The
number of these became so great, that a bridge was made of their
dead bodies, over which the assailants could climb to the opposite
banks. Others again, especially the women, begged for mercy, which, as
the chroniclers assure us, was everywhere granted by the Spaniards,
and, contrary to the instructions and entreaties of Cortes, everywhere
refused by the confederates.
While this work of butchery was going on, numbers were observed
pushing off in the barks that lined the shore, and making the best
of their way across the lake. They were constantly intercepted by
the brigantines, which broke through the flimsy array of boats;
sending off their volleys to the right and left, as the crews of the
latter hotly assailed them. The battle raged as fiercely on the lake
as on the land. Many of the Indian vessels were shattered and
overturned. Some few, however, under cover of the smoke, which
rolled darkly over the waters, succeeded in clearing themselves of the
turmoil, and were fast nearing the opposite shore.
Sandoval had particularly charged his captains to keep an eye on
the movements of any vessel in which it was at all probable that
Guatemozin might be concealed. At this crisis, three or four of the
largest piraguas were seen skimming over the water, and making their
way rapidly across the lake. A captain named Garci Holguin, who had
command of one of the best sailers in the fleet, instantly gave them
chase.
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