Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/264

226 to cook our flesh for a feast. No one of us can ever forget our march through the mountain passes where Montezuma had posted troops to exterminate us, and had blocked the road with felled trees. Still, we marched into Mexico and quartered ourselves in the very heart of the great city. And how often since then has death stood before our eyes!

"You who came here twice before I did—look at the hardships you underwent in discovering these lands, the miseries you suffered. I can not speak in detail of this for night is now fast approaching. But see now, gentlemen, how Panfilo de Narvaez comes tearing along with fury and desire to get us in his power, calling us thieves and vagabonds and sending messages to the great Montezuma, not in the manner of a prudent captain but in that of a rebellious mischief-maker. Consider how already he has declared war of extermination against us, just as if we were a troop of Moors.

"Up to this moment," continued Cortes, "we have fought to defend our lives, but now we have to fight for our lives and our honor, for our enemies have nothing less in mind than to capture us and rob us of all we have gained. If Narvaez and his men conquer us, which God forbid, all the services we have rendered the Almighty and our king will be turned to crimes. They will bring against us suits saying we killed, robbed and destroyed, where in