emperor.

CHAPTER CXC.

_Cortes sets sail from the Havannah, and has a favorable passage to
Vera Cruz, where he is received with the greatest rejoicings._

After Cortes had been five days at the Havannah, he began to grow very
impatient for the hour of his departure, so greatly did he long to be
once more in Mexico. He therefore gave orders for embarking without any
further delay, and arrived, after a very favorable passage of twelve
days, in the harbour of Medellin, opposite the island of Sacrificios,
where he dropped anchor for the night. He himself disembarked, with
twenty of his most trustworthy soldiers, intending to march to San Juan
de Ulua, which was only a couple of miles distant; but it fortunately
happened he should come up with a party of travellers who had a number
of horses with them, and were on their way to the harbour he had just
left to embark for Spain. Cortes took possession of the horses, and then
proceeded direct to Vera Cruz, which was distant about twenty miles.

When he stepped on shore, he had given strict orders that no one should
hasten to the last-mentioned town to announce his arrival. It was about
two o'clock in the morning when he entered Vera Cruz, and he immediately
repaired with his suite to the church, the door of which was open. After
they had been a short time in the church, the sacristan, who had but
recently arrived from Spain, walked in, and he was not a little
astonished to find the seats filled with strangers, of whom not a single
person was known to him. Quite alarmed, he instantly hurried out into
the streets, called out to the watch, and hastened to call up the chief
authorities to inform them that there were a great number of strangers
in the church. The alcalde-mayor soon made his appearance with the other
magistrates, three alguacils, and several of the inhabitants. The whole
of them marched armed into the church, and peremptorily commanded the
strangers to leave the church without delay. As Cortes was very much
fatigued with the journey, and scarcely looked himself, he was not
recognized by the inhabitants until they heard his voice. They then at
the same moment knew father Juan again by the white robe of his order,
though the former was become considerably the worse for wear. As soon as
they found that it was Cortes himself who stood in their presence, the
whole of them crowded up to pay their respects to him and to
congratulate him on his safe arriva