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elf to such a degree by
riding up and down, the weather besides being very hot, that the
perspiration literally dropped from him, and he could scarcely breathe
from over-exertion; he twice said to Sandoval, who was unable to catch
his words at first, "Where is Narvaez? Where is Narvaez?" "Here he is!
here he is!" cried Sandoval, "and quite safe." "That is all right, my
son Sandoval," said Cortes in a voice still somewhat feeble; "do not
leave this spot for the present, nor suffer any of your men to stir
away, and keep a strong guard over the officers you have taken prisoners;
I will see now how the battle is going on at the other points."

With these words Cortes rode off, and as he still found Narvaez's men
offered resistance, he again sent round a herald to summon them to
surrender, and to deliver up their arms to the alguacil.

All this took place during night-time, and it rained at intervals. When
we first forced our way into the town it was as dark as pitch, and it
rained heavily, the moon did not rise until some time after; but even
the darkness itself favoured us, for in the midst of darkness numbers
of shining beetles[82] kept continually flying about, which Narvaez's
men mistook for the lighted matches of our firearms,[83] and this gave
them a vast idea of the number of our matchlocks.

Narvaez having lost an eye and being otherwise dangerously wounded, he
begged of Sandoval to allow the surgeon he had brought with him to dress
his and the other officers' wounds. This the latter unhesitatingly
complied with, and while the surgeon was dressing Narvaez's wounds,
Cortes stepped up, as he imagined unknown, to see what was going
forward. Some one, however, remarked to Narvaez that Cortes was standing
near; when the former turned round and said: "Indeed, general, you have
reason to be proud of this victory, and of my being taken prisoner!"

"I am," replied Cortes, "every way thankful to God for it, and likewise
for the brave companions he has given me; but I can assure you that this
victory is the least brilliant we have yet gained in New Spain."

With this Cortes broke off the conversation, and again cautioned
Sandoval to guard the prisoners well. As I have above remarked, we had
merely thrown fetters about Narvaez's legs, but we now secured him
better, and placed a strong guard over him. I was among the latter, and
Sandoval gave me secret orders not to allow any of his men to see him
until next morning, when Cortes would make further arrangements
respecting his person. We did not feel quite safe yet; for the reader
will remember that Narvaez had detached forty of his cavalry to oppose
our crossing the river. This body was still hovering about, and we
feared would fall upon us unawares and release both Narvaez and the
other officers again. We therefore kept a sharp look out, while Cortes
despatched Oli and Ordas to persuade them, by enticing promises, to
surrender quietly. For this purpose these officers were obliged to take
a couple of horses of Narvaez's troops, as ours had been left at the
back of a rising ground near Sempoalla.

When Oli and Ordas came up with them, they said so many fine things, and
made such vast promises in Cortes' name, that they speedily came to
terms, and surrendered themselves.[84]

Daylight in the meantime had broken forth, when this detachment reached
our camp again; and the drummers and pipers of Narvaez's corps, without
instructions from Cortes or from any one else, suddenly sounded their
instruments, and cried out, "Long live these brave Romans, who, though
small in numbers, have gained the victory over Narvaez and his troops!"
And another merry-making fellow, called Guidela, a negro, cried out at
the top of his voice, "Hark ye! the Romans themselves could never boast
of so brilliant a victory as this!" Whatever we might say, we were
unable to stop their hurrahing or their instruments, until Cortes had
ordered one of the drummers, named Tepia, who was half mad, to be
seized.

At this moment Oli and Diego de Ordas made their appearance with the
detachment of cavalry, accompanied by Duero, Bermudez, and several other
friends of our general. These now all came in a body to pay their
respects to Cortes, who had taken off his armour, and was seated in an
arm-chair, dressed in a wide orange-coloured surtout. It was really a
most interesting sight to behold the serenity and joy which sat upon his
countenance as he welcomed each, and amusing to hear the fine things he
told them. He had indeed every reason to be proud of the power and the
greatness he had so suddenly acquired!

After these officers had thus paid their respects to him, they repaired
to their respective quarters. And now we must look over the list of the
dead and wounded on both sides. Among the former was Narvaez's
standard-bearer, named Fuentes, of a noble family of Seville; and three
of his chief officers, one of whom was named Rojas, a native of Old
Castile. One of the three soldiers, named Carretero, who deserted to the
enemy, was likewise killed; and the number of their wounded was very
great.

On our side we lost four killed, and had several wounded; the fat
cazique himself being of this number; who, when he heard that we were in
the vicinity of Sempoalla, had fled to Narvaez's quarters, and was
wounded there. Cortes ordered his wound to be dressed, then sent him
home, and desired that no one should molest him.

Cervantes and Escalona, who had deserted to Narvaez, derived very little
benefit from their treachery; the latter had been dangerously wounded,
and the other Cortes ordered to be well whipped.

Here I must also not forget the braggadocio Salvatierra, whose cowardice
his own men declared was beyond all belief. They all swore never in the
course of their lives to have witnessed such extreme fear as he evinced
when he first heard the clashing of our arms at a distance; and when he
heard the cry of _Victory! Victory! Narvaez is fallen!_ he became quite
ill, and threw down his arms.

Diego Velasquez had almost escaped my memory! He was also wounded, and,
as had been previously settled, was taken prisoner by Leon, with whom he
had quarrelled at Narvaez's dinner table. The victor, however, acted
magnanimously; he took him to his own quarters, had his wounds dressed,
and treated him with great respect.

Such is the history of our battle with Narvaez, and now we must see what
further took place.

[82] The clater nocturnus. (p. 327.)

[83] It need scarcely be remarked that the Spanish guns at that time
were fired by means of matches, which were made of hempen tow, boiled in
the lees of old wine, and when dry and once lighted they burn on until
consumed. (p. 327.)

[84] Bernal Diaz has forgotten some circumstances relative to this
battle. Three hundred of Narvaez's troops defended themselves bravely
for a length of time on one of the temples, nor did they surrender until
all their powder was spent. (p. 327.)

CHAPTER CXXIII.

 _How the 2000 Indians of Chinantla, whom Cort

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