fall in an
open glade. Here a bivouac was formed, branches of the trees cut
down, and the provisions which each had brought with him produced.
A rivulet ran through the glade, and the weary troops were soon
lying on the grass, a strong line of sentries having been placed
round.

Already the appearance of the troop was greatly changed from that
of the body which had entered the wood. Then all were eager for the
fray; confident in the extreme of their power to crush, with ease,
these unarmed negroes and natives, who had hitherto, except on the
last occasion, fled like hunted deer at their approach. Now,
however, this feeling was checked. They had learned that the enemy
were well commanded, and prepared; and that so far, while they
themselves had lost several men, not a native had been so much as
seen by them.

At nightfall the air became alive with mysterious noises; cries as
of animals, occasionally Indian whoops, shouts from one voice to
another were heard all around. The Spaniards stood to their arms,
and gazed anxiously into the darkness.

Soon the shouts of the sentries told that flights of arrows were
being discharged at them, by invisible foes. Volley after volley
were fired, from the musketoons and arquebuses, into the wood.
These were answered by bursts of taunting laughter, and mocking
yells, while the rain of arrows continued.

The Spanish troops, whose position and figures could be seen by the
blaze of the lighted fires, while a dense darkness reigned within
the forest, began to suffer severely from the arrows of these
unseen foes. Bodies, fifty strong, advanced into the dark forest to
search out their enemies; but they searched in vain. The Indians,
better accustomed to the darkness, and knowing the forest well,
easily retreated as they advanced; and the Spaniards dared not
venture far from their fires, for they feared being lost in the
forest.

The officer commanding, an old and experienced soldier, soon ceased
these useless sorties. Calling his men into the center of the
glade; he ordered them to stand in readiness to repel an assault,
extinguished every fire, and allowed half the troop at once to lie
down, to endeavor to snatch some sleep. This, however, was
impossible; for although the Indians did not venture upon an
attack, the chorus of shouts and yells was so terrible and
continuous, and the flights of arrows at times fell so fast, that
not one of the troop ventured to close an eye.

From ti