Aztecs would sometimes
seize a Spaniard and bear him off alive to sacrifice him on some high
pyramid temple in full view of his wretched comrades below. The
Spaniards fired cannon after cannon, but to no avail. They were
starving, they were becoming sick, and they were covered with wounds;
their allies, who took part gallantly in all the hard fighting,
suffered frightful losses. It was at last reluctantly agreed among the
leaders that their only salvation was the evacuation of the city.

XI. The Melancholy Night

Although the course thus thrust upon them was indeed a hard one, there
was nothing else to be done. Sick, wounded, starving, dying, they
could by no means maintain themselves longer in the city. Fight as
they might and would, the end would come speedily, and would mean
annihilation. Happy in that event would be those who died upon the
field, for every living captive, whatever his condition, would be
reserved for that frightful sacrifice to the war-god, in which his
{183} body would be opened, and his reeking heart torn, almost while
still beating, from his breast. To retreat was almost as dangerous as
it was to remain. It was certain, however, that some would get through
in that attempt, although it was equally certain that many would not.

Cortes, mustering his soldiers and allies, after a day of
heart-breaking fighting, disclosed the situation to them in blunt
soldier-like words, although they all knew it as well as he, and then
the hasty preparations began. A vast treasure had been amassed by the
Spaniards. Making an effort to preserve the fifth portion of it, which
by law belonged to the King, Cortes threw open the treasure chamber and
bade the rest help themselves. He cautioned them, however, that those
who went the lightest, would have the greatest prospects for escape, a
warning which many, especially among those who had come to the country
with Narvaez, chose to disregard.

The causeway along which they determined to fly and which connected
Mexico with the mainland was pierced at intervals to admit passage from
one portion of the lake to the other. The bridges which usually
covered these openings had been taken away by the Aztecs. Cortes
caused a temporary bridge or pontoon to be built which was to be
carried with the fugitives to enable them to pass the openings.

The night was the first of July, 1520. It was pitch dark and a heavy
rain was falling. The forces consisted of twelve