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by the immense multitudes and incessant attacks of their enemies. This measure, however, was not effected without extreme difficulty. The Mexicans, astonished at the repeated efforts of Spanish valor, had now changed their system of hostility; and instead of incessant attacks, had adopted the measure of breaking the causeways, and barricading the streets, in order to cut off all communications between the Spaniards and the country.

5. A retreat from Mexico, however, being now a measure of absolute necessity, it was effected in the night, but not without great loss; for the Mexicans, from whom their preparations could not be concealed, had not only broken the bridges, and made breaches in the causeways, but attacked them on all sides from the lake. All Mexico was in arms, and the lake was covered with canoes. The Spaniards, crowded together on the narrow causeway, were hemmed in on every side, and, wearied with slaughter, were unable to bear up against the weight of the torrent that poured in upon them; the confusion was universal; and the tremendous sounds of the warlike instruments of the Mexicans, with the shouts of their barbarian multitudes, gave additional horror to the scene. Cortez, with part of his soldiers, broke through the enemy; but numbers, overwhelmed by the multitudes of aggressors, were either killed on the causeway, or perished in the lake; while others, whom the Mexicans had taken alive, were dragged away in triumph to be sacrificed to the god of war.

6. In this fatal retreat, not less than half of the Spaniards, with above 2000 Пlascalans, were killed; and all the artillery, ammunition, and baggage, were completely lost. The whole empire was now in arms; and Cortez, having reviewed his shattered battalions, continued his retreat towards Ilascala, the only place where he could hope for a friendly reception. He met with no opposition till he reached the valley of Otumba, where the whole force of the Mexicans was concentrated. When the Spaniards had reached the summit of an eminence, they saw the spacious valley through which they were obliged to pass, covered with an army that extended as far as the eye could reach, and appeared to be innumerable. At the sight of this immense multitude, the Spaniards were astonished, and even the boldest were inclined to despair.

7. But Cortez, without allowing time for their fears to

gain strength from reflection, briefly reminded them that no alternative remained but to conquer or die, and instantly led them to the charge. The Mexicans waited their approach with inflexible firmness; and notwithstanding the superiority of European discipline and arms, the Spaniards, though successful in every attack, were ready to sink under the repeated efforts of innumerable multitudes. But Cortez observing the great standard of the empire, which was carried before the Mexican general, and recollecting to have heard that on its fate the issue of every battle depended, put himself at the head of a few of his bravest officers, and pushed forward with an impetuosity that bore down all before it to the place where he saw it displayed. Cortez having brought the Mexican general to the ground with a stroke of his lance, the select body of his guards was broken, and the imperial standard was taken. The moment that the standard disappeared, the Mexicans were struck with an universal panic, and fled with precipitation.

8. The day after the battle of Otumba, the Spaniards reached the territories of the Ilascalans, their allies, who being implacable enemies to the Mexican name, continued faithful to Cortez in this reverse of his fortune. Here he had an interval of rest and tranquillity, that was extremely necessary for curing the wounded, and for recruiting the strength of his soldiers, exhausted by a long series of hardships and fatigues. During this suspension of military operations, Cortez recruited his battalions with 180 adventurers newly arrived from Spain and the islands, and obtained possession of some artillery, and ammunition, which had been sent by Velasques for the use of the army of Narvaez, and had been seized by the officers, whom Cortez had left in command at Vera Cruz. The Spanish general, having received these reinforcements, resolved to re-commence the war, and attempt the reduction of Mexico. But as he knew this to be impracticable, unless he could secure the command of the lake, he gave orders to prepare, in the mountains of Ilascala, materials for constructing twelve brigantines, which were to be car

How did Cortez succeed in dispersing the Mexicans at the valley of Otumba?-What method did Cortez adopt, when at Ilascala, to secure the command of the lake?

ried thither in pieces, ready to be put together and launched when their service should be found necessary.

9. On the 28th of December, 1520, Cortez began his second march toward Mexico, at the head of 550 Spanish foot, and 40 horse, with 10,000 Ilascalans, and a train of nine field pieces. The Mexicans, however, were not unprepared for his reception. On the death of Montezuma, their nobility, in whom the right of electing the emperor appears to have been vested, had raised his brother Quetlavaca to the throne. This prince had displayed his courage and abilities in directing those attacks that obliged the Spaniards to retreat from his capital; and he took the most prudent and rigorous measures for preventing their return; but while he was arranging his plans of defence, with an unusual degree of foresight, he died of the small-pox, a disorder unknown in America until it was introduced by the Europeans. In his stead the Mexicans elected Guatimozin, nephew and son-in-law of Montezuma, a young prince of distinguished reputation for abilities and valor.

10. The brigantines were now put together and launched, aud every preparation was made for the siege. Operations were speedily commenced, and the Mexicans displayed valor hardly inferior to that with which the Spaniards attacked them. The siege was long, and attended with heavy loss on both sides. On land, on water, by night and by day, one furious conflict continually succeeded to another. At length it was resolved to make one desperate attack, and Cortez, with a portion of his brave comrades, pushed forward with an impetuosity that bore down all opposition, and continuing to gain ground, forced their way into the city. Guatimozin, seeing the Spaniards within his capital, gave the signal, and the priests in the principal temple struck the great drum consecrated to the god of war. No sooner did the Mexicans hear the doleful solemn sound, calculated to inspire them with a contempt of death and an enthusiastic ardor, than they rushed on the enemy with frantic rage.

11. The Spaniards, unable to resist men, urged on no less by religious fury than hope of success, were obliged to

Who was elected successor to Montezuma ?-And who to Quetla

vaca?

retire with the greatest precipitation; and in the scene of confusion which ensued, six Mexican captains having seized upon Cortez, were carrying him off, when two of his officers rescued him at the expense of their own lives, but not till after he had received several dangerous wounds. Above sixty Spaniards perished in this retreat out of Mexico; and what added to their misfortune, forty of them fell alive into the hands of an enemy never known to show mercy to a captive. Night coming on, every quarter of the city was illuminated, and the Mexican priests were busy in hastening the preparations for the death of the prisoners. It was a barbarous triumph-it was a horrid festival! And the Spaniards could distinctly hear the shrieks of those who were sacrificed, and thought they could distinguish each unhappy victim by the well known sound of his voice.

12. The Mexicans, elated with their victory, sallied out next morning to attack Cortez in his quarters. But they did not rely on the efforts of their own arms alone. They sent the heads of the Spaniards whom they had sacrificed to the leading men in the adjacent provinces, and assured them that the god of war, appeased by the blood of their invaders, had declared, with an audible voice, that in eight days time those hated enemies should be finally destroyed, and peace and prosperity established in the empire. A prediction uttered with such confidence gained universal credit. The zeal of those who had already declared against the Spaniards augmented; and those who had hitherto been inactive, took arms with enthusiastic ardor to execute the decree of the gods. The Indian auxiliaries who had joined Cortez abandoned his army as a race of men devoted to certain destruction. Even the fidelity of the Ilascalans was shaken, and the Spanish troops were left almost alone in their stations. Cortez immediately suspended all military operations for the period marked out by the oracle. Under cover of the brigantines, which kept the enemy at a distance, his troops lay on the lake in safety, and the fatal term expired without any disaster.

13. Many of his allics, ashamed of their own credulity, now returned to their station. Other tribes, judging that the

What circumstance for a time caused the allies of Cortez to forsake him?

gods, who had thus deceived the Mexicans, had decreed finally to withdraw their protection from them, joined his standard; and so striking was the levity of this simple people, moved by every slight impression, that in a short time after such a defection of his confederates, Cortez saw himself at the head of a hundred and fifty thousand Indians. Notwithstanding this immense force, Cortez proceeded against the city with the greatest caution; nor could he make any impression, till the stores which Guatimozin had laid up were exhausted by the multitudes which had crowded into the capital to defend their sovereign and the temples of their gods. Then people of all ranks felt the utmost distresses of famine. But under the pressure of so many and such various evils, the spirit of Guatimozin remained firm and unsubdued. He rejected with scorn every overture of peace from Cortez; and disdaining the idea of submitting to the oppressors of his country, determined not to survive its ruin. At the earnest solicitation of several of his chiefs he attempted to escape, but was taken by the Spaniards. When brought before Cortez he appeared with a dignified countenance" I have done," said he, "what became a monarch. I have defended my people to the last extremity. Nothing now remains but to die. Take this dagger," laying his hand on one which Cortez wore, "plant it in my breast, and put an end to a life which can no longer be useful to my country."

14. As soon as the capture of the emperor was known, the resistance of the Mexicans ceased, and Cortez took possession of the small part of the city that was not destroyed. The Spaniards, as may be expected, were elated with joy, by the completion of their difficult conquest, and the expectation of sharing immense spoils. But in the latter respect they were miserably disappointed. Guatimozin, foreseeing his impending fate, had caused all the riches amassed by his ancestors to be thrown into the lake, and, instead of becoming masters of the treasures of Montezuma, and the spoils of the temples, the conquerors could collect only a small booty, amidst the ruins of a general desolation. The Spa

What induced the allies of Cortez to return to him?-How many Indians had he in his last attack on Mexico?-What disappointment did the Spaniards experience on the conquest of Mexico?

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