if we go along at this rate. More haste,
less speed! A good soldier should feel his way, when an enemy is likely
to be in the neighbourhood."

We accordingly advanced more cautiously than we had done at first,
except when we could see our way for some distance ahead. Our road ran
not far from the residence of Senor Monteverde; and in regard to it our
worst apprehensions were fulfilled. The house had been burned to the
ground, the garden and the surrounding fields destroyed. I regretted
that I should have such sad intelligence to convey to Dona Dolores. A
glance was sufficient to show us what had been done, and as we galloped
on our anxiety increased lest Egido should have shared the same fate.

"We must be prepared for the worst," said Mr Laffan, as he pointed to a
column of smoke which ascended above the trees in the direction of
Egido.

In a few minutes we reached the spot where the house once stood entire;
its blackened walls alone remained, the interior filled with heaps of
still smouldering embers. The enemy had indeed made short work of it.
We found that the stables had escaped, but the horses had been carried
away, and not an animal of any description remained; nor could we see
any person moving about from whom to obtain information. We searched
the out-houses, which were not harmed, and the ruins, as far as the hot
embers would allow, but we could discover no traces of bodies.

"The inmates must have got away before the enemy arrived," I exclaimed.

"I truly hope so," answered Mr Laffan, but he did not look very
confident.

"If they escaped, they would take the road to the mountains," I
suggested. "Let us ride on in that direction; we may possibly meet with
some one who has seen them. I cannot bear to return to my father
without some more hopeful information than we possess."

The dominie not objecting, we rode on. However he very frequently stood
up in his stirrups to get a look round, fearing that we might be riding
into the lion's mouth.

We had gone some distance when we caught sight of a group of persons
collected on a slight elevation, from whence they could obtain a view
over the plain. When they first discovered us, they showed some
disposition to conceal themselves, but on observing that we were but two
persons of fair complexion their fears apparently vanished, and they
remained waiting our approach.

I immediately inquired whether they had seen any fugitives from the
Spaniards