Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/344

 

Why Cortes suffered defeat on the narrow causeway and many other disasters came; and of the abominable barbarities of the Mexicans in sacrificing sixty soldiers they had taken; and how Cortes again offered peace, and what the papas advised.

a Sunday morning, the 30th of June, having commended ourselves to the protection of God, we set out from camp and advanced, forcing bridges and entrenchments. We fought very cheerfully and with victory, till Cortes captured a deep opening which the Mexicans had taken care to make narrow and cover with mud. When the enemy saw that Cortes had passed this fatal opening without filling it in, and that his soldiers and the allies with him crowded in vigorous pursuit, they, pretending to flee, lured our captain and his troops still further on. Then (for ever does the wheel of fortune turn and great prosperity change to bitter adversity) masses of Mexican warriors, some in canoes, rushed suddenly from hiding places and with incredible fierceness and most fearful yells and whistles fell on the ill-fated division. Their power was overwhelming. Cortes strove to rally his forces and cried, "Stand firm, gentlemen,