e the defile--through
which ran the road to Valencia--was posted a small battery.

This position seemed to give the royalists a decisive superiority over
their patriot antagonists, and for twenty days they waited an attack, in
full confidence of success. Bolivar hesitated to risk an attack, fearing
that the destiny of his country might rest upon the result. He proposed an
armistice, but this was unanimously rejected by his council of war. Then
it was suggested to seek to turn the position of the enemy, but this was
also rejected, and it was finally decided to take every risk and assail
the enemy in his stronghold, trusting to courage and the fortune of war
for success.

While the subject was being discussed by Bolivar and his staff, one of the
guides of the army, who was thoroughly familiar with the country they
occupied, stood near and overheard the conversation. At its end he drew
near Bolivar, and in a whisper told him that he knew a difficult foot-path
by which the right wing of the Spaniards might be turned.

This news was highly welcome, and, after a consultation with his
informant, Bolivar secretly detached three battalions of his best troops,
including the British legion and a strong column of cavalry under General
Paez, directing them to follow the guide and preserve as much silence and
secrecy as possible.

The path proved to be narrow and very difficult. They were obliged to
traverse it in single file, and it was paved with sharp stones that cut
their shoes to pieces and deeply wounded their feet. Many of them tore
their shirts and made bandages for their feet to enable them to go on.
Fortunately for the success of the movement, it was masked by the forest,
and the expedition was able to concentrate in a position on the flank of
the enemy without discovery.

When at length the Spaniards found this unwelcome force on their flank
they hastily despatched against it the royal battalion of Bengos, driving
back the nearest troops and unmasking the British legion. This they fired
upon and then charged with the bayonet. The British returned the fire and
charged in their turn, and with such dash and vigor that the Spaniards
soon gave way. In their retreat Paez marched upon them with a squadron
called the Sacred Legion, and few of them got back to their ranks. In
return a squadron of the Spaniards charged the British, but with less
success, being dispersed by a hot musketry fire.

"While the Spanish right wing wa