such an old fool as
Juan Millan. Cortes, at the same time, wrote to his other friends, and
in particular to his two confederates, the private secretary and royal
treasurer.

The next step he took was to command his men to put their arms into good
repair. Every smith in the town was set to work to fix points to our
lances, and the gunners were ordered to search every magazine for
arrows. He at last even persuaded the very smiths to join the armament.

We remained altogether twelve days at Trinidad, and thence sailed for
the Havannah. From the foregoing statement, the reader will readily
perceive how differently all this has been related by Gomara, who even
makes Velasquez confer the chief command on Ordas; the latter, he says,
invited Cortes to dine with him on board his vessel, had him seized
while at dinner, and taken off prisoner to Santiago. I could cite many
similar errors from Gomara's history, and thereby convince the reader
that it is better to believe an eyewitness than an author who writes
about things he never saw. However, enough of Gomara; let us return to
our subject.

CHAPTER XXIII.

_Cortes embarks with all his cavaliers and soldiers in order to sail
along the south side of the island to the Havannah, and sends off
one of the vessels to go around the north coast for the same port._

Cortes, finding that he had nothing further to do at Trinidad,
acquainted his officers and men with the hour of departure, leaving it
to each one's choice either to proceed to the Havannah by sea, or march
thither overland, under the command of Pedro de Alvarado, who would be
joined by some men from one of the colonies, on his road. Alvarado was a
kind-hearted man, who knew best how to deal with soldiers; wherefore I
myself, with fifty other military men, gladly joined him; our numbers
were, moreover, increased by all our horse. Cortes also sent a vessel,
under the command of Juan de Escalante, which was to shape its course
around the north coast to the Havannah. Cortes then embarked, and
proceeded, with the whole squadron, for the same port. The transport
ships must, however, have missed the vessel of our commander-in-chief in
the night, as they all arrived safe at the Havannah without it. The
troops under Pedro de Alvarado also arrived in good time, and the vessel
under the command of Escalante, which had sailed around the north coast.

Cortes alone remained behind; nor could any one account for hi