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to his countrymen intelligence very injurious to us. Our general de- 

 tached a fecond party of equal ftrength and upon the fame duty under 

 Captain Francifco de Lugo. This laft mentioned detachment had not 

 marched far, when it fell in with feveral large bodies of the enemy's 

 warriors, who attacked our people on all fides, infomuch that all the va- 

 lour of De Lugo and his foldiers could not repulfe them and he was 

 obhged to fall back, which he however did with great regularity, to 

 our quarters, fending before him a fwift Indian of Cuba to call for 

 fuccour. Alvarado with his detachment had advanced fomewhat far- 

 ther, to the diflance of above a league from the town, when his progrefs 

 was intercepted by an arm of the fea, or river. Being obliged thereby 

 to march in another direction, it was the will of God that he Ihould 

 come within hearing of the mulketry, and the inftruments and fhouts 

 of the Indians with whom De Lugo was engaged. He immediately 

 flew to his relief, and the two bodies joining repelled the enemy and re- 

 treated towards the town, in which we who occupied it had at t;he fame 

 time been attacked by great bodies of the enemy, whom however we 

 foon tnade retreat by the efFedt of our mufketry and crofs-bows, and 

 Gur good fwords. As foon as Cortes received intelligence that his de- 

 tachments were engaged, he fallied out at the head of all of us who 

 could carry arms, and we met our companions in their retreat, at about 

 half a leagues diflance. They had loft in the engagement two foldiers 

 of the company of Captain de Lugo, and had in all eleven wounded. 

 We returned with them to the town,, bringing with us three prifoners, 

 one of whom appeared to be a chief. We were informed by them that 

 Mclchorejo had advifed them to attack us by day and by night, where- 

 by they would, he faid, deftroy us, being fo few. The native who 

 told us this we releafed and fent to his countrymen with an amicable 

 meflage, but he never returned, and Aguilar was informed by the others, 

 that we were to exped; to be attacked by the whole force of the warriors 

 of that country. 



When Cortes underftood the formidable preparations which were 

 making againft us, he ordered the horfes to be landed, and all the 



wounded 



