The Slave Sculptor — page 57: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CORTEZ VISITS THE IMPERIAL PALACE. 59 to the attack.- Maxtla well understood that his success depen ied npon instant action, for, did his foes once escape from the reach of his weapon, they could easily dispatch him with their arrows Without giving his adversaries time to recover from the surprise of: the assault, he brought another foe to the ground. Toluca’s previous knowledge of the sculptor’s prowess had made him wary, and he purposely kept from the reach of his sword. The —are he had of success was with the arrows; but, unwittingly, ht his men too near, and the result we have seen.: As the second man fell, Toluca, with a curse, fled precipitately. At that instant his ears were saluted with a mocking laugh, and he beheld Mazina’s waiting maid, who was waving the branch of a tree in t triumph. Instead of the squealing voice of the half-wi fool, he heard the cool, menacing tones of Meztli, and her words quickened his pace into a frantio retreat. CHAPTER XIV. THE GLORY OF THE “‘ HALLS OF MONTEZUMA.’’ ip “Wharpatea Gite Walk her ba uarters in the Aztec capi- The peried during bait been Sar the elty; wae oute of interest to me nmin Aeron: Po-mtrwrasberhy wlan They had, however, experienced nothing but the most friendly treatment from He eyes lee Sather mind of Cortez was far from at ease. oamey ever read of Montezuma’s audect saiee the in- y Broan occasion, can fail to be im- Fomine spirit, and more than barbarian manliness. wire did be “id he tre. we the loss of his empire, for his Chris- dite’ cinder ar" AE thee ead, Ceteetion, Montezuma oe SO ae ae ct oe tip tee nnenan minding Cortez won a Seal crime and treachery, which made even his age shudder. ental ontezuma possessed the fiery spirit of his brave nephew, Guatemozim, the Spaniards would never Save entered the capital — certainly never would have left it, except in the smoke and ashes of the sacrificial altar, when their bodies were given to the flames. Cortez’s first movement on the morning following his triumphaat entrance into the capital, was to pay a visit — by permission — to the imperial palace. On this occasion, he ‘wae aeconpanied by a band of tried followers, in whom he could place the most implicit » and ‘who were cind in burnished steel, with warlike ac- — of the most formidable kind. ify comicooks.cor