e Spaniards!' It
is lucky for them that we are not part of the Spanish army."

"As to that," I answered, "it is as easy to shout for one side as for
the other. It is only a matter of words, after all."

"Well," he laughed, "if cheers were bullets, we need not go short of
ammunition."

We remained several days in Tacna, where I had the luck to be quartered
on a wealthy Spanish merchant. It was most amusing to be in his
company, as he hated us like poison, and, in spite of himself, could
hardly prevent his real sentiments from popping out at inconvenient
times. However, either from fear or from policy, he treated me well,
and during our stay in the town I lived on the best of everything.
This was an agreeable interlude in the making of war, and suited me
admirably.

Like all good things, it came to an end much too soon, and very
suddenly. Jose, the doctor, and I had been spending an evening with
one of the principal inhabitants, and on coming away met the colonel.

"I am pleased that you keep good hours," said he, with a smile. "We
march at dawn. The Spaniards are moving in three detachments to
intercept us; we must crush them one by one."

"Well," exclaimed the doctor pleasantly, "we can't grumble; we have had
a pleasant breathing-space."

During our stay at Tacna we had received reinforcements, bringing our
adventurous party up to four hundred and fifty, of which about a third
part consisted of cavalry. The few days' rest had recruited our
strength, and we set out in high spirits for Buena Vista, a tiny hamlet
at the foot of the Cordillera.

As yet we had obtained no definite news of the enemy; but while we lay
at Buena Vista, a native scout brought word that a strong Spanish force
was stationed at Mirabe, a village some forty miles distant. The
colonel's resolution was instantly taken, and as soon as day broke we
were once more moving.

After we had left the valley, our route lay across a region where no
blade of grass had ever grown. As far as the eye reached, the scene
was one of utter desolation. The horses picked their steps gingerly,
and the foot-soldiers stumbled along as best they could, tripping now
and then over the stones and boulders that strewed the path. All day
long, with intervals for rest, we tramped, and the coming of night
still found us pursuing the tedious journey.

The last part was worse than the first. For six miles the road
descended amidst steep rocks and mighty precip