496 SPANISH AMERICA. 



above the other soldiers, and called them- 

 selves English, and swore in English by way 

 of keeping up their title. On a march be- 

 ing ordered, all the sick who possibly could 

 turned out of hospital : one old soldier, of 

 the name of Slattery, having been with diffi- 

 culty got over the Paramo near to Pitayo, 

 remained two days and nights without tast- 

 ing any food, or doing any duty ; but hear- 

 ing some firing, he asked what it was, and 

 being informed that it was the enemy driv- 

 ing in the out-post, and about to attack the 

 army, he jumped on his legs from the corner 

 of a hovel, in which he was lying, exclaim- 

 ing. Then Slattery is well," — formed with 

 his company, and in a short time brought 

 his prisoner in one hand, and his musquet 

 and two doubloons in the other. 



It must be added, to the honour of the pa- 

 triots, that an officer of this battalion, who 

 was taken prisoner at Guachi, and conduct- 

 ed to Quito, wounded, and afflicted with 



