54 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



vancing, and driving who ftiould firft enter into that 

 fquare, they heard the formidable found of the horn of 

 the god Painalton, which was blown by the priefts in 

 cafes of public and prefling neceflity, to excite the peo- 

 ple to arms. Immediately fuch a multitude of Mexicans 

 aifembled, and poured with fuch fury upon the Spaniards 

 and allies, that they threw them into confufion, and 

 compelled them to return precipitately back towards the 

 ditch, which was apparently filled up with faggots, and 

 other light materials; but when they attempted to pafs, 

 it funk with the weight and violence of the multitude. 

 Here the fliarpeft conflict and greatell peril of the fugi- 

 tives happened; for being unable at the fame time to de- 

 fend themfelves and pafs by fwimming, they were wound- 

 ed and taken by the Mexicans. Cortes, who with the 

 ufual diligence of a good general, had advanced to the 

 ditch when his defeated troops arrived there, endeavour- 

 ed to flop their flight by his cries, that their diforder and 

 confufion might not increafe the flaughter made of them 

 by the enemy; but words are not capable of reftraining 

 the flight of a difordered multitude to whom fear adds 

 wings. Pierced with vexation at the difafters of his peo- 

 ple, and regardlefs of his own perfonal danger, he ap- 

 proached to the ditch to fave all thofe he could. Some 

 were got out difarmed, fome wounded, and fome almoft 

 drowned. He at laft put them into fome order to pro- 

 ceed towards the camp, he himfelf remaining behind 

 with from twelve to twenty men to guard their rear; 

 but they had hardly begun to march, when he found 

 himfelf in a narrow pafs furrounded by the enemy. 

 That day would certainly have been his laft, in fpite of 

 the extraordinary bravery with which he defended him- 

 felf, and with his life all hopes would have fled of the 



conqueft 



