ranks, notwithstanding his political
opinions.

On meeting the martial-looking bishop and his companions, I felt sure
that his departure foreboded no good to the Patriot cause. I bowed to
him as I passed, and he gave me a nod of recognition, although he was
well aware that I was not a member of his flock.

I at once rode on to Don Carlos Mosquera's house, to inform him of the
departure of the bishop, should he not be acquainted with it.

"Let him go," he answered. "He will do more harm to liberty inside the
town than he will do without; and we cannot imprison him. If he comes
as an enemy, a bullet may put a stop to his intrigues."

I frequently met Dona Dolores on the parade-ground, riding a handsome
horse, and attended by her father, Juan, and others. She on several
occasions addressed the men, especially the new recruits, and urged them
to be faithful to the noble cause in which they were engaged. She also
occupied herself in writing to Patriots in various parts of the country,
or to persons whom she hoped to win over.

While the citizens were working away in the town, scouts were sent out,
that we might have early notice of the approach of the enemy. Several
days elapsed, however, without any news of their approach, and this
afforded time for fortifying the city and increasing the number of its
defenders. So confident did the Patriots at length become, that it was
proposed to march out and encounter the enemy in the open country; but
wiser counsels prevailed. Our men were ill-disciplined, and we had no
field-artillery.

Upwards of a week had passed, when the scouts brought in the information
that the Spaniards were advancing. Still two or three days must elapse
before they could reach Popayan. The interval was spent in
strengthening the fortifications, and otherwise preparing for the
defence of the city. Provisions were brought in, and gunpowder and shot
manufactured, while the drilling of the men went on as energetically as
at first. White men, Indians, and blacks, all seemed to take a real
pleasure in their duties. The army was certainly a motley one, both in
costume and colour, composed as it was of men of every shade from white
to black--the dark, however, predominating; several of the officers were
black, and others had Indian blood in their veins, if they were not pure
Indians. Where all fight for liberty, however, the only qualifications
required for command are talent and courage. Not a