in self-gratulations. He never turned from danger, but hastened to seek it out, perceiving it even in the darkness, intuitively, and always looking it full in the face. It was while preparing to strike that the enemy received the staggering blow, and the advantage thus gained was followed up to yet greater advantage At no time appears this hero stronger, grander, than now, when, without authority, without the royal sanction, in one sense an outlaw, with the people of the country against him, his own countrymen coming to war on him, his force insignificant as compared with that of any one of his several enemies, he yet holds them all at bay, by his iron nerve and ever ready strategic resources, keeping them asunder, pitting one against another, playing on the foibles of them all as easily and serenely as a lady fingers her
Greatly imperilled were now the conqueror’s brilliant visions of conquest and conversion, of fame and wealth.
If Narvaez were to advance on Mexico, the Aztecs could not fail to take advantage of the opportunity, either to join the professed liberator of their emperor and themselves, or to attack the foreigners’ quarters on their own account.
This would place him between two fires, to which famine would prove an effective ally.
If Narvaez remained on the coast, it would be to cut off both retreat and reinforcement, leaving him to Aztec vengeance.
To abandon Mexico for a campaign against the enemy would be to surrender the most important part of the conquest.
To divide his forces, so as at once to retain his hold on the capital and meet this new visitation—such a measure would render his already small