“Were you aware,” inquired Mr. Welson, “that the vessels your artizans were fabricating were intended for the transformation of a beverage juice into a fiery distillation, that in product would reduce your friends to the condition of enemies to you, by the introduction of ‘civil’ discord into their own households?”
“The only information our people had upon the subject was derived from my father,” replied Cleorita, “who had often described the misery it had caused among your people. But his habits were abstemious, and his example prevented the full impression of the danger, for we did not forethink that others lacked his discretion, and would pervert actual blessings for their own destruction. Alas, we soon found that the track of our heedless labor was marked with the blight of provident affection. To controvert our own agency in the misery inflicted upon the families of our ever kind neighbors, the mayorong sent those abroad who mingled substances with the ashes beneath the vessels that in burning destroyed the metal. But the O’Grady had gained the means before this was effected, of obtaining others from Mendoza of larger size, after we had refused to supply his loss. These we also felt warranted in destroying, which aroused his suspicions and his third enterprise was carefully guarded. When its product exceeded the demand, he sent a still over to Pompolio and seized our fruit for its use, which caused our people to destroy it openly, expelling his aids. This provoked his bitter enmity, and he swore that he would exterminate our people root and branch.
“Two years passed without cause for alarm, when, with a morning’s dawn, we were aroused by the boom of a great gun and a loud crash in the midst of our houses. When rushing forth to learn the cause the gatekeeper gave the mayorong a letter written in Mendozean Spanish which I translated. The missive was a demand for the immediate surrender of the Douang, unconditionally. In the event of refusal, the lives of all the males were to be sacrificed. This was signed, ‘Patrick O’Grady, Commander-in- chief.’
“Of course, without hesitation, our people put on a bold face and sent him back a defiant answer. In less than an hour our gate became a mark for the cannon. This we had anticipated, and a second gate prepared for an emergency of the kind, was closed inside of the outer, the interspace being filled with faggots of osiers and tough mountain moss. So that our second gate was well protected, for they kept prudently out of reach of our spring-engines which were almost as effectual as their guns, but could not be directed as easily. But our people were sorely disheartened, for he had brought with him a large band of the guachos and Indians of the plains, who had often attempted similar enterprises. Finding, after many days, that their guns were breaking through our strong walls, our people determined to conceal in the mountain caves all that was held valuable, leaving in charge of a band of our young men the old and infirm, with our cattle; while the mayorong, with the majority of the able-bodied of both sexes, should set forth to seek a new home farther north. When all the arrangements were completed a passage was opened in the southern wall opposite and in concealment from the besiegers’ encampment, for the outgoing of our cattle, through the heap of litter that had accumulated from our stables overthrown from the wall. After our departure for the mountain strongholds, the way of escape was again closed and concealed as before. When everything was made ready for the departure of the mayorong’s party northward, they resolved upon another night attack upon their foes for intimidation, that they might not seek to molest the mountain party in reserve; but with such precautions as could be used to prevent the loss of life on our part. The success of our people, if it had been followed up, promised a complete rout, so great was the panic they caused, but it sufficed to render their guns useless, with the destruction of their munitions, and such other damage as we could accomplish without hazard to ourselves.