152 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



appearance. Presently a few figures were seen to crown 

 the ridge, clearly defined against the clear evening sky. 

 Not more than a dozen mounted men composed this party, 

 which all imagined must be doubtless the vanguard of the 

 thousand invaders. On the summit of the ridge they 

 halted a few minutes, as if to reconnoitre ; and by this 

 time the Calif orni an horsemen were halted in the plain, 

 midway between the Mission and the ridge, and distant 

 from the former less than half-a-mile, so that all the opera- 

 tions were clearly visible to the lookers on. 



The enemy wound slowly, in Indian file, down the 

 broken ground of the descent ; but when the plain was 

 reached, they formed into something like a line, and 

 trotted fearlessly towards the Californians. These began 

 to sit uneasily in their saddles ; nevertheless they made 

 a forward movement, and even broke into a gallop, but 

 soon halted, and again huddled together. Then the moun- 

 taineers quickened their pace, and their loud shout was 

 heard as they dashed into the middle of the faltering 

 troop. The sharp cracks of the rifles followed, and the 

 duller reports of the smooth-bored pieces of the Califor- 

 nians ; a cloud of smoke and dust arose from the plain, 

 and immediately half-a-dozen horses, with empty saddles, 

 broke from it, followed quickly by the Californians, flying 

 like mad across the level. The little steady line of the 

 mountaineers advanced, and puffs of smoke arose as they 

 loaded and discharged their rifles at the flying horsemen. 

 As the Americans came on, however, one was seen to totter 

 in his saddle, the rifle fell from his grasp, and he tumbled 

 headlong to the ground. For an instant his companions 

 surrounded the fallen man, but again forming, dashed 

 towards the Mission, shouting fierce war-whoops, and bran- 

 dishing aloft their long and heavy rifles. Of the defeated 

 Californians some jumped off their horses at the door of 

 the Mission, and sought shelter within ; others galloped off 

 towards the sierra in panic-stricken plight. Before the 

 gate, however, still paced valiantly the proud hidalgo, 

 encumbered with his cloak, and waving with difficulty his 

 sword above his head. To the priest and women, who 



