he food and water offered to it. Thus, in the
course of a day a number of horses were captured; but they were all
young animals, and as yet scarcely fit for work.

Next came the operation of breaking them in, which occupied a much
longer time. In this, Juan and I took a part. Every man we had with us
was engaged from sunrise to sunset--or even later, when the moon shone
brightly--as it was of the greatest importance to have some well-trained
animals ready for service as soon as possible.

Fresh men continued to arrive, having made their way over the mountains
to avoid the Spaniards, bringing their saddles and bridles, arms and
accoutrements. Of course, they at once took part in catching and
training the horses. The young animals were most easily broken-in, but
they were less capable of enduring fatigue than the older horses.

We had been about a month thus engaged, when, as Juan and I were leaving
the farm for an afternoon's sport, as we called it, we caught sight of a
horseman--evidently, from his costume, not one of our own men--galloping
across the plain towards us. As he drew nearer, I thought I recognised
his bearing and figure.

"Hurrah!" I exclaimed; "I believe that's Mr Laffan."

"I hope so, indeed," answered Juan. "He will be a host in himself; and
I suspect he will be able to train a horse as well as the best of us."

Mounting our steeds, we galloped forward to meet him; and with unfeigned
pleasure I soon saw that it was no other than my former tutor.

"I am thankful to fall in with you again, my dear fellows," he
exclaimed. "I thought at one time that I should never have got here.
Mr Duffield told me where to find you, but those rascally Spaniards
nearly caught me. I escaped them, but I had to hide away for several
days until the coast was clear. However, here I am, and shall be mighty
glad of some food, for I'm desperately sharp-set."

We returned to the farm with Mr Laffan, where we gave him our usual
fare,--dried beef and plantains; for we were not living luxuriously.
Except some chica, we had no beverage stronger than coffee or cocoa to
offer him; but he declared that such provender would serve him as well
as any other.

As soon as the meal was over, Mr Laffan begged to have a fresh horse,
and insisted on accompanying us. "I have had a little experience in
this sort of work," he said, "and may be able to catch a horse or two.
At all events, I can break-in a few. I have no wish to eat