AFFAIR OF THE GAP. 266 



face, with a current of swift and deep water, while a steep bank upon the 

 other side showed the enemy at its very verge. Nothing daunted we 

 phinged in, and, almost as soon, gained the opposite shore. Ascending the 

 bank we attracted the notice of the sentinels, and received the challenge : 

 " Quienes veniren ?" — who comes ? 

 " Que dijo ?" — what do you say ? 

 " Quienes veniren, carraho ?" 



At this a rush was made upon the challengers, who were almost instantly 

 disarmed, and our whole party, leaping into camp, gave to the enemy the 

 first intimation of its presence. 



" Munchos Tajanos ! " — exclaimed one, as the astonished Mexicans 

 snatched their arms. 



" Si, munchos Tajanos. — Quieron los scoupetas !" — was the reply, as 

 we sprang to prevent them. 



Here a smart struggle ensued, which resulted in the defeat of the enemy 

 with a loss of five killed, four wounded, and eighteen prisoners, — the re- 

 mainder having escaped despite our efforts to prevent it, — but all the camp 

 equipage fell into our hands, with seventy-two head of horses and mules. 

 Among the arms taken were two or three pieces that had belonged to the 

 Texan Santa Fe expedition of the fall of '41. 



A council was now held to decide upon the expediency of proceeding 

 immediately to the neighboring town. A majority at first were favorable 

 to the proposition ; — but some objected, and urged the imprudence of weak- 

 ening our force by a division, as we should either be necessitated to do, in 

 that event, or relinquish the advantages already gained, — and, further, the 

 enemy, being aware of our approach, was doubtless prepared to oppose a 

 dangerous resistance, such as would be attended with great risk of life on 

 our part, without securing any possible benefit in its result. The latter 

 reasons influenced the decision, and orders were accordingly given to with- 

 draw from the scene of action. 



In the interim the wounded had been carefully attended to, and, as we 

 were about to leave, the prisoners were all set at liberty, with these words : 

 " You are now free. Bury your dead, and remember in future how vain 

 it is to resist the arms of Texas. Tell Amijo, your General, the Texans 

 are men. and not wild beasts. They never kill an unresisting enemy, — 

 they never kill a prisoner of war. He has done both, — but let him beware 

 how he does it again, for the lives of ten Mexicans shall be the forfeit for 

 each offence." 



All things being arranged for a retrograde movement, we were promptly 

 under way upon our return march to the Cimarone. The route led within 

 ten or twelve miles of the Waggon Mound, at which point a large 

 number of dark-looking objects appeared, but so indistinctly we were una- 

 ble to determine their nature ; — these, as we subsequently learned, were a 

 body of Mexican troops, numbering seven hundred and fifty men. 



Continuing our course, about noon we made camp at a gap in the moun- 

 tain ridge, facing from the west the head branches of the Colorado. 



The sentinels were cautiously posted, two upon the summit in the rear, 

 and two with the horses in front, and express orders given to them not to 

 leave their stations until relieved, and to give immediate notice of the ap- 

 pearance of any suspicious object. The remainder of tlie party were soon 



