breastwork destroyed, and meanwhile the Spaniards continued the pursuit along the street and our Indian allies followed for about two bow-shots distance until they reached another bridge which is near the square and the principal buildings of the city. They had not removed this bridge nor did they have an earthwork, for they never thought we would gain what we did that day, nor did even we expect to accomplish half as much. A field piece was placed at the entrance of the square, and did the enemy much damage, for they were so numerous that they completely filled the space. The Spaniards, seeing there was no water there, which was the usual danger, determined to penetrate into the square, and, when those of the city saw this determination carried out, and beheld the great multitude of our allies, (although they were not afraid of them without us) they fled, and the Spaniards and our allies pursued them till they shut them up in the court of their idols, which is surrounded by a wall of stone and mortar. As will have been seen from another description of this, it has as great a circumference as a town of four hundred households; it was however quickly abandoned by them, and the Spaniards and our allies captured it, remaining in it and on the towers for a long while. When the inhabitants of the city discovered there were no horsemen, they turned against the Spaniards and expelled them by force from the towers and the court and enclosure, during which our men found themselves in much hardship and danger; as they came in more than a retreat[1] they turned under the arches of the courtyard. But the enemy attacking them very stoutly, they abandoned this position and retired to the square, whence they were expelled by force and driven into the street, so that the field piece there had to be abandoned. The Spaniards, being unable
- ↑ Como iban mas que retraiendose is the quaint device of Cortes to avoid saying that the Spaniards were in full flight.
