48 



RETREAT OP THE SPANIARDS NOCHE TRISTE. 



ter, who had continued throughout his adventures the chief 

 reliance of the Spaniards for intercourse with the Indians, — that 

 this conflict should cease at once, for the Aztecs must be con- 

 vinced that a soldier who destroyed their gods, laid a part of their 

 capital in ruins, and was able to inflict still more direful chastise- 

 ment, was, indeed, invincible. 



But the day of successful threats had passed. The force of the 

 Aztecs was still undiminished ; the bridges were destroyed ; the 

 numbers of the Spaniards were lessened ; hunger and thirst were 

 beginning to do their deadly work on the invaders ; " there 

 will be only too few of you left," said they in reply, — " to satisfy 

 the revenge of our gods." 



There was no longer time for diplomacy or delay, and, accord- 

 ingly, Cortez resolved to quit the city as soon as practicable, and 

 prepared the means to accomplish this desirable retreat ; but, on 

 his first attempt he was unable to reach the open country through 

 the easily defended highway of the capital or the enfilading canals 

 and lanes. From house tops and cross streets, innumerable 

 Indians beset his path wherever he turned. Yet it was essential 

 for the salvation of the Spaniards that they should evacuate the 

 city. No other resource remained, and, desperate as it was, the 

 conqueror persevered, unflinchingly, amid the more hazardous 

 assaults of the Mexicans, and all the internal discords of his 

 own band, whom a common danger did not perfectly unite. He 

 packed the treasure, gathered during the days of prosperous 

 adventure, on his stoutest horses, and, with a portable bridge, to be 

 thrown hastily over the canals, he departed from his stronghold on 

 the dark and rainy evening which has become memorable in Ameri- 

 can history, as the noche triste, or "melancholy night." The 

 Mexicans were not usually alert during the darkness, and Cortez 

 hoped that he might steal off unperceived in this unwatchful 

 period. But he was mistaken in his calculations. The Aztecs 

 had become acquainted with Spanish tactics and were eager for 

 the arrival of the moment, by day or night, when the expected 

 victims would fall into their hands. As soon as the Spanish band 

 had advanced a short distance along the causeway of Tlacopan, the 

 attack began by land and water ; for the Indians assaulted them 

 from their boats, with spears and arrows, or quitting their skiffs, 

 grappled with the retreating soldiers in mortal agony, and rolled 

 them from the causeway into the waters of the lake. The bridge 

 was wedged inextricably between the sides of a dyke, whilst am- 



