"Where is the first battalion?"
Spreading his hands out dramatically, he said, "Haven't you heard? Don't you know what has happened at Torata and Moquegua?"
"I have heard nothing but some very dark rumours," I replied uneasily.
"They cannot be darker than the truth. The army has been destroyed, and the battalion with it."
"And the colonel?"
"Oh, he was in another district with the light company. But I'll tell you all about it. We had a wretched voyage, and arrived at Arica half dead. After that we sat down for three weeks doing nothing, when Alvarado, who was in chief command, sent the colonel north with the light company. A lucky thing for them, too!"
"Go on!" said I impatiently.
"Well, at last we moved, and marched as far as Torata. Do you know the place at all?"
"Oh yes; it's a few miles from Moquegua, isn't it?"
"That's it. Well, the Spaniards were at Torata, and we tried to turn them out, but failed. Then they attacked, and we were beaten. It was simply awful. The legion fought like a battalion of heroes. Every one praised us; but praise won't bring the dead to life. We broke two cavalry charges, and stood our ground till there wasn't a cartridge left."