Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/224

188 If I were to tell the veneration and service paid him by all the caciques of the country, I should find no end. Not a thing he wished that was not brought, even if it were on the wing. For instance, one day when some of us were with him a hawk swooped down through an open hall upon a quail; for the Indian steward who had charge of cleaning our rooms kept some quail and pigeons. When the hawk seized and carried off its quarry, one of our men cried, "What a fine hawk! and how well he flew! "We all united in saying how capital it was, and that the country abounded in birds for hawking. Montezuma observing our lively talk asked what we were saying; and when the interpreter explained that If we had such a bird we would teach it to fly from the hand and attack any bird of any size and kill It, the monarch said, "Then I will have this very hawk caught, and we shall see If you can teach It and hunt with it." Upon this we all doffed our caps and thanked him for his kindness. He at once summoned his bird-catchers and told them to bring that hawk. Before the hour of the Ave Maria they actually brought the very bird. So It was, even now, In his confinement, his subjects stood In such awe of him that if he expressed wish for them, they brought him birds that flew In the skies above.