The vision was hailed with the blare of trumpets and shouts of "victory!"
and the buccaneers encamped on the spot, resolved to attack the city the
next day.
The Spaniards, meanwhile, were not at rest. A troop of fifty horsemen was
sent to reconnoitre, and a second detachment occupied the passes, to
prevent the escape of the enemy in case of defeat. But the freebooters
were not disturbed in their camp, and were allowed a quiet night's rest
after their abundant meal of raw flesh.
The next day Morgan led his men against the city, skilfully avoiding the
main road, which was defended by batteries, and passing through a thick
and pathless wood. Two hours of this flanking march brought them in sight
of the Spanish forces, which were very numerous, consisting of four
regiments of the line and nearly three thousand other soldiers. They had
with them also a great herd of wild bulls under the charge of Indians and
negroes, from which much was hoped in the assault.
Morgan and his men were much discouraged by the multitude and military
array of their foes, but nothing remained for them but a desperate fight,
and, with two hundred of their best marksmen in front, they descended to
the broad plain on which the Spaniards awaited them.
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