Cortez pretended great surprise, and ordered everything movable to be brought ashore, and the ships to be sunk.
Nine vessels were so destroyed, and but one small craft was left afloat.

When the news reached the troops at Cempoalla, they were filled with consternation.

It seemed to them that nothing but destruction awaited them, and from murmurings they broke out into mutiny.
Cortez however, as usual, speedily allayed the tumult.

He pointed out that his loss was the greatest, since the ships were his property; and that the troops would in fact derive great advantage by it, since it would swell their force by a hundred men, who must otherwise have remained in charge of the vessels.

He urged them to place their confidence in him, and they might rely upon it that success would attend their efforts.