that my
people once fought a fierce battle with the Castilians; and though ages
have since passed away, the memory of it still survives among us."

Carlos and I were fully satisfied, after further conversation with the
Indian, that the account he gave us was correct,--the more so as he
undertook to lead us to the entrance of the defile. We at once set off,
therefore, discussing as we went plans for rescuing Norah, in case
Kanimapo should not have succeeded in doing so. But even for her sake
we could not leave the army till the battle was over; and, indeed, it
would have been impossible to obtain men to accompany us.

Quitting the camp, the Indian led us some way to the right of our
position, along the foot of the wooded hill; after which he struck off
directly towards it. Instead of having steep rocks to climb, as would
have been the case in every other part except the before-mentioned
passage, we ascended a gentle slope, and then continued over tolerably
level ground till we found ourselves on the top of another slope
reaching down to the plain below. From the position we had gained, we
could distinguish between the trees the camp-fires of the Spanish army
extending for a considerable way to our left.

We at once saw the importance of this pass, and hastened back to General
Bermudez with the information we had obtained. He had lain down to
sleep, but on hearing what we had to say he hurried with us to General
Bolivar. The commander-in-chief, after complimenting us on the
intelligence we had displayed, immediately issued orders for a party of
his men, with their machetes and axes, to proceed into the defile and
clear it of wood, so as to allow of the passage of cavalry. They were
thus employed during the whole of the night, under the command of a
gallant young Englishman.

After a few hours' sleep, by the time morning broke Carlos and I were in
the saddle. The blacks had nearly completed their work; and the only
reward the Sambos asked was to be allowed to lead the assault. They
were followed by the British legion, under Colonel McIntosh.

As the last trees were cleared away, their position was shown to the
Spaniards, who opened a tremendous fire on them, through which they ran
down to the attack, numbers falling as they advanced; but nothing
stopped them. The British legion, six hundred strong, next rushed
through the defile, with the steadiness for which they have been so long
famed, and attacked the en