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[Book IV.
Narvaez, Salvatierra, and two or three of the hos-tile leaders were led before him in chains. It wasa moment of deep humiliation for the former com-mander, in which the anguish of the body, howeverkeen, must have been forgotten in that of the spirit.“ You have great reason, Señor Cortés,” said thediscomfited warrior, “ to thank Fortune for havinggiven you the day so easily, and put me in yourpower.” “ I have much to be thankful for,” repliedthe general; “ but for my victory over you, I esteemit as one of the least of my achievements since mycoming into the country ! ” 20 He then ordered thewounds of the prisoners to be cared for, and sentthem under a strong guard to Vera Cruz.
Notwithstanding the proud humility of his reply,Cortés could scarcely have failed to regard his victo-ry over Narvaez as one of the most brilliant achieve-ments in his career. With a few scores of followers,badly clothed, worse fed, wasted by forced marches,under every personal disadvantage, deficient in wea-pons and military stores, he had attacked in theirown quarters, routed, and captured the entire forceof the enemy, thrice his superior in numbers, wellprovided with cavalry and artillery, admirably equip-
20 Ibid., loc. cit.
“ Díxose que como Narvaez vi-do & Cortés estando así preso ledixo : Señor Cortés, tened enmucho la ventura que habéis teni-do, é lo mucho que habéis hechoen tener mi persona, ó en tomarmi persona. E que Cortés le res-
pondió, é dixo : Lo menos que yohe hecho en esta tierra donde es-tais, es haberos prendido ; é luegole hizo poner á buen recaudo é letubo mucho tiempo preso.” Ovie-do, Hist, de laslnd., MS., lib. 33,cap. 47.