Henty, By Right of Conquest (1890)

In By Right of Conquest; or, With Cortes in Mexico Mr. Henty tells the story of the Spanish triumph over the Aztecs attained by Cortez and his small but daring band of followers. The hero of the tale is an Englishman named Roger Hawkshaw, who goes West in a trading vessel from Devon, and is the sole survivor from his ship. His skill as marksman and wrestler stand him in good stead in a hostile country, saving him and his guide from imminent capture by the Government troops.

They proceeded on their way until they reached a shoulder which led straight up the mountain. Just as they stopped to draw breath there was a shout, and a party of twenty men, who had evidently climbed straight up from the pass to cut them off, rushed at them. Roger rapidly discharged five arrows into the midst of them, and then slipped the string from the notch, and seized the bamboo as a quarter-staff. At the order of their leader the Aztecs threw down their spears and flung themselves on him with the intention of dragging him to the ground; but making his quarter-staff swing round his head, he brought the ends down upon them with tremendous force, striking them to the ground as if they had been ninepins.

Bathalda seconded him well by guarding him from attack behind. Finding that in spite of his efforts he could not keep back his assailants, Roger threw down the quarter-staff and seized his axe. Four more of them fell, cleft through the head, and then four of them sprang upon him together, but Roger’s practice in Devonshire wrestling now stood him in good service; and although in a moment the four were hanging upon him they could neither get him off his legs, nor hold his arms, and he beat three of them down with heavy blows on their faces, whole Bathalda freed him from one on his back by a thrust with his spear.

Roger again caught up the axe, which he had let fall to have the use of both of his fists, but the fight was over. The five Aztecs still remining on their feet, appalled at the, to them, supernatural strength of their gigantic foe, led to join their comrades, who had now nearly reached the crest on which the combat had taken place.

‘Come on, Bathalda,’ Roger exclaimed; ‘we have not a moment to lose. They will shoot now, seeing that they have little chance of taking me alive.’ And they accordingly started up the steep ascent as rapidly as their breathless condition would allow. Their pursuers paused a moment on gaining the brow to get their wind, and then followed; but as soon as the ground again became too steep to allow of rapid movement, Roger turned, and betaking himself to his bow and arrows speedily checked the pursuit, the Aztecs being unable to stand against these terrible weapons, whose force and accuracy seemed to them supernatural. The sight, too, of the heap of their comrades lying on the slope had greatly cooled their courage; their officers had all fallen under Roger’s arrows, together with most of their bravest comrades, and although the rest still continued the pursuit, it was at a distance that showed that they had no intention whatever of closing again.

Roger finds favour in the eyes of an Aztec princess, and by her practical aid eludes many of the perils which threaten him.

Henty, George Alfred (1890). By Right of Conquest; Or, With Cortez in Mexico by G. A. Henty. Available via Gutenberg Project.