neither give nor receive quarter. Many were
pelted down with the huge stones, that ceased not to rain upon them from
all the neighboring house tops. Some were taken by the feet as they
labored to maintain a precarious footing on the slippery causeway, and
dragged into the canals, either to be drowned in the desperate struggle
there, or carried off in the canoes to captivity or sacrifice. Cortez
himself narrowly escaped immolation.

At length, through the indomitable perseverance of the general, the
breach was so far filled up as to make a practicable passage for the
troops. A retreat was sounded, and that gallant band, which, a few hours
before had rushed in with flaunting banners, and confident boastings of
an easy victory, was glad to escape from the snare into which they had
fallen, their numbers greatly reduced, their banners soiled and
tattered, and their expectations of ultimate success terribly shaken.
They were pursued through all their march by the exulting Aztecs, and
many a broken head and bruised limb attested the truth of Guatimozin's
taunting challenge, that the Spaniards, if they entered the capital
again, would find as many fortresses as there were houses, as many
assailants as stones in the streets.

CHAPTER XI.

STRAITNESS OF THE FAMINE--THE FINAL CONFLICT--FLIGHT AND
CAPTURE OF GUATIMOZIN--DESTINY FULFILLED.

~Death opens every door,
And sits in every chamber by himself.
If what might feed a sparrow should suffice
For soldiers' meals, ye have not wherewithal
To linger out three days. For corn, there's none;
A mouse, imprisoned in your granaries,
Were starved to death.~

This shameful defeat was a tremendous blow to the ardent anticipations
of the conqueror. Many of the timid and the discontented in his own
ranks availed themselves of the opportunity to create divisions, and
withdraw from the doubtful contest. The Mexicans, strengthened by the
spoils of their assailants, and yet more by the new courage which their
late success infused into every heart among them, immediately commenced
repairing their works, clearing their canals, and making the most
vigorous preparations for maintaining the siege. Their priests,
infuriated with the number of sacrifices which they had been enabled to
offer to the gods, from the captives of high and low degree taken in the
conflict, declared with authoritative solemnity, that the anger of the
gods was now appeased