Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/70

42 showed that he was already in rebellion by his sneaking out of the harbor, and that he had never made any secret of his intention to be commander, that he had dealt as if he owned the fleet, and finally that he had entered into arrangements with the two favorites to gain the command for him.

These speeches, added to his natural suspicions, turned the head of Velasquez, and he despatched messages to the alcalde of Trinidad, his brother-in-law, peremptorily ordering him to deprive Cortes of the squadron. But the alcalde saw that Cortes had so many friends among the soldiers and officers that the whole town would be divided, and perhaps sacked, and he hesitated to act; while Cortes, writing Velasquez of his astonishment at his decision, repeating his desire to serve God and his governor, and advising him to listen no further to his cousin, sent his letter by the messenger who had brought the order for his arrest.

The next step of Cortes was to have his men put their arms in repair, and every smith in town was soon at work pointing our lances, while the crossbowmen overhauled stocks and made arrows. After twelve days at Trinidad we sailed for Havana.

Each man of us had his choice either to go to Havana by sea, or march by land and pick up some men who lived along the way. Fifty other soldiers and I gladly joined Alvarado, who had command