Breakfast was just over, and some of the men had already spread their blankets for sleep, when a fire of musketry was heard in the direction of the picket on the transit road. Then the picket of natives was seen retiring slowly and in excellent order, firing, as it fell back with coolness and entire regularity. The conduct of this picket, checking as it did momentarily, the advance of the whole body of the enemy, was admirable; and it gave the Falange time to get ready for the reception of the attack. The picket reached the main body without loss, and they had scarcely got to the first houses of the village before the enemy was seen in large numbers, pressing forward rapidly along the sides of the Transit, and to the right and left of the road, through the thick wood which skirts its edges. On the right of Virgin Bay, as you stand with your back to the Lake and your face toward the Pacific, is a rising ground, offering advantages to an enemy attacking the place; on the left, the ground is level, though somewhat interrupted by ditches, and covered with fences made of upright stakes, affording defence for a force within the village. Near the lake the ground falls at once to the beach by a steep declivity, thus forming a sort of bank for the protection of riflemen. The building of the Accessory Transit Company, a large wooden storehouse surrounded with palisades, stands on the edge of the village next the lake, and to the left of the road. A small, trifling wharf then ran a few yards from the end of the Transit into the lake; but it afforded little advantage either for embarking or disembarking. Thus the democratic force stood with its back to the lake, and in a few moments its front and flank were simultaneously threatened by the enemy. It thus became necessary to fight well or be cut to pieces; none, not even the natives under Valle, hoping or expecting any quarter at the hands of Guardiola. Walker’s first object was to prevent the enemy from gaining the high ground on his right flank, and for this purpose he placed some twenty of the Falange along the slope under cover of the weeds and bushes and of a few small huts scattered irregularly on that side of the village. This detachment advanced toward the enemy, creeping cautiously along, and firing only when it could do so to advantage. At first the Legitimists came on quite boldly; but when they got within thirty or forty yards of the Americans their hearts seemed to fail them. The defiant air of the Americans, shouting at the same time they fired with deadly accuracy, appeared to appal their assailants; and the officers of the Legitimists, marked by their black coats, and many being mounted, were seen freely using their riding whips and the backs of their swords in order to drive the soldiers to the use of the bayonet. But these efforts had little effect, and Walker seeing the enemy checked on the right, turned his attention to the other flank, which was being vigorously assailed.