‘A small stake,’ said Montezuma; ‘cocks are many and kingdoms few.’

‘Still, it shall serve our turn,’ answered the aged king, ’for know that we play against fate.  As the game goes, so shall the issue be.  If you win my kingdoms all is well; if I win the cocks, then good-bye to the glory of Anahuac, for its people will cease to be a people, and strangers shall possess the land.’

‘Let us play and see,’ said Montezuma, and they went down to the place that is called tlachco, where the games are set.  Here they began the match with dice and at first all went well for Montezuma, so that he called aloud that already he was lord of Tezcuco.

‘May it be so!’ answered the aged Neza, and from that moment the chance changed.  For strive as he would, Montezuma could not win another point, and presently the set was finished, and Neza had won the cocks.  Now the music played, and courtiers came forward to give the king homage on his success.  But he rose sighing, and said: 

’I had far sooner lose my kingdoms than have won these fowls, for if I had lost my kingdoms they would still have passed into the hands of one of my own race.  Now alas! my possessions and his must come under the hand of strangers, who shall cast down our gods and bring our names to nothing.’

And having spoken thus, he rose, and taking farewell of the emperor, he departed for his own land, where, as it chanced, he died very shortly, without living to see the fulfilment of his fears.

On the morrow of his departure came further accounts of the doings of the Spaniards that plunged Montezuma into still greater alarm.  In his terror he sent for an astronomer, noted throughout the land for the truth of his divinations.  The astronomer came, and was received by the emperor privately.  What he told him I do not know, but at least it was nothing pleasant, for that very night men were commanded to pull down the house of this sage, who was buried in its ruins.

Two days after the death of the astronomer, Montezuma bethought him that, as he believed, I also was a Teule, and could give him information.  So at the hour of sunset he sent for me, bidding me walk with him in the gardens.  I went thither, followed by my musicians and attendants, who would never leave me in peace, but he commanded that all should stand aside, as he wished to speak with me alone.  Then he began to walk beneath the mighty cedar trees, and I with him, but keeping one pace behind.

‘Teule,’ he said at length, ’tell me of your countrymen, and why they have come to these shores.  See that you speak truth.’

‘They are no countrymen of mine, O Montezuma,’ I answered, ’though my mother was one of them.’

’Did I not bid you speak the truth, Teule?  If your mother was one of them, must you not also be of them; for are you not of your mother’s bone and blood?’

‘As the king pleases,’ I answered bowing.  Then I began and told him of the Spaniards—­of their country, their greatness, their cruelty and their greed of gold, and he listened eagerly, though I think that he believed little of what I said, for his fear had made him very suspicious.  When I had done, he spoke and said: