They were now reduced to only ten men, and their appearance
was melancholy and dejected. They felt that they were doomed never more
to return to their own home.
We gathered from our scouts opposite that the six warriors of the post
had returned from the settlement, and lay somewhere in ambush; this
decided us. Descending by the ladders which the Indians had left behind
them, we entered the prairie path, so as to bar their retreat in every
direction.
Let me wind up this tale of slaughter. The Umbiquas fell headlong on the
ambush, by which four more of them were killed; the remainder dispersed
in the prairie, where they tried in vain to obtain a momentary refuge in
the chasms. Before mid-day they were all destroyed, except one, who
escaped by crossing the river. However, he never saw his home again;
for, a long time afterwards, the Umbiquas declared that not one ever
returned from that fatal horse-stealing expedition.
Thus ended my first fight; and yet I had not myself drawn a single
trigger. Many a time I took a certain aim; but my heart beat quick, and
I felt queer at the idea of taking the life of a man. This did not
prevent me from being highly complimented; henceforward Owato Wanisha
was a warrior.
The next day I left the boat-house with my own party, I mean the seven
of us who had come from Monterey.
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