Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/295

Rh pain of wounds, nor memory of disaster, as we followed up our victory, pursuing, wounding, killing. Our Tlaxcalan friends proved themselves very lions. Our horsemen at last returned from pursuit, and we gave thanks to God for our escape from so powerful an enemy, for never before in the Indies had the Spaniards fought so great a number of warriors, the very flower of the joint armies of Mexico and Its allies. That day we supped off gourds, marching as we ate, and at the approach of evening came to a temple where we fortified ourselves, dressed our wounds, and the hurts of our horses, and got some rest.

And now we were soon to be as delighted as though we saw our native land, for we were to come in sight of the hills of Tlaxcala. Yet who could tell how the people there would feel towards us to-day? And, too, what had happened to those of us at Vera Cruz? Were they still alive? Of our great numbers only four hundred and forty survived, with twenty horses and twelve crossbowmen and seven musketeers. Each of us was weak and covered with wounds. Very clearly, said Cortes, we could see how it had pleased God to save us in a miraculous rescue, and we should give thanks. But our troops were now the same in number as when we first entered Mexico, and It behooved us to offer the Tlaxcalans no cause for offence, and trust to find them