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cavalry to charge them, in expedation that galloping full fpeed they 

 fliould run into the marfh, and fo it happened; for in fpite of all we 

 could fay to Rangel of their art and ftratagem, and how neceffary it was 

 to be wary, he ran his cavalry full at them, and tumbled in himfelf the 

 firft, head foremofl into the marfh, where the Indians began to clofe 

 upon him, in order to feize him alive for facrifice. 



By great exertions, we got him, badly wounded, out of their 

 hands, half drowned, and his poor fore head expofed and broken. As 

 this country is very populous, we found a village hard by, whither we 

 went to take repofe and drefs the wounded. It was abandoned on our 

 approach, but we had hardly been there a quarter of an hour when we 

 were attacked with fuch violence, that in the firft onfet they killed one 

 of our foldiers and two horfes, and we had much to do to drive them 

 off. All this time Rangel was complaining of his wounds and bruifes, 

 and the mufquitos got about him in clouds. The vermin aHo with 

 which that country is infelled, bit him to fuch a degree that his life 

 was infupportable, for he could get no reft day or night, and the rain 

 fell inceffantly. He,-and fome of Garay's foldiers whom he had brought 

 with him, feeing that nothing had been got but three very hard fought 

 battles, and that eleven horfes and two foldiers had been killed and ma- 

 ny more wounded, began to grow very fick of the bufinefs, and to 

 wifli to be quickly at home. But Rangel did not wifh to have it ap- 

 pear that this retreat was a choice of his, and therefore fummoned a 

 council of fuch as he knew were of his own opinion. 



About twenty of us had at this time gone to fee if we could make 

 any prifoners among fome gardens and plantations hard byj we took 

 five, and on my return Rangel called me afide and told me that the 

 council had determined to retreat, defiling me to bring over the reft to 

 it. Having known the man before, I had a kindnefs for him. How 

 fir, faid I to him can you now think of returning ? What will Cortes 

 and the world fay of you, when they hear of your retreat without ef- 

 fecting any thing in thefe two expeditions ? You furely cannot think of 



returning 



