officers and gentlemen made a very shabby parade that evening, when
just before sundown word was passed from the sentries that a party was
approaching from the Spaniards, and it was decided to go outside and
meet them, so as not to show the poverty of our resources within the
defences, and the sore straits to which we had been brought.

So the General and Colonel Preston, with about half a dozen gentlemen,
went out to meet the new enemy, while Morgan contrived that I should, as
Captain Bruton's son, be where I could see and hear all that was going
on.

And, as I said, our officers and gentlemen made a very shabby parade,
for their clothes were torn and stained, and there were no brave
uniforms now, such as they wore the last time the Spaniards from the
south came to demand that we should leave the place. But if they had no
scarlet and gold to show, there was a grim sternness about our people
that was very impressive, something which taught the visitors that ours
were no feather-bed soldiers, but men who could face fire and use the
sword.

Of that party of six who went out to meet the Spaniards, there was not
one who was not injured, though slightly, while the little body-guard of
eight soldiers who followed them was in similar plight.

Our numbers were hastily selected by the General, on seeing that while a
larger number had come away from the main body of the Spaniards, only
eight approached the gates.

Everything was done so deliberately that I noticed that the General
carried his left arm in a scarf, and that the hair had been all cut away
in a patch at the back of Colonel Preston's head, so as to admit of its
being strapped with plaister. Another officer had a cut on his left
cheek which had divided the lip; another wore a bandage in the shape of
a red silk handkerchief, and another carried his injured hand in his
breast.

One and all had been wounded, but there was not a man who did not seem
full of fight, and ready to stand his ground come what might.

On the other hand, although they had been in an engagement that day, and
had pursued the Indians, the Spaniards were smooth-looking and
well-dressed; not a hair seemed to be out of place, so that they
presented a remarkable contrast to our grim-looking set.

They paused at a few yards' distance, and I stood gazing over the top of
the fence at their dress and weapons, all of which looked clean and
well-kept, quite in keeping with the dignified, well-dress