Page:Vol 1 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/514

394 of the captains, friendly to Cortés, ridiculed the story as a dream, and entertained the general with speculations about the projects of the audacious rebel. While so occupied the alarm of the sentinels was heard. Cortés was upon them. Narvaez at once became the self-possessed commander, and hastened to issue the necessary orders. There was a rush to arms, and the confusion was increased by the appearance of innumerable fire-flies, which the besieged mistook for the fire-arms and spears of a large army.

In order to avoid the range of the guns, Cortés had kept his men along the sides of the approaches, and on finding himself discovered he shouted, "Close with them! At them!" Fife and drum joined in and echoed the cry. Olid rushed on the battery, ranged along a terrace on the ascent to the commander's house. So sudden was the attack that those of the artillerymen who still remained loyal had time to discharge only one gun, which killed two men. The next instant Olid, Pizarro, and their followers had practically secured the pieces, and were pressing the defenders, who offered little resistance. At the same time