are, and he did not stop to
put questions to me. I was thankful when I got back to the courtyard,
where I found Paul Lobo standing by his mule. Both he and Mr Laffan,
and Lion too, were very glad to get some of the provisions I had
brought.

"And now, Paul," I said, "what information have you to give me?"

"Berry sorry to say, not good. I hear as I come 'long dat all de gates
are guarded, so dat no one can go out ob de city; dat de general gib
orders to take up eberybody in de place who can read and write, no
matter who dey are. They hab already got hold ob el senor Doctor
Cazalla, Senor Monteverde, and his daughter. General Calzada, him
pretty good man and not like to shoot people, so dey send dem all to
General Murillo at Bogota; and he, dey say, kill for de pleasure ob
killing. Depend 'pon it, dey come to look for senor doctor; so he mus'
hide away, and not show his face till de Patriots come back--and dat dey
do, I hope, 'fore long."

"This is indeed bad news; I will go back to my father and tell him what
you say, Paul," I answered. "But do you think it would be possible to
rescue Doctor Cazalla and the Monteverdes?"

Paul replied that they had already, from what he could learn, been sent
out of the city, and were on their way to Bogota.

I proposed to hasten immediately to the army and let Juan know, in the
hope that, by a forced march, he might be able to intercept the escort
and rescue the prisoners. But both Paul and Mr Laffan declared that it
would be impossible: that I could not obtain a horse, as the Spaniards
had taken possession of all those found in the city; and that if I could
get one, I should not be able to pass through the gates of the city.

We talked over the subject, but could think of no plan likely to
succeed. I was in despair. I felt, however, that I must immediately
return to my father and give him the information Paul had brought; he
would, perhaps, be able to devise some plan more likely to succeed than
any I could form. As it was certain that our house would be searched, I
advised Mr Laffan to try and gain some place of concealment where he
and Lion might remain, assuring him that Paul Lobo would find the means
of supplying them with food.

"No, no; I'll stop and defend the house to the last. The plundering
rascals will hesitate before they attempt to break-in," he answered.
"We have four muskets and three brace of pistols, and I shall be able to
give a good account of a