Cuitlahua elected to the vacant throne--His resolution--Cortez, realizing his danger, resolves to evacuate the city--Attempts to steal away in the night--Assaulted on all sides by the Aztecs--Perils of the retreat--Awful position on the Great Causeway--Hemmed in on all sides--Terrible slaughter--A remnant escape--Cortez in tears--Singular neglect of his adversary--Activity of Cuitlahua--His sudden death--Grief and despondency of the nation--Guatimozin elected to his place--His activity and prudence--He claims the hand of the Princess--Her timidity and her devotion--Love finding the bright side of the picture--The nuptial festival--Grand procession to the Capital--A nation's welcome. CHAPTER IX. FESTIVITIES AT THE COURT OF GUATIMOZIN--THE NEW HYMENEAL VOW. 151 Character of Guatimozin--His practical wisdom and activity--Gaiety of the court--The young Queen--Nahuitla, the Prince of Tlacopan--Atlacan, a princess of Tezcuco--Her brother, Maxtli--Her suitors--The Merchant of Cholula--Mercenary views of Maxtli--Endeavors to thwart Nahuitla--How he is thwarted himself--The betrothal--Sanctioned by the Emperor--The nuptials--Polygamy abjured--A new Imperial statute--Torch dance--Significant pantomime. CHAPTER X. RETURN OF CORTEZ--SIEGE OF TENOCHTITLAN--BRAVERY AND SUFFERINGS OF THE AZTECS. 161 Guatimozin prepares for a new invasion--Cortez approaches with a new army--Orders vessels built at Tlascala--Takes possession of Tezcuco--Makes liberal overtures to Guatimozin--Rejected with scorn--Determined spirit of Guatimozin--Success of Cortez in reducing some of the smaller towns--Narrow escape at Iztalapatan--General defection of the tributary cities--How accounted for--The Spanish fleet on the Lake--Genius of Cortez--Tenochtitlan invested--Preparations for the siege--Spirit of the Aztecs--Their supplies cut off--The Queen in her reverses--Famine--Distress in the city--Love stronger than hunger--The famishing fed--Desperation--an assault--an ambush--The tide of battle suddenly turned--Perilous position and severe loss of the Spaniards--Cortez narrowly escapes--Disastrous retreat. CHAPTER XI. STRAITNESS OF THE FAMINE--THE FINAL CONFLICT--FLIGHT AND CAPTURE OF GUATIMOZIN--DESTINY FULFILLED. 179