"My lord, I thank you. The way over the road was barred by the party
that had seized the pass."

"And how came you?"

"Straight over the mountain, sir."

"What! The Indian trail? The English way?"

"The same."

"What next?"

"At ten to-night, the sailor who released me will open the city gate,
the west gate, beneath the shadow of the cliffs--we must be there!"

"But how? Can we take the pass? It is strongly held, you say."

"My lord, give me fifty brave men who will volunteer to follow me. I
will lead them back over the trail and we will get to the rear of the
men holding the pass. Do you make a feint at engaging them in force in
front and when their attention is distracted elsewhere we will fall on
and drive them into your arms. By this means we open the way. Then we
will post down the mountains with speed and may arrive in time. Nay, we
must arrive in time! Hornigold, the sailor, would guarantee nothing
beyond to-night. The buccaneers are drunk with liquor; tired out with
slaughter. They will suspect nothing. We can master the whole three
hundred and fifty of them with five score men."

"Alvarado," cried the Viceroy, "thou hast done well. I thank thee. Let
us but rescue my daughter and defeat these buccaneers and thou mayest
ask anything at my hands--saving one thing. Gentlemen and soldiers, you
have heard the plan of the young captain. Who will volunteer to go over
the mountains with him?"

Brandishing their swords and shouting with loud acclaim the great body
of troopers pressed forward to the service. Alvarado, who knew them all,
rapidly selected the requisite number, and they fell in advance of the
others. Over them the young captain placed his friend de Tobar as his
second in command.

"'Tis bravely done!" cried the Viceroy. "Now prick forward to the city,
all. We'll refresh ourselves in view of the arduous work before us and
then make our further dispositions."

The streets of Caracas were soon full of armed men preparing for their
venture. As soon as the plight of La Guayra and the Viceroy's daughter
became known there was scarcely a civilian, even, who did not offer
himself for the rescue. The Viceroy, however, would take only mounted
men, and of these only tried soldiers. Alvarado, whom excitement and
emotion kept from realizing his fatigue, was provided with fresh
apparel, after which he requested a private audience for a moment or two
with the Viceroy, and together they repaired to the little