It is he who has brought them here; and it is better, a thousand times, that he should die than that ruin should fall upon the country.
"My advice is, that the troops be called out; that messengers be sent to every city in the valley, bidding them send in their contingent; and that we march to aid the people of Mexico to annihilate this handful of treacherous white men." Cacama was silent.

The advice was in accordance with his own feelings and temperament; but the extreme reverence with which the Aztecs regarded their emperor paralyzed him.
"We shall see," he said, gloomily.

"In a short time we shall know why Montezuma thus tamely suhmitted to be made a prisoner.

He may have some motives which we cannot fathom.

I cannot believe him to be a coward.