Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/272

234 Captain Cortes, and after they had taken solemn oath that they would not leave his command, he appointed a master of one of the ships, but a man Cortes trusted, Pedro Cavallero, admiral of the flotilla. Him all masters and mates were to obey. To Cavallero our captain gave orders that no ship should leave the port, and should Diego Velasquez send other ships, the admiral must seize them, send their sails, rudders and compasses on shore, and await further orders. Let us now leave the fleet.

At our headquarters these plans between ourselves and the followers of Narvaez were formed:—Leon was to proceed to the province of Panuco and form a settlement there, Cortes allotting him for the expedition one hundred followers of Narvaez with twenty of our men experienced in war; with two ships to explore the coast and the river Panuco. Another one hundred and twenty soldiers of like proportion between us and the raw recruits were to go under command of Ordas to settle in the region of Coatzacoalcos. Ordas also was to have two ships to despatch from the river to the island of Jamaica for mares, calves, pigs, sheep, goats, fowls of Spanish breed that these creatures might multiply in the country, for the province of Coatzacoalcos was particularly adapted for such husbandry.

In order that these two officers and their soldiers might set out fully equipped, Cortes ordered all