174 THE WHITE CONQUERORS.

dismay, and convinced them that they were indeed
entertaining beings of more than mortal powers.

After this two days were passed quietly, or in the
interchange of ceremonious visits; but on the night
of the third Huetzin, tired of inactivity, and dis-
guising himself in a peasant’s robe of nequen, sallied
forth into the city. He had a vague hope of thus
learning something of Tiata, which ‘thus far he had
been unable to do. Ever since sighting the Mexican
valley her image had been constantly before him, and
he was strongly impressed with the belief that she
was still alive.

The streets were as well filled with people as they
had been on the eve of the festival of the great
calendar stone. In the brilliantly-lighted porticos of
the squares, in which pulque, chocolatl, or cooling
sherbets were sold, at- the corners, before the open
doorways, on the bridges, and at the landing- places
of the many canals, were gathered animated groups
discussing the arrival of the white strangers, which
still formed the all-absorbing topic of public interest.
There was little laughter or singing, but much earnest
conversation, of which Huetzin caught such scraps as
he could while passing, for he dared not join himself
to any group, for fear of disclosing his identity. For
an hour he wandered aimlessly to and fro, shunning

lighted places as much as possible, and seeking friendly