somewhat curled and carefully tended beard. He was open with the hand, ready with the sword, and an expert horseman. He bore the reputation of having killed a prominent and rich man in a duel in Española, a deed which had obliged him to seek refuge in Cuba with his relation Velazquez.
The most devoted adherent of Velazquez, although not bound to him by ties of relationship, was his ancient mayordomo mayor, Diego de Ordaz,[1] a powerful man, of large stature, with full face, thin, dark beard, and stuttering speech. As a leader of footsoldiers, for he did not ride, he gained the reputation of possessing great daring, as well as a good head; and among comrades he ranked as a liberal man and a conversationalist. Of the other captains, Francisco de Salcedo, reputed chief butler to the admiral of Castile, bore the sobriquet of 'Dandy' from his spruce manner;[2] and Francisco de Morla is spoken of as a valiant soldier and good horseman.[3]
On the way over the vessels were dispersed by a squall, but were gathered by the flag-ship, some at Catoche, and some at Port San Juan, on the north end of Cozumel Island, where they all finally congregated.[4] Quite early in the adventure Cortés was
- ↑ Also written Ordás. 'Natural de tierra de Campos.' Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 246. Portrait in Carbajal Espinosa, Hist. Mex., ii. 192.
- ↑ 'Saucedo, natural de Medina de Rioseco; y porque era muy pulído, le llamavamos, el galan.' Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 240. This captain joins later.
- ↑ Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 240–7, gives a long list of notices of members of the expedition, many of whom will receive attention during the course of the narrative.
- ↑ San Juan, Ante Portam Latinam. See also Carta de Ayunt. de V'era Cruz, in Cortés, Cartas, 9. Several authors, following Gomara, it seems, refer to one vessel as missing, but as this is identified with Escobar's, sent, according to Bernal Diaz, on a special exploring expedition to Laguna de Términos, the view of the latter author is probably more correct. It is not likely that a captain would have sailed so far beyond the rendezvous, and there waited for weeks the chance arrival of the fleet. In Tapia, Relacion, in Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., ii. 557, are references yet more vague to a missing vessel. During the gale Morla's vessel was struck by a wave, which unshipped her rudder. His signal of distress caused the flag-ship to heave to till daybreak. The rudder was then discovered floating close by, and tying a rope to his body, Morla leaped into the sea to aid in replacing it. Gomara, Hist. Mex., 16; Las Casas, Hist. Ind., iv. 458.
