And to the young mind of the boy, cast in the same mold, it was yet more baffling and repellent.
Ned still stared at the guardian peaks, but his thoughts floated away from them.

His head had been full of old romance when he entered the vale of Tenochtitlan.

He had almost seen Cortez and the conquistadores in their visible forms with their armor clanking about them as they stalked before him.

He had gazed eagerly upon the lakes, the mighty mountains, the low houses and the strange people.

Here, deeds of which the world still talked had been done centuries ago and his thrill was strong and long.