CHAPTER VIII. 

 1521. 



CORTEZ RETURNS CONSPIRACY AMONG HIS MEN DETECTED. 



EXECUTION OF VILLAFANA BRIGANTINES LAUNCHED. XICO- 



TENCATL'S TREASON AND EXECUTION. DISPOSITION OF FORCES 



TO ATTACK THE CITY. SIEGE AND ASSAULTS ON THE CITY. 



FIGHT AND REVERSES OF THE SPANIARDS. SACRIFICE OF CAP- 

 TIVES FLIGHT OF ALLIES. CONTEST RENEWED STARVA- 

 TION. 



The return of Cortez to his camp, after all the toils of his 

 arduous expedition, was not hailed with unanimous delight by 

 those who had hitherto shared his dangers and successes, since 

 the loss of the capital. There were persons in the small band 

 of Spaniards, — especially among those who had been added from 

 the troops of Narvaez, — who still brooded over the disaffection 

 and mutinous feelings which had been manifested at Tlascala 

 before the march to Tezcoco. They were men who eagerly 

 flocked to the standard of the conqueror for plunder; whose 

 hearts were incapable of appreciating the true spirit of glorious 

 adventure in the subjugation of an empire, and who despised 

 victories that were productive of nothing but fame. 



These discontented men conspired, about this period, under the 

 lead of Antonio Villafana, a common soldier ; and it was the design 

 of the recreant band to assassinate Sandoval, Olid and Alvarado, 

 together with Cortez, and other important men who were known 

 to be deepest in the General's councils or interests. After the 

 death of these leaders, — with whose fall the enterprise would 

 doubtless have perished, — a brother-in-law of Velasquez, by name 

 Francisco Verdugo, who was altogether ignorant of the designs of 

 the conspirators, was to be placed in command of the panic- 

 stricken troop, which, it was supposed, would instantly unite 

 under the new general. 



It was the project of these wretched dastards to assault and 

 despatch the conqueror and his officers whilst engaged in opening 



