cr own readers

~ONTEZ U ~L\. 161
it," sobbed Montezumn, "and let it be record ed in
your annals th at th e king sent this present to your
mas ter.'
3. l\'ot satisfied with th is, Cortes went a step
fur ther. Th e temple must be giv en up for Christian
worship. " Why, why will you urge matters to an
extremity ?" cried Montezumu, who through all his
troubles turned to his gods and his ora cles. " Why
will you bring down the vengeance of our gods, and
stir up rebellion among my people, who will never
consent to this profanation of th eir temple ?" But
this too had to be conceded.
4. Nevert heless, as tim e went on, it became evident
to Cortes that he had pushed things too far.
Signs of discontent began to show th emselves among
the Mexicans, and th e Spaniards grew uneasy. " Go; '
said Montezuma, " if you have any regard for J'curselves
; go without delay. You hav e enraged my
gods and trampled on my pri ests. °1 have but tc
raise my finger, and every Indian will rise against
you ." Th ese words were spoken in May,
5. It W IIS in the middle of June that tro uble
broke out. Six hundred I ndians were massacred by
th e Spaniards while th ey were engaged in a sacred
rite. Th en all th e pent-up hostility against th e
Spaniards broke forth in one great cry for revenge.
Cortes and his men were driven from th e streets and
besieged in th e palace where th ey lodged. The rage
of the people kn ew no bounds. Hundreds were
mowed down by th e Spanish guns, but still the mob
pressed on.
G. At last Moutezumu agreed to address th e crowd
of Indians, in th e hope of making peace. Surrounded