he mainland,
though whether they swam or waded, whether they kept the line of the
causeway, or diverged into the shallows, it is difficult to determine.
Leaving the vanguard and his own division safe on shore, Cortes with a
small body of horse and foot, returned to give what assistance he could
to those who were left behind. All order was now lost, and the retreat
was little else than a confused slaughter, although small bodies of the
Spaniards still retained sufficient presence of mind {190} to act
together, rushing forward, clearing the space about them, making their
way at each moment with loss of life, but still some few survivors
getting onward. Few, indeed, of the rear-guard could have escaped. It
is told as a wonder of Alvarado, that, coming to the last bridge, he
made a leap, which has by many been deemed impossible, and cleared the
vast aperture. When Cortes came up to him, he was found accompanied by
only seven soldiers and eight Tlascalans, all covered with blood from
their many wounds. They told Cortes that there was no use in going
further back, that all who remained alive were there with him. Upon
this the General turned; and the small and melancholy band of Spaniards
pushed on to Tlacuba, Cortes protecting the rear. It is said that he
sat down on a stone in the village called Popotla near Tlacuba, and
wept; a rare occurrence, for he was not a man to waste any energy in
weeping while aught remained to be done. The country was aroused
against them, and they did not rest for the night till they had
fortified themselves in a temple on a hill near Tlacuba, where
afterward was built a church dedicated, very appropriately, to Our Lady
of Refuge (_a Nuestra Senora de los Remedios_)."

There is an old story of a Roman general, who after a most terrific
defeat, a defeat due largely to his own incompetency, not only escaped
censure but was officially thanked by the senate, because he declared
publicly that he did not despair of the republic. Of that same temper
was Cortes.

Exhorting his men in the face of this awful peril which menaced them to
conduct themselves as white men, as Spaniards, and as soldiers of the
Cross, Cortes led his army toward Tlascala. Upon the position of {191}
that republic absolutely depended the future. It depends upon the way
you look at the situation as to how you estimate the conduct of these
dusky allies of the unfortunate conqueror. Had there been any national
feeling amon