The National tribune., 1899-07-20
BATTLE OF 0TUMBA.

lowest and darkest rayines of these mount
aims, when Don fernando, at the head Of
his. little army, rode to the crest OF the hill
and Looked down n upon the narrow 9m
fields Of Otompan,-or, as the name has
been moreseuphonically rendered by Span
iards, Otumba. The level vale itself, as
well as the hills on both sides, as far up, at
least, as the gentleness OF their slope al
lowed such cultivation, was sprinkled with
maize fields,s which being now at their
utmost point of luX,Iriance, covered such
places with intense veFdure; while the green
forests, that Eere and there overShadowed
the upper ridges, with fiowery cliffs pro-
truding from their waving tops, added the
charm of solitude to the pleasant prospect
of human habitation. But there was one
accidental beauty at present revealed,
which, however, disagreeabe and even
terrible to the leader, he could not but
acknowledge. in his heart, TO surpass all
the others,
At the cry with which the General beheld
this phenomenon his followers rushed up to
his side, and perceived the whoe valley, as
1t tseemed,-beginning at the bottom OF the
ridge they now stood upon, and extending
not only from hill to hill, but as far as the
eve could see.-fiIled, and indeed blocked
up, with enemies The white and scarlet
hues of their garments, the plumes OF
divers colorS waving on their heads ike
sea of feathers, over whose surging surface
there passed here bright sunbeam and
there the shadow of a cloud,-the giitterlng
of copper spears, of volcanic falchions and
Of jewels (for this day, the pagans decorated
themselves, as for a triumph, in their richest
array, produced scene which was indeed
both glorious and terrific. Through this
human flood, Don fernando knew he
must conduct his weary and deSpalring
people; but without daring to hope that the
hand which had parted the Sea of the
Desert from before the steps of the Israelites
far,Qrn For m n thrllDn
equally fearful obstruction.
The Christians gathered around their
feader, in silence. The loud roar of shouts,
sounding from below, as if whole world
shrieked> at. once, shook the mountain.
under their feet; but they replied not.
Every man was, at that moment, commend
ing his soul to his Maker; for each knew
there was no path of escape, except through
that valley, and felt in addition. that, per-
haps, not even the whole army, fresh, we'll
appointed, full of spirits and resolution, as
when, on st. Johns Day, it entered the
city of the lake, could have made any i'm
preston on such multitude, displayed in
such a position.
The very extremity of the case was the
best counsel TO meet it with fortitude; every
man considered his life already doomed
beyond respite, and, with such conscious
ness, looked forward to his fate, with tran
quillity.
1HtH DN ldltile lStt1S
on the road, though the mutinous and
lamenting fugitiyeS did not then know it,
had better prepared them to encounter such
battlefield. than series of victories, with
spoils of gold and bread; for these torments
having already rendered their lives burden
some, they were not greatly frighted at the
prospect of ending them. These causes.
then, added to the fury of fanaticiSm never
entirely at rest in the bosom of the invaders,
will account for their resolution, and even
fmpatience,. to attack an army, rated by
many OF the conquerorS at 100000 men.
Had they been happier men, they would not
have rushed upon such manifest destruc-
ton.
The priest Olmedo stretched forth his
arm, holding a cruciffx: Christian and
TlaScalan knelt down upon the f1inty
ridge, and mingled together sullen prayers.
As they rose, the eVer-coinpoSed Sando-
val cried out, emphatically:
Now, my merry men all, gentlemen
hidalgos and gentlemen commoners, God
hath, this day, given us great oppor-
tunity to signalize our vaior which was
all the Grafton it occurred to his magma
lion TO make. The soldiers looked upon
him with gloomy Indifference. Then out
spoke the hot-headed Alvarado:
There be, to nay reckoning, in yonder
plain" he said, with grin OF desperation,
some 100000 men; we have. of our own
body, some 450 Christian soldiers, and We
may count the 1900 Tlascalans, here at
our heels, for so more; which just leaves us
thousand dogs apiece to fight in yonder
vale. If We gain the victory over such
odds, never believe me, if we be not clapped
down in books by that German enchanter
Faust, who hath invented way Of making
them in such numbers, as being more
heroical men than either Don Alexandra,
the great Emperor of Egypt, or some
other country, or Don Rodrigo him
self, who was much greater than any
such dog of a heather king. This much
l will say, that never before had starving
men such a chance of dying like knights of
renown; and as, doubtless, God will send us
some fifty or an hundred thousand angels,
to fight on our side, we may chance stumble
on victory: in hope of which, or in the
certainty, on the other hand, of going to
heaven, | say, Santiago, and at them! for
their bodies are covered with gold and
jewelsw
God will help us,' cried Cortez; "and my
friend Alyarado hath very justly said, that
there is a rich spoil, in that valley, for
victors. Though there be here, perhaps,
$4,000 men, or more, yet are they infidels,
Rnd, therefore, but as sparrows and gnats
before the face of Gods soldiers. There
are, also, acres of very sweet corn in the
valley; and, beyond yon yelling herds, are
The gates of Tlascala. But let it not be
thought. ! will, this day, compel the sword
Of any Christian. Yonder are the hiltops;
there are dens enow, wherein one may give
his bones TO wildcats, and there be tall
cliffs from which they who prefer such end,
may throw themselves, and StraightWay be
beyond the reach Of battle. For myself,
though but one man follow me- yet will |
descend to that plain, walk through that
multitude, and marshaling an hundred
thousand IlaScalanS, after | have rested
ne little, return, by the same path we are
now treading, TO the gates of Mexico, to
revenge upon such as yonder scum, the
Heath of my brothers, who are in heaven,
as well as TO lay claim TO those rich lands
and mines Of gold, which are our right, and
which 1t is yet our destiny to overmaster
ye be minded TO disperse and starve
among the hills, let me be acquainted with
your resolution; if ye will fight like soldiers
and Christians, speak out your good
thoughts, and in God S name, let us beginl"
we will fghtr muttered the desperate
men.
At this moment, some strong clear voice
from the company began to pronounce the
words Of the chant, Kyrie Eleison. and the
rest joining in, Cortez gave the signal to
descend; and thus they went slowly down
towards the host, invoking mercy and sing
ing the praises of God, and waxing in bold
ness and fanaticism as they sang, until the
neighboring rocks rang with the loud and
solemn echoes Of devotion.
Whatever was the piety of Don Hernanod,
It did not, however, prevent his taking ali
the steps which could be expected of Gen
eral in such situation: and one while join
ing, loudly, with the others in the chant,
md dslf +l,Ar I'M