themselves hoarse with the cries of "_Viva el general,
Viva Santa Anna_!" And on they scrambled, talking as before, one of
them informing his comrades with a laugh that if "los Tejanos" could lay
their hands upon "El Cojo", they, the Mexicans, would have to look out
for a new president.

They had now passed us. We were looking at their backs. The first
party contained a string of fifteen or twenty, mostly soldiers of the
"raw battalions"--conscripts who wore the white linen jackets and wide,
sailor-looking pantaloons of the volunteer.

Raw as these fellows were, either from their position in the battle, or,
more likely, from a better knowledge of the country, they had been able
thus far to make their escape, when thousands of their veteran
companions had been captured. But few of them were armed; they had
thrown their guns away in the hurry of flight.

At this moment we could distinguish the voice of Raoul:

"_Alto! abajo las armas_!" (Halt! down with your arms!)

At this challenge we could see--for they were still in sight--that some
of the Mexicans leaped clear up from the ground. One or two looked
back, as if with the intention of re-entering the gorge, but a dozen
muzzles met their gaze.

"_Adelante! adelante_!--_somos amigos_." (Forward!--we are friends), I
said to them in a half-whisper, fearing to alarm their comrades in the
rear, at the same time waving them onward.

As on one side Clayley presented a white flag, while on the other there
was to be seen a bunch of dark yawning tubes, the Mexicans were not long
in making their choice. In a minute they had disappeared from our
sight, preferring the companionship of Clayley and Raoul, who would know
how to dispose of them in a proper manner.

We had scarcely got rid of these when another string debouched up the
glen, unsuspicious as were their comrades of the fate that awaited them.

These were managed in a similar manner; and another and another party,
all of whom were obliged to give up their arms and fling themselves to
the earth, as soon as they had reached the open ground above.

This continued until I began to grow fearful that we were making more
prisoners than we could safely hold, and on the knowledge of this fact
they might try to overpower us.

But the tempting prize had not yet appeared. He could not be far
distant, and, allured by this prospect, I determined to hold out a while
longer.

A termination, however, to our wholesale tr