By this time Santiago had re-formed his squadron, and was dashing at our rear, when from the rocks above us sprang a line of fire, and his horsemen, wheeling round, rapidly withdrew. While we had been fighting, General Miller had rallied the beaten battalions and posted them in a commanding position to cover our ride through the pass. That night in bivouac we counted Santiago's venture had cost us more than two hundred men, all the spare horses, and a quantity of stores. "I hope you are proud of your Royalist friend," said Alzura to me. "He has done us a nice bit of mischief." "He's a smart soldier." "He is that," agreed Plaza, "and a splendid swordsman. I had a good bout with him, but could not pass his guard, though he was defending himself against three of us." "Did any one see the major after he fell?" I interrupted. "No," said Alzura; "but I feel sure he is dead, as the bullet passed through his forehead. He was a grim old fighter, and I'm sorry he's gone." "So am I. But he died a soldier's death, poor old chap," said Cordova. "We must have lost heavily since the retreat began. I wonder what Sucre intends doing now." "Why, continuing the retreat." "To Lima? If so, he won't have a hundred men left by the time he reaches the capital." "Well, what can he do? We can't stay here and starve, and he can't make the Royalists fight." "As to starving," laughed Alzura, "I would as soon starve here as elsewhere. I'm getting used to it." "And I don't know," remarked Cordova, "that forcing a fight will be so very brilliant for us. We have had one sample to-day." "Oh, go to sleep! You might be a raven as far as croaking's concerned. One would think we were in a hole and couldn't get out. Trust to Sucre and Miller; they'll pull us through all right." "I'm going to sleep," announced Alzura gravely. "I had a beautiful dream last night, and want to go on where reveille interrupted it. I dreamed we were in Lima, at a banquet given by the city to the Patriot officers. There was a band to play during the feast; the hall was brilliantly lit; the table was laden with all kinds of good things. We were just beginning when the band struck up, and I woke to hear Crawford saying, 'Are you going to sleep all day?' It was a splendid feast, though. Such a quantity of--" "Sit on him, Juan! stifle him with his own poncho! Fancy talking of banquets now! Cruelty to animals I call it." "Why, I thought you'd be delighted," grumbled Alzura. In a very short time we were all asleep. We rose at dawn, hungry and shivering, to resume our journey. On this day the enemy marched parallel with us, but on the other side of a deep gorge, and General Sucre tried in vain to draw them into an engagement. Their leader was too crafty. Why need he sacrifice his men?