Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/29

 ourselves comfortable that night with large quantities of wood we found there, and on the next morning, a Sunday, we set out to follow our road, descending the pass to the plain. I sent four horsemen and three or four foot soldiers to reconnoitre the country, and, on our march descending the pass, I ordered the horsemen to go ahead and after them the archers and musketeers, and thus the rest of the people in their order; because, however unprepared we might take the enemy, we were certain they would come to attack us on the road, having some trap or other device prepared to injure us. As the four horsemen and the four foot soldiers were advancing, they found the road obstructed by trees and branches cut and thrown over it, with many large, thick pines and cypresses, which seemed to have been but just cut down; and, thinking the road further on might not be so much obstructed, they continued ahead, but the further they proceeded the more obstructed by pines and cypresses they found it. The whole pass was well wooded, and had many dense shrubs, so they marched with much difficulty; and, seeing the road in that condition, they became much alarmed, fearing that behind each tree the enemy lurked. On account of the thick woods, the horses could be little used, and the further they proceeded the greater became their alarm.

When they had already gone some distance in this manner, one of the four horsemen said to the others, "Brothers, let us go no farther. If you agree, it would be better to return, and inform the captain of the obstacles we have found, and of the danger in which we are, as we cannot make any use of the horses; but if not, let us go ahead inasmuch as I have offered my life till death, as well as all of you, for accomplishing this march." The others replied that this counsel was very good, bu it did not appear to them wise to return to me until they had seen the enemy or ascertained how far the road went.