Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 19, 2025
With the greatest difficulty I broke away and escaped; and had it not been for Bathalda, who fought side by side with me, I should have been taken by two or three fleet-footed Tlascalans. "For the present, all is lost. The fight cannot be renewed tomorrow, and before the sun sets the enemy will have reached the borders of Tlascala, and will be safe there."
Several times, when the sound of a paddle was heard out on the lake, Bathalda stopped rowing for a time; but after keeping close to the shore for an hour, he struck out more boldly and, after two hours' further rowing, approached the shore again. "This is the point where we must land," he said.
The first night, while passing through the low, hot country near the lake, Roger had cut a strong bamboo; together with a bundle of smaller rods, suitable for arrows. Bathalda had brought with him a bag of sharp obsidian arrowheads, and some feathers for winging them, together with a bowstring of twice the ordinary strength.
The canoe, however, was not very far behind; and those on board caught sight of the little craft, as she rowed in towards shore. It was unusual to see so small a boat at night. The idea that it might contain a spy occurred to them, and they shouted to them to stop. Bathalda exerted himself to the utmost, but the canoe came rapidly up to them.
At the order of their leader, the Aztecs threw down their spears and flung themselves on him, with the intention of dragging him to the ground; but making his quarterstaff swing round his head, he brought the ends down upon them with tremendous force, striking them to the ground as if they had been ninepins. Bathalda seconded him well, by guarding him from attack behind.
Roger took his seat in the canoe, Bathalda seized the paddle, and the little boat shot out from the shore. For some distance they kept close in under the shadow of the land, Bathalda saying that two or three royal canoes were rowing up and down, opposite the town, and that every canoe putting off had been stopped and questioned.
As the command to stop was again disregarded, a volley of javelins was discharged. "We cannot escape," Bathalda said. "They will be upon us, before we can land." "Cease rowing," Roger said. "Amenche, lie still, dear, at the bottom of the boat. I will deal with them."
Cacama did not press that, but chiefly spoke of the terrible scandal it would be, were she his sister and the niece of Montezuma to be brought back with you, a captive." They were now at the gate. Cuitcatl opened it, and locked it again after him. A figure was standing outside. "This is my follower. You may rely upon him to serve you, to the last. "Bathalda, this is my white friend.
"And in time, I suppose, they will search these woods?" "Every foot of them, wide though they are, my lord." "Then what is your advice, Bathalda?" "It depends whether my lord's mind is altogether set upon joining the white men of the sea, at once." Roger, in turn, was silent for a time. The Spaniards would have learned the wealth of the land.
Before daylight broke they were ascending the hills, which were wild and rugged. They passed several villages lying high up on rugged hilltops, and inaccessible, save by ladders, which could be drawn up in case of attack. "The tribes here have only recently been conquered," Bathalda said.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking