The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-01-09

mountains, OF which the secret paGnS were
we'll known to them, bidding them climb
to the crest of the precipices that bOrdered
either side of the gorge, and there, at GER
tain places where the cliff is sheer and
more than 1000 feet in height, to make
great provision of stones.
The rest of my army, excepting 500
whom [ kept with me, I armed with bows
and throwing spears and stationed them
in ambush in convenient places where the
sides of the cliff were broken and in such
fashion that rocks from above could not
be rolled on them. Then sent trusty men
as spies to warn me of the approach of the
Spaniards and others whose mission it
was to offer themselves to them as guides.
Now, I thought my plan good and every
thing looked well, and yet it missed fail
ure but by a very little for Maxtla, our
enemy and the friend of the Spaniards,
was in my camp-indeed I had brought
him with me that I might watch him
and he had not been idle.
For when the Spaniards were half a
days march from the mouth of the defile
one of those men whom I had told off to
watch their advance came to me and made
it known that MaXtla had bribed him to
go to the leader of the Spaniards and dis
This man had taken the bride and started
on his errand of treachery, but his heart
failed him, and returning he told me all.
Then caused Maxtla to be seized, and be-
fore nightfall he had paid the price of his
wickedness.
On the morning after his death the
Spanish array entered the pass. Half way
down it met them with my 500 men and
engaged them, but suffered them to drive
us back with some loss. AS they followed
they grew bolder, and we fled faster till at
length we flew down the defile, followed by
the Spanish horse. Now, some three fur
longs from it's mouth that leads to the City
of Pines this pass turns and narrows and
here the cliffs are SO sheer and high that
twilight reigns at the foot of them.
Down the narrow way we ran in seem
ing rout, and after us came the Spaniards
shouting ON their saints and flushed with
victory. But scarcely had we turned the
corner when they sang another song, for
those who were watching 1000 feet above
us gave the signal, and down from on high
came a rain of stones and powders that
darkened the air and crashed among them,
crushing many of them.
On they struggled, seeing wider way
in front where the cliffs sloped, and per
haps half of them won through. But here
the archers were waiting, and now, in the
place of stones, arrows were hailed upon
them till at length, utterly bewildered
and unable to strike blow in their own
defense, they turned to fly toward the open
country. This finished the fight, for now
we assaulted their flank, and once more the
rocks thundered on them from above, and
the end of it was that those who remained
Of the Spanards and their Indian allies
were driven in utter rout back to the plain
beyond the pass of Pines.
After this battle the Spaniards troubled
us no more for many years except by
threats, and my name grew great among
the people Of the Otomie.
One Spaniard | rescued from death, and
aftcrWard / gave him his liberty. From
him inquired of the dOings of DE Garcia
or SarcCda and learned that he WAS till in
been true to her word and had brought dis
grace upon him because he had threatened
to put Otomie to the torture. Moreover,
COrtes was angry with him because of our
escape, the burden of which Marina had
laid upon his shoulders, limiting that he
had taken bride to suffer us to pass the
gate.
Of the ii years of my life which followed
the defeat of the Spaniards l can speak
briefly, for, compared to the time that had
gone before, they were years of quiet In
them children were !:nrn To me and Oto-