CHAPTER XIX.
POLITICS AND RELIGION.
1520.
Growing Discontent among the Mexicans — Cacama's Conspiracy — He openly Defies both Montezuma and Cortes — The Council of Tepetzinco — Seizure of Cacama — The Tezcucan Ruler Deposed — Cuicuitzcatl Elevated — Montezuma and his People swear Fealty to the Spanish King — Gathering in the Tribute — Division of Spoils — The Spaniards Quarrel over their Gold — Uncontrollable Religious Zeal — Taking of the Temple — Wrath of the Mexicans.
With their hand so securely on the spring that' moved a mighty empire, there is little wonder that these Spanish adventurers became somewhat insolent toward the people they so injured. The Mexicans were not slow to mark this, and there were those among them, and others beside them, who began to think of taking matters into their own hands, of destroying the invaders and releasing the emperor.
Montezuma's occasional appearance in public, and the assertion that he remained with the Spaniards of his free-will, and because the gods desired it, had for a time satisfied the nobles; but the hard irons on his limbs and the cruel burning of patriotic men had opened their eyes somewhat to the true state of affairs. No one knew when his turn might come. Life was insecure enough subject to the caprice of their own sovereign, but the dark uncertain ways of these emissaries of evil were past finding out. These things were thought of and talked of in high places. Race aversions and the political systems of the tripartite alliance caused more than one party to be formed,
