Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/209

Rh our men who was a carpenter, noticed traces, all neatly plastered over, of a doorway in the wall of one of our apartments. Report that the treasure of Montezuma's father was secreted somewhere in our quarters had reached us, and our carpenter conjectured that this doorway might be the very opening to the treasury. He told two of our chief officers, relatives of mine, and these officers carried the conjecture to Cortes. The door was thereupon secretly opened, and Cortes with several officers went in. They found such vast quantities of jewels, thick and thin plates of gold, chalchihuites and other riches heaped together that they were quite speechless at the sight. News of the treasure now spread to all of our men, and very secretly we all went in to view it. I was still a young man and had never seen vast riches, but I felt sure there could not be another such mass in all the world. However, all our officers agreed that we should leave it untouched, and that the doorway should be walled up as before, and we should not speak of it lest Montezuma learn of our discovery.

All of us, officers and soldiers, were men of energy and experience, who believed that our master, Jesus Christ, aided us with his divine hand, and we now deputed four officers and twelve of our most trusted and faithful soldiers, of whom I was one, to represent to Cortes how we were cooped up in this strong city.