also willing to pay any
tribute exacted if only these children of the Sun would go away, and he
could be left to the undisturbed enjoyment of his kingdom.

He suggested a way for Cortes to approach the capital. The Tlascalans
did some scouting and informed Cortes that the way was filled with
pitfalls, blocked with stones, and the opportunities for ambuscade were
many and good. No one can blame Montezuma for taking these
precautions, although he afterwards disowned any participation in them
and said that the arrangements had been made by some irresponsible
subjects, and Cortes passed it over.

The Tlascalans, who knew all the passes of the {144} mountains, offered
to lead Cortes and his followers by another way. Although he was
warned not to trust them by the envoys of Montezuma, Cortes with that
judgment of men which so distinguished him, elected the harder and
shorter way across the mountains. Nature had made the pass a difficult
one, but the indomitable Spaniards struggled over it, enduring terrible
fatigue and periods of piercing cold. They got far above the timber
line and approached the boundaries of eternal snow. It is
characteristic of them, that on one point of their journey, they
stopped and despatched a party under Ordaz to scale and explore the
smoking volcano Popocatepetl, which with Ixtaccihuatl guarded the
beautiful valley of Mexico. Ordaz and his twelve companions followed
the guides as far as they would lead them and then they climbed far up
the sides. They were unable to reach the top, but they accomplished a
prodigious ascent, and Ordaz was afterwards allowed to add to his coat
of arms a flaming volcano.

The summit of the mountain was at last passed, and the magnificent
valley of Mexico opened to their view. It was a scene which caused
even the hearts of these rugged and hardened adventurers to thrill with
pleasure and satisfaction. No fairer land had ever burst upon human
vision. The emerald verdure was broken by beautiful lakes, bordered by
luxuriant vegetation, diversified by mountains and plateaus, while here
and there magnificent cities glistened in the brilliant tropical sun
among the sparkling waters. As far as one could see the land was under
cultivation.

The descent of the mountains was easy, comparatively speaking, and the
Spaniards, after some journeying, {145} found themselves in the
populous and wealthy city of Cholula, remarkable for the splendid
pyramid temple--Teocal