[14]Quetzalcoatl in the Mexican religion represents the god of the air, and in legend a ruler and civilizer. He is described as a white man with long black hair and beard, who came from Yucatan and preached austerity and virtue as well as hatred of war. His name means “the feathered serpent.” [15]Other authorities assign December 2, 1554, as the date of his death. [16]Soon afterward he fell into neglect and could scarcely obtain an audience. One day, however, having forced his way through the crowd which surrounded the Emperor’s carriage and mounted on the doorstep, Charles, astonished at an act of such audacity, demanded to know who he was. “I am a man,” replied the conqueror of Mexico proudly, “who has given you more provinces than your ancestors left you cities.” Appendix The following is a chronological statement of important events in Cortes’ career: 1485 Birth of Cortes. 1504 Voyage to San Domingo. 1511 Accompanies Velasquez to Cuba. 1518 Expedition to Mexico. 1519 Founding of Vera Cruz. 1519 Defeat of the Tlaxcalans. 1519 Cholulan massacre. 1519 Interview with Montezuma. 1520 Montezuma made prisoner. 1520 Mexican revolt and Montezuma’s death. 1520 Battle of Otumba. 1520 Retreat from City of Mexico. 1521 City of Mexico retaken. 1521 Emperor Guatemozin hanged. 1522 Cortes confirmed as Governor of New Spain. 1523 Confirmation revoked and viceroy appointed. 1536 Cortes discovers peninsula of Lower California. 1547 Death of Cortes. LIFE STORIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE _Translated from the German by_ GEORGE P. UPTON 36 Volumes Now Ready _American Explorers_ Columbus Pizarro Cortes Eric the Red and Leif the Lucky, and Other Pre-Columbian Discoveries of America _Historical and Biographical_ Washington Franklin Penn Maximilian Barbarossa William of Orange Maria Theresa The Maid of Orleans Frederick the Great The Little Dauphin Herman and Thusnelda The Swiss Heroes Marie Antoinette’s Youth The Duke of Brittany Louise, Queen of Prussia The Youth of the Great Elector Emperor William First Elizabeth, Empress of Austria Charlemagne Prince Eugene Eugénie, Empress of the French Queen Maria Sophia of Naples _Musical Biography_ Beethoven Mozart Johann Sebastian Bach Joseph Haydn _Legendary_ Frithjof Saga Gudrun The Nibelungs William Tell Arnold of Winkelried Undine Illustrated. Each 50 cents _net_ A. C. McCLURG & CO., Chicago Transcriber’s Notes