They dashed along the causeway, again swam the canal, and made their way through the crowd until they reached the rear guard.

Morning was breaking now, and it showed the lake covered with canoes filled with warriors.
Along the whole length of the causeway a desperate fight was raging.
Cortez found Alvarado on foot, his horse had been killed under him.
With a handful of followers, he was still desperately defending the rear against the Mexicans, who had poured out from the city in pursuit.

The artillery had at first done good service, sweeping the causeway and mowing down hundreds of their assailants; but the Aztecs were careless of life, and rushed on so furiously that they swept over the guns, killing those who served them, and fell upon the infantry.
The charge of Cortez and his companions for a moment bore back the foe; but, pressed by those behind, they swept aside resistance, and bore back the Spaniards to the edge of the canal.

Cortez and his companions plunged in and swam across.

Alvarado stood on the brink, hesitating.