usuma himself, though
he may not exactly have been in earnest, must be ready for action at a
moment's notice."

The two chief caziques, the elder Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin, were very
much hurt at the military precautions we took, nor did they strive to
hide their feelings from Cortes, but spoke to him as follows: "Malinche,
if we are to draw a conclusion from the steps you are taking, you either
look upon us as your enemies, or at least you place no confidence in us
and the treaty of peace which has been concluded between us. You post
sentinels and order your men to patrol the streets as formerly, when
both armies stood in hostile array against each other. This you have not
done of your own accord, Malinche, but because the Mexicans have
secretly whispered to you fears of treachery, wishing thereby to
estrange you from us. Believe us, you cannot put any faith in what they
say. You are now in the midst of us; everything we have is at your
service--our own persons and our children; and we are ready to suffer
death for you. Ask for as many hostages as you like, and you shall have
them."

Cortes and all of us admired and were moved at the kind and graceful
manner in which the old men expressed themselves. Our captain said he
required no hostages; he had merely to make use of his eyes to convince
himself that all was perfectly safe. These military precautions were
ever customary with us, and they were not to take umbrage on that
account. He thanked them for their kind intentions, and promised to
render them great services in return.

After this explanation, other persons of distinction arrived with a
quantity of provisions, consisting of fowls, maise-bread, figs, and
vegetables. We had, indeed, everything in the greatest abundance during
the whole of the twenty days we lay in this town.

CHAPTER LXXVI.

_How mass was said in the presence of a great number of caziques,
and of the present the latter brought us._

The next morning early Cortes ordered an altar to be constructed, and
mass to be said, as we now again had a supply of wine and holy wafers.
Father Olmedo lying ill of the fever, which had greatly weakened him,
the priest Juan Diaz officiated for him: Maxixcatzin, the elder
Xicotencatl, and several other caziques were present.

After mass, Cortes retired to his quarters. Those among us who were
always about his person accompanied him: we were also followed by the
old caziques and our interpr