ill serve us for beds. While, hark you, do you send
some one to show the way to the stables, that our beasts may be looked
after; they require food as much as we do."

"All shall be done you request, Senores; in the mean time, follow me,"
said Jose; and what was my dismay to see him lead the way to the large
empty room I have spoken of, close to which the Indian was concealed! I
dared not interfere, lest I might excite their suspicions; so I thought
it best to let Jose follow his own course. Having dragged in a table
from one of the other rooms, he placed a lighted candle on it, and then
hurried off to call up some of the other servants to help him, leaving
me alone with the officers. I was afraid of speaking to them, lest they
should ask me questions; so I made signs that the servant would quickly
return with what they required. I dared not even look towards the door
of the secret passage, to which every instant I expected to see some of
them go for the purpose of examining it. However, somewhat to my
relief, they seemed not to notice the door, but throwing themselves on
the ground, stretched out their limbs to rest themselves, while their
hound Demonio crouched down at their feet with his head between his
fore-paws, ready to spring up in a moment. I saw by the glare of his
half-closed eyes that he was all the time wide awake, and eager to
spring upon any one who might molest him or his masters.

My anxiety made me fancy that Jose was a long time absent, but he had
really been away only a few minutes, when he returned with another
servant, bringing a supply of bread and meat, and wine. Some chairs
were carried into the room; and the officers being joined by their
companions, they attacked the viands with a good will. Had Jose been in
the secret, he might have betrayed it, but his perfectly collected
manner gave no cause for suspicion.

"You do not chance to have seen or heard anything of an Indian, an
atrocious villain who has escaped from justice, and is supposed to have
taken the path by this up the mountains?" asked one of the officers.

O how my heart did beat as I heard this! Jose assured them with an air
of perfect disembarrassment that he knew nothing of any Indian fugitive.
His answers seemed to satisfy them. He next brought in some bundles of
straw and blankets to serve as bedding.

"There, Senores, I hope that you will make yourselves at home, and sleep
soundly after your supper," he observed,