Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 2.djvu/107

Rh my face! For the next act of our inhuman captors was to form the prisoners into two divisions; then placing all the old men, women, and children together in a group, they put them to death without remorse. The survivors, consisting of myself and the most able-bodied of the men, they intended to carry away with them as prisoners.

"For three days and nights we were carefully bound and watched, and were obliged to accompany the Indians as they leisurely drove our cattle before them. On the fourth day, however, one of our number contrived, with the assistance of a tree, privately to loosen the cord that bound his hands; and patiently awaiting for night, was fortunately able to render the same service to a few of his companions. I was one of the number.

"When our enemies had stretched themselves upon their blankets for the night, we found means, after much scheming, effectually to silence the guard before he was able to give the alarm, and so managed to make good our escape. After innumerable fatigues, dangers, and privations, and with the loss of one of our comrades, we reached the capital and here I have since been living in great obscurity, and