li--which rose in the centre of its encircling
walls.

Here a plan was devolved to massacre the whole force which had been
quartered in one of the vast palaces or houses of the town. The women
and the children left the city in large numbers, a vast body of Mexican
soldiers was secretly assembled near by. The provisions, which had
always been supplied them generously, were suddenly withdrawn. The
suspicions of the Spaniards were of course awakened and extra good
watch was kept. They did not know what to suspect, until a Cholulan
woman, who had formed an acquaintance with Marina, told her of the
purpose of the Mexicans, and advised her to flee from the Spanish camp
if she valued her life. The faithful Marina immediately disclosed the
whole plan to Cortes. He acted with remarkable celerity and decision.
There were many Cholulan lords and attendants about the Spanish camp
and there were many others in town, evidently to lull any suspicions
which the Spaniards might feel and to make whatever excuse they could
for the lack of provisions. On one pretense or another, Cortes
summoned the whole body to his house, which was a great rambling
structure of many rooms and thick walls and enclosures. He got them
assembled in one room and then proceeded to slaughter most of them,
reserving only a few for use after the event had been determined.
While this butchering was going on he sent others of his troops into
the streets and squares of the town, where they killed without
hesitation and without mercy all with whom they came in contact,
including several bodies of soldiers who {146} were more or less
helpless without their leaders, whom Cortes had so craftily disposed of.

This was the celebrated massacre of Cholula. Whether it was
justifiable or not, each reader must settle for himself. Cortes'
situation then was certainly desperate; for that matter, it was
desperate at all times. His life and the lives of his comrades hung
upon a thread. He certainly had a right to protect himself.
Personally, I do not think such a slaughter was necessary for his
protection. However, Cortes thought so, and he was there. It was his
life that was concerned, and not mine. Other monarchs in more
civilized days have done practically the same as this, as for instance,
the famous Barmecide feast, the wholesale assassination of the
Abencerrages in Spain, the massacre of the Mamelukes by Napoleon in
Egypt, and many others.

To be sure these