to relieve the pressed foot-soldiers, till open ground was gained and the danger past.6
On the following days the Mexicans sought to repeat their manœuvres, but Cortés was more prudent, and covered his rear carefully as he advanced. Observing this, the Mexicans tauntingly called out:
“Enter, O brave ones, and fight! for to-day you will be masters of Mexico. Enter to feast, all is prepared!”
And again:
“You shall find no Montezuma now to do your bidding. Begone, therefore, to your own!”
Others confined themselves to insults directed against the Tlascaltecs.
“Rogues,” they cried, “never would you thus dare to approach us but for the Christians, whose concubines you are. But wait awhile; we shall eat you both with chile, for you are not fit to be slaves!”
The Tlascaltecs were not slow to answer:
“Always have you fled before us like treacherous cowards. We are the men, you the women. Never have you entered our territory as we yours. The Castilians are not men but gods, one of whom suffices to rout a thousand such as you!”
This verbal skirmish led in several cases to challenges, the principals being accorded a free field wherein to settle their disputes; and since they were generally men selected from both sides for their bravery, skill, and strength, the struggles were eagerly watched.