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208 when Cortez received it with every token of joy. The soldiers hurrahed, the cannon thundered out a salute in a way which thoroughly perplexed the Aztec chief. But the fact that the Spaniards were divided among themselves came out in time, in spite of all the efforts which Cortez made to hide it.

Angry at the presumption of Cortez in securing so rich a prize for himself, the Cuban governor had sent this force to take him prisoner and wrest this new empire from his hands. Narvaez, the commander of the fleet, was appointed to capture and supersede him. He landed where Cortez first entered Mexico, and the same Indians came flocking to his camp. It was soon seen that these white men were no friends of the conquering heroes who held Mexico in their iron grip, and the news had been discussed in secret meetings of the Aztec council before the Spanish soldiers who were under the same roof knew anything of it.

Hearing about the garrison at Villa Rica, Narvaez sent a summons to the commander to surrender. The insolent attacks made in the summons on the honor of his general so provoked the trusty Sandoval, who had charge of the fort, that he refused to allow the messenger to finish reading it, whereupon the envoy grew very angry and threatened them all with the gallows. Sandoval coolly remarked that if he insisted on reading the summons he should have an opportunity to do so to Cortez himself, and, turning to some stout Indian porters, ordered them to seize the envoys, bind them securely and carry them like so many packs of merchandise to the Spanish general.

News of this strange party reached Cortez in time for him to give them a proper reception. He sent orders to