Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/231

Rh gods hereafter give a better answer. For the present I wish and beg you to give some proof of allegiance. I ask that no one refuse. Malinche has importuned me on this point. During the eighteen years I have been your ruler you have been loyal to me. I have broadened your territories and given you wealth. If I am now captive, it is because the great Huitzilopochtli has willed it."

After this reasoning and statement of Montezuma, the caciques declared that they would do as he wished, but they broke into tears, and Montezuma himself wept most of all. The next day, in the presence of Cortes and his officers, they gave their pledge to our king, all in the same deep grief of yesterday. Even we ourselves, from the love we bore Montezuma, were softened at the sight of his tears, and wept with him. We strove to redouble our attentions to him, and our captain with the Padre de Olmedo scarcely left him a moment.

One day Cortes was, as usual, sitting with Montezuma, when through our interpreters. Donna Marina and Aguilar, he asked of the monarch where the mines were, and the rivers, in which they found their gold, and by what method they collected what they had brought him in dust. Our captain said he wanted to send out two of his men proficient in mining.

The gold, Montezuma replied, came mostly from