pproach him, as the chief had already seen; and since he could
enforce his exit from the city whenever he thought proper, he would
enter it upon his own terms, either as a conqueror, or as a friend,
according to the reception he met with; that there was now no race of
conquerors to whom the city could be betrayed, even if he were disposed
to do so, as the people of the whole country, of all races, were now
living in a state of perfect freedom and equality; and that, therefore,
there was no necessity for those unsocial and sanguinary laws which
secluded the Iximayans from friendly intercourse with their fellow-men.
Saying which, and without waiting for further colloquy, he ordered his
party to dismount, restore the horses to their owners, and march with
the train of mules toward the city, in the usual style of travel. With
this order, his Indians complied very reluctantly, but on assuring them
that it was a matter of the highest policy, they evinced their wonted
confidence in his judgment and ability. To the young chief he restored
his own richly caparisoned steed, which had fallen to the lot of the
unfortunate Mr. Hammond, who was now lying desperately wounded, in the
care of the faithful Antonio. For himself and Senor Velasquez, Mr.
Huertis retained the horses they had first seized, and placing
themselves on each side of the Iximayan commander, with their friend
Hammond borne immediately behind them, in one of the cane couches of the
cavern, on the backs of two mules yoked together, they advanced to the
head of their party, while the red troopers, followed by the surviving
bloodhounds leashed in couples, brought up the rear. Huertis, however,
had taken the precaution to add the spears and hatchets of these men to
the burdens of the forward mules, to abide the event of his reception at
the city gates. The appearance of the whole cavalcade must have been
unique and picturesque; for Velasquez informs us, that while he wore the
uniform of a military company to which he belonged in San Salvador, much
enhanced in effect by some brilliant additions, and crowned with a broad
sombrero and plume, Huertis wore that of an American naval commander,
with gold epaulettes; his riflemen and muleteers generally were clothed
in blue cotton and grass hats, while the native cavalry, in the
brilliant tunics and feathered coronals, already described, must have
completed the diversity of the variegated cortege. Had poor Hammond been
mounted amo