The Slave Sculptor — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

68 THE SLAVE SCULPTOR. this period, however, a sudden change came over the aspect of his affairs, and every precaution that prudence and good judgment could devise was exercised to meet the threatened emergency. ‘The soldiers ate, drank, and slept, fully armed and equipped, and their horses were ready caparisoned, day and night. The guards were doubled, and the little garrison was nearly in a state of siege. path ac nastecinenstioole-taemeing tan teplouncrent te i ith the Aztec religion, y incurring ispleasure of the priesthood — the mos ep azar point upon which they could have . In all semi-civilized states of society, the priests, as a usual thing, hold unbounded authority. It was thus with the Buddhists of the Eagt —the Brahmins of India—the Magi of Persia—the Druids of early Britain —the priests of Ancient Egypt and Assyria, and those of Mexico. To add still more to the hazardous position of the Spaniards, on this perilous occasion, tidings reached them from the coast, that a large armed force from Cuba had landed, headed by Panfilo de Narvaez, whose avowed purpose was to capture Cortez as a traitor, and take him in irons to Spain.* Cortez was sorely puzzled how to proceed under these difficulties; but, as ever, there was a magic influence in his movements, and in a short space of time, he had subdued the threatened Aztec insurrection, placing himself again on good footing, not only with the but with the priesthood, whose wrath he had enkindled by the de- secration of their temples and the destruction of their wooden and jewel bedizened deities before whose altars human blood had run like a river. He then turned his attention toward the movements of Narvaez, who having landed and possessed himself of Vera Cruz and the forts near by, was making bold and defiant threats of what he could and would do with the unauthorized invaders. Cortez knew if he remained in the capital where he then was, he could not hope to contend successfully with the formidable force which his rival brought against him, augmented as it would be by the disaffected Aztecs, who ‘ would willingly join with him in rescuing their a. grasp of the usurpers. And yet if he marched against Na he must abandon all he had accomplished, by leaving the capital again in the hands of the emperor. : He finally decided to intrust garrison, in the capital, to his warm personal friend, Pedro de Alvarado, whom he cautioned to ex- © General Narvaez, was sent to the coast, under the direction, and by author.- ty of Velasquez, governor of Cuba, who was Cortez’s most bitter enemy; iras- much as Cortez had originally sailed from Caba under the aus of the same governor. Previous to the sailing of the expedition of he saw fit to disregard the injunctions of his patron and superior, and took bis own course.irrespective of the governor's orders. Narvaez wasa willing tool in the of the zealous yoeegees. yet he was deficent in that prudence, {: panies, and judgment, which would enable him to cope successfully with Cor.ez. His squadron consisted of eighteen vessels, and nine hundred men, fulky armed and equlpped, to take Cortez and his men prisoners at all hazards, aud retura with to Cuba for punishment by the crown officers. conmcbooks.com