Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/215

Rh that were to be at once executed. As to our presumption in proposing to take him away from his house, he said he was astounded, that he was not one from whom we should make such a demand and he was not minded to go.

Cortes in return gave very good arguments for our having come to our conclusions, but Montezuma brought even stronger showing why he should not leave his house. In this way above half an hour went by, when Juan Velasquez de Leon, whose voice was uncommonly loud and harsh, spoke out to Cortes and in what he said expressed the feelings of the other officers impatiently sitting by, "What's the use of making so many words? He must either go quietly with us, or we cut him down on the spot. Tell him once more that if he cries out we shall kill him. On this depend our lives."

When Montezuma saw the black looks of our officers, and heard Leon's rough voice, he asked Donna Marina what the man who spoke so loud said. Marina, who, as I have before remarked, was very clever and knew well how to give a good answer, replied, "Great ruler, what I counsel is that you go at once to their quarters and build up no further difficulties. I know they will pay you every respect belonging to a great cacique. If you remain here they will cut you down."

Thereupon Montezuma turned to Cortes. "