CHAPTER XVI
How rebellion against Alvarado broke out, and we marched back and re-entered the great city; how Cortes felt and what he said, and how the Mexicans warred fiercely against us several days; and how the mighty Montezuma died.
How quickly the wheel of fortune turns and trouble and sorrow follow joy! Such a moment now came to us. First two Tlaxcalans bearing a letter from Alvarado, and then two other messengers, told that Mexico had risen in arms, that the people were besieging the Spaniards we had left behind to guard Montezuma, that they had set fire to the new fortifications and killed seven of our men and wounded many others. God knows how greatly this news shocked us. We determined, leaving Narvaez and Salvatierra in custody at Vera Cruz, to hasten to Mexico by forced marches.
Just as we were starting four chieftains came up, sent by Montezuma to bear his complaint. They, with tears in their eyes, told that Alvarado and his soldiers had sallied from their quarters and had fallen on their caciques who were dancing and feasting in honor of their gods Huitzilopochtli and
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