s face distinctly. He
has a fine noble countenance, with black moustaches. There is a band of
gold lace on his hat. The danger does not appear to alarm him. Ah! he
is a noble, handsome fellow."

"It is he!" cried Gertrudis, in a voice that could be heard high above
the _melee_ of sounds. "Yes--it is Don Rafael!" she repeated, springing
to her feet, as if with the intention of beholding him once more before
he should be engulfed in the flood of waters. "Where, sister? where?"
she continued, gliding towards the window; but before she had made three
steps across the chamber, her strength failed her, and she sank
half-fainting upon the floor.

"Mercy!" exclaimed Marianita, half stupified with terror. "Oh! _Jesus
Maria_! another bound of their horses, and they will be safe! _Valga me
Dios_! too late--too late! there are the waters. Oh! their wild roar!
hear how they beat against the walls. Mother of God! shield these brave
men! They hold one another by the hand! They bury their spurs in their
horses' flanks! They ride forward without fear! They advance upon the
frothing flood, as if they were charging upon an enemy! Virgin of
Paradise! one of them, the smaller, is actually chaunting a hymn!"

In effect, at that moment the voice of a man was heard above the rush of
the water, crying out in measured accents--

"_In manus tuas, Domine! commendo animam meam_!"

"Merciful Father!" cried Marianita, "I see them no more, the waters are
over them both!"

For a moment a death-like silence reigned in the apartment, broken only
by the groaning of the waters, and the shouts of those clustering upon
the _azotea_ without.

Gertrudis, prostrate amidst the tresses of her dishevelled hair, was no
longer able to give utterance to a word even in prayer.

The voice of Marianita once more aroused her.

"Now I see them again," continued she, "but no, only one! There is only
one of them in the saddle. It is the taller one--he with the moustache.
The other is gone. No! I see him, but he is dismounted, and borne off
upon the flood. There! the other has seized hold of him! he raises him
up, and draws him across his horse. What a powerful arm the brave man
must have--he lifts the other like a child! The horse too appears
strong as his master. How gallantly he breasts the flood with both men
upon his back! What a strange sound comes from his nostrils! Now they
are heading for the walls. _Santissima Virgen_! will you