Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/457

Rh space to refresh themselves, advanced to give battle. But in their revenge, as in their lust for gold, the Spaniards were doomed once more to disappointment. Chetumal had fled.

Ávila took up his quarters in the chieftain's town. "A place then containing two thousand houses," says Oviedo, "and distant but two leagues from the sea." Sending to Chablé for the remainder of his force he determined to establish here a Spanish settlement, and give to it the name of Villa Real. What fairer or safer spot could be found for the site of a new colony? The lord of Chetumal had every chance of making good his boast, when the Spaniards, crossing the lagoons in their frail canoes, could make little use of their weapons, and up to this time he had been skulking a fugitive from his capital without striking a blow for its defence.

But the contador was now to learn that Chetumal was no mere braggart. From certain natives captured during a scouting expedition, he ascertained that the chieftain occupied an entrenched camp a few leagues from the town, and was about to join his men with those of the neighboring caciques. Ávila at once marched against him, and taking him by surprise defeated his forces. Nevertheless he felt somewhat ill at ease, and resolving to open communications with the adelantado, despatched six messengers to his camp, telling them that their return would be expected within sixty days. Meanwhile Chetumal was not idle. Allying himself with the caciques of the surrounding district, he assembled his forces for a purpose which the Spaniards could not fathom, for he ventured on no attack.

Many months elapsed, weary months of waiting,