restored their confidence, and secured the victory By a new and desperate charge, the enemy were completely routed.
After eight years of almost constant warfare, the Dutch were driven from that vast territory, which now forms the empire of Brazil. Of all those rich possessions, which they had expended millions to conquer, by land and by sea, and which their avarice and cruelty had too long desolated, nothing finally remained, but one large, and apparently impregnable fortress, Called Cinco Pontas, near Pernambuco. It commanded the whole city and neighborhood, and was well provisioned, and garrisoned bv an army of five thousand men. Many useless attempts were made to get possession of this important post. It was defended by high and massive walls, and by deep and wide ditches, containing twelve feet of water; and provisions being constantly supplied from Dutch ships, there was no hope of reducing it by famine. Every fresh attack upon it was immediately punished by pouring its powerful batteries on the city and surrounding country. While the enemy possessed this strong hold, the Brazilians were subject to continual irritation and alarm, and could never regard their dear-bought independence as secure.
Here was a subject fit to employ the bold genius and unwearied energy of Henry Diaz!
He sent an officer to the Commander-in-chief, requesting an audience, that he might communicate a plan for taking the Cinco Pontas. The General readily granted this request; but with a still smaller hope of any favorable result, than he had entertained, when the slave first
proposed his recruiting scheme. Diaz detailed his plan with characteristic earnestness. The superior officers listened respectfully; for his well-earned reputation effectually protected the speaker from open derision. The result of the conference was, that the General declined adopting the measures proposed, but had no objection that Diaz himself should carry them into effect, with the troops under his command. "Then," replied the brave Colonel, "to-morrow at sunrise, you shall see the Portuguese flaw wave on the tower of Cinco Pontas!"
