The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-10-17

Now at length the enemy drew near,
and set my battle as had done IA years
before, advancing down the pass by which
alone they could approach us with small
portion Of my force and stationing the re-
mainder IN two equal companies upon
either brow of the beetling cliffs that over
hung the road, having command to over
whelm the Spaniards with rocks, hurled
upon them from above, so soon as I should
give the signal by flying before them down
the pass Other measures took also, for
seeing that, do what I would, it might
happen that we should ee driven back
upon the city, caused it's walls and gates
to be set in order and garrisoned them AS
last resource, too, stored the lofty sum-
NIT of the teocalli, which, now that sacrl-
fees were no longer offered there, was used
as an arsenal for the material Of war, with
water and provisions and fortified its sides
by walls studded with volcanic glass and
BY other devices till it seemed well nigh
impossible that any should be able to force
them while score Of men still lived to
offer defense.
It was on one night in the early sum-
mer, having bid farewell to Otomie and
taking my son with me, for he was now OF
an age when, according to the 1ndian Gus
toms, lads are brought face to face with
the dangers of battle, that I dispatched
the appointed companies to their stations
on the brow Of the precipice and sailed
into the darksome mouth of the pass with
the few hundred men who were left to me.
I knew by my spies that the Spaniards
who were encamped on the farther side
would attempt its passage an hour before
the daylight, trusting to finding me asleep.
And, sure enough, on the following morn
ing, SO early that the first rays Of the sun
had not yet stained the lofty SHOWS Of the
yolcan Xaca that lowered behind us, a
distant murrluring which echoed through
the silence of the night told me that the
enemy had begun his march. moved
down the pass to meet him easily enough.
There was no stone in it that was not
known to me and my men. But with the
Spaniards it was otherwise, for many Of
them were mounted, and, moreover, they
dragged with them two carronades. Time
upon time these heavy guns remained fast
in the bowlder strewn roadway, for in the
darkness the slaves who drew them could
find no places for the wheels to run on,
till in the end the captains of the army,
unwilling to risk fight at SO great dis
advantage, ordered them to halt until the
day broke.
At length the dawn came, and the light
fell dimly down the depths OF the vast
gulf, revealing the long ranks OF the Span
.ards clad il their bright armor and the
yet moro brilliant thousands OF their na-
tive allies, gorgeous in their painted helms
and their glittering coats of feathers.
They saw us also, and mocking at our
poor array their column twisted forward
like some huge snake in the crack OF q
rock till they came to within hundred
PAGES Of u.s. Then the Spaniards raised
their battlecry CT St. Peter, and lance at
rest the. charged US with their horse. We
met them with a rain Of arrows that
checked them little, but not for long.
Soon they were among u.s. driving US
back at the point Of their lances and slay-
ing many, for our Indian weapons could
work little harm to men and horses CLAD
in armor. Therefore we must fly, and in
deed fight was my plan, for by it hoped
to lead the foe to that part Of the defile
where the road was narrow and the cliffs
sheer, and they might be crushed by the
stones which should hail on them from
above. All went we'll. We fed. The Span
iards followed, flushed with victory, till
they were fairly in the trap. Now single
bowlder came rushing from on high, and
falling on horse killed him, then, re-
bounding, carried dismay and wounds to
those behind. Another followed, and yet
another, and I grew glad at heart, for 1t
seemed to Ee that the danger was over,
and that for the second time my strategy
had succeeded,
But suddenly from above there came
sound other ttan that of the rushing rocks,
the sound of men joining in battle, that
grew till the air was full of its tumult;
then something whirled down from on
high. I looked. 1t was no stone, but
man, one of my own men. Indeed he
was but as the first raindrop of q shower.
Alas, I saw the truth! had been out
witted. The Spaniards, old in wal, could
not be caught twice by such trick. They
advanced down the pass with the carron-
ades indeed, because they must, but trst
they sent great bodies Of men to climb the
unQeE SnC1CcrC1 tnc NY sc
cret paths which had been discovered to
them, and there on its summit to deal
with those who would stay their passage
by hurting rocks upon them.
And in truth they dealt with them but
too well, for my men of the Otomie, lying
on the verge of the cliff among the scrub
Of aloes and other prickly plants that grew
there, watching the advance Of the foe be-
meath and never for one moment dream
ing that foes might be upon their flank,
were utterly surprised. Scarcely had they
time to seize their weapons which were
laid at their sides that they might have
the greater freedom in the rolling Of heavy
masses Of rock, when the enemy, who out
numbered them by far, were upon them
with yell. Then came fight, short, but
decisive.