But the most of us had not the strength of a child, and what could we do?
They came among us like seamen among a flock of seals, and slaughtered us by hundreds.

They drove us into the canals and trod us to death there, till bridges were made of our bodies.

How we escaped I do not know.
At length a party of us, among whom was Guatemoc with his wife Tecuichpo, were driven to the shores of the lake where lay canoes, and into these we entered, scarcely knowing what we did, but thinking that we might escape, for now all the city was taken.

The brigantines saw us and sailed after us with a favouring wind--the wind always favoured the foe in that war--and row as we would, one of them came up with us and began to fire into us.

Then Guatemoc stood up and spoke, saying: 'I am Guatemoc.