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276 us a considerable service, for Cortes required of him a large force to broaden and deepen the canals through which we were to draw our sloops to the lake. Every day from seven to eight thousand of this cacique's Indians were busy at the main canal—for Cortes' purpose was to enclose Mexico on all sides—and they deepened and broadened it so that it could have floated ships of large size.

About this time several townships sent to ask forgiveness and sue for peace, if we identified them with murder of our countrymen in late wars. But others published their hostility towards us by raiding towns which wanted to be friends with us. The Tlaxcalans who were with us were anxious to gain honors in fighting the Mexicans and their allies and to avenge the death of kindred who had been sacrificed. Our own soldiers were idling at Texcoco. In consideration of these facts Cortes determined on several expeditions to neighboring towns, to punish our enemies, defend our friends and always seek still other allies. One expedition he commanded in person; another Sandoval led.

But our carpenters in Tlaxcala had now so far prepared the timber for our sloops that all was ready and waiting. Days passed. Expeditions went out and came back. Yet no sloop timber reached Texcoco. Many of our soldiers felt very anxious about the state of affairs. It was therefore after much