le thrown into the water, those
that remained there yielded themselves prisoners without a
struggle.

"In the mean time, the brigantines suddenly entered that
part of the lake, and broke through the midst of the fleet
of canoes, the warriors who were in them not daring to make
any resistance. It pleased God that the captain of a
brigantine, named Garci Holguin, came up behind a canoe in
which there seemed to be persons of distinction; and when
the archers, who were stationed in the bow of the
brigantine, took aim at those in the canoe, they made a
signal that the emperor was there, that the men might not
discharge their arrows. Instantly our people leaped into the
canoe, and seized in it Guatemozin and the Lord of Tacuba,
together with other distinguished persons who accompanied
the emperor.

"Immediately after this occurrence, Garci Holguin, the
captain, delivered to me, on a terrace adjoining the lake,
where I was standing, Guatemozin, with other noble
prisoners. As I, without showing any asperity of manner,
bade him sit down, he came up to me and said, in his own
tongue,

"'That he had done all that was incumbent on him in defense
of himself and his people, until he was reduced to his
present condition; that now I might do with him as I
pleased.' He then laid his hand on a poniard that I wore,
telling me to strike him to the heart.

"I spoke encouragingly to him, and bade him have no fears.
Thus, the emperor being taken a prisoner, the war ceased at
this point, which it pleased God our Lord to bring to a
conclusion on Tuesday, St. Hippolytus's day, the thirteenth
of August, 1521; so that from the day in which the city was
first invested, the 3d of May in that year, until it was
taken, seventy-five days had elapsed, during which time your
majesty will see what labors, dangers, and calamities your
subjects endured, and their deeds afford the best evidence
how much they exposed their lives."

For three hundred years, while Mexico remained under Spanish rule, the
anniversary of this victory was regularly celebrated with all the
accompaniments of national rejoicing.

CHAPTER X.

THE CONQUEST CONSUMMATED.

Discovery of the Pacific.--Cortez's elation.--Cortez's dispatch.--He
sends to take possession of the coast.--The exploring