Here some plunged in, others were pushed in by the pressure from behind.
Those who could swim were pulled down by their struggling comrades.
Some got across and tried to climb the slippery side of the dike, but fell back and were seized by the Aztecs; whose canoes now dashed up, and added to the confusion by hurling a storm of missiles into the crowd.
Cortez, with his little party, kept his station on the other side of the breach.

They were already surrounded by Aztecs, who had landed on the causeway behind them; but held their ground desperately, and endeavored, as far as possible, to assist their comrades to climb out of the water.

Cortez was speedily recognized, and storms of missiles were poured upon him, but these glanced harmlessly from his helmet and armor.

Six of the Aztecs threw themselves upon him together, and made a desperate effort to drag him into their boat.

In the struggle he received a severe wound in the leg, and fell.
Olid, one of his followers, sprang to his rescue, severed the arm of one of the natives, and ran another through the body; and being joined by a comrade named Lerma, and by a Tlascalan chief, stood over the body of Cortez and drove off his foes, dispatching three more of his assailants; but Olid fell, mortally wounded, by the side of his leader.
Quinones, the captain of the guard, with several of his men now fought his way up, lifted Cortez from the water, and laid him on the road.