Still I must put a bold face on my necessities, and make what play I
might with such forces as lay at my command, although in my heart I
feared much for the issue. But of my fears I said nothing to Otomie, and
if she felt any she, on her part, buried them in her breast. In truth I
do believe her faith in me was so great, that she thought my single wit
enough to over-match all the armies of the Spaniards.
Now at length the enemy drew near, and I set my battle as I had done
fourteen years before, advancing down the pass by which alone they
could approach us with a small portion of my force, and stationing the
remainder in two equal companies upon either brow of the beetling cliffs
that overhung the road, having command to overwhelm the Spaniards with
rocks, hurled upon them from above, so soon as I should give the signal
by flying before them down the pass. Other measures I took also, for
seeing that do what I would it well might happen that we should be
driven back upon the city, I caused its walls and gates to be set in
order, and garrisoned them. As a last resource too, I stored the lofty
summit of the teocalli, which now that sacrifices were no longer offered
there was used as an arsenal for the material of war, with water and
provisions, and fortified its sides by walls studded with volcanic
glass and by other devices, till it seemed well nigh impossible that any
should be able to force them while a score of men still lived to offer a
defence.
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