"Humph!" said Gamarra testily; "much you know about it. In half an hour you'll wish we had camped on the top of a mountain." "Why?" I asked curiously, for the valley seemed to me a very suitable camping-ground. "Wait!" growled the crusty old major; "you'll soon know." This sounded very mysterious, but in a short time the secret was out. We had just settled ourselves comfortably when Alzura started up, and some one said, in a tone of great disgust, "Mosquitoes!" They were very fine specimens, and, I suppose, exceedingly angry at our invasion of their territory. They came buzzing up in countless thousands, and though many were slain, the slaughter made no apparent difference in their numbers. I had put on my gloves, and now hastily covered my face with a handkerchief. The mosquitoes were by no means dismayed. Thirsting for blood, they would not be denied, but drank deeply. To any one mosquito-proof the scene would have been most laughable. We made a desperate fight, but the victory was to the mosquitoes. Our hands, necks, and faces were swollen from their venomous bites. Some of the men could hardly see; and though we were dreadfully fatigued, every one longed to hear the bugle-call to fall in. No one wanted to remain in what Plaza christened "Alzura's paradise." The welcome sound came at break of day, and we moved out quickly, abandoning the battlefield to our active and vigorous foes. As soon as we reached the open country the rain began to fall, and continued in torrents all that day and the following night. "I don't exactly see how much better off we are than Barriero," remarked Alzura, as we lay down to sleep in a muddy puddle. "You should have stayed with him, then." "It's all very well to say that now. Why did you bring me away?" I was too much staggered by the audacity of the question to make a suitable reply. Hungry, cold, and wet, we resumed the retreat, and soon began defiling into another valley. Our squadron was right in the rear, and suddenly the sounds of firing and the cries of startled men were heard in front of us. "Mount!" cried the colonel; for we were still leading our horses, and most of our mules were dead. "Forward! Trot!" "Some of the enemy have doubled and cut in on our flank!" said Plaza excitedly. "Gallop!" roared the colonel, as entering the valley we caught sight of what was going on. Unperceived by us, a Royalist detachment had stolen down the valley and flung itself on the flank of our two rear battalions. Taken by surprise, and outnumbered, our men were speedily overpowered, and before we had arrived on the scene they had dispersed in all directions.