s taken, and the trembling caciques appeared before Cortes,
throwing the blame of their resistance upon the Mexicans, and promising
submission for the future.

The general then continued his march across the eastern shoulder of the
mountain, descending finally upon Xochimilco, which was built partly
upon the lake like Mexico itself, and was approached by causeways,
which, however, were of no great length. It was in the first attack upon
this town that Cortes was as nearly as possible taken prisoner by the
Aztecs. He had thrown himself into the thick of the fight with his usual
bravery, and was trying to resist an unexpected rush of the enemy, when
his horse stumbled and fell, he himself received a severe blow upon the
head before he could rise, and was seized and dragged off in triumph by
several Indians. At this moment a Tlascalan saw his danger and sprang
furiously upon his captors, trying to tear him from their grasp. Two
Spaniards also rushed to the rescue, and between them the Aztecs were
forced to quit their hold of the general, who lost no time in regaining
his saddle, and laying about him with his good sword as vigorously as
before. After a terrible struggle the enemy was driven out, and Cortes
took possession of the city. As it was not yet dusk he ascended the
principal teocalli to reconnoitre the surrounding country, and there
beheld a sight which could but cause him grave anxiety. The lake was
covered with rapidly approaching canoes full of warriors, while inland
Indian squadrons were marching up in dense columns. Xochimilco was but
four leagues from the capital, and at the first tidings of the arrival
of the Spaniards, Guatemozin had mustered a strong force and marched to
its relief. Cortes made all possible preparations for the defence of his
quarters, but not until the next day did the Mexicans attack him, and
then the battle raged long and with varying success; but in the end
Spanish discipline prevailed, and the natives were routed with such
dreadful slaughter that they made no further attempt to renew the
conflict. The city yielded a rich hoard of plunder, being well stored
with gold and feather-work, and many other articles of use or luxury, so
that when the general mustered his men upon the neighbouring plain
before resuming his march, many of them came staggering under the weight
of their spoil. This caused him much uneasiness, since their way would
be through a hostile country; but seeing that the so