A second
rapid, but well delivered volley, brought down as many more, when the
rest, in attitudes of frantic wonder and terror, unconsciously dropped
their weapons and fled like affrighted fowls under the sudden swoop of
the kite. Their dispersion was so outrageously wild and complete that no
two of them could be seen together as they radiated over the plain. The
men and horses seemed impelled alike by a preternatural panic; and
neither Cortez in Mexico, nor Pizarro in Peru, ever witnessed greater
consternation at fire-arms among a people, who, for the first time,
beheld their phenomena and effects--when mere hundreds of invaders
easily subjugated millions of natives chiefly by this appalling
influence--than was manifested by these Iximayans on this occasion.
Indeed, it appears that these primitive and isolated people, holding no
intercourse whatever with the rest of mankind, were as ignorant as their
ancestors even of the existence of this kind of weapons; and although
their modern hieroglyphical annals were found to contain vague allusions
to the use of them in the conquest of the surrounding country, by means
of a peculiar kind of thunder and lightning, and several old Spanish
muskets and pistols were found in their scant collection of foreign
curiosities, yet, not even the most learned of their priests had
retained the slightest notion of the uses for which they were designed.

While this summary conflict was enacted on the open lawn of the forest,
the dismounted company in the cavern having completed their fruitless
search for the fugitives, emerged from its portal with all the mules and
baggage, just in time to see and hear the fiery explosions of the rifles
and their effect upon the whole body of scarlet cavalry. The entire
scene, including the mounted possession of their horses by uncouthly
attired strangers, previously invisible, must have appeared to these
terror-stricken natives an achievement of supernatural beings. And when
Mr. Huertis wheeled his obstreperously laughing party to recover his
mules, he found most of the astounded men prostrated upon their faces,
while others, more self-possessed, knelt upon the bended knee, and, with
drooping heads, crossed their hands behind them to receive the bonds of
captives. Their gallant and gaily accoutred young chieftain, however,
though equally astonished and dismayed, merely surrendered his javelin
as an officer would his sword, under the like circumstances, in
c