Part 4 (1/2)

They begged for ave the uard of Pierola's scoundrels

After purchasing ars, I followed the main body of troops with ed with General Pierola Our destination was Torato, thirty miles from Moquequa The road led over passes and wound around e I could see the army on the march, with General Pierola and a priest by his side in the lead The priest was there to inspire courage in those who ht waver The army numbered six hundred infantry and two hundred cavalry, many of who at Torato, I secured quarters for eneral A ay festivities every night, lasting so, the officers seldo the to annihilate the govern had been done, but the natural surroundings were sufficient to prevent a prudent attack One day the news ca and then some little as done to prepare for battle

The day before the battle, I told General Pierola I had no objections to following hi a non-coiving him my word of honor that I would not avethe freedoovern to and fro with no discipline

The priest accomplished more by his cross than all the officers There was a babel of voices All were trying to give co was heard, the outpost had becoed at last

IX

AMID THE DIN OF BATTLE

The an to move to the front, headed by General Pierola and the priestto the most unearthly music I ever heard Women were conspicuous and cheered as the men marched past ”Viva Pierola!” was heard on all sides

Then came an order to double quick The outposts were driven in a short distance, and the enemy was in a valley, surrounded on both sides by a chain of hills with a huge overnment troops, I was satisfied they would be defeated and the battle becoiments of infantry and one of cavalry in the valley Pierola stationed his troops on each side of the pass and in front, reserving his cavalry In a short tied the insurgents by displaying the cross He was a courageous felloays to be found in places of danger Ion The governain they would renew the atte as the insurgents held their position

There was a strange happening just when success seeent cavalry had taken no part up to this tied The insurgents along the pass were running short of ammunition An order was sent to the captain of the cavalry to send a co up supplies There was a brief cessation of hostilities I could plainly see the govern their dead and wounded to the rear, but still holding their position When another charge was eneral Suddenly arose the cry, ”They co the sides of the pass ceased, and I looked in aents were throwing away their ar There was a cloud of dust in the direction of Torato, and I could easily distinguish a company of cavalry, which I kneas the coents saw theetting to their rear The panic became a rout In vain did Pierola plead, as he threw himself in front of his deh, threatening and pleading, but no persuasion could stop those runaway cowards The governan to scale the heights Still, if the cavalry which had done no fighting, could have been led to the side of the pass, the day would still have been with Pierola, and probably the stampede would have been checked But unfortunately for the would-be president, there was no one in coency

I beca a cutlass fro soldier, threw myself in front of a column in a vain endeavor to stop them, but they ran over ht and deprived theovern into cohts and the day was lost

I saw General Pierola shake hands with the priest and leave the field

The priest round was streith arms; even the discordant musical instruments were discarded

Thus an arh the streets of Torato, cheered by fair wo ”Viva Pierola,” had won a battle by natural surroundings and lost it by their cowardice I, too, thought it was ti since disappeared I rode to Torato

Along the way I overtook straggling bands of insurgents going into town to hide, while others were scaling the tallest mountains I went to my quarters, and soon the toas surrounded

The next ents were captured The others were hid in soovernment troops was ents was in the overnment troops to infor a prisoner, and asked et the railway in operation to convey his troops and prisoners

I was glad no other questions were put to eneral for reat kindness in Torato, and as not in syreed to exempt him from the payment of money levied on nearly all the inhabitants

[Illustration: THE EARTH BEGAN TO ROCK AND REEL (Page 33)]

Soon after this a troop shi+p arrived in Ilo to convey prisoners and escort to Linized , ”Don Juan, please try and help us,”

but of course I was powerless to do anything for thelad when they were aboard the transport for I feltBut I knew they would not suffer long Another revolution would set the order and everything progressing s at breakfast I was inforain This time his party had, by means unknown, captured the Peruvian ironclad ram, Huascar He must have been aided by the officers, or at least one of them who declared in his favor Howbeit, he had possession The Peruvian fleet was sent in pursuit, but as the Huascar was the ive her up

The fortunes of Pierola were brighter now than ever He could, with the exception of Callao, have entire co the coast But unfortunately for hian to stop the British h seas, his object being to intercept overnment dispatched H M S Amythist and the Shah to co the coast for a month