s avarice which tempted Alvarado to make
this attack, in order to pillage the Indians of the golden
ornaments which they wore at their festival. I never heard
any just reason for the assertion; nor do I believe any such
thing, although it is so represented by Bartholome de las
Casas. For my part, I am convinced that his intention in
falling on them at that time was in order to strike terror
into them, and prevent their insurrection, according to the
saying that the first attack is half the battle."

CHAPTER VIII.

BATTLE OF THE DISMAL NIGHT.

Augmented forces of Cortez.--The reconnaissance.--Success of the
Mexicans.--The conflict continued.--Troops of Narvaez begin to
murmur.--The sally.--Cortez obliged to retreat.--The conflagration.
--The desperate situation.--The appeal to Montezuma.--He is induced
to interpose.--The dawn of the morning.--Attention of the natives.
--Address of Montezuma.--He is wounded.--He refuses nourishment.
--His death.--Raging of the battle.--The two Mexican nobles.--Escape
of Cortez.--Night and its scenes.--Endeavors to intimidate the
natives.--Their heroism.--Defiance.--Cortez resolves to leave the
city.--The moving towers.--The retreat.--The onset.--Arrival at the
canal.--Imminent peril.--Filling the breach.--Slow advance.--The
storm.--The causeway.--Multitude of the enemy.--Fury of the attack.
--Noche triste.--Separation of the Spaniards.--March to the rescue.
--Destruction of a part of the army.--Sorrow of Cortez.--They flee
to a temple.--Condition of the party.--March over the mountains.
--Value of the horses.--Courage of Cortez.--Shouts of defiance.--
Appearance of the enemy.--Apprehensions of Cortez.--The attack.--
Superstition of the Mexicans.--The capture of the standard.--The
natives flee.--Arrival at Tlascala.--Enmity of the Tlascalans against
the Mexicans.--New disasters.--New designs of Cortez.--Efforts to
collect recruits.--Preparations for building ships.--Remonstrance of
his companions.--The foray.--Plunder.--The Governor of Cuba sends
ships to Vera Cruz.--Expedition from the Governor of Jamaica.--
Collection of arms.--Equipping the fleet.--The vessels baptized.

The force which Cortez now had under his command, if we take into
consideration the efficiency of European discipline and of European
weapons of warfare, was truly formidable. In the stone buildings which
protected and encircled his encampment, he could marshal, in ba