embassies to Cortes, bearing with them vast treasures of gold and gems
as presents, and at the same time praying him to withdraw, for this
foolish prince did not understand that by displaying so much wealth
he flew a lure which must surely bring the falcon on himself. To these
ambassadors Cortes returned courteous answers together with presents of
small value, and that was all.

Then the advance began and the emperor learned with dismay of the
conquest of the warlike tribe of the Tlascalans, who, though they were
Montezuma's bitter and hereditary foes, yet made a stand against
the white man. Next came the tidings that from enemies the conquered
Tlascalans had become the allies and servants of the Spaniard, and that
thousands of their fiercest warriors were advancing with him upon the
sacred city of Cholula. A while passed and it was known that Cholula
also had been given to massacre, and that the holy, or rather the unholy
gods, had been torn from their shrines. Marvellous tales were told of
the Spaniards, of their courage and their might, of the armour that
they wore, the thunder that their weapons made in battle, and the fierce
beasts which they bestrode. Once two heads of white men taken in a
skirmish were sent to Montezuma, fierce-looking heads, great and hairy,
and with them the head of a horse. When Montezuma saw these ghastly
relics he almost fainted with fear, still he caused them to be set up on
pinnacles of the great temple and proclamation to be made that this fate
awaited every invader of the land.

Meanwhile all was confusion in his policies. Day by day councils were
held of the nobles, of high priests, and of neighbouring and friendly
kings. Some advised one thing, some another, and the end of it was
hesitation and folly. Ah! had Montezuma but listened to the voice of
that great man Guatemoc, Anahuac would not have been a Spanish fief