Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/321

Rh led many to join us, but the expectation of meals of human flesh, always plentiful after a battle, was no doubt an inducement. When armies march in Italy vultures, crows and other birds of prey follow to feed of the dead of the battlefield; so, for the same reason, I believe these many Indians followed us.

We now had news that large bodies of Mexicans and their allies lay ready to attack us on a plain near by. Our march was up over some steep rocks between two hills, on the tops of which hills Indians had built fortifications. From this shelter they and their wives now yelled and hooted at us. We marched quietly on our way, however, and came to a plain in which there were springs. On one side rose a high, rocky hill, and as we approached it warriors crowded its top and jeered at us and showered us with arrows and darts and stones. "It appears," said Cortes, halting before the hill, "that these Mexicans seize strongholds and mock at us because they think we can not attack them"; and he sent horsemen to find a favorable point for an onset. They came back with word that the hill rose perpendicularly and the best approach was where we then were. Our captain ordered us to ascend. As we started to climb it was terrible to see the Indians toppling over huge boulders—which came bounding and thundering down the hill's rugged sides. One soldier fell dead at my feet, without a word or groan. Still we