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Rh how evident Cortes had made his bad faith and shamelessness, he had nothing to say. Upon this Cortes ordered the boat to return to the ship, and sails hoisted for all speed—the 18th of November, 1518.

Weather being fine, we arrived, after a few days' sail, safely in the harbor of Trinidad, where the people came out to welcome us, each gentleman striving to have our captain for his guest. Cortes set up his standard In front of his quarters and issued a proclamation, and, as he had done in Santiago, got together what he could of fire-arms, cassava bread, salted meat and other necessities.

Here many gentlemen joined us, a number coming from Santispiritus, to which towns Cortes had written public letters, for he knew well how to mix fair words in his sentences and offer promises, and to attract many persons of standing in these towns. Here, also, he hired soldiers and bought horses. Alonzo Hernandez Puertocarrero had not money enough to buy one, so Cortes bought one for him and paid for it with gold trimmings from the velvet cloak he had had made at Santiago.

Meanwhile Diego Velasquez had forwarded letters and commands that Cortes be sent to him. For, after he had set out from Santiago with all the ships, relatives of Velasquez and their clique left the governor not a moment's peace, telling him Cortes