our
race." The trembling chief answered with a groan, for the mutinous
soldiers had succeeded in bursting the door of the apartment, and now
with a dreadful clamour poured in, eager to strike the first blow at
their wretched and defenceless chief. Their very impatience retarded the
accomplishment of their fell desire, for as they thronged the narrow
passages, some were thrown down, the impatience of the one impeding the
progress of the other.

His suspense between life and death was protracted by the confusion; and
the miserable Caneri suffered the additional torture of hearing for some
time the appalling heralds of his fate, before the blow was struck. The
door burst open, and the savage eyes of his enemies glared upon their
victim, and the glitter of their weapons struck fearfully on his
sickening sight. He stood gazing with the petrified look of despair;
Malique boldly advanced and placed himself before his master, with the
resolute courage of one who has determined upon his part.

"Malique," cried the foremost of the conspirators, who happened to be
one whom Caneri had favored; "Sheath thy weapon; we seek not for thy
life." Malique made no reply, but with a single blow he levelled the
traitor with the ground; he then sprung fearlessly amongst the
rebellious crowd, and after having laid prostrate two or three of the
most infuriated, he was himself struck down, and met his death with the
courage of a soldier, and the coolness of a man, who dies in the
discharge of his duty.

Grown desperate by the very impulse of terror, and moved by the sight of
Malique bleeding at his feet, Caneri assumed a courage arising from
desperation, and as the mutineers closed round him, he dealt several
blows with a stubborn resistance that might have done him honour in the
field. He was, however, soon overpowered, and fell covered with
innumerable wounds. His head was immediately severed from the body, and
being affixed to a long pole, the disorderly and motley crowd now
proceeded to the camp of the Spaniards, bearing before them the bleeding
and ghastly token of their surrender.

The whole town now became the scene of indiscriminate riot; men and
women, old and young, ran about in a tumult of hope and fear, whilst the
discordant shouts of the soldiery, and the appalling sight of the
procession, bearing the ensanguined trophy, greatly contributed to
increase the confusion.

El Alcayde de los Donceles having taken the necessary precau