HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



315 



returned vi&orious to their camp, although the Tlafca- 

 3ans did not defift from frequent affaults upon them dur- 

 ing the whole of that day. Of the Spaniards, one man 

 was miffing, and fixty were wounded; likewife all the 

 horfes. Of the Tlafcalans, great numbers were killed, 

 but not a fingle dead body was to be feen by the Spa- 

 niards, owing to the diligence and activity with which 

 they carried them off the field of battle. 



Xicotencatl, difguiled at the unhappy iffue of this ex- 

 pedition, confulted the diviners of Tlafcala, who report- 

 ed that thofe Grangers being* the children of the fun 

 were invincible during the day; but, as foon as night 

 arrived, by want of the genial heat of that luminary, 

 they were deprived of ftrength to defend themfelves. 

 In confequence of rhis oracle, that general refolved to 

 make another affault upon the Spanifti camp during the 

 night. In the mean while, Cortes fallied out afrefh to 

 commit hoftilities in the neighbouring villages, of which 

 he burned ten, and among thofe one of three thoufand 

 houfes, and returned with feveral prifoners. 



Xicotencatl, that the blow might not fail which he 

 meditated upon the Spaniards, took pains firft to gain 

 information of the ftrength and difpofition of their 

 camp. He fent therefore fifty men to Cortes with a 

 prefent, accompanied with many expreffions of kindnefs 

 and courtefy, charging them to obferve every thing mi- 

 nutely: but they were unable to do this with diffimu- 

 lation fufficient to prevent its being difcovered by Teuch, 

 one of the three principal Chempoallefe, who immediate- 

 ly intimated his fufpicion to Cortes. This general hav- 

 ing called fome of the fpies afide, forced them by means 

 of threats to reveal that Xicotencatl was preparing to 

 attack them the following night, and that they were 



fent 



