midnight
Impossible as it seems , the Spaniards may yet extricate themselves from the toils ; in which case I should join them . If not , and I find my escape by the coast cut off , by the rising of the tribes there , the only thing that I can see is to take to the mountains ; and to live there , as I did with Bathalda , on the proceeds of the chase . I might then , perhaps , in time make my way to people in the far north , who have not such reason as they have here for hating a man with a white skin ; or I might wait until the Spaniards send another expedition , to carry out what Cortez has failed to accomplish . '' Leaving their fires burning , the remains of the Spanish army marched , at midnight , from the temple where they had enjoyed rest , and had recruited their strength and spirits . The sick and wounded were placed in the center , and carried on litters , or on the backs of the porters ; while others , who were strong enough to sit upright , rode on the horses behind the mounted soldiers . All night the march continued without disturbance ; but in the morning , large parties of natives were seen moving about . Tlacopan lay on the most westerly point of the lake , and the most direct route of the Spaniards would have been to keep along by its margin ; but had they done so , they would have been liable to attack from the capital ; as the troops could have poured out across the causeway to Tepejacac , and headed them there .