rds, and
hurried off to prepare the garrison troops for sallying out of the fort
to the rescue of their Colonel; while the corporal of the guards
conducted Gaspar and Zapote to the prison--the latter no little
disconcerted at finding his first act of virtue so indifferently
rewarded!

CHAPTER SEVENTY.

NEWS SWEET AND SAD.

From the middle of the cane-brake where Don Rafael had found shelter, he
was able through the stems of the bamboos to see the camp of Arroyo and
his bandits. He could note many of the movements passing within their
lines; and at length perceived the guerilleros striking their tents, and
riding off in a body from the banks of the river.

He still kept his place, however, until the night had fairly come on,
and then wading back to the high bank where the bamboo thicket
commenced, he looked out upon the open space between the river and the
edge of the forest.

At first, all was silent along the bank of the stream; but shortly after
three horsemen were seen riding past, and not far behind them two other
men followed, also on horseback.

The first party were Don Cornelio and his companions, making for the
ford of the river. The other horsemen were two of Arroyo's _guerilla_--
who, by his orders, had remained near the hacienda Del Valle, for the
purpose of taking down the heads of his three followers nailed over the
gate--should an opportunity offer for their so doing. They had found
the opportunity--as already known--and it was they who had passed Don
Cornelio at the ford, and whose ambiguous speech had caused a difference
of opinion, as to its meaning, between the Captain and Clara.

The first care of Don Rafael, as soon as he believed the road to be
clear, was to recover his horse--which he had left tied in a thicket in
the woods.

Like his master, Roncador had escaped the researches of the bandits; but
so weak was he with thirst and hunger, that Don Rafael had doubts
whether the poor animal would be able to carry him. It was necessary
that he should take the horse to the river, in order to water him. This
required to be done by stealth; for, although Don Rafael had witnessed
the departure of the guerilleros from the ford, he did not know whether
those who blockaded the hacienda had also gone away.

After giving Roncador his drink, just as he was leading the horse up the
bank again, he perceived a man coming from the direction of the ford.
As this man was on foot and alone, Don Rafae