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deferve if." But the other gentleman, on this, launching out into 

 ftill greater liberty with Velafquez himfelf, the latter inftantly laid his 

 hand on his fword, defiring Narvaez to permit him to punifh him as a 

 bafe liar; but the officers prefent interfering prevented mifchief, and it 

 was recommended both to Velafquez and Olmedo to quit the place. 

 Velafquez accordingly, on his excellent grey mare, armed in his helmet 

 and coat of mail which he always wore, and his gold chain about his 

 fhoulders, went to take his leave of Narvaez, who returned his falute 

 very coolly. The young man we have before fpoken of was again very 

 violent, but Velafquez gave him no other reply than fwearing by his 

 beard, that he would in a few days fee what materials he was made of: 

 then, taking hafty leave of thofe who were {landing by, he put fpurs 

 to his good grey mare, and was foon out of fight, for he had got a hint 

 or fufpicion that Narvaez would fend after him, and faw fome perfons 

 on horfeback, apparently for the purpofe ; but he was too well mount- 

 ed for them, and reached our camp in fafety. 



, We were at that time repofing by the fide of the river, after the 

 fatigues of fo fultry a march, when a report came from an outpoft that 

 horfemen were in fight. On their arrival, what greeting, and em- 

 bracing, and joy and congratulation ! and how Cortes received them ! 

 and well he might, for they were eminently ferviceable to him. We 

 all got round to hear their narrative. Velafquez told Cortes firft how 

 he had executed his commilTion, and diftributed his prefents. Then our 

 merry droll friar took off Narvaez when he made him order out his 

 troops in review, to laugh at him j and told us by what fineffe he got 

 him to read the letter ; and how he had perfuaded the bragging fool 

 Salvatierra that he was his coufin, the one being from Olmedo, and the 

 other from Burgos ; and of the ridiculous fpeeches and geftures the fel- 

 low made when he was talking how he would kill Cortes, and all of 

 us, for the lofs of his horfe ; mimicking him to admiration. Thus 

 were we all together like fo many brothers, rejoicing and laughing as if 

 we had been at a wedding or a feafl, knowing well that tomorrow 

 was the day in which we were to conquer or die, oppofed to five times 



our 



