After a moment's pause the prince said:
"Tzin Euet, I must know to a certainty if your apprehensions of peril to myself are correct. Have you any plan to offer? You seem to have given the matter thought. What would you do?" inquired Hualcoyotl, showing unusual concern.
"I would go to Azcapozalco, and into the king's presence at once, and offer him allegiance. If he contemplates harm to you he will show it. He will not dare to molest you openly without cause. Your return may be fraught with danger, yet it is worth the hazard to learn his mind," replied the tzin.
"The past has taught me, Euetzin, that your opinions are usually well grounded. The character established by Prince Maxtla in the past, as you say, is sufficient cause for apprehension. Your words have stirred me deeply, and I think I will act upon them; though, before doing so, I must have time for thought. Say nothing to anyone of what is in your mind respecting this matter, not even to Itzalmo; he would only oppose my going before the king," returned the prince; and continuing, he said: "I pray your judgment may be in error this once; though, looking at it as you do, I fear the worst."
The young men, feeling somewhat dejected, very soon left the arbor and returned, each to his own apartment.
CHAPTER II.
Lake Tezcuco, the principal one of several situated in the great valley of Mexico, four and three quarter centuries ago, when the present Mexican capital (then Tenochtitlan) stood a league or more within its borders, was quite an inland body of water, covering well on to four hundred square miles of surface. Since that time this lake has shrunken to a remarkable degree, leaving the great valley city, and the sites of others now reduced to insignificance, miles away from it.
At the time to which our narrative refers nearly all the chief cities of Anahuac were situated on its shores, among which was the Tepanec capital, Azcapozalco, located near the northwest corner of the lake. To this city we now have occasion to turn briefly.
Azcapozalco was designated as the royal city, which, if it signified anything, meant that in the time of its ascendency it was the most magnificent seat of government on the lake, if not on the Anahuac. It was a city of walls we are told, and must have boasted of elegant structures of stone and sun-dried brick, which suggests the idea of towering temples, a grand palace and court, and extensive avenues, where swarmed an aggressive and busy population. Its artificers, it is said, were superior in skill to those of any other city on the great plateau, which meant much, when we consider that among these were to be found jewelers who could unify metals so perfectly as to represent objects, harmoniously variegated, by alternately intermixing of silver and gold.