Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/356

316 said this they came at us verily like mad dogs. In such wise, for six or seven days in succession, our infuriated enemy fought. Great was the slaughter among them. And each time we remained master of the field.

To make events intelligible I must turn back and recall to the reader that Guatemoc, after the unfortunate day when we lost more than sixty men on the causeway, sent the feet and hands and skin of the faces of the murdered Spaniards to blazon his victory in certain towns and summon the towns' folks to help him. In answer to the call warriors put themselves in motion and went about ill-using some of the peoples friendly to us, plundering their farms and carrying off their children to kill for sacrifice. When Cortes received intelligence of these deeds he ordered Sandoval to the rescue. Much might be told of how in this expedition our troops suffered severe wounds and lacked all manner of refreshment, but nevertheless gained victories and speedily returned. But I will not detain the reader.

After this renewed glory of ours, Cortes again sent to Guatemoc begging him to make peace—saying he had not attacked the city, more than two thirds of which lay in ruins, or entered it for five days that it might not be wholly destroyed; and now that he offered sincere friendship the unhappy people had scarcely any food. The Mexicans' answer to this