Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/273

Rh prisoners except Narvaez and Salvatierra freed and their arms returned to them. Now, after our victory some of our soldiers had taken possession of many horses, swords and other things, and no one of us felt inclined to give back what he had got. Our captain's order caused a good deal of angry discussion and discontent, we soldiers maintaining that we held very rightfully what we had taken, for Narvaez had declared war against us, to capture us and rob us of our property, and had branded us, faithful servants of his majesty, as traitors. Therefore the loot we had got belonged to us. Still, Cortes was determined that we should give up what we had captured, and as we had elected him captain general, we could do no less than obey him. I surrendered a horse I had taken saddled and bridled, and two swords and three daggers.

Alonzo de Avila, an officer who dared speak out boldly to Cortes, and also Padre de Olmedo, privately reproached our captain for this action of his and told him that he seemed to be imitating Alexander of Macedon, who, when he had made some great gain, rewarded and honored those conquered rather than the soldiers and officers who had won him the victory. And there were other reasons for their making this remark, for every day we stayed there after the vanquishing of Narvaez, the Indians brought gold and food to him, and all the presents