In 1518, a Spanish conquistador named Hernando Cortez set out with a handful of men to conquer the hitherto-unknown Aztec Empire. Facing armies that numbered, at times, 10 or 20 or 100 times his strength, he pushed his way into the interior, determined to establish Christianity among the Indians, and to erect a Spanish colony there. That he succeeded, even with the advantage of better armor, weapons, and cannon, is simply extraordinary. S. Fowler Wright has written one of his best novels, here published in printed form for the very first time.