CHAPTER XV
What Cortes said to a so-called notary; how he addressed us at Cempoala and we rallied to his call: our victory over Narvaez and his forces, and the surrender of mates and masters of the fleet; how the smallpox reached New Spain.
From Cholula our captain sent to the Tlaxcalans begging them to despatch at once five thousand warriors. To this our friends answered that if we were going to war against Indians like themselves they would gladly do so, but against teules like ourselves, and cannon and crossbows, they had no wish to fight. They accompanied their refusal, however, with as many fowls as twenty men could carry.
We kept on our way, ready at a moment's notice for battle. Our scouts with two of our soldiers, trustworthy and swift of foot, were always a day's journey ahead of us, lurking in paths where horses could not go, to hear from Indians about the newly arrived troops, and on the lookout to seize any strollers from Narvaez' camp. It was not long before they came upon five Spaniards, and sent us word they were approaching. As the new arrivals came near they made profound bows and our captain dis-
222
