for this work. Tepeaca was
two miles from the shore of the lake, and the rivulet upon which it
was situated was shallow. A large number of natives were employed for
two months in deepening the channel, that the vessels might be floated
down. Though the Mexicans made many attacks while the brigantines were
being built, they were invariably repulsed. At length the fleet was
finished, and the whole army was drawn up to witness, with all the
accompaniments of religious and military pomp, the launching of the
ships. Each vessel received a baptismal name and a blessing from
Father Olmedo. They glided smoothly down the river, and were wafted
out upon the lake, a fleet amply strong to set all the power of the
Mexicans at defiance. A general shout of joy burst from the lips of
the Spaniards and Tlascalans as they observed the triumphant success
of this measure. All despondency now disappeared, and, sanguine of
success, the whole army was eager again to march to the assault of the
capital.

CHAPTER IX.

THE CAPITAL BESIEGED AND CAPTURED.

Preparations for defense.--Cuitlahua.--Pestilence.--Guatemozin.--The
brigantines.--The fleet is attacked.--The Spanish victorious.--Dismay
of the Mexicans.--Cortez's skill.--The siege continued.--Obstinate
resistance.--Sortie by the Mexicans.--Preparations for sacrifice.
--Torturing the captives.--The sacrifice.--The Mexicans are elated
by their victory.--Shrewdness of Cortez.--His allies.--Progress of
the siege.--The allies in the city.--Sufferings of the Mexicans.--The
public square.--Affairs in the Mexican camp.--A desperate resolve.
--Pursuit.--The monarch captured.--His dignity.--Guatemozin's
fortitude.--Pretended magnanimity of Cortez.--The Mexicans surrender.
--Loss of the Spanish.--Appearance of the captured city.--Piety of
Cortez.--Searching for the treasures.--The native allies.--Their
carousals.--Spanish revelries and religious celebrations.--An
entertainment.--The plant of Noah.--Father Olmedo.--Religious
ceremonies.--Discontent.--Clamors of the army.--Cortez yields.--
Guatemozin's tortures.--Cortez rescues him.--The divers.--Nature
of the Mexican empire.--The various Mexican governments yield to
Cortez.--Perplexity of Cortez.--His treason.--Velasquez.--Cortez's
labors.--His dispatches.--An extract.--Cortez's address to the
nobles.--Ciquacoacin's reply.--He departs.--Loss of the Mexicans.
--Fifty thousand killed.--Cannonading the city.--The musketry.--
Capture of Guatemoz