Pioneer Spaniards in North America . the life of aplanter, varying its monotony with an occasionalduel and with helping to suppress insurrectionsof the narives, thus learning Indian warfare. When Velasquez undertook the conquest of 134 CORTES INVADES MEXICO Cuba, Cortes gladly gave up the routine of aplanters life and sailed with him. Throughoutthe campaign he distinguished himself by hisdaring and by free and cordial manners and alively wit that made him the favorite of thesoldiers. When the conquest of Cuba was finished, hemarried, received a liberalallotment of Indians asslaves, with a larg
Pioneer Spaniards in North America . the life of aplanter, varying its monotony with an occasionalduel and with helping to suppress insurrectionsof the narives, thus learning Indian warfare. When Velasquez undertook the conquest of 134 CORTES INVADES MEXICO Cuba, Cortes gladly gave up the routine of aplanters life and sailed with him. Throughoutthe campaign he distinguished himself by hisdaring and by free and cordial manners and alively wit that made him the favorite of thesoldiers. When the conquest of Cuba was finished, hemarried, received a liberalallotment of Indians asslaves, with a largetract of land, wasappointed an al-calde (magistrate),and settled downto tilling his fields,working his mines,and raising stock. In ^^.a few years time he hadamassed a considerablefortune — at what cost of Indian lives God alone knows, writesLas Casas. Then came Alvarado back from the coast ofMexico with the tidings of Grijalvas discoveriesand with the treasure he had sent. At onceCortes was eager to leave the tame life he was US. HERNANDO CORTKS PIONEER SPANIARDS leading; and Velasquez appointed him to thecommand of the expedition he was no better man could have been foundfor such a purpose. He was quick-witted, daring,and resolute, cool in planning, prompt in decision,and swift in execution. Moreover, he was nottroubled with scruples. If a thing was to bedone, he asked merely what was the readiestway of doing it, and was equally willing toemploy force or fraud, fair means or foul, truth orfalsehood. He could be yielding or inexorable,forgiving or pitiless, as best suited his short, he had but one principle — always tosucceed. He threw all his energies into the preparations,raised money by mortgaging his property andborrowing from his friends, recruited men, andattended to the smallest details with keen fore-sight. His popularity, together with the reportof enormous riches in Mexico, attracted a numberof daring spirits to him, and he soon had
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