s
troops to prostrate themselves in prayer; and then a psalm was sung by
all in chorus, to consecrate the important victory they had gained.

Don Rafael was still not so distant from the field but that he could
hear the swelling of many voices in the pious chaunt. The sounds fell
with melancholy effect upon his ears, until the tears began to chase
themselves over his cheeks.

In reviewing the circumstances which had influenced him to change his
line of conduct in regard to this revolution, he reflected that had he
given way to more generous instincts, and not allowed himself to be
forced astray by the desire of fulfilling a rash vow, his voice would at
that moment have been mingling with theirs--one of the loudest in giving
thanks for the success of a cause of which he was now the irreconcilable
enemy!

With an effort he repulsed these reflections, and sternly resolved upon
going to the hacienda Del Valle, to re-steel his heart over the tomb of
his father.

A perilous journey it would be for him. The whole province--the capital
and one or two other places excepted--was now in the hands of the
insurgents; and a royalist officer could not travel the roads without
great risk of falling into their hands.

"God protects him who does his duty," muttered Don Rafael, as he again
turned his horse to the roads, spurring him into a gallop, in order that
the sound of his hoofs might drown that pious song, which, by stirring
up sad souvenirs, was fast weakening his resolution.

In another hour he had crossed the Sierra which bounded the plain of
Huajapam, and was following the road which led southward to the hacienda
Del Valle.

CHAPTER FIFTY TWO.

RUDE GUESTS.

Let us now recount the events which took place at the hacienda Las
Palmas from the day on which Captain Tres-Villas was compelled to leave
Don Mariano and his two daughters at the mercy of the ferocious robbers
Arroyo and Bocardo.

The two guerilleros had sought refuge there, with the remnant of their
band--most of which had been already destroyed by Tres-Villas and
Caldelas. From the moment of first entering his house, they had
insisted upon a footing of perfect equality between themselves and their
old master. Even Gertrudis and Marianita were not exempted from this
compulsory social levelling. The brigands ate at the same table with
Don Mariano and his daughters--were waited upon by the servants of the
hacienda--and slept in the very best beds the h