he
slope. The rest were undaunted. They were more than two to one, and had
implicit faith in their chief's assurance that they were bound to rout
the Spaniard.

Under cover of the cloud of smoke his weapons had raised despite a
strong wind, Mesa executed two flank movements, justifying the tactics
of Anastacio: he detached forty men from the main body and directed
them to attack the Indians on both sides and to cut off their retreat
to the forest. They were almost upon the north and south ends of
Anastacio's square--after making a detour and advancing from a
distance--when the boys shouted a warning. In a moment arrows were
flying to right and left; and the answering volley was far more deadly
than the effects of firing up hill. The Indians stood their ground,
fitting their arrows with swift dexterity, encouraged by Anastacio, who
glided from point to point like a hungry cobra, discharging two arrows
to every man's one. His only hope was to keep the Californians at long
range until losses compelled the latter to retreat: at close quarters
arrows would be no match for firearms.

The battle began at five in the morning. It was at four in the
afternoon that Roldan passed his hand across his burning eyeballs, then
gripped Adan's arm and said through his teeth,--

"Anastacio is hit. I saw him shake from head to foot."

"Madre de dios! Shall we run?"

"Not yet. My brain is on fire. War is awful, and yet I burn to have a
pistol in my hands. I am sorry for Anastacio--but Dios de mi alma!--to
see a brave Spanish officer bite the dust with the arrow of a dog in
his brain! Ay, he moves! He is not dead."

"His hand is as steady--but--do you notice?--all are not firing."

"The arrows are giving out. There is only one end. But I must see it
through. Mary! Mary! They are breaking."

The Indians, finding themselves almost without arrows, had sprung to
their feet, intending to make a rush for cover; but Mesa had
anticipated this move, and almost immediately his men had closed with
the savages, knocking them on the head with the butt-end of their
muskets, discharging their pistols at short range. The Indians used
both tooth and nail, yelling like wildcats. The cool imperturbability
of the earlier part of the day had fled with their arrows. Anastacio
fought like a tiger. Despite his wounded thigh he stood firmly on his
feet, snatched the musket from a man his hands had throttled, and
whirled it about his head, threatening death