Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/75

 

was most attentive to every detail, I say, and that trait led to his sending for me and another and asking us what we thought about those words, "Castilan! Castilan!" which the Indians of Campeche had cried when, under Cordova, we landed there. He said he had often thought about the circumstance and could not help believing some Spaniards must be living among them and it now seemed to him that it would not be amiss to ask the caciques of Cozumel as to the whole matter. We therefore questioned the chiefs, through Melchior, who had now gained a little Spanish, and were overjoyed to hear that certain Spaniards did serve caciques living two days' march inland.

The caciques we questioned undertook to forward letters to these Spaniards. When Cortes gave them presents, and promised more on their return, they said that it would be necessary to send a ransom in addition, for the Spaniards served as slaves. The messengers therefore carried with them every sort