Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/34

8 called out. No sooner had he signaled than bands of warriors rushed with terrible fury from ambush, and after letting fly a shower of arrows, attacked us man for man. They felt the sharp edge of our swords, however, and saw what destruction our crossbows and matchlocks made, and they speedily gave way, but not before fifteen lay dead on the field. Their weapons were lances, bows and arrows, shields and slings, and they were clad in cuirasses of padded cotton. Each had a tuft of feathers on his head.

A little distance ahead of the place of their onset stood three stone houses, in which we found clay Idols, rather large and of horrible shape, some with demons' faces, and others with women's. We also found small idols in wooden chests, and necklaces and trinkets in the form of fish and ducks worked out in gold of low grade. When we saw all this gold, and the temples of masonry, we were overjoyed that we had come upon so rich a country.

After the combat was over, and our priest had carried the chests and small idols and gold to our ships, we dressed the wounds of our men and again set sail. Two of the natives we took prisoners and carried with us, and later they became Christians and were baptized with the names Melchior and Julian.

Continuing our course westward, we met many promontories, reefs and shallows, and therefore proceeded with caution, sailing only by day and lying to