r is come--remember--my old friend--" and the flowing blood cut short
his speech.

At that moment the best mounted among the Indians showed themselves in
the moonlight. Travellers who have met only with civilised Indians can
with difficulty form any idea of the savage tribes. Nothing less
resembled those degenerate Indians than these unconquered sons of the
desert; who--like the birds of prey, wheeling in the air before pouncing
on their victims--rode howling around the camp. Their figures hideously
marked with paint, were visible from time to time; their long hair
streaming in the wind, their cloaks of skins floating in their rapid
course, and their piercing cries of defiance and bravado, giving them
the appearance of demons, to whom they have justly been compared.

There were few among the Mexicans who had not some revenge to take on
these indefatigable spoilers, but none of them were animated by such
deadly hatred as Pedro Diaz. The sight of his enemies produced on him
the effect that scarlet does on a bull, and he could scarcely refrain
from indulging in one of those exploits which had rendered his name
formidable to their tribes. But it was necessary to set an example of
discipline, and he curbed his impatience. Besides, the moment of attack
could not be far off, and the superior position of the gold-seekers
compensated for the inequality of their numbers.

After having assigned to each his post behind the intrenchments, Don
Estevan placed on the rising ground, where his tent had stood, those of
his men whose rifles carried farthest, or whose sight was the best, and
the fires gave light enough for their aim. As for himself, his post was
everywhere.

The piercing eyes of the Indians, and the reports of those who had
preceded them had doubtless instructed them as to the position of the
whites. For a moment an indecision seemed to reign among them, but the
truce did not last long. After a short interval of silence, a hundred
voices at once shrieked out the war-cry; the earth trembled under an
avalanche of galloping horses; and amidst a shower of balls, stones, and
arrows, the camp was surrounded on three sides by a disorderly
multitude. But a well-sustained fire proceeded from the top of the
hill.

Under this murderous discharge riderless horses were seen galloping over
the plain, and riders disengaging themselves from their wounded steeds.
Before long, however, the combat became one of hand to hand; th