Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/162

130. The third day, however, a change came over them. They neither brought us anything to eat nor did any cacique or papa appear, and if any Indians from curiosity came to gaze at us, they smiled mockingly. Our captain seeing this, told our interpreters, Donna Marina and Aguilar, to tell the ambassadors of Montezuma, still in our company, that they must order the caciques to send us food. Wood and water now reached us, but the old men who brought it said that in all Cholula there was no more maize.

That very day, also, other ambassadors arrived from Montezuma, joining those staying with us, and they said in impudent tones that their monarch sent them to say we should not come to his city, for he could not give us food; and, moreover, they were in a hurry to go back to Mexico with our answer. As soon as Cortes saw the unfriendliness their speech implied, he answered in most courteous manner that he marvelled how so great a ruler as Montezuma should so often change his mind, and he begged them not to return to Mexico, for he himself thought of starting the very next day.

As soon as the conference was ended Cortes called us together and told us, "These people are very much set against us, and we must be particularly on our guard." He then sent to the chief cacique, telling him if he could not himself come to send some other chief. In answer the cacique said that he himself