had been enacted in the
house during its owner's brief absence, together with our fears as to
the fate which had befallen Dona Antonia.

The poor old fellow was at first most frightfully agitated, as of course
might reasonably have been expected; indeed in the first paroxysm of his
grief and rage I almost feared he would lose his senses altogether. But
Smellie's gentle firmness and sound reasoning soon brought him to a
calmer frame of mind, and then we instituted a thorough but fruitless
search of the house.

I then thought it time to mention the various little signs I had
observed on the garden-path; and we forthwith directed our steps to the
several spots, carefully examining the ground foot by foot, with the
result that we were soon enabled to arrive at something like a definite
conclusion. Our examination showed that at least half a dozen men had
visited the house probably not more than half an hour before our
arrival; that there had been a struggle, in which the unfortunate Pedro
had lost his life; and that Dona Antonia, and also in all probability
poor old Madre Dolores, who could nowhere be found, had been forcibly
carried off. Having come to this conclusion, we next patiently tracked
the footprints, which led us through the wood down to the head of the
creek referred to by Don Manuel, on the muddy banks of which we
distinctly traced not only the heavy footprints of the abductors, but
also the lighter ones of, presumably, Dona Antonia and her nurse, as
well as the mark of the boat's keel where she had been grounded. This
much determined, Don Manuel next led us to a spot from which he assured
us that Senor Madera's vessel could be seen; and there, sure enough, we
saw our old foe the _Black Venus_ snugly moored in the creek.

A council of war was at once held as to what should be our next
proceeding. It was manifestly impossible to attack the brig there and
then; our little force was wholly inadequate to the capture of the
vessel, and any attempt to do so would only have resulted in putting her
crew upon their guard. Don Manuel informed us that, from his knowledge
of the creek, he was certain there would not be a sufficient depth of
water over the sand-bar at its mouth to allow of the brig sailing before
high-water, which would be at about half-past six o'clock that evening;
but we were unanimously of opinion that, having secured his prey, Senor
Madera _would_ sail then. As to what might happen in the inte