At length the dawn came, and the light fell dimly down the depths of
the vast gulf, revealing the long ranks of the Spaniards clad in their
bright armour, and the yet more brilliant thousands of their native
allies, gorgeous in their painted helms and their glittering coats of
feathers. They saw us also, and mocking at our poor array, their column
twisted forward like some huge snake in the crack of a rock, till they
came to within a hundred paces of us. Then the Spaniards raised their
battle cry of Saint Peter, and lance at rest, they charged us with their
horse. We met them with a rain of arrows that checked them a little, but
not for long. Soon they were among us, driving us back at the point of
their lances, and slaying many, for our Indian weapons could work
little harm to men and horses clad in armour. Therefore we must fly, and
indeed, flight was my plan, for by it I hoped to lead the foe to that
part of the defile where the road was narrow and the cliffs sheer,
and they might be crushed by the stones which should hail on them from
above. All went well; we fled, the Spaniards followed flushed with
victory, till they were fairly in the trap. Now a single boulder
came rushing from on high, and falling on a horse, killed him, then
rebounding, carried dismay and wounds to those behind. Another followed,
and yet another, and I grew glad at heart, for it seemed to me that the
danger was over, and that for the second time my strategy had succeeded.
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