For Maxtla, our enemy and the
friend of the Spaniards, was in my camp--indeed, I had brought him with
me that I might watch him--and he had not been idle.
For when the Spaniards were half a day's march from the mouth of the
defile, one of those men whom I had told off to watch their advance,
came to me and made it known that Maxtla had bribed him to go to the
leader of the Spaniards and disclose to him the plan of the ambuscade.
This man had taken the bribe and started on his errand of treachery,
but his heart failed him and, returning, he told me all. Then I caused
Maxtla to be seized, and before nightfall he had paid the price of his
wickedness.
On the morning after his death the Spanish array entered the pass.
Half-way down it I met them with my five hundred men and engaged them,
but suffered them to drive us back with some loss. As they followed they
grew bolder and we fled faster, till at length we flew down the defile
followed by the Spanish horse. Now, some three furlongs from its mouth
that leads to the City of Pines, this pass turns and narrows, and here
the cliffs are so sheer and high that a twilight reigns at the foot of
them.
Down the narrow way we ran in seeming rout, and after us came the
Spaniards shouting on their saints and flushed with victory. But
scarcely had we turned the corner when they sang another song, for those
who were watching a thousand feet above us gave the signal, and down
from on high came a rain of stones and boulders that darkened the air
and crashed among them, crushing many of them.
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