in his present state of health.[1] Diego de Ocampo was accordingly sent as alcalde mayor to represent him in Pánuco, supported by the cedula, and a force under command of Rodrigo Rangel. He must allow no hostile measures on the part of either Alvarado or himself till the peaceful injunctions of the cedula had been fully exerted and information sent to Cortés. Ocampo did not overtake Alvarado till he approached San Estévan, and found him escorting a large number of prisoners. It appears that the captain had been implored by the frontier people of Pánuco to protect them against the raids of Gonzalo de Ovalle. brother-in-law of Garay, who from his camp at Guazaltepec was raiding the country at the head of a score of cavalry and other forces. Approaching cautiously, he managed to present himself before the astonished and careless Ovalle in a manner that made it difficult for him either to escape or to resist, and since Alvarado possessed also the advantage of superior force, he agreed to surrender his arms and horses.[2]
Encouraged by the success of the manœuvre with the land forces, the officers of Cortés combined to operate against the shipping under the probably fabricated plea that Garay had at last resolved to take up a strong position on the other side of the river, and supported by the vessels to defy the settlers.[3] Before dawn one morning several boats with muffled oars approached two of the vessels which had been selected for attack. All was silent on board and the assailants gained the deck before the alarm was given. With a Viva Cortés! they rushed on the surprised watch and
- ↑ 'Porque habia sesenta dias qiie no dormia, y estaba con mucho trabajo, y á partirme á, aquella sazon no habia de mi vida mucha segúridad.' Cortés, Cartas, 291.
- ↑ Garay protests that some of the men were compelled by fear or want to sell their horses. The party was living peaceably in quarters when surprised. Provision, ubi sup., 88. Many were disgusted with Ovalle for his ready surrender, and Oviedo, iii. 450, who evidently regards one party as bad as the other, observes, 'no paresçiera mal alguna escaramuça ú otro medio.'
- ↑ So affirms Lúcas, in Cortés, Residencia, i. 279-80, leaving the impression that there was some truth in the report.
