ance be mounted upon the back of a mule: we shall, no doubt, require
it to force open the gate."

"But, Senor Colonel, what do you want with the ropes?" inquired the
Lieutenant, with a significant smile.

"For the execution of these brigands. We shall hang them to the last
man, my dear Veraegui."

"Good!" assented the Catalan, in a joyous accent, "and this time by the
heels, I hope. I shall never forgive myself for my foolish
indulgence--"

"What! you have spared some of them?" interrupted Don Rafael.

"I have been too merciful to four whom I captured yesterday--in hanging
them by the necks. But, by the way, Colonel, now I think of it, two odd
fellows came in a while ago, who say that they wish to speak with you."

"I cannot receive them now," answered Don Rafael, little suspecting the
supreme happiness their message would have given him. "I shall see them
on my return. We have already wasted too much time, while the worthy
proprietor of San Carlos is no doubt counting the minutes in anguish. I
shall not even stay to change my dress; so haste, and get your men upon
horseback."

"Sound `Boots and saddles!'" cried the Lieutenant, hurrying into the
courtyard to give further orders; while Don Rafael, under the pretext of
being alone for a few minutes, walked out into the garden, and directed
his steps towards the spot where, two years before, he had deposited the
remains of his father in the tomb.

His spirit once more excited by the revelations made by the domestic of
Don Fernando, he felt he needed a moment of prayer to strengthen him for
this final effort for the punishment of his father's assassins. The
murder of his father had been for him a terrible blow, but, as time
passed, even this grief, by little and little, had become appeased.

Far different was it with that other passion--which neither time, nor
absence, nor the constant changing of scene, nor the duties of an active
campaign, had been able to eradicate from his bosom.

He now knew that Gertrudis reciprocated his ardent love--that she was
dying of it; and, in the midst of the mournful joy which this news had
produced, he could have forgotten that his father's death was not yet
avenged, as he had sworn it should be. One of the assassins was at no
great distance from him, and yet he could scarcely restrain himself from
yielding to the almost irresistible desire of galloping direct to
Oajaca, where he supposed Gertrudis to be, and then, flingi