the peace which they now sought, he would protect them from the Mexicans and order the Tlaxcalans to do them no injury.
Early next morning we entered Texcoco itself, and at once it struck us as singular that we saw neither women nor children, only men seemingly avoiding us, as if at war with us. After we had got to our quarters in some great halls, and Cortes had summoned the officers and most of us, he ordered Alvarado. Olid, some other soldiers and me to ascend the great temple and look over the town and lake. We had no sooner got to the top than we saw the people of towns round about moving away their belongings, some taking to the hills and others hiding in the reed-thickets of the water. All the lake was alive with canoes.
When we reported these facts Cortes determined to seize the sender of the golden banner, the cacique of Texcoco, and he despatched papas to summon their ruler. They returned, reporting that he had fled with many chieftains to Mexico. In secret understanding with the cacique of Mexico, chieftains told us next day, this runaway cacique had murdered his elder brother to raise himself to power. The rightful heir, whom the Texcocans named, Cortes, with all solemnity and without delay, installed as cacique. Greatly esteemed and beloved by his subjects, he became a convert to Christianity and ren-
