semen sprang
from their jaded steeds at the end of the road. In that wild race down
the mountains, Alvarado had ridden first with de Tobar ever by his side.
None had been able to pass these two. The Viceroy had fallen some
distance behind. For one reason, he was an old man, and the pace set by
the lovers was killing. For another and a better, as he had said, he
thought it desirable to stay somewhat in the rear to keep the men closed
up; but the pace even of the last and slowest had been a tremendous
one. Sparing neither themselves nor their horses, they had raced down
the perilous way. Some of them had gone over the cliffs to instant
destruction; others had been heavily thrown by the stumbling horses.
Some of the horses had given out under the awful gallop and had fallen
exhausted, but when the riders were unhurt they had joined the foot
soldiers marching after the troopers as fast they could.

Alvarado's soldierly instincts had caused him to halt where the road
opened upon the sand, for he and de Tobar and the two or three who kept
near them could do nothing alone. They were forced to wait until a
sufficient force had assembled to begin the attack. He would have been
there before the appointed time had it not been for this imperative
delay, which demonstrated his capacity more than almost anything else
could have done, for he was burning to rush to the rescue of Mercedes.

Indeed, he had been compelled to restrain by force the impetuous and
undisciplined de Tobar, who thought of nothing but the peril of the
woman he adored. There had been a fierce altercation between the two
young men before the latter could be persuaded that Alvarado was right.
Each moment, however, added to the number of the party. There was no
great distance between the first and last, and after a wait of perhaps
ten or fifteen minutes, some one hundred and fifty horsemen were
assembled. The Viceroy had not come up with the rest, but they were sure
he would be along presently, and Alvarado would wait no longer.

Bidding the men dismount lest they should be observed on horseback, and
stationing one to acquaint the Viceroy with his plans, he divided his
troop into three companies, he and de Tobar taking command of one and
choosing the nearest fort as their objective point. Captain Agramonte, a
veteran soldier, was directed to scour the town, and Lieutenant Nunez,
another trusted officer, was ordered to master the eastern fort on the
other side. They