The sun had now gone down, and the short twilight was fading away into the darkness of the night, when, at a given signal, every cannon was discharged. The awful roar rolled through the streets of the metropolis, and froze the hearts of the people with terror. Were these strange beings, they inquired among themselves, who thus wielded the heaviest thunders of heaven, gods or demons? Volley after volley, in appalling peals, burst from the city, and resounded over the silent lake. Dense volumes of suffocating smoke, scarcely moved by the tranquil air, settled down upon the streets. Silence ensued. The voice of Cortez had been heard in tones never to be forgotten. The stars came out in the serene sky, and a brilliant tropical night enveloped in its folds the fearless Spaniard and the trembling Mexican. It was the night of the 8th of November. But seven months had elapsed since the Spaniards landed in the country. The whole Spanish force, exclusive of the natives whom they had induced to join them, consisted of but four hundred and fifty men. They were now two hundred miles from the coast, in the very heart of an empire numbering many millions, and by sagacity, courage, and cruelty, they had succeeded in bringing both monarch and people into almost entire submission to their sway. The genius of romance can narrate few tales more marvelous. CHAPTER VII. THE METROPOLIS INVADED. The ride through Tenochtitlan.--Visit to the market-place.--The pyramidal temple.--View from the summit.--The gong.--Indignation of Cortez.--The chapel.--General appearance of the city.--Apprehension from the natives.--The Tlascalans anxious for war.--The trap.-- Situation of the city.--Cortez determines to seize Montezuma.--The pretext.--Engagement at Vera Cruz.--Cortez demands atonement.-- Montezuma declares his innocence.--Montezuma called upon to surrender himself a prisoner.--Montezuma conveyed to the Spanish quarters.--The body-guard.--Qualpopoca arrested.--Condemned to be burned alive.-- Atrocious insult to Montezuma.--Execution of the victims.--Cortez the emperor.--The Spanish commission.--Contributions exacted.--Discontent of the soldiers.--Building of the brigantines.--Indignation of Cacamatzin.--His arrest and imprisonment.--Acknowledgment of vassalage.--Indignation of the nobles.--Cortez determines to overthrow the system of idolatry.--Opposition.--Indications of trouble.-- Hardships endured.--Alarming intelligence.--An armament sent after Cortez.--Surrender of Vera Cruz demanded.--The envoy sent to Cortez. --Montezuma elated.--Preparations for war.--Terms of accommodation. --Cortez marches on Narvaez.--The storm.--Narvaez's army seeks shelter.--The harangue and the attack.--Narvaez made prisoner.--The surrender.--Artfulness of Cortez.--The insurrection in the metropolis. --Disaffection of the inhabitants.--They arrive at the causeway.-- Cause of the insurrection.--Displeasure of Cortez.--His insolent