Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/211

Rh imagine, gentlemen, that I sleep in peace, or that what you state has not caused me the anxiety you express. But let us weigh well first. Are we strong enough in numbers to seize this great monarch in the midst of his guards and other warriors? By what bold deed can we so do this that he will not call on his warriors to attack us at once? "

Four of our officers said that the only way was to entice Montezuma out of his palace into our quarters, and then tell him he must remain a prisoner and if he offered any resistence or cried out, he must die. If our captain did not himself wish any hand in such a business, the officers said that they themselves would carry it out, for between the two dangers in which we stood it was better for us to take the monarch prisoner then to wait till he made war on us—for if he attacked us, what escape should we have? Moreover, some of us soldiers told Cortes that the house-steward who supplied us food had taken on haughty airs and did not supply us so well as at first. Lastly, our allies, the Tlaxcalans, had secretly said to our interpreter, Aguilar, that the Mexicans these last two days had not seemed kindly disposed toward us.

One whole hour we spent deliberating whether or not we should take Montezuma prisoner, and how the deed was to be done. At last we came to full conclusion, and Cortes gave his consent. All that