The Aztec boats made for the reeds, the Spaniards followed, and presently struck upon submerged timbers the Indians had driven in.

They were instantly attacked by the whole fleet of canoes, most of the men were wounded, and several, including the two captains, slain, and one of the Spanish craft captured.
It was now three months since the siege had begun, and the attitude of the Mexicans was as bold and defiant as ever.

Several attempts which Cortez had made to open negotiations with the young emperor had been received with scorn.

It was certain that, sooner or later, famine would do its work; for the approaches to the city were all in the hands of the Spaniards, and as the towns of the lake were either friendly or overawed by the great army of their allies, even the canoes, which at first made their way in at night with provisions, had ceased to steal across in the darkness.

The great native levies were of little use to the Spaniards in the absolute fighting, but they did good service by overawing the towns, making expeditions against the tribes that had not yet consented to throw in their lot with the invaders, and by sweeping in provisions from a wide extent of country.
But to wait until famine did its work little suited the spirit of the Spaniards.