( 268 ) 



named Bravo, werc the next who loft their Hves, and imnciediately after^' 

 Alonzo Rodriguez was killed, and two more knocked down. Moft of 

 the reft received wounds, but ftill we afcended. I was at that time an 

 active young man, and followed clofe to our enfign, taking advantage 

 of the concavities that we found from time to time in the rock. Corral- 

 was wounded in the head, his face covered with blood, and the colours 

 tattered to pieces. *' Oh fignor Bernal Diaz del Caftillo" faid he to me, 

 • ' here is no advancing ; remain under cover, for it is as much as I can 

 " do to keep my hold, and preferve myfelf from falling." Looking 

 downward I at this time perceived Pedro Barba captain of the crofsbow- 

 men,. with two foldiers, climbing up as we had done under the cover 

 of the projed:ions in the face of the rock. I called to him not to ad- 

 vance, for that it was impoftible to climb much farthc'r. He replied 

 in lofty terms, that I ftiould defift from talking, and proceed on. I 

 was a little piqued at this, and exerting my utmoft a(5livity, mounted to 

 a conliderable diftance higher, telling him I (hould fee how he would 

 do. At this moment a ftiower of large rocks came down, and crulhed 

 one of the foldiers who were with Barba to death; after having feen 

 which he did not ftir a ftep. Corral called out to thofe below defiring- 

 them to report to the general the impoflibility of proceeding, and that 

 even the defcent was full of danger. When Cortes was informed of this, 

 for he could not fee us on account of the inequalities of the rocks, and 

 underftood that moft of us were wounded and many killed, a circum- 

 ftance which he could the readier believe from having had three of^the 

 cavalry killed on the plain by the rolling down -of the mafles of rocks,- 

 feven alfo being wounded in the fame manner, he gave fignals for us to 

 defcend, which we accordingly did, in a very bloody and bruifed con- 

 dition, leaving eight of our party dead. 



Bodies of the Mexicans were watching us during this time, con- 

 cealed in different places, in order to fall upon us when we were enga- 

 ged in the attack, for it was a concerted plan. They now (hewed 

 themfelves, and advanced againft us ; we attacked them in the plain and 

 drove them to fome other ridges of rocks, and advancing through nar- 

 row 



