anger rose to such a pitch that we feared it would lead them to blows. At this juncture Cortes secretly told Escalante that we should demand the instructions he had received from Velasquez. This Escalante did, and Cortes drew the documents from his waistcoat and handed them to the royal secretary to read. The words, sure enough, were, "As soon as you have bartered for as many things as possible, you shall return." We asked Cortes that these instructions be attached to the deed recording the power we had given.
But even this did not silence the friends and onhangers of Velasquez, for they protested to Cortes that his being chosen captain without their consent was not right, and they did not wish to remain under his orders but to go back to Cuba at once. He answered that he would compel no one to stay, and if any should ask his leave to return he would readily grant it, even if at last he remained alone. This silenced some. But at last certain of the clique refused to obey Cortes, and we were forced to seize their persons, bind them with chains, and hold them prisoners.
An expedition which had gone out to explore the country now returned, every soldier laden with poultry and green things, which, since the people had fled, they had taken from deserted towns. We were overjoyed with having food—for when a man can
