ought back to Cuba by one Juan de Grijilva, who told of the
populous and wealthy cities of the main land to the westward of Cuba,
induced Velasquez to fit out an expedition for exploration,
colonization or whatever might turn up. Casting about among his
friends, followers, and acquaintances for a suitable leader, his choice
after some hesitation {121} devolved upon Cortes. This nascent captain
had not lived at the provincial court of Velasquez without impressing
his characteristics upon those with whom he came in contact. After the
outfitting of the expedition had progressed considerably, Velasquez was
warned that Cortes was of too high and resolved a spirit to be trusted
with an independent command, and it was probable that upon this
opportunity he would disregard his instructions and act for his own
interests, without giving another thought to Velasquez and his backers.

Velasquez ignored the suggestions that he displace Cortes until it was
too late. Cortes, learning that his enemies were undermining him with
the governor, hastily completed his preparations and set sail a short
time in advance of the arrival of the order displacing him from the
command. His little squadron touched at a point in Cuba and was there
overtaken by the missive from Velasquez, which Cortes absolutely
disregarded. He had embarked his property and had persuaded his
friends to invest and did not propose to be displaced by anybody or
anything.

The expedition consisted of eleven ships. The flag was a small caravel
of one hundred tons burden. There were three others of eighty tons
each, and the seven remaining were small, undecked brigantines.
Authorities vary as to the number of men in the expedition, but there
were between five hundred and fifty and six hundred Spaniards, two
hundred Indian servants, ten small pieces of artillery, four falconets
and sixteen horses.

The truth must be admitted. There were three factors which contributed
to the downfall of that vast empire against which this expedition of
adventurers {122} was launched. One of them was Cortes himself, the
second was Malinal, and the third was the sixteen, doubtless sorry
horses, loaded into the ships. Fiske says:

"It was not enough that the Spanish soldier of that day was a bulldog
for strength and courage, or that his armor was proof against stone
arrows and lances, or that he wielded a Toledo blade that could cut
through silken cushions, or that his arquebus and