"Where are you hurrying? Why don't you remain to guard the town? It is better that our horses should be taken than our wives and children." "Let me alone," replied I; "both shall be taken care of." I was now farther from the town than from the enemies, and seeing the plain filled with them as with a swarm of locusts, could scarce persuade myself that such a multitude could be kept in awe by two muskets. Nevertheless I hastily tied on my slippers that I might be disencumbered in running, if a precipitate retreat were necessary, and advanced towards the savages whom I saw Father Klein approaching; but they, terrified at the sight of the musket alone, took to immediate flight, carrying off with them a numerous drove of horses. Although the enemy was gone we did not think ourselves free from the danger of an attack, a cloud of dust causing us to suspect that a troop of savage horse was approaching within the woods. The armed Yaaukanigas stood for some time in form of battle, till at length we saw an Indian bringing back the remains of the horses which had escaped the hands of the plunderers. Quickly mounting these horses they all hastened, about sun-set, to a place some leagues distant, named Likinranala; for they knew that the Mocobios would pass that way, and therefore entertained great hopes of being able to chastise them, and to recover the horses. But they returned next day empty-handed, having been eluded by the craftiness of the enemy, who, forewarned by their spies, that our people were lying in ambuscade, avoided that situation, and swiftly fled with their booty through ways impeded with marshes and reeds, first disencumbering themselves of the saddles, and whatever else might retard their flight; which, as it could be made no use of, our people burnt. For my own part I had to lament the loss of some excellent horses, though consoled by the circumstance that this aggression had ended without slaughter on either side, though there is reason to doubt that all the Mocobios reached home without loss of blood, as weapons were cast at them in their approach to the estate by some Yaaukanigas who guarded the cattle, but with what success is not known. CHAPTER XXXIV. FRESH DISTURBANCES, CAUSED BOTH BY STRANGERS, AND BY THE INHABITANTS THEMSELVES.