We
marched loosely and blindly, and they came on us unawares. We had all but
reached the river's brink, so had the stream for a defence on one side, but
before we knew they had taken us on flank and rear."
"Many?"
"A matter of three score, fresh and well armed, against nine weary men
mortally short of powder. That marked the end of our madness and we became
again sober Christians. Most notable was Captain Bovill. 'We have seen what
we have seen,' he told us, as we cast up our defences under Spanish
bullets, 'and none shall wrest the secret from us. If God wills that we
perish, 'twill perish too. The odds are something heavier than I like, and
if the worst befall I trust every man to fling into the river what jewels
he carries sooner than let them become spoil of war. For if they see such
preciousness they will be fired to inquiry and may haply stumble on our
city. Such of us as live will some day return there. . . .'
I have said we had little powder, but for half a day we withstood the
assault, and time and again when the enemy leapt inside our lines we beat
him back.
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