Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/456

436 band of fifty foot and seventeen horse, the choicest troops of his command. Arriving at the town of Chablé, a place distant more than forty leagues from Montejo's headquarters, and one where gold was supposed to exist, the Spaniards commenced their search, but found no trace of the precious metal. Meeting here with an outward show of friendship and even with friendly services, the contador sent to the lord of Chetumal, a neighboring region and one also supposed to be auriferous, asking for information as to the mines and for a supply of provisions. The reply was stern and severely laconic. "Of gold," said he of Chetumal, 'I scorn to speak; of fowls you shall have all that you can take from the points of our lances, and we will send you maize in the shape of flights of arrows."

Ávila was an officer whose courage none disputed, but one sorely lacking in the quality which is deemed valor's counterpart. Although under strict injunctions from Montejo to use only peaceful measures, he set forth at once with half his force to punish the insolence of this Indian noble, taking with him some of the friendly caciques to assist in the discovery of the mines. But again the Spaniards were disappointed, and after a long and useless search they marched against the proud chieftain of Chetumal, who dared thus to hurl scorn on Christian soldiers. Approaching his town they found their path stopped by far-spreading swamps and lagoons, across which, with much difficulty, they made their way in canoes. Soon they came in sight of ripening fields of maize and fruit and cacao, and halting here for a brief