Therefore I counselled that sentries should be set at all the entrances to every causeway.
To this Cuitlahua assented, and assigned the causeway of Tlacopan to Guatemoc and myself, making us the guardians of its safety.

That night Guatemoc and I, with some soldiers, went out towards midnight to visit the guard that we had placed upon the causeway.

It was very dark and a fine rain fell, so that a man could see no further before his eyes than he can at evening through a Norfolk roke in autumn.

We found and relieved the guard, which reported that all was quiet, and we were returning towards the great square when of a sudden I heard a dull sound as of thousands of men tramping.
'Listen,' I said.
'It is the Teules who escape,' whispered Guatemoc.
Quickly we ran to where the street from the great square opens on to the causeway, and there even through the darkness and rain we caught the gleam of armour.

Then I cried aloud in a great voice, 'To arms! To arms! The Teules escape by the causeway of Tlacopan.' Instantly my words were caught up by the sentries and passed from post to post till the city rang with them.