LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 175 



the convent were earnestly directed, as here the enemy was first 

 expected to make his 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 thou- 

 sand invaders. On the summit of the ridge they halted a few 

 minutes, as if to reconnoiter ; and by this time the Californian 

 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 operations 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 toward the Califonii- 

 ans. 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 mountaineers 

 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 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 horse- 

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

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

 long to the ground. For an instant his companions surrounded 

 the fallen man, but again forming, dashed toward the Mission, 

 shouting fierce war-whoops, and brandishing 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 toward the sierra in panic-striken flight. Be- 

 fore 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 implored him 



