ode back rapidly. The scene was
bewildering. Officers galloped this way and that, shouting to their
men; riderless horses careered madly about; slightly-wounded troopers
were hobbling to the rear; others, more unfortunate, lay on the ground
groaning and calling for water; while here and there mounted men were
escorting groups of prisoners toward our infantry lines.

Several times I stopped to ask where General Bolivar was. He had
entered the defile with the cavalry; but from the time our first
squadrons were routed I had seen nothing of him. At last an officer
told me that, seeing his horsemen overthrown, the general had galloped
back to the infantry, which he had posted on a very high hill about a
league away.

"He quite expected to be attacked," added my informant, "never dreaming
we should recover ourselves. The Peruvians saved us. They are fine
fellows!" For in the gathering gloom he could not distinguish my
uniform.

"Thanks!" said I, laughing; "I'll repeat that compliment to my
comrades," and rode on.

Bolivar was standing, or to be correct, walking about, on the brow of
the hill, looking anxiously toward the plain. Several messengers had
brought him word of the varying fortunes of the fight, but none had
arrived from Miller.

I passed close to the head of the Peruvian infantry, and the colonel
shouted,--

"What news, Crawford!"

"Good!" I replied, hurrying along; and reaching Bolivar, I jumped to
the ground and saluted.

"Where do you come from?" he cried.

"General Miller, sir. The Royalists are in full retreat--horse, foot,
and artillery. The general wishes me to say that a vigorous pursuit
would probably disperse them altogether."

"Too late," said he; "tell General Miller I have ordered the cavalry to
retire on me.--Caza," to one of his officers, "lend--"

"Lieutenant Crawford, sir."

"Lend Lieutenant Crawford your horse; his is done up.--Now ride as fast
as you can, and give General Miller my message."

I saluted, sprang into the saddle, dashed past the Peruvian infantry,
down the hill, and into the defile. Here I found the main body of our
cavalry retiring in accordance with Bolivar's command, and heard that
Miller, with a squadron of Peruvians, was still following the Royalists.

It was quite dark now, and the route was covered with hillocks; but I
rode on swiftly, trusting to luck, and at length came up with the
general, who had halted in his pursuit. On receiving Bolivar's