and 15 Cimaroons], lay on one side of the way, about fifty paces off in
the long grass; JOHN OXNAM with the Captain of the Cimaroons, and the
other half, lay on the other side of the way, at the like distance: but
so far behind, that as occasion served, the former company might take
the foremost mules by the heads, and the hindmost because the mules tied
together, are always driven one after another; and especially that if we
should have need to use our weapons that night, we might be sure not to
endamage our fellows. We had not lain thus in ambush much above an hour,
but we heard the _Recuas_ coming both from the city to Venta Cruz, and
from Venta Cruz to the city, which hath a very common and great trade,
when the fleets are there. We heard them by reason they delight much to
have deep-sounding bells, which, in a still night, are heard very far
off.

Now though there were as great charge given as might be, that none of
our men should shew or stir themselves, but let all that came from Venta
Cruz to pass quietly; yea, their _Recuas_ also, because we knew that
they brought nothing but merchandise from thence: yet one of our men,
called ROBERT PIKE, haven drunken too much _aqua vitae_ without water,
forgot himself, and enticing a Cimaroon forth with him was gone hard
to the way, with intent to have shown his forwardness on the foremost
mules. And when a cavalier from Venta Cruz, well mounted, with his page
running at his stirrup, passed by, unadvisedly he rose up to see what he
was: but the Cimaroon of better discretion pulled him down, and lay
upon him, that he might not discover them any more. Yet by this, the
gentleman had taken notice by seeing one half all in white: for that we
had all put our shirts over our other apparel, that we might be sure to
know our own men in the pell mell in the night. By means of this
sight, the cavalier putting spurs to his horse, rode a false gallop; as
desirous not only himself to be free of this doubt which he imagined,