ather! Perhaps still worse--
Santisima Virgen! may it not be!"

Here Catalina hastily communicated the fact of Vicenza's intimacy with
the soldier Jose, as well as other circumstances relating to the girl,
and urged upon her lover the necessity of instant departure.

"I shall go then," said he. "Not that I much fear them; it is too dark
for their carbines, and their sabres will never reach me, while my brave
steed stands yonder ready to obey my call. But it is better for me to
go. There may be something in it. I cannot explain curiosity that
attempts so much as this girl. I shall go at once then."

And so Carlos had resolved. But much remained to be said: fresh vows of
love to be pronounced; an hour to be fixed for a future meeting--perhaps
the last before taking the final step--their flight across the great
plains.

More than once had Carlos placed his foot upon the bridge, and more than
once had he returned to have another sweet word--another parting kiss.

The final "adios" had at length been exchanged; the lovers had parted
from each other; Catalina had turned towards the house; and Carlos was
advancing to the bridge with the intention of crossing, when a growl
from Cibolo caused him to halt and listen.

Again the dog growled, this time more fiercely, following with a series
of earnest barks, that told his master some danger was nigh.

The first thought of the latter was to rush across the bridge, and make
towards his steed. Had he done so, he would have had time enough to
escape; but the desire to warn her, so that she might hasten to the
house, impelled him to turn back through the grove. She had already
reached the open parterre, and was crossing it, when the barking of the
dog caused her to stop, and the moment after Carlos came up. But he had
not addressed a word to her before the trampling of horses sounded
outside the adobe walls of the garden--horsemen galloped down on both
sides, while the confused striking of hoofs showed that some were
halting outside, while others deployed around the enclosure. The
rattling of the timbers of the large bridge was heard almost at the same
instant; then the dog breaking into a fierce attack; and then, through
the stems of the trees, the dark forms of horsemen became visible upon
the opposite bank of the stream. The garden was surrounded!

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN.

Long after the lovers had entered the arbour the mestiza had remained in
her squatting at