they both
fell, being carried down by the current. Juan rebuked his followers for
this wanton act--at which the men seemed very much astonished. Several
others who were following, and of whom we caught a glimpse, immediately
retreated.

We now expected every moment to see the main body approaching to the
assault, as it was not likely they would allow us to retain peaceable
possession of so important a post, if they fancied they could capture
it. Mr Laffan had charge of the guns, with the few men among us who
had ever had any practice with artillery. There were, however, no more
than two to each gun who had loaded and fired one before. Mr Laffan
had to keep running backwards and forwards, to see that they put in the
powder first and the shot afterwards, and rammed it home. In a short
time the Spaniards advanced under cover, showed themselves on the bank
of the stream, where they extended their line, and commenced a hot fire
at the fort. We, keeping under shelter, did not reply to it until they
commenced crossing the stream, when we opened on them with our guns.
They evidently had not supposed that we possessed artillery; for they
were at once thrown into confusion, and began to retreat, when numbers
were brought down by our musketry, while our guns, being reloaded, again
sent their shot among them.

We now ran up the Republican flag and shouted "Victory;" but we were
mistaken in supposing that the enemy were put to flight. In the course
of a short time a far larger body appeared, led by other officers, who
behaved with great courage. At once they dashed across the stream,--we
receiving them with a hot fire, our men loading and discharging their
pieces as fast as they could, while our guns, considering the
inexperience of the gunners, were well served. I could scarcely help
smiling as I saw my old dominie spring from gun to gun, and point it at
the thickest of the foe. One of the officers who appeared in command
must have fallen, and although the others behaved with considerable
gallantry, they failed to induce the men to come up to the stockades.
Once more they retired across the stream, and many lost their lives.

After this they contented themselves with getting behind such cover as
they could find, and firing at the fort. Had they possessed guns, the
tables would, I suspect, soon have been turned, as our comparatively
light defence must quickly have been knocked to pieces. The thickness
of the stockad