Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/253

Rh off Cortes' ears and roast and eat them. Other such brutality was rife.

From ourselves at Mexico, likewise, Cortes despatched our Padre de Olmedo carrying a stock of persuasive articles of gold and precious stones, and to tell how Cortes wished for peace and friendship. But upon Olmedo's arriving and calling upon him Narvaez refused to listen, and called us all traitors. When Olmedo replied that on the contrary we were most faithful servants of the king, Narvaez grossly insulted him. It was then the padre secretly distributed the gold to those Cortes had named, and won over the chief officers to our side.

Cortes, receiving daily letters from the camp of Narvaez, and from Sandoval at Vera Cruz, learned that Narvaez had sent the royal auditor a prisoner to Spain, and thrown in chains others who spoke of us as deserving men, and that fearing like treatment, five officers had gone over to Sandoval. Finally we heard that Narvaez had stated his intention shortly to go in person to Mexico and take us prisoners. When such intelligence as this reached Cortes, he promptly called together all those who were wont to advise with him and whom he knew faithful to his interests. In this council we all agreed that without waiting for any more letters, we should immediately march against Narvaez. Pedro de Alvarado was to remain in Mexico to guard