Gabriel, Roche, and my old servant, with two or three clever young Californians, I kept about me, as aides-de-camp.

We advanced to the pass, and found the enemy encamped on the plain below.
We made our dispositions; our artillery was well posted behind breastworks, in almost an impregnable position, a few miles below the pass, where we had already defeated the governor of Senora.

We found ourselves in presence of an enemy inferior in number, but well disciplined, and the owners of four field-pieces heavier than ours.

They amounted to about 950, 300 of which were cavalry, and the remainder light infantry, with a small company of artillery.
Of course, in our hilly position our cavalry could be of no use, and as to attacking them in the plain, it was too dangerous to attempt it, as we had but 600 rifles to oppose to their superior armament and military discipline.

Had it been in a wood, where the Indians could have been under cover of trees, we would have given the war-whoop, and destroyed them without allowing them time to look about them; but as it was, having dismounted the Apaches, and feeling pretty certain of the natural strength of our position, we determined to remain quiet till a false movement or a hasty attack from the enemy should give us the opportunity of crushing them at a blow.
I was playing now for high stakes, and the exuberancy of spirit which had formerly accompanied my actions had deserted me, and I was left a prey to care, and, I must confess, to suspicion; but it was too late to retrace my steps, and, moreover, I was too proud not to finish what I had begun, even if it should be at the expense of my life.