Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/116

 with a horse for me to mount, because such was the quantity of mud on that small causeway, brought there by those who fell in and climbed out of the water, that no one could keep his feet, especially on account of the jostling of one another in trying to save themselves. I mounted, but not to fight, because it was impossible on horseback; for, could it have been done, those eight horsemen whom I had left on a small island at the beginning of the causeway would have been there, but they could not do other than go back by it, and even the return was so perilous that two mares mounted by my servants fell from the causeway into the water, one of whom the Indians killed and the other some of our soldiers saved. Another young servant of mine called Cristobal de Guzman mounted a horse, which was given to him at the small island to bring to me to save me, and he and the horse were killed by the enemy before they reached me; his death filled the whole camp with such sadness that the sorrow of those who knew him is still fresh to-day. Finally it pleased God that, after all our troubles, those who were left should reach the street of Tacuba, which is very broad, and, having collected the people, I, with my horsemen, stopped in the rear, where the enemy were charging with such triumph and pride that it seemed that they would leave nobody alive. Retiring as best I could, I sent word to the treasurer and accountant to retreat to the square in good order. I sent the same order to the other two captains who had entered by the street leading to the market, both of whom had fought valiantly and captured many barricades and bridges which they completely filled up, from which cause they were able to retreat without injury. Before the treasurer and accountant retired from the breastwork where they were fighting, those of the city had already thrown two or three heads of Christians at them, although then they did not know whether they came from Pedro de Alvarado's