CHAPTER VII.

TREACHERY AND RETRIBUTION--MASSACRE OF THE AZTEC NOBILITY--DEATH OF MONTEZUMA. 121

Cortez visits Vera Cruz--Alvarado in command in the Capital--His character--The Aztec festival--Unprovoked attack and massacre--The whole nation in arms for revenge--Alvarado in imminent peril--Cortez returns--The Aztecs threaten the entire destruction of the Spaniards--Furious assault upon their quarters--Desperate sortie--Implacable spirit of the Aztecs--Their leaders--Cortez persuades Montezuma to interpose--Cacama summoned to the royal presence--His noble reply--The Princes' rendezvous--Guatimozin warned of danger--His escape--Cacama and Cuitlahua arrested--The latter released--Fresh assaults upon the Spaniards--At the instigation of Cortez, Montezuma appears and addresses the people--Their loyalty and deference--Suddenly changed to uncontrollable rage--The Emperor mortally wounded by his own people--A temporary suspension of hostilities--Death of Montezuma--His funeral obsequies.