By Right of Conquest; Or, With Cortez in Mexico

A young seaman leaves home aboard a fast merchant vessel bound for distant islands and the mainland, endures storms and shipwreck, and reaches a wealthy, complex empire in a highland valley. There he and his companions become involved with a small invading force whose officers exploit resentments among subject peoples, leading to pitched battles, massacres, political intrigue, sieges, and desperate sorties across causeways. Episodes include life in royal courts, encounters with native auxiliaries and interpreters, the discovery of treasure hoards, and the struggle to survive and return. The narrative emphasizes adventure, cultural collision, and the personal costs of conquest.