Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/332

 to be hood-winked. During these inconclusive negotiations a great tempest suddenly arose at sea, and, as there was no proper anchorage, but only an unsheltered coast, the ship on board of which Francisco de las Casas was, was dashed on shore, thirty odd men being drowned, and almost everything they had being lost. Las Casas and the others escaped naked and so bruised by the waves that they could not keep their feet, so Cristobal de Olid took them all prisoners; and, before they entered the town, he made them swear on the Holy Gospels that they would obey him and regard him as their captain ever afterwards, doing nothing against his will.

Just then the news came that his lieutenant had captured fifty-seven men and an alcalde mayor of Gil Gonzalez de Avila, and had afterwards set them free again, allowing them to go one way while he with his men took another. Rendered furious by hearing that his orders had not been obeyed, Cristobal de Olid left for Naco, where he had formerly been, taking with him Francisco de las Casas and some of his men, and leaving the other prisoners under guard of a lieutenant and an alcalde. Las Casas, in the presence of all, entreated him to allow him to return to your worship, and give an account of what had happened; for otherwise he must keep him under strict guard and not trust him, as he would do his best to escape. Some days later, Cristobal de Olid learned that Gil Gonzalez and a few of his men had settled at the port called Tholoma, so he sent certain people thither, who attacked Gonzalez by night and captured him as well as those who were with him, bringing them prisoners. Thus both these captains were kept there many days, Cristobal de Olid refusing to set them free, although he was begged many times to do so. He also made all the people of Gil Gonzalez swear to obey him as their captain, just as he had already done with those of Francisco de las Casas.

Many times, after the imprisonment of Gil Gonzalez, did Francisco de las Casas beg him in everybody's presence, to  Execution of Cristobal de Olid set him and companions at liberty, saying that otherwise he had better be on his guard for they would kill him; but he would never consent to do so, until his tyranny had gone so far that one night, when they