three or four days, till he could hear from his chief what
he was to do; and of course, after the service he had rendered us, my
father allowed him to act as he thought fit. I have now to describe
some of the more eventful portions of my narrative.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

OUR HOUSE ATTACKED AND DEFENDED.

My readers must endeavour to remember the description I gave of the
situation of our house, at the commencement of my work. We were all
seated in the same room in which the fugitive Manco first appeared to
us. Our early dinner was just over; and though we did not indulge in
the Spanish custom of the _siesta_, it was a time that we generally
refrained from active exertion, and employed it in reading or some
sedentary occupation. I had just laid down my book, and was looking out
of the window down the valley, when on the lower country beyond, an
unusual glitter of something which seemed to be moving along the road
attracted my eye. I watched it attentively. Now the glittering object,
which appeared in a long thin line, rose, and now it fell, as it wound
its way over the uneven ground. At length I called my father's
attention to it. As soon as he saw it, his more practised eye knew what
it was.

"A body of troops!" he exclaimed. "They are marching in this direction,
and are probably bound across the mountain."

We all now engaged in watching the advance of the soldiers, on whose
bayonets the sun shining had first drawn my attention; and many were the
surmises as to the reason of their coming to our remote locality. On
they came, growing more and more distinct. First a dark mass appeared
below the shining steel; then we perceived that it was composed of human
beings, though still mingled together in a dense body. Next their
banners and several officers on horseback were seen; and soon we could
distinguish the hats and cross belts, and the colour of the uniform of
the advanced guard. They were marching as rapidly as the nature of the
ground would allow.

My father's military ardour was aroused at the sight. He seized his hat
and rushed out to a spot beyond the walls, whence he could command a
clear view both up and down the valley. I followed him, and we stood
together on the knoll watching the advancing troops. What was our
surprise, however, to find, that instead of proceeding along the road
over the mountains, the advanced guard began to mount the path leading
to the height on which our house stood!