was more shallow, placing pallisades in the deep water to prevent the approach of our vessels, and constructing parapets on both sides of the breach.  They had also a number of canoes in readiness to sally out upon us on a concerted signal.  When all these preparations were in readiness, they made a combined attack upon us in three several directions.  One body advanced towards our rear from the side of Tacuba, a second directly on our front along the causeway from the city, and the third by the ruins of the houses which we had destroyed.  We repulsed the enemy on all sides; and one party of us, having forced them from the works at the broken bridge, crossed the water up to our necks at the place they had left open for us, and rashly pushed on to an open place where there were some large temples and towers.  We were here assailed on all sides by fresh troops from the houses and terraces, and those whom we pursued faced about and fought us in front.  We now found it necessary to retreat, which we did with the utmost order till we came to the pass at the broken bridge, which was occupied by the enemy in canoes; and as the others pressed upon our rear, we were forced to throw ourselves into the lake and to get over any way we could.  Those who could not swim got entangled among the concealed ditches and pits in the shallow water, where the enemy closed in upon us, wounding the whole party, and even taking five of our soldiers alive.  The vessels which came to our relief were unable to approach, on account of the pallisades, and they lost two of their soldiers on this occasion.  It was wonderful we were not all destroyed at this dangerous pass.  At one time I was laid hold of by a number of the enemy; but God gave me strength to disengage my arm, and with the assistance of my good sword, I extricated myself from their grasp.  Though wounded, I escaped to the dry ground, where I fainted and remained for some time insensible, owing to my great exertions and the loss of blood.  When the enemy had me in their clutches, I recommended myself to the aid of God and his blessed Mother, and they heard my prayer:  Glory be to them for all their mercies!  From the time that we had cleared the flanks of our post by the destruction of the houses, Alvarado had brought a part of his cavalry thither; and one of them, who had crossed along with us at the broken bridge, lost both his horse and his own life.  Fortunately all the rest were then with Alvarado in Tacuba; for if they had been with us they must have all been destroyed from the tops of the houses and temples, as the action took place almost within the city of Mexico.  The enemy was much elated by the success of this day, and continued to assail our posts day and night.  Cortes was much displeased at the defeat we had sustained, which he attributed to our having neglected his orders; which were always to fill up the cuts in the causeway as we advanced, by means of timber and rubbish.