Page:Rocky Mountain life.djvu/314

 occupied, some in preparations for dinner, and others in making amends for a night of wakefulness.

In fact, each one conducted himself apparently with as little concern as though it were in, possible that a Mexican could be found this side of the halls of Montezuma. Participating in this general feeling of security, and anxious to enjoy the relaxations of camp, in a brief interval the sentinels deserted their posts and mingled among the loungers.

This remissness was first noticed by a private, who hurriedly enquired,

Where is the guard?" Scarcely were the words spoken, when another exclaimed, "There go our horses!"

The latter announcement aroused all hands — but only in time to witness our whole cavallard under full headway before a small party of Mexican cavalry, while at the same instant a brisk fire was opened upon us from the rear, and the dusky forms of the enemy appeared both right and left; thus we had the mortification to find our little band surrounded by a superior force.

Orders were given to dislodge the foe, and occupy his position in the rear. At the word "charge," our dauntless partizans, with a shout, rushed up the steep hill-side and drove the panic-stricken Mexicans before them, who fled with the utmost precipitancy in all directions, throwing away their blankets, robes, arms, and even clothes, to aid them in their hurried escape. So great was their consternation, in less than fifteen minutes not one remained in sight, either far or near.

On examining the premises, we found fifteen or twenty saddles, with a mule, which they had likewise abandoned, —but only two half-jaded animals told the remnants of the noble cavallard of more than eighty head that had grazed around us scarcely thirty minutes before; a thing of itself equivalent of a defeat.

What could twenty-one footmen do in an open prairie opposed by hundreds of cavalry, able at any time to choose their own place and mode of attack? The issue was quite apparent, — we must retreat. In an advantageous position, surrounded by game, and acquainted with the topography of the country, we might hold out against a force of thousands; but it would be presumption to think of either maintaining our present ground or advancing upon the foe.

Preparations were therefore immediately commenced for acting upon the only prudent alternative now left. Each man selected for himself a blanket, or robe, which, with such other necessaries as he could conveniently carry, was bound in the form of a knapsack and strapped to his shoulders; our animals were then

heavily laden with provisions, and the remaining luggage (consisting of arms taken from the enemy, saddles, robes, blankets, knives, &c.,) committed to the flames; the value of property thus destroyed, amounted to several thousand dollars. It was a melancholy thing to witness this wanton waste; yet such is the custom of war under like circumstances.

Toward sundown we took up our line of march, each one on foot with his shouldered pack, in every appearance illustrating the soldier's return "from the war!"

In the above manner we trudged along, bearing a course due east, till the evening of the third day, which brought us to the base of the table