登陆注册
19624400000022

第22章 X

The small Californian force--it numbered little over two hundred men-- was under the command of Juan Pardo Mesa, a captain notable for his victorious encounters with Indians and for his knowledge of their cunning. He was on the alert at dawn next morning, and long before the sun had spurned the tops of the Coast range, his assumption of meditated treachery was confirmed. A rising wind had set the young redwoods in motion. Before long the practised eye of Captain Mesa saw an increased agitation among the feathery branches, his ear caught a slight crackling. His men were flat on the ground. He stood in the shadow of a large oak. A moment later a dusky form crept out to where the brush grew more sparsely, hesitated a moment, and apparently passed back word that all was well; he was immediately followed by many of his kind; and the lower slope of the mountain, burnt bare by fire, seemed suddenly swarming with huge black rats.

Mesa waited until they were well away from cover, then gave the expected order: two hundred muskets, carbines, and flintlock pistols were discharged, and one piece of artillery.

But Anastacio, no mean general himself, was also on the alert for the unexpected. In a few moments he had marshalled his forces in the form of a hollow square, and ordered them to discharge their arrows from a recumbent position. Owing to the heavy shadows, the aim of the Californians had been uncertain, and only a few of the Indians had fallen. Roldan and Adan were safe behind two large redwoods just above the Indian army.

The firing continued steadily all the morning, but resulted in few mortal wounds. There was not a poisoned arrow in the pueblo. The balls did more serious damage, and several Indians rolled groaning down the slope. The rest were undaunted. They were more than two to one, and had implicit faith in their chief's assurance that they were bound to rout the Spaniard.

Under cover of the cloud of smoke his weapons had raised despite a strong wind, Mesa executed two flank movements, justifying the tactics of Anastacio: he detached forty men from the main body and directed them to attack the Indians on both sides and to cut off their retreat to the forest. They were almost upon the north and south ends of Anastacio's square--after making a detour and advancing from a distance--when the boys shouted a warning. In a moment arrows were flying to right and left; and the answering volley was far more deadly than the effects of firing up hill. The Indians stood their ground, fitting their arrows with swift dexterity, encouraged by Anastacio, who glided from point to point like a hungry cobra, discharging two arrows to every man's one.

His only hope was to keep the Californians at long range until losses compelled the latter to retreat: at close quarters arrows would be no match for firearms.

The battle began at five in the morning. It was at four in the afternoon that Roldan passed his hand across his burning eyeballs, then gripped Adan's arm and said through his teeth,--

"Anastacio is hit. I saw him shake from head to foot."

"Madre de dios! Shall we run?"

"Not yet. My brain is on fire. War is awful, and yet I burn to have a pistol in my hands. I am sorry for Anastacio--but Dios de mi alma!--to see a brave Spanish officer bite the dust with the arrow of a dog in his brain! Ay, he moves! He is not dead."

"His hand is as steady--but--do you notice?--all are not firing."

"The arrows are giving out. There is only one end. But I must see it through. Mary! Mary! They are breaking."

The Indians, finding themselves almost without arrows, had sprung to their feet, intending to make a rush for cover; but Mesa had anticipated this move, and almost immediately his men had closed with the savages, knocking them on the head with the butt-end of their muskets, discharging their pistols at short range. The Indians. used both tooth and nail, yelling like wildcats. The cool imperturbability of the earlier part of the day had fled with their arrows. Anastacio fought like a tiger. Despite his wounded thigh he stood firmly on his feet, snatched the musket from a man his hands had throttled, and whirled it about his head, threatening death to all that approached. His face was swollen with passion, his eyes were starting from their sockets, his long hair tossed wildly. The boys watched him with cold extremities and hot cheeks and eyes. They were oblivious to the rest of the battlefield.

The fate of the indomitable chief, upon whose life the freedom of a race perhaps depended, would have riveted the attention of older and wiser brains. His movements were easy to follow; he was head above all and shoulders above many.

Suddenly the boys gave a gasp. The head of Anastacio was no longer to be seen above that surging throng. Had he been wounded in a vital part? A moment later they gave a hoarse gurgling cry and clung together, shaking like children in icy water. The head of Anastacio rose again--above the crowd, then higher,--higher,--until it looked down upon the squirming mass from six feet above. It was on the end of a pole.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 武斩星空

    武斩星空

    浩瀚宇宙,无垠星空,百万种族,千亿生命。一个平凡少年,一颗坚定之心,一步一个脚印,以武动乾坤,以武破九霄,以武炼巅峰,以武斩星空,终成永恒传奇。
  • 校园之语

    校园之语

    虽然我是新人,但是我会努力的把它写好的,希望大家喜欢~~!
  • 季雅淳的一生

    季雅淳的一生

    作者酷酷佘的第一部网络发表作品,不好看请多见谅
  • 穿越之腹黑王妃调戏冷酷王爷

    穿越之腹黑王妃调戏冷酷王爷

    她,是带领悦云阁日益强大的阁主。她,七岁习武,八岁琴棋书画样样精通,九岁已完成了小学到高中的知识,十岁继承了他父亲的位子。不得不说,她,是一位天才。却为情所困,被他利用。致死时,流下恨泪。一朝穿越,竟成为废材,还处处被人欺辱,“不行,我要报复回来”自认为做的很严密,却被他看到了“喂,你不要跟别人说,不然,我连你一起杀”“呵呵,可以,你欠我人情”邪魅的笑到。“好”一向不会答应别人的他,却答应了她。“呵,有点意思”看我们的腹黑少女如何捕获冷酷王爷的心。。。
  • 隐形官阶

    隐形官阶

    《隐形官阶》无疑是一部官场小说,但不是反腐小说,作者也没有在一惯用的上下级关系上浪费笔墨,而是将笔触伸向了同级别但存在差别的公务员之间,择取了他们各自为了自身发展而在仕途上顽强挣扎、相互倾轧、费尽心机的故事作为骨架,敷衍成文。读来让人啼笑皆非之余又怅然若失。
  • 守坟人

    守坟人

    世人皆以为,守坟即是看坟,可两者却截然不同的区别,守坟人非是有驱鬼降魔之大能者不能为之,而我,就是个守坟人。鬼有恶鬼,痴鬼,厉鬼,亦有善鬼,明辨是非之鬼。身而为鬼,是生的结束,也是生的开始。
  • 国士

    国士

    一次意外的穿越却成了婴儿,熟悉而又陌生的历史,看罗宇一步步成长,如何使用现代知识和古人斗智斗勇。
  • 无限生路

    无限生路

    无意中进入主神空间,所接的任务基本九死一生。在这里你不止要面对各种各样的怪物,还必须找出电影中的生路才能活着度过整部影片。危机与奇遇并存,所面临的的挑战越难,得到的回报自然越多。
  • 为了打游戏

    为了打游戏

    姜维刷爆信用卡买了最新款的苹果手表,带着苹果手表穿越了,在明末姜维了为了能过上后世的日子,为了打打游戏,为了看电影,努力发展。。。
  • 山川之英:四川省区域地质调查队五十年风云录

    山川之英:四川省区域地质调查队五十年风云录

    本书收入112篇纪实文章,分为开创时期、改革年代、新的世纪三部分,记录了不同历史背景下地质工作者的工作经历与情感。同时辑录了四川区地质调查人员创作的散文、诗歌、小说等20篇。