Identifier: storiesofamerica00gord (find matches)
Title: Stories of American explorers : a historical reader
Year: 1906 (1900s)
Authors: Gordy, Wilbur F. (Wilbur Fisk), 1854-1929
Subjects: Explorers America -- Discovery and exploration
Publisher: New York : C. Scribner's sons
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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ezuma, the ruler of the people ofMexico, heard that Cortez had landed, he wasgreatly troubled, because many years before thattime, according to a story that Montezuma and allMexicans believed, a fair-skinned being, called theSky God, had been driven out of the country bythe God of Darkness. This Sky God had been afriend of the Mexicans, and had taught them manythings. When he left them he said: Some day Ishall return, and when I do I shall come with menas fair-skinned as myself, and become ruler ofthe country. Montezuma naturally thought thatCnrte/ was the Sky God, who had returned toMexico to be the ruler of the land. Thereforehe said: This white stranger will rob me of mypower. When Cortez saw the messengers from Monte-/umu, he told them that he had gifts for their ruler.These were an arm-chair, carved and painted, acrimson cap of cloth, a number of collars, brace- Ilcrnnndo Cortc: lets. ;iiid ornaments of clit ^lass. Then, in order toimpress them, Cortc/ reviewed liis army, had the
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Revi<v\v tin- ni<-<-< M^ers cannon fired oil, and the horsemen ride hv. The mf messengers \\ere overawed hy wliat they saw. Theyhad been surprised at the ships, which they called ;,s American Explorers water-houses, but they were astonished at the horses,which they greatly feared. A little later other messengers came from Mon-tr/iima. They brought gifts of great value—shields, helmets, and various ornaments of gold.They said that Montezuma thought Cortez shouldnot try to march to Mexico, because the journeywas full of danger. CORTEZ MARCHES TO THE CITY OF MEXICO But Cortez could not be turned from his pur-pose. His army was small, as he had but fourhundred and fifty men, six small cannon, and fif- f teen horses. Yet he was determined to carry outhis plans, no matter how great might be the dangerin his way. Before setting out he ordered the vessels inwhich he had come to be sunk, and in this way hetook away from his soldiers the means of return-ing to their homes. For he

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