three thousand dollars to the soldier who first laid hands on Narvaez, two thousand to the second, and one thousand to the third. Twenty men Cortes kept with him to hasten to whatever point aid might most be needed.
As soon as these lists were given out, Cortes again addressing us said, "I am fully aware that Narvaez has four times as many soldiers as we. But most of them are not used to arms, numbers of them are hostile to their captain, many are ill, and we shall fall on them unawares. God will give us victory. They will not oppose us for they know they will fare better with us than with Narvaez. So, gentlemen, our lives and our honor depend, after God, on your valor and strength of arm. In our hands now lies the estimate all future generations will put upon us. To die in battle is better than to live dishonored."
With this Cortes ended, for it was beginning to rain and getting late. Often since then, when thinking of his speech, I have wondered why our captain said nothing of the secret understanding he had with some of Narvaez' officers, but merely repeatedly urged the need of our employing utmost courage. I now see that by doing this he showed the prudence of a great general, for by making us feel that our only hope was in God and our own bravery, he forced us to the very limit of our valor.
We were in camp during the first part of the night,
