ber of
the banditti, most of whom, however, were engaged in a work more
congenial to their taste, that of plundering our baggage. I could not
doubt that my father was among the combatants; for without his example I
did not think the others would have fought, and I trembled for his fate.
I tried to rise, to rush to his assistance, or to die with him; but I
found I was too weak to stand, much less to use a weapon. I gave up all
for lost, for I perceived that the resistance of the gallant little band
of my friends was every instant growing weaker; while the robbers were
quitting their plunder to join their assailants. Meantime some of the
baggage mules were trotting off in the direction where Jose and I lay;
seeing which, some of the banditti came in pursuit of them. On seeing
that I was alive, a savage-looking fellow lifted his carbine, and was
about to give me a quietus on my head with the butt of it, while another
threatened to perform the same office for Jose, when a shout, different
from any I had before heard, reached my ears.

"Los Indios, los Indios!--the Indians, the Indians!" cried the brigands;
"fly, fly, or we are lost!"

I looked up; for when I thought my brains were about to be dashed out, I
had instinctively shut my eyes. What was my surprise to see the cliffs
on either side of the road, and which I had thought inaccessible,
swarming with Indians, mostly dressed in their ancient costume, and
armed with bows and slings, with which they sent a shower of arrows and
stones among our enemies! Several of them were wounded; and the
suddenness of the attack threw them into confusion. Before they could
recover from it, the Indians came leaping down the cliffs, and threw
themselves between the three parties of the robbers, while others
advanced along either end of the road, so as completely to hem them in.
With the wildest fury, animated apparently by the most deadly hatred,
the Indians rushed on our assailants, who, though they fought for their
lives, could not withstand the onset.

I mentioned that at some distance from me I had observed a few of my
friends, among whom I had no doubt was my father, hard pressed by a
number of the robbers, who seemed intent on their destruction. The
latter had now to defend themselves from the Indians; and my father and
his party attacking them in return, they were either cut down at once,
or attempted to escape by flight. A few of the more determined had
fought their way