Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/337

Rh Alvarado's fault that we had advanced so prematurely. His pride was hurt that we had not done well in this attempt upon the causeway.

As for Sandoval—he had settled at Iztapalapa after burning many houses. He and his men were engaged with Mexican troops when they saw thick smoke rising from a hill near Iztapalapa, and answering smoke signals from other towns standing in the lake. This was the Indians' signal that Cortes had run out from Texcoco with our thirteen sloops and all the Mexican canoes should assemble against our fleet. When Cortes saw the canoes crowding towards his sloops he was greatly alarmed—and with reason, for they were more than a thousand—and he chose a position where he might watch the enemy and yet steer off the sloops in any direction he chose. He also ordered that no attack should be made till the wind freshened. The Mexicans, thinking we were fear-bound, sped their canoes against our boats. But just at that moment a stiff breeze sprang up, our rowers pulled with all their might, and our whole fleet ran in among the enemy. Numbers of the canoes were upset, many Indians killed and captured, and the rest made off at a rapid rate seeking refuge in places our boats could not reach. So it was that in our first combat on the lake Cortes gained the victory. Thanks be to God!