eir favour, and Cortes managed to turn
them once more and drive the enemy back into the enclosure with much
loss. As it was by this time evening, he retreated in good order to
Xoloc. Though this affair caused some consternation among the Mexicans,
they speedily opened the canals and built up the ramparts again, so that
when Cortes renewed the attack the whole scene had to be gone through as
before. When they had once gained the street, however, they found it
much easier to advance, the Tlascalans having on the last occasion
pulled down many of the houses on either side. This time Cortes had
determined to destroy some of the cherished buildings of the Mexicans,
and began by setting fire to his old quarters, the palace of Axayacatl,
and then the palace of Montezuma on the other side of the great square.
The sight so maddened the natives that the Spaniards had some ado to
make good their retreat, and few reached their camp that night
unwounded. The Aztec emperor for his part made frequent sallies against
the Spaniards both by land and upon the lake, sometimes with
considerable success. At first he managed to obtain supplies of food in
canoes, under cover of the darkness, but by degrees the large towns on
the mainland, seeing the Mexicans unable to defend themselves, gave in
their allegiance to the Spaniards, and then starvation began to be felt
in the unhappy city. In spite of everything, however, all offers of
terms from Cortes were steadily refused.

At this juncture, the general was persuaded by some of his officers that
it would be well for two of the divisions to unite, and occupy the great
market-place in the heart of the town, and so at a given time they
marched along their respective causeways and entered the city. Strict
orders were given by Cortes that as they advanced every opening in the
causeways should be filled up and made secure. The attack began, and the
enemy, taken apparently by surprise, gave way and fell back; on rushed
the Spaniards by every street, eager to reach the appointed meeting
place. Only the general suspected that the enemy might be purposely
luring them on to turn upon them when they were hopelessly involved.
Taking a few men with him, he hastily proceeded to see for himself if
the way was clear should a retreat become necessary, and found, as he
had feared, that all had been too eager to be in the front to attend to
this most important duty. In the first street he traversed was a huge
gap,