Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/58

, so he determined to go thither and see if they would surrender peaceably upon his demand. This town was very strongly situated upon a hill where it could not be attacked by the horsemen. When the Spaniards arrived, the inhabitants, without waiting for anything, began to attack them, throwing stones on them from the heights; and, although many of our friends accompanied the alguacil mayor, they dared not attack the town, seeing its strength, nor engage their adversaries. The alguacil mayor, on seeing this, determined to take the heights of the town by assault or die, and, with the cry of "Señor Santiago!" they began the ascent; and God was pleased to give them such valour that, in spite of the resistance it offered, they took it, but at the cost of many wounded. When the Indians, our friends, followed them, and the enemy recognised their defeat, there was such a slaughter by our people and a throwing of the foe from the heights, that those who were present affirmed that a small river near the town was so dyed with blood that for more than an hour they could not drink, although on account of the heat they were very much in