t you shall ride on your powerful gray mare to
Narvaez's head-quarters, taking with you all your gold, besides your
_fanfarrona_, (so Velasquez termed a heavy gold chain he possessed,) and
other valuable matters I shall give you, among which there will be a
fanfarrona double the weight of yours. When there, you must try to fish
out what Narvaez's intentions are. After you, Ordas shall likewise
repair thither, as if he came to pay his respects to Narvaez in his
capacity of house-steward to the governor of Cuba."

To this Juan Velasquez answered, that he would gladly fulfil his
commands, but must refuse either to take his gold or his chain with him.
If he were desirous of furnishing him with any valuable trinkets for
some other persons, he would promise to deliver them safely; where he
went himself, he thought, he would be better able to serve him by his
proper wits than with all the gold and jewels put together. "Of this,"
replied Cortes, "I am also fully convinced, which is the reason I made
choice of you; but if you refuse to take all your gold and valuables
with you, you had much better remain here."

Juan Velasquez still refused to comply for some time, when Cortes took
him aside, and spoke a few words to him in private; Velasquez then
yielded to his request, and set out on his journey, accompanied by Juan
del Rio, one of Cortes' servants.

As soon as Velasquez, whom Cortes had merely despatched to Narvaez to
annoy the latter, had departed, he issued orders to the drummer
Canillas, and our piper Benito, to sound their instruments, and desired
Sandoval to draw up the troops in marching order, and we moved briskly
forward to Sempoalla. On our road we killed two musk swine,[81] which
our soldiers construed into a token of victory. The night following, we
encamped on the slope of a hill near to a brook, made, as was our
custom, bolsters of large stones, carefully posted our sentinels, and
ordered the patrols.

The next morning we marched forward in a straight line, and arrived
towards midday at that river on whose banks the town of Vera Cruz at
present stands, and goods are landed which arrive from Spain. At that
time we found merely a few Indian huts and straggling trees there, under
which we rested ourselves for a considerable time, as we found the heat
very oppressive. We must now return to Juan Velasquez, and see what
befel him in Narvaez's camp.

[81] Respecting this animal, see note 5, p. 22. (p. 313.)