He therefore hurried the soldiers through and, when outside, endeavored to form them into some sort of order.
It was necessary to give them a few hours of repose, and he led them towards an eminence, crowned by a temple, which commanded the plain.

It was held by a party of natives; and the troops, dispirited and exhausted, refused at first to advance against them; but the influence of Cortez, backed by the example of his officers, had its usual effect.

The column moved forward against the temple, and the natives, after a few discharges of missiles, abandoned the place.
It was a large building, affording ample shelter for the Spaniards and their allies.

Provisions were found there, and a large supply of fuel intended for the service of the temple.

Here, lighting great fires, they dried their clothing, bound up their wounds and, after partaking of food, threw themselves down to sleep.
Fortunate it was for the Spaniards that the Mexicans, contented with the slaughter they had inflicted, the plunder they had captured, and most of all with the prisoners whom they had carried off to be sacrificed on their altars, retired to the capital, and allowed the invaders twenty-four hours' breathing time.