
of ye, who can, to Serrano! Bid him advance. Quick,
or we, too, are lost!”

No need; Serrano was coming. To the very spears he
advanced, and opened with cross-bow and arquebus; yet the
infidels remained firm. Then the dullest of the Christians
discerned the 'tzin's strategy, and knew well, if the line in
front of them were not broken before the companies coming
up the street closed upon their rear, they were indeed lost.
So at the word, Mesa came, his guns charged to the muzzles.
To avoid his own people, he sent one piece to the right of
the centre of combat, and the other to the left, and trained
both to obtain the deepest lines of cross-fire. The effect
was indescribable; yet the lanes cloven through the kneeling
ranks were instantly refilled.

The 'tzin became anxious.

“Look, Hualpa!” he said. “The companies should be up
by this time. Can you see them?”

“The smoke is too great; I cannot see.”

Some of his people attacking the horsemen began to
retreat behind the spearmen. He caught up the axe of
the Spaniard, and ran where the smoke was most blinding.
In a moment he was at the front; clear, inspiring, joyous
even, rose his cry. He rushed upon a bowman, caught him
in his arms, and bore him off with all his armor on. A

[figure description] Page 433.[end figure description]

hundred ready hands seized the unfortunate. Again the
cry, —

“The 'tzin! The 'tzin!”

“Another victim for the gods!” he answered. “Hold
fast, O my countrymen! Behind the strangers come the
companies. Do what I say, and Anahuac shall live.”

At his word, they arose; at his word again, they advanced,
with levelled spears. Faster the missiles smote them; the
horsemen raged; each Spaniard felt, unless that line were
broken his doom was come. Alvarado fought, never thinking
of defence. The bowmen and arquebusiers recoiled. Twice
Mesa drew back his guns. Finally, Don Pedro outdid himself,
and broke the fence of spears; his troop followed him;
right and left they plunged, killing at every step. At places,
the onset of the infidels slackened, halted; then the ranks
began to break into small groups; at last, they dropped their
arms, and fairly fled, bearing the 'tzin away in the mighty
press for life. At their backs rode the vengeful horsemen, and
behind the horsemen, over the dead and shrieking wretches,
moved Serrano and Mesa.

And to the very gates of the palace the fight continued.
A ship in its passage displaces a body of water; behind,
however, follows an equal reflux: so with the Christians,
except that the masses who closed in upon their rear outnumbered
those they put to rout in front. Their rapid
movement had the appearance of flight; on the other hand,
that of the infidels had the appearance of pursuit. The
sortie was not again repeated.

Seven days the assault went on, — a week of fighting, intermitted
only at night, under cover of which the Aztecs
carried off their dead and wounded, — the former to the lake,
the latter to the hospitals. Among the Christians some there
were who had seen grand wars; some had even served under

[figure description] Page 434.[end figure description]

the Great Captain: but, as they freely averred, never had
they seen such courage, devotion, and endurance, such indifference
to wounds and death, as here. At times, the
struggle was hand to hand; then, standing upon their point
of honor, the infidels perished by scores in vain attempts to
take alive whom they might easily have slain; and this it
was, — this fatal point of honor, — more than superiority in
any respect, that made great battles so bloodless to the Spaniards.
Still, nearly all of the latter were wounded, a few
disabled, and seven killed outright. Upon the Tlascalans
the losses chiefly fell; hundreds of them were killed; hundreds
more lay wounded in the chambers of the palace.

The evening of the seventh day, the 'tzin, standing on the
western verge of the teocallis, from which he had constantly
directed the assault, saw coming the results which could
alone console him for the awful sacrifice of his countrymen.
The yells of the Tlascalans were not as defiant as formerly;
the men of iron, the Christians, were seen to sink wearily
down at their posts, and sleep, despite the tumult of the
battle; the guns were more slowly and carefully served; and
whereas, before Cortes departure there had been three meals
a day, now there were but two: the supply of provisions
was failing. The ancient house, where constructed of wood,
showed signs of demolition; fuel was becoming scant.
Where the garrison obtained its supply of water was a marvel.
He had not then heard of what Father Bartolomé afterwards
celebrated as a miracle of Christ, — the accidental finding
of a spring in the middle of the garden.

Then the assault was discontinued, and a blockade established.
Another week, during which nothing entered the
gates of the palace to sustain man or beast. Then there was
but one meal a day, and the sentinels on the walls began to
show the effect.

One day the main gate opened, and a woman and a man

[figure description] Page 435.[end figure description]

came out. The 'tzin descended from his perch to meet them.
At the foot of the steps they knelt to him, — the princess
Tula and the prince Io'.

“See, O 'tzin,” said the princess, “see the king's signet.
We bring you a message from him. He has not wherewith
to supply his table. Yesterday he was hungry. He bids
you re-open the market, and send of the tributes of the provinces
without stint, — all that is his kingly right.”

“And if I fail?” asked Guatamozin.

“He said not what, for no one has ever failed his order.”

And the 'tzin looked at Io'.

“What shall I do, O son of the king?”

In all the fighting, Io' had stayed in the palace with his
father. Through the long days he had heard the voices of
the battle calling to him. Many times he walked to the
merlons of the azoteas, and saw the 'tzin on the temple,
or listened to his familiar cry in the street. And where,—
so ran his thought the while, — where is Hualpa? Happy
fellow! What glory he must have won, — true warrior-glory
to flourish in song forever! A heroic jealousy
would creep upon him, and he would go back miserable to
his chamber.

“One day more, O 'tzin, and all there is in the palace—
king and stranger alike — is yours,” Io' made answer.
“More I need not say.”

“Then you go not back?”

“No,” said Tula.

“No,” said Io'. “I came out to fight. Anahuac is our
mother. Let us save her, O 'tzin!”

And the 'tzin looked to the sun; his eyes withstood its
piercing splendors awhile, then he said, calmly, —

“Go with the princess Tula where she chooses, Io';
then come back. The gods shall have one day more, though
it be my last. Farewell.”

[figure description] Page 436.[end figure description]

They arose and went away. He returned to the azoteas.

Next day there was not one meal in the palace. Starvation
had come. And now the final battle, or surrender!
Morning passed; noon came; later, the sun began to go
down the sky. In the streets stood the thousands, — on all
the housetops, on the temple, they stood, — waiting and
looking, now at the leaguered house, now at the 'tzin seated
at the verge of the teocallis, also waiting.

Suddenly a procession appeared on the central turret of
the palace, and in its midst, Montezuma.

“The king! the king!” burst from every throat; then
upon the multitude fell a silence, which could not have been
deeper if the earth had opened and swallowed the city.

The four heralds waved their silver wands; the white carpet
was spread, and the canopy brought and set close by the
eastern battlement of the turret; then the king came and
stood in the shade before the people. At sight of him
and his familiar royalty the old love came back to them,
and they fell upon their knees. He spoke, asserting his
privileges; he bade them home, and the army to its quarters.
He promised that in a short time the strangers, whose guest
he was, would leave the country; they were already preparing
to depart, he said. How wicked the revolt would then
be! How guilty the chiefs who had taken arms against his
order! He spoke as one not doubtful of his position, but
as king and priest, and was successful. Stunned, confused,
uncertain as to duty, nigh broken-hearted, the fighting
people and disciplined companies arose, and, like a conquered
mob, turned to go away.

Down from his perch rushed the 'tzin. He put himself
in the midst of the retiring warriors. He appealed to them
in vain. The chiefs gathered around him, and knelt, and
kissed his hands, and bathed his feet with their tears; they
acknowledged his heroism, — they would die with him;

[figure description] Page 437.[end figure description]

but while the king lived, under the gods, he was master,
and to disobey him was sacrilege.

Then the 'tzin saw, as if it were a god's decree, that Anahuac
and Montezuma could not both live. One or the
other must die! And never so wise as in his patience, he
submitted, and told them, —

“I will send food to the palace, and cease the war now,
and until we have the voice of Huitzil' to determine what
we shall do. Go, collect the companies, and put them in their
quarters. This night we will to Tlalac; together, from his
sacred lips, we will hear our fate, and our country's. Go
now. At midnight come to the teocallis.”

At midnight the sanctuary of Huitzil' was crowded; so
was all the azoteas. Till the breaking of dawn the sacrifices
continued. At last, the teotuctli, with a loud cry, ran and
laid a heart in the fire before the idol; then turning to the
spectators, he said, in a loud voice, —

“Let the war go on! So saith the mighty Huitzil'! Woe
to him who refuses to hear!”

And the heart that attested the will was the heart of a
Spaniard.

p733-457

Previous section

Next section