In that case, we may have the luck to be among the last; and before our turn comes, the Spaniards may be masters of the town." Juan shook his head.
"It is just as well to hope, lad; but I think the chances are next to nothing.

Even if Cortez himself gets out safe, and the troops draw off without much further loss, it will be some days before they will attack again, after such a maiming as we got, this time.
Even then their chances of success will be no better than they were today; worse, in fact, for we have lost something like a sixth of our force, beside what may have fallen in the attack from the other side; put it at a quarter, altogether.

Our natives will be dispirited by their defeat today, and the Aztecs will have gained in confidence.
"By Saint James, but those fellows fight well! Who would have thought, when we saw them bowing and smiling when we first arrived in the city, and submitting so meekly to everything, that they could fight like fiends?
Never did I see men so reckless of life.
"Pedro has fallen.

I loved him as a son.

But far better dead than here." "I am sorry, indeed, to hear that he has fallen, Juan.