Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/291

Rh served to buy me food and get help to cure my wounds.

That night a thin mist hung over the town and a gentle rain was falling, when, before midnight, we fixed the bridge in a gap the Mexicans had made and Cortes and the soldiers with him, and also many horsemen, passed over. Just then the yells, trumpets and whistles of the Mexicans suddenly burst forth calling to the people, "Up! Up! Out with your canoes for the teules are leaving!" Straightway so vast bodies of the enemy bore down upon us, and the lake at once became so crowded with canoes, that we were unable to move further.

We now had a most obstinate conflict to get possession of the bridge, and, as mischances never come singly, two of the horses slipped on the wet planks and fell into the lake. When I and others saw this we got to the other side of the bridge, and so many warriors charged us that though we fought desperately, the bridge turned by overbalance. Still, those in the rear kept continually pushing forward, and soon the opening was filled with dead horses, Indian men and women servants, baggage and many of our men, some of whom were drowned and others drawn into canoes by Indians as prisoners. The scene was heartrending. And to hear the pitiful cries! "Help! Help! I am sinking!" cried one here. "Help! they are killing me!" screamed another