CHAPTER III.

SUPERSTITIOUS FEARS AND VACILLATING POLICY OF MONTEZUMA. 45

Frequent embassies and rich presents to the Spaniards--Montezuma, fearing to act openly, plots their destruction secretly--Cortez cautioned by the Tlascalans--His prudence and strict discipline--Cuitlahua urges Montezuma to bold decided measures--Scene in the royal garden--Mysterious chant--Warning--Its effect--Montezuma roused to action--Energy of Cuitlahua--The army in motion to repel the enemy--Confident of victory--The monarch changes his plan--A stratagem--Cholula--The army arrested in its march--The Spaniards in Cholula--Hospitable reception--Sudden change--Suspicion of treachery--Perilous position and bold bearing of Cortez--His demand upon the Cholulan princes--Charges them with conspiracy--Their alarm and apology--Terrible massacre--Conflict on the great Teocalli--The Spaniards victorious--Painful position of Cuitlahua and his army--Tlascalans in Cholula.