Only an apology for having written this historical tale.

My private opinion is, that all writers of historical tales should return me thanks if I apologize for them with myself, all in a body, the truer the tale the ampler being the spirit of the apology.

While I have been writing this tale, sometimes in its most important or serious portions, I have been startled by detecting my own mouth widening with an absurd smile, or by hearing a ridiculous chuckle issuing from my own lips, and have suddenly discovered that I was quite unconsciously repeating to myself the famous old Scotch anecdote of the old woman and the Scotch preacher—"That's good, and that's Robertson; and that's good, and that's Chalmers; ... and that's bad, and that's himsel'."

Turning the old woman into the more learned among my possible readers, and the Scotch preacher into myself, I read the anecdote—"That's good, and that's Prescott; that's good, and that's Robertson; that's good, and that's guide-book; that's good, and that's Arthur Helps; and that's bad, and that's hersel'."

I can only wind up my apology by pleading, that at least my badness has not gone the length of distorting a single fact, nor of giving to this wonderful page of history any touch of false colouring.

G. S.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.[ A POISON-FLY FOR THE HEART OF ARAGON]
CHAPTER II.[ CONSPIRATORS]
CHAPTER III.[ RIVALS AT DON PHILIP'S HOUSE]
CHAPTER IV.[ THINKING OF EXILE]
CHAPTER V.[ DEATH FOR ARBUES DE EPILA]
CHAPTER VI.[ SANCHO'S BROKEN VICTUALS]
CHAPTER VII.[ CONSULTING A SWEET TOOTH]
CHAPTER VIII.[ A POWERFUL FRIEND]
CHAPTER IX.[ FROM THE NEW PRINTING PRESS]
CHAPTER X.[ A JACK IN OFFICE]
CHAPTER XI.[ THE FIRST FIND]
CHAPTER XII.[ SURGEON TO THE REDSKINS]
CHAPTER XIII.[ FOR LIFE OR DEATH]
CHAPTER XIV.[ MASTER PEDRO'S DOGS IN DANGER]
CHAPTER XV.[ NOISE TO THE RESCUE]
CHAPTER XVI.[ I AM 'DON ALONZO']
CHAPTER XVII.[ GOOD OLD DON]
CHAPTER XVIII.[ DEATH FOR DON]
CHAPTER XIX.[ THE WAY TO TREAT THE REDSKINS]
CHAPTER XX.[ THE MASSACRE AT CAONAO]
CHAPTER XXI.[ THE PATRIOT CACIQUE HATUEY]
CHAPTER XXII.[ ANOTHER STORM FOR THE PILOT ALAMINOS]
CHAPTER XXIII.[ A SYMBOL WITH TWO MEANINGS]
CHAPTER XXIV.[ KINDRED FEELING]
CHAPTER XXV.[ MONTORO DE DIEGO TURNS HANGMAN]
CHAPTER XXVI.[ CORTES BURNS HIS SHIPS]
CHAPTER XXVII.[ MONTORO LEADS A CHANT]
CHAPTER XXVIII.[ THE GODS MUST AVENGE THEMSELVES]
CHAPTER XXIX.[ MONTORO AND CABRERA RESCUE A HUMAN SACRIFICE]
CHAPTER XXX.[ TOO USEFUL TO BE KILLED]
CHAPTER XXXI.[ ONCE FOR ALL—THEY SHALL CEASE]
CHAPTER XXXII.[ ON THE ROAD TO MEXICO]
CHAPTER XXXIII.[ THE CAUSE ONCE MORE IN JEOPARDY]
CHAPTER XXXIV.[ AN INDIAN GIRL-CHAMPION]
CHAPTER XXXV.[ THE TLASCALAN KNIGHT'S PROBATION]
CHAPTER XXXVI.[ ACROSS THE CAUSEWAY]
CHAPTER XXXVII.[ ESCALANTE'S FATE DECIDES IT]
CHAPTER XXXVIII.[ THE DOWNFALL OF AN EMPIRE]
CHAPTER XXXIX.[ HOMEWARD BOUND]
CHAPTER XL.[ REINSTATED]