d," said the Indian, "and the white man need not
despise the friendship of a great chief. California is a fair land.
Others will come to it besides the Spaniard. If Anastacio has thousands
of Indians to run to his call they will fight when he bids them."

"Caramba! you are right," exclaimed Roldan. "Those Americans--"

"American boys?" asked Adan, eagerly.

"Now," said Anastacio, "I sleep. Awake me when the sky turns grey."

He stretched himself out and slept at once. The boys drew close
together and speculated upon the fateful morrow. They agreed to remain
close together, out of sight of the enemy, but where they could watch
the Indian forces. If Anastacio fell they would flee at once.

X

The small Californian force--it numbered little over two hundred
men--was under the command of Juan Pardo Mesa, a captain notable for
his victorious encounters with Indians and for his knowledge of their
cunning. He was on the alert at dawn next morning, and long before the
sun had spurned the tops of the Coast range, his assumption of
meditated treachery was confirmed. A rising wind had set the young
redwoods in motion. Before long the practised eye of Captain Mesa saw
an increased agitation among the feathery branches, his ear caught a
slight crackling. His men were flat on the ground. He stood in the
shadow of a large oak. A moment later a dusky form crept out to where
the brush grew more sparsely, hesitated a moment, and apparently passed
back word that all was well; he was immediately followed by many of his
kind; and the lower slope of the mountain, burnt bare by fire, seemed
suddenly swarming with huge black rats.

Mesa waited until they were well away from cover, then gave the
expected order: two hundred muskets, carbines, and flintlock pistols
were discharged, and one piece of artillery.

But Anastacio, no mean general himself, was also on the alert for the
unexpected. In a few moments he had marshalled his forces in the form
of a hollow square, and ordered them to discharge their arrows from a
recumbent position. Owing to the heavy shadows, the aim of the
Californians had been uncertain, and only a few of the Indians had
fallen. Roldan and Adan were safe behind two large redwoods just above
the Indian army.

The firing continued steadily all the morning, but resulted in few
mortal wounds. There was not a poisoned arrow in the pueblo. The balls
did more serious damage, and several Indians rolled groaning down t