ad of meeting with the friendly reception
that Grijalva had done, they found the banks lined with the
natives, whose menacing attitude showed that a landing would be
opposed.

After solemnly summoning them to surrender, Cortez landed. The
natives fought bravely, but were unable to resist the astounding
effect of the Spaniards' firearms; and the invaders, advancing,
drove them back and took possession of the town, which was found to
be deserted.

Two strong parties were sent out next morning to reconnoiter, but
were attacked and driven back to the town. They reported that the
whole country was under arms. Cortez was much vexed at finding
himself thus engaged in a war, from which no benefit was to be
gained; but he felt that it would impair the confidence of his
troops, were he now to draw back. He therefore landed six of the
guns and the horses, and the following day sallied out to the
attack. Ordaz commanded the infantry, while Cortez himself led the
little body of cavalry, the horses being mounted by the cavaliers
of the party.

After marching a league, the infantry came in sight of the enemy.
The natives attacked them as they were struggling through deeply
irrigated ground, poured volleys of missiles of all kinds upon
them, and wounded many before they could get across to solid
ground, where they could bring the guns into play. But even these,
and the discharges of musketry did not appall the natives, who
pressed forward with such fury that, after the engagement had
lasted an hour, the position of the Spaniards became perilous in
the extreme.

But at this moment Cortez and his companions, who had been
compelled to make a great detour, owing to the difficult nature of
the ground, fell suddenly upon the rear of the enemy. The latter,
who had never before seen horses, and who believed that horse and
rider were the same animal, were seized with a sudden panic at this
extraordinary apparition. The panic speedily communicated itself to
the whole army, and while the cavalry trampled down and slaughtered
many in the rear, the infantry charged, and the Indians fled in
wild confusion.

Great numbers had fallen, whilst on the Christian side a few only
were killed, and a hundred wounded. No pursuit was attempted.
Cortez released the prisoners taken in battle, among whom were two
chiefs, and sent them to their countrymen, with a message that he
would forgive the past if they would at once come in and tender
their submiss