The National tribune., 1899-06-29


further bank of the second ditch, as if to
secure the passage, they waited not for
directions to cross over, by swimming.
They initiated the example of their COM
mander, Sandoyal, who, ieaping from his
horse, and leading him into the water,
passed over by the beam, while still holding
and guiding the swimming animal This
mode of proceeding being necessarily very
slow, and the barbarians rushing, in the
meanwhile, against them with unspeak-
able fury, the impatience of the cavaliers
became so great, that many of them spurred
their steeds down the sides of the dixie, and
thus, swimming them along by the beam,
passed to the other side.
Divers of the footmen, seduced by the
example, leaped, in like manner, into the
lake; and the Tlascalans, at all times less
formidable opponents than their arme
allies. being, at the same moment, vio-
lently assaulted, sprang also into the
water, SO that it became alive with the
bodies of man and horse,-as if herd of
caymans, such as haunt the lower rivers of
that climate, were disporting and battling
in the tide. While thus embarrassed and
entangled together in the water, the SWIM
merS were set upon by the Mexicans, who,
pushing their canoes among them, and
handling their heavy paddles, as well as
war-clubs, dispatched them, almost with
out labor, and with roars of exultation.
1t was at this instant of confusion, and
while those Tlascalans who still remained
on the dixie, conteDded but feeblv with the
augmenting assailants, that Don Her
nando, followed closely by De Moria, and
others, dashed over friend and foe. and
reached the ditch. The scene of horror
there disclosed, the miserable shrieks of
Christian comrades, perishing in the gap
and the neighboring parts of the lake, the
increasing yells OF infideIs behind, touched
the stout heart of Cortez with fear. He
descended from his steed, sprang upon the
beam, and crossed, crying out, at the same
time, TO those who followed:
Hold, cavaliers. Wait We here for the
artillery: leave not this gap to the mur-
have help from the van"
SO saving, he sprang again upon his
horse. De 8Iorla was at his heels, bearing
Minnapotzin in his arms, but on foot: the
chestnut gelding was left drowning in the
sluice, entangled and sinking under the
weight of dozen men, who had seized upon
him, in their terror.
God forgive thee, cavalier cried Cor
teZ, as he caught the eye of Francisco
'for, for this barbarian puppet, thou play.
est the coward, and leavest thy friend &c
perish, without the aid OF blowi'
De Morla answered not, but with ghast-
ly smile, uncovered and pointed at the
features of the unconscious princess
IF she be dead. cried the General, "giye
her body to the waters OF her native lake
IL She live, commit her TO the care of the
Tlascalans; then call on thy saints and
Show that thou art not "A craven!"
Then, without waiting for an answer
Don Hernando spurred onwards, striking
down, almost at every 'step,-for the whole
causeway was beset,-some luckless saw.
age; and, now and then, in his desperation
smiting at the hands of certain OF his owr
countrymen, who strove to arrest the gal.
Looping steed, and spring behind him.
He reached the third and last ditch; il
was bridgeless, like the others, and, like
the others, a theater of disorder and mas.
sacre. The pillar of fire, here, revealed its
figure but luridly and family, through
the thick mists and the cannon-smoke
sluggishiy driving over the lake; bit hs
thought he could trace, in the distani
gloom, in front, the outline of those rugged
hills, which lie along the western borders
of the lake. He turned his face back.
wards to the city; a tempest of yells-the
pagan shouts of victory, and the last cries
Of Spaniards to God,-came mingling on a
gust, that waved the distant flame to and
fro, like a sword of fire in the hands oil
some colossal fiend. A bolt of ice smote
. through his bosom; and when he plunged
into the sluice, and, rising on the opposite
bank, drove the sharp spurs into the fanks