Cortez was speedily undeceived in his hopes that the slaughter of the previous day would have cowed the Mexicans.

The great square and the streets leading to it were seen to be crowded with foes, who appeared better organized than on the previous day, being divided into regiments, each with its banners.

These, the Mexican attendants on Montezuma told them, were the cognizances of the many cities of the plain, showing that the whole people were joining in the movement commenced by those of the capital.

Towering above the rest was the royal standard of Mexico.
Among the crowd were numerous priests who, with excited gestures, called upon them to avenge the insulted gods, and to destroy the handful of invaders who had brought disgrace upon the nation, had trampled it under foot, had made their sovereign a captive, and murdered their nobles in cold blood.

It was evident that, fierce as had been the fighting on the previous day, the renewed assault would be even more formidable..