Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/360

 

How our conquest went on and we finally captured Guatemoc; and what famine did for the people of Mexico; Cortes orders to repair Chapultepec water-pipes and rebuild houses; discontent about the treasure and its division; and why we went to settle in other provinces.

was as if the war had just begun. Cortes now ordered us to advance to that neighborhood where Guatemoc had taken refuge—who, when he saw we were capturing the whole city, sent two chiefs to tell Cortes that he wished to speak with him, he standing on one bank of a canal, and our captain on the other. They agreed upon next morning for the interview. Cortes went to the spot, but no Guatemoc appeared; instead he sent caciques who said their monarch did not come, for he feared we would kill him with crossbows or muskets while they were talking. On his oath Cortes promised that Guatemoc should not be injured. In vain; "for what had happened to Montezuma might happen to him." While these caciques were talking they drew from a bag they had with them some maize cakes, cherries and the leg of a fowl, and seating themselves began to eat in a leisurely manner so that