When day appeared, the hurry of the chiefs, priests and people in coming to our quarters as appointed, and their apparent satisfaction, was as great as if we had been already secured in their cages.  They brought a much greater number of warriors to attend us than had been required, insomuch that the large courts in which we were quartered were unable to contain them.  We were all prepared for the event, having a strong guard of soldiers posted at the gate of the great court, to prevent any one from escaping.  Cortes mounted on horseback, attended by a strong guard; and as he saw the people crowding in at the gate, he said to us, “See how anxious these traitors are to feast on our flesh!  But GOD will disappoint their hopes.”  He ordered the two priests who had given him the information to retire to their houses that they might escape the intended slaughter.  Every one being arrived in the great court, he commanded the chiefs and priests to draw near, to whom he made a calm remonstrance on the treachery of their conduct towards us, which was explained by Donna Marina.  He asked them why they had plotted to destroy us, and what we had done to deserve their enmity, except exhorting them to abandon their barbarous and abominable customs, and endeavouring to instruct them in our holy religion?  Their evil intentions, he said, had been obvious, by withdrawing their women and children from the city, and by insultingly sending us only wood and water, when we required provisions.  He said he was perfectly acquainted with the ambush which was placed in the road by which we meant to march, and with all the other contrivances they had made for our destruction; and that in recompence of our proffered friendship, and of all the holy services we intended them, he knew that they meant to kill and eat us, and that the pots were already on the fire, prepared with salt, pepper, and tomatas, in which our dissevered limbs were to be boiled.  He knew that they had doomed twenty of us to be sacrificed to their idols, to whom they had already immolated seven of their own brethren.  “Since you were determined to attack us,” said he in conclusion, “it had been more manly to have done so openly like the Tlascalans, and not to have resorted to mean and cowardly treachery.  But be assured that the victory which your false gods have promised is beyond their power, and the punishment of your treason is now ready to burst on your guilty heads.”

The astonished chiefs confessed every thing which was laid to their charge, but endeavoured to excuse themselves, by laying the whole blame on the orders they had received from Montezuma.  “Wretches,” said Cortes, “this falsehood is an aggravation of your offence, and such complicated crimes can never be permitted to pass unpunished.”  He then ordered a musket to be fired, as a signal to commence the slaughter, for which we all stood prepared.  We immediately fell furiously on the multitudes who were inclosed within the walls of our quarters, and