carried away.

Taking a whip in my hand, I went out by a side door when no one was
near, and then walked along with as jaunty an air as I could assume. A
number of people of the lower orders were moving about, but none of the
citizens who had escaped were anywhere to be seen. There were also
soldiers with parties of slaves or Indians, whom they were compelling to
carry off the dead bodies in order that they might be buried outside the
town. Foraging-parties had also been sent out, and were now returning,
driving in the peasantry with provisions, for the general had given
orders to establish a market in the place. The crowd was an advantage,
as I was able to make my way without being noticed.

I hurried on, and soon reached our own house, which appeared not to have
been entered. All the doors and windows were fast closed, though I saw
that they had been struck by several musket-balls. Going round to the
courtyard, I climbed over the gate, a feat I had performed often before.
I knocked gently, when a bark from within assured me that Lion was
acting as guardian of the house.

"Who's there?" asked a voice which I recognised as that of Mr Laffan.

"Duncan," I replied; and presently I heard the bolts withdrawn. Mr
Laffan started back, for he did not recognise me; but Lion, rushing past
him, began to leap up and lick my face and hands.

"For the moment I didn't know you, Duncan," said Mr Laffan. "Thankful
I am that you have escaped; for I have been in a mighty fright about you
and your father since the Spaniards entered the place. Come in, come
in, and tell me all about it." I then went in, and he again closed and
bolted the door.

"We have been equally anxious about you," I replied; "how did you
escape?"

"By bolting all the doors so that the villains could not break them open
without a battering-ram, then hanging a British flag out of the window
and shouting, `Vive el Roy! If any one comes in here, he will bring
down the vengeance of England on his head.' I don't know which had the
most effect, the flag, the loyal shout, or the threat of vengeance, but
one party after another of the rascals turned away; so, you see, if you
and your father had been here you would have escaped. Poor Lion and I,
however, have been somewhat on short commons. I shared what I could
find in the house with the faithful brute, as was but fair."

"I suspected that such might be the case," I said, producing what I had
brought in