Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/329

Rh hardship only, I am thinking of what we must suffer before, with the aid of God, we master its forces." Breaking up our quarters in Tacuba, we marched on to Atzcapotzalco, which we found deserted, and then through heavy rains on to Guautitlan, and so round the lake to Texcoco; from which not only own people came to meet us, but also those lately from Spain; and, too, peoples of the neighborhood, who brought us food.

While we were away, a friend of the governor of Cuba, one Villafana, conspired with soldiers of the party of Narvaez to murder Cortes when he should return. A ship had just come in from Spain and they planned that while Cortes sat at dinner with his officers and other soldiers, one of the conspirators should hand him a letter, sealed as if it had come from Spain, and should say it was from his father, Martin Cortes; and while Cortes was reading the letter they should poniard him and all present who might resist them. In place of Cortes one of the officers was to be the new captain general, and our property, horses and all, was to be divided anew.

But it pleased the Almighty to prevent this horrible deed. One of the soldiers divulged the whole plot. Cortes, secretly informing trusted officers, visited the quarters of Villafana, and drew from the guilty man's dress a list of all uniting In the treachery. The chief conspirator then made full confession;