Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/101

Rh Then, again, one of our men had a helmet, partly gilt, which Teuhtlilli, who was more intelligent than his comrades, thought, when his eye fell on it, was much like one held in inheritance from their forefathers and now used to adorn the head of their idol, Huitzilopochtli in the city of Mexico. Montezuma, he said, would be uncommonly pleased ff he could see that casque. Cortes ordered it given them and said if they would send him the casque full of gold grains he would send it to our great emperor. Upon this Teuhtlilli, protesting his friendship, took leave and said he would speedily return.

This Mexican cacique was not only a statesman, he was a nimble walker, and he went in all haste to Mexico and told the monarch what he had seen and heard, and showed him the pictures which the artists had painted, and also our presents. Montezuma gazed with astonishment and listened with pleasure. But when he saw the helmet, and compared it with that on the Idol, Huitzilopochtli, he no longer doubted that we belonged to the race which, his forefathers had prophesied, should some day come and rule their country.

Six or seven days after he had left us, Teuhtlilli returned one morning with more than one hundred Indians heavily laden, and also accompanied by a Mexican cacique, who In face, form and carriage bore so strong a likeness to our commander that