Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/251

Rh Three whole days the monarch was in possession of this news and Cortes knew nothing about it. One day, however, when our captain went to pay his usual visit, he said to Montezuma that it seemed to him he looked in particularly good spirits, and he asked the monarch how it was. Montezuma answered that he felt better than he had for some time. Astonished at this sudden change, Cortes called again the same day, and the monarch then feared he knew about the ships, and to turn aside suspicion he said, "Malinche, I have just this moment heard that eighteen ships and a great number of troops and horses have come to port where you landed. It has all been painted on cloth and sent me. You have come twice to-day, and doubtless this time you bring me the news. Now you will have no need to build ships. Because you did not tell me of it I may have felt hurt, yet I am delighted at the arrival of your brothers, for you can go back to Spain now. This removes all difficulties."

When Cortes heard this and saw the paintings on the cloth he exclaimed in delight, "Thank God! who at the right time sends aid for us!" As for us—we soldiers were so rejoiced that we could not keep quiet, and our horsemen galloped about firing salute after salute. Cortes, however, saw plainly that Diego Velasquez had sent the fleet against him