University of Virginia Library

2. CHAPTER II.
A MESSAGE FROM THE GODS.

“IT is done!” said the 'tzin, in a whisper. “It is done!
One more service, O comrade, if —”

“Do not spare me, good 'tzin. I am happiest when serving
you.”

“Then stay in the city to-night, and be here early after
the discovery. Take part with the crowd, and, if opportunity
offer, direct it. I must return to my exile. Report
when all is over. The gods keep you! Farewell.”

Hualpa, familiar with the square, went to the portico of
the Chalcan; and as the lamps were out, and the curtains of
the door drawn for the night, with the privilege of an habitué
he stretched himself upon one of the lounges, and, lulled by
the fountain, fell asleep.

A shout awoke him. He looked out to see the day breaking
in gloom. The old sky of blue, in which the summer
had so long and lovingly nestled, was turned to lead; the
smoke seemed to have fallen from the temples, and, burdening
the atmosphere, was driving along slowly and heavily, like
something belonging to the vanishing night. Another cry
louder than the first; then the door, or, rather, the screen,
behind him was opened, and the Chalcan himself came
forth.

“Ah, son of my friend! — Hark! Some maudlin fellow
hallooes. The fool would like to end his sleep, hard enough

out there, in the temple. But you, — where have you
been?”

“Here, good Xoli, on this lounge.”

“The night? Ah! the pulque was too much for you. For
your father's sake, boy, I give you advice: To be perfectly
happy in Tenochtitlan, it is necessary to remember, first, how
the judges punish drunkenness; next, that there is no pure
liquor in the city except in the king's jars, and — There,
the shout again! two of them! a third!”

And the broker also looked out of the portico.

“Holy gods, what a smoke! There go some sober citizens,
neighbors of mine, — and running. Something of interest!
Come, Hualpa, let us go also. The times are wonderful.
You know there are gods in Tenochtitlan besides
those we worship. Come!”

“I am hungry.”

“I will feed you to bursting when we get back. Come on.”

As they left the portico, people were hastening to the centre
of the square, where the outcry was now continuous and
growing.

“Room for the Chalcan!” said a citizen, already on the
ground. “Let him see what is here fallen from the clouds.”

Great was the astonishment of the broker when his eyes
first rested on the stately figure of the horse, and the terrible
head on the lance above it. Hualpa affected the same feeling,
but, having a part to play, shouted, as in alarm, —

“It is one of the fighting beasts of Malinche! Beware,
O citizens! Your lives may be in danger.”

The crowd, easily persuaded, fell back.

“Let us get arms!” shouted one.

“Arms! Get arms!” then rose, in full chorus.

Hualpa ventured nearer, and cried out, “The beast is
dead!”

“Keep off, boy!” said Xoli, himself at a respectable distance.
“Trust it not; such things do not die.”

Never speech more opportune for the Tihuancan.

“Be it of the earth or Sun, I tell you, friends, it is dead,”
he replied, more loudly. “Who knows but that the holy
Huitzil' has set it up here to be seen of all of us, that we
may know Malinche is not a god. Is there one among you
who has a javelin?”

A weapon was passed to him over the heads of the fast increasing
crowd.

“Stand aside! I will see.”

Without more ado, the adventurer thrust deep in the
horse's flank. Those directly about held their breath from
fear; and when the brute stirred not, they looked at each
other, not knowing what to say. That it was dead, was past
doubt.

“Who will gainsay me now?” continued Hualpa. “It
is dead, and so is he to whom you head belonged. Gods
fall not so low.”

It was one of those moments when simple minds are easily
converted to any belief.

“Gods they are not,” said a voice in the throng; “but
whence came they?”

“And who put them here?” asked another.

Hualpa answered swiftly, —

“Well said! The gods speak not directly to those whom
they would admonish or favor. And if this be the handiwork
of Huitzil', — and what more likely? — should we not
inquire if it have a meaning? It may be a message. Is
there a reader of pictures among you, friends?”

“Here is one!”

“Let him come! Make way for him!”

A citizen, from his dress a merchant, was pushed forward.

“What experience have you?”

“I studied in the calmecac!”[1]

The man raised his eyes to the head on the lance, and they
became transfixed with horror.

“Look, then, to what we have here, and, saying it is a
message from the holy Huitzil', read it for us. Speak out,
that all may hear.”

The citizen was incapable of speech, and the people cried
out “He is a shame to the heroic god! Off with him, off
with him!”

But Hualpa interfered. “No. He still believes Malinche
a god. Let him alone! I can use him.” Then he spoke
to the merchant. “Hear me, my friend, and I will read. If
I err, stop me.”

“Read, read!” went up on all sides.

Hualpa turned to the group as if studying it. Around
him fell the silence of keen expectancy.

“Thus writes Huitzil', greatest of gods, to the children of
Anahuac, greatest of peoples!” — so Hualpa began. “`The
strangers in Tenochtitlan are my enemies, and yours, O people.
They come to overthrow my altars, and make you a
nation of slaves. You have sacrificed and prayed to me, and
now I say to you, Arise! Take arms before it is too late.
Malinche and his followers are but men. Strike them, and
they will die. To convince you that they are not gods, lo!
here is one of them dead. So I say, slay them, and everything
that owns them master, even the beasts they ride!'
— Ho, friend, is not that correct?”

“So I would have read,” said the merchant.

“Praised be Huitzil'!” cried Hualpa, devoutly.

“Live the good god of our fathers! Death to the strangers!”
answered the people.

And amid the stir and hum of many voices, the comrade
of the 'tzin, listening, heard his words repeated, and passed
from man to man; so that he knew his mission done, and
that by noon the story of the effigy would be common

throughout the city, and in flight over the valley, with
his exposition of its meaning accepted and beyond counteraction.

After a while the Chalcan caught his arm, saying, “The
smell is dreadful to a cultivated nose sharpened by an empty
stomach. Snuff for one, breakfast for the other. Let us
go.”

Hualpa followed him.

“Who is he? who is he?” asked the bystanders, eagerly.

“Him! Not know him! It is the brave lad who slew
the tiger and saved the king's life.”

And the answer was to the exposition like an illuminated
seal to a royal writ.

Morning advanced, curtained with clouds; and, as the account
of the spectacle flew, the multitude in the tianguez
increased, until there was not room left for business. All
who caught the news hurried to see the sight, and for
themselves read the miraculous message of Huitzil'. The
clamor of tongues the while was like the clamor of waves,
and not singularly; for thus was fought the first great
battle, — the battle of the mysteries, — and with this result:
if a believer in the divinity of Cortes looked once at
the rotting head on the lance, he went away of the 'tzin's
opinion, impatient for war.

About noon a party of Spaniards, footmen, armed and out
inspecting the city, entered the square. The multitude
daunted them not the least. Talking, sometimes laughing,
they sauntered along, peering into the open booths and stalls,
and watching with practised eyes for gold.

“Holy mass!” exclaimed one of them, stopping. “The
heathen are at sacrifice.”

“Sacrifice, saidst thou? This is their market-place.”

“That as thou wilt. I tell thee they have been at worship.
My eyes are not dim as my mother's, who was past

fifty the day we sailed from Cuba, — may the saints preserve
her! If they were, yet could I swear that yonder hangs the
head of a victim.”

Over the restless crowd they looked at the ghastly object,
eager yet uncertain.

“Now I bethink me, the poor wretch who hath suffered
the death may have been one of the half-assoilzied sons of
Tlascala. If we are in a stronghold of enemies, as I have
concluded from the wicked, Carib looks of these savages,
Heaven and St. James defend us! We are a score with
weapons; in the Mother's name, let us to the bloody sign!”

The unarmed mass into which, without further consideration,
they plunged, was probably awed by the effrontery of
the movement, for the leader had not once occasion to shorten
his advancing step. Halted before the spectacle, they looked
first at the horse, then at the head. Remembrance was faithful:
in one, they recognized the remains of a comrade; in
the other, his property.

“Arguella, Arguella! Good captain! Santa Maria!”
burst from them.

As they gazed, tears of pity and rage filled their eyes, and
coursed down their bronzed cheeks.

“Peace!” said the sterner fellow at whose suggestion they
had come. “Are ye soldiers, or whimpering women? Do
as I bid! Save your tears for Father Bartolomé to mix with
masses for the poor fellow's soul. Look to the infidels! I
will take down the head.”

He lowered the lance, and took off the loathsome object.

“We will carry it to the Señor Hernan. It shall have
burial, and masses, and a cross. Hands to the horse now!
Arguella loved it well; many a day I have seen him comb
its mane kindly as if it had been the locks of his sweetheart.
Nay, it is too unwieldy. Let it stand, but take the armor.

Hug the good sword close. Heaven willing, it shall redden
in the carcasses of some of these hounds of hell. Are we
ready? To quarters, then! As we go, mark the unbelievers,
and cleave the first that lifts a hand or bars the way.”

They reached the old palace in safety. Needless to depict
the grief and rage of the Christians at sight of the countenance
of the unfortunate Arguella.