But Hernandez evidently was not of the stuff of which the distinguished military politicians and conspirators of Costaguana are made.

This clever but common device (which frequently works like a charm in putting down revolutions) failed with the chief of vulgar Salteadores.

It promised well for the Fiscal at first, but ended very badly for the squadron of lanceros posted (by the Fiscal's directions) in a fold of the ground into which Hernandez had promised to lead his unsuspecting followers They came, indeed, at the appointed time, but creeping on their hands and knees through the bush, and only let their presence be known by a general discharge of firearms, which emptied many saddles.

The troopers who escaped came riding very hard into Tonoro.

It is said that their commanding officer (who, being better mounted, rode far ahead of the rest) afterwards got into a state of despairing intoxication and beat the ambitious Fiscal severely with the flat of his sabre in the presence of his wife and daughters, for bringing this disgrace upon the National Army.