The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo Vol. 2

1/25/22, 8:50 PM The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo written by himself, containing a true an…
The conflict on the causeway was daily renewed, and we always madeour attacks in the
best order possible, so that we soon became masters of the fosse just mentioned, behind
which the enemy encamped at nights, but we had each time to encounter vast bodies of
men, and thewhole of us were more or less wounded. After fighting the whole dayuntil
nightfall, there was naturally nothing further to be done than to return to our former
position; but each time we commenced our retreat,other bodies of the enemy fell furiously
upon us. The Mexicans wereconfident they should, one time or other, be able to annihilate
us duringone of these retreats, and they rushed upon us with the very fury oftigers, and
came in so close upon us that we were compelled to fight foot to foot. But after a time,
when we had got more accustomed to their mode of fighting, we first ordered the
Tlascallans off the causeway; for these were very numerous, and delighted in combating
with the Mexicans, under our immediate protection, though they only embarrassed our
movements, of which the enemy were sly enough to take advantage. As soon as we
considered the Tlascallans sufficiently in advance of us, we firmly closed our ranks and
began our retreat, whichwas covered by our crossbow-men and musketeers, and by the four
brigantines, which kept up with us, two on each side of the causeway.When we reached our
encampment we dressed our wounds with bandagessteeped in warm oil, and ate our supper
off the maize-cakes, theherbs, and the figs which were sent us from Tlacupa. When this
was finished, a strong detachment was again posted for the night at the opening in the
causeway, and when daylight broke forth the battle was renewed. Such was our life, day
after day; and however early we might march out, we always found the enemy ready to
receive us, or they had already advanced up to our outposts and defied us to the combat
under the most abusive language. Cortes, with his division,fared no better than we did; the
fighting was continued night and day,and many of his men were killed and wounded. For
the rest, mattersstood with him exactly as they did with us on the causeway of Tlacupa,and
two brigantines still continued cruizing on the lake at night-time to intercept the canoes
laden with water and provisions for Mexico.
On one occasion two Mexicans of distinction were captured, whoinformed Cortes that forty
pirogues and a great number of canoes layhid among the reeds of the lake to make another
attempt upon the two brigantines. Our general returned these men many thanks for what
they had communicated, made them some presents, and promisedto bestow considerable
lands upon them after Mexico should be taken;they then described to him the spot where
the armed pirogues lay inambush, and the different places where the heavy stakes had been
driven in, of which it was intended the brigantines should run foul while pursuing the
pirogues in their sham flight.
[Pg 77]
Cortes was now determined to pay the enemy out in their own coin,and in the night-time
concealed six of our brigantines in a place wherethe reeds stood very thick, at about a mile
distant from the spot where the pirogues lay in ambuscade. Each brigantine was entirely
coveredwith green boughs, and the men on board were ordered not to makethe least noise
during the whole of the night. Very early next morning, Cortes ordered one of our other
brigantines to run out as usual towaylay the convoys of provisions going to Mexico. Both
the above-mentioned distinguished Mexicans were taken on board to point out the place
where the pirogues lay concealed, as our brigantine was purposelyto steer in that direction.
As soon as the Mexicans observed the brigantine approaching, they run out two of their
canoes into thelake to allure the brigantine to their pursuit. The stratagem was laidon both
sides in the very same way, and it was now only to be seenwhich should outdo the other.
Our brigantine sharply pursued thetwo canoes, which were moving off in the direction of
the concealedpirogues, but suddenly turned round as if she durst not venture nearerland.
The instant the pirogues found the brigantine was turning back,they rushed forth out of the
reeds and pulled away at their utmostspeed in pursuit of her. The brigantine pretended to
seek her safetyin flight, and steered in the direction where our six others lay concealed,the
pirogues following with the utmost confidence. When thesewere near enough, a shot was
fired as a signal to the Spanish vessels,upon which they, in their turn, rushed out upon the
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