CHAPTER XXVIII.

_The manner in which Cortes divides the squadron. The officers whom

he appointed to the command of the several vessels. His instructions

to the pilots; the signals which were to be made with lanterns at

night, &c._

The following were the officers which commanded the several vessels.

Cortes himself commanded, in the principal vessel, over the whole

squadron. To the San Sebastian, which was a very capital sailer, he

appointed Alvarado and his brother. The other vessels were severally

commanded by Alonso Hernandez Puertocarrero, Francisco de Montejo,

Christobal de Oli, Diego de Ordas, Juan Velasquez de Leon, Juan de

Escalante, Francisco de Morla, and Escobar the page. The smallest

vessel, a kind of brigantine, was commanded by its owner, Gines Nortes.

Every vessel had its own pilot, who received his instructions, and also

the signals with the lanterns from Alaminos.

As soon as Cortes had ordered these matters he took leave of the

caziques and priests, commended them most emphatically to the image of

the holy Virgin and to the cross, desiring them to pray before it, not

to damage either but continually to decorate them with green boughs. He

assured them that thereby they would derive great benefit. They promised

to comply with all his wishes, presented him with four more fowls and

two jars of honey, and then took leave of us under the most friendly

embraces. It was some day in the month of March, in the year 1519, when

we again set sail; we were pursuing our course with the most favorable

of winds, when on the very first day at ten o'clock in the morning,

signals of distress were made on board one of our vessels, both by flags

and the firing of guns. As soon as Cortes saw and heard this, he looked

over the poop of his vessel, and found that the ship commanded by Juan

de Escalante was making straight again for the island of Cozumel. What

is the matter there? What does all this mean? cried out Cortes to the

vessel nearest him. A soldier, named Zaragoza replied, that the vessel

of Juan de Escalante, laden with cassave-bread, was sinking fast. God

forbid! cried Cortes, that any misfortune should befall us here, and

desired our chief pilot, Alaminos, to make signals for all the vessels

to return to the island Cozumel. So we again put into the harbour we had

just left: we unloaded the cassave-bread; and found, to our great joy,

that the image of the holy Virgin and cross were in the best condition,

and that incense had been placed before them. It was not long before the

caziques and priests again made their appearance, and asked what had

caused us to return so speedily. Cortes told them that one of our

vessels was leaky and had to be repaired, begging of them to assist us

with their canoes in unloading our cassave-bread. This they most readily

complied with, and it took us four more days to repair the vessel.