The peril of Cortez at this juncture had been very great. The difficulty of obtaining sufficient food for his army, while ever on the march, called into requisition his utmost sagacity and exertions. No man of ordinary character could have surmounted this difficulty. Fatigue and exposure had placed many on the sick-list, and there were no hospital wagons to convey them along. Fifty-five Spaniards had died on the way. Cortez himself was seriously indisposed. Every night one half of the army kept up a vigilant watch, while all the rest slept on their arms. And Diaz records that they had no salve to dress their wounds but what was composed of the fat of the Indians whom they had slain. Whenever the enemy was defeated, he retired only to reappear in increasing numbers. Under these circumstances, it is not strange that many of the soldiers had thought of their homes, and that loud murmurs had been uttered. But this sudden peace dispelled all discontent. In the abundance and the repose of the great city of Tlascala, all past toil and hardship were forgotten. Cortez, in his letter to the emperor, stated that so populous was Tlascala, that he presumed as many as thirty thousand persons appeared daily in the market-place of the city buying and selling. The population of the province he estimated at five hundred thousand. CHAPTER VI. THE MARCH TO MEXICO. Prudence of Cortez.--Enthusiasm of the natives.--Alarm of Montezuma. --The embassy to Cortez.--Cortez's answer.--Conversion of the natives.--The five maidens.--Cortez declines the gift.--Presentation of the image.--The compromise.--Indignation on both sides.--Father Olmedo dissuades him from his purpose.--The protest.--The prisons emptied of the victims.--Baptism of the brides.--Montezuma invites Cortez to his capital.--Zeal of the Tlascalans.--The city of Cholula. --Arrival.--They decline admitting the Tlascalans.--Rumors of treachery.--Marina discovers a plot.--Cortez resents the treachery of the natives.--The massacre.--Destruction of Cholula.--Proclamation offering pardon.--Appointment of the new cacique.--Public thanksgivings. --Statement of Mr. Thompson.--Cortez resumes his march toward Mexico. --Terror of Montezuma.--Cortez's message to the monarch.--His answer.--Appearance of discontent.--Arrival at Ithualco.--View from the heights.--Cortez resolves to continue his march.--Description of the valley of Mexico.--Vacillation of Montezuma.--Offers from Montezuma.--Satisfaction of Cortez.--His answer.--Arrival at Amaquemecan.--Profuse hospitality.--Ayotzingo.--Lake Chalco.-- Cuitlahuac.--Immense crowd.--They enter Iztapalapan.--Appearance of the city.--Reception of Cortez.--The procession.--The causeway. --Arrival of the Emperor.--Appearance of Montezuma.--Meeting of the emperor and the marauder.--Cortez conducted to his quarters.--His accommodations.--Size and comfort of the mansion.--Vigilance of Cortez.--Presents to Cortez.--The conference.--The tradition.