ich our horses could be turned out to graze. The Spaniards had most
unaccountably left behind three guns, which, though spiked, were
serviceable in other respects; and in the storeroom we found shot for
them.

We had brought, I should have said, nearly two dozen horse-loads of
ammunition--including powder for the guns which we had hoped to find--as
well as the same number of animals laden with provisions. But, of
course, as they had to travel as fast as our horses, they could carry
but a very limited load.

Not a moment was lost in setting to work to repair the fort. Juan told
the men how we had seen the enemy approaching, and consequently they
laboured away with might and main. Trees were cut down from the
hill-side above the fort, and dragged in to repair the stockade. The
trench was cleared out; and shelter erected for the horses, which it
would be absolutely necessary to retain inside in case of requiring them
on an emergency. The men, accustomed from their earliest days to hard
labour, toiled away without cessation. By night we had repaired the
fort, and were ready for our enemies should they appear; but as yet we
had not got a sight of them, and I began to fancy that Juan and I had
been mistaken. Under Mr Laffan's directions, our farriers had
contrived to extract the nails with which the guns were spiked, and all
three were mounted and got into position during the night. A vigilant
watch was kept, for should the enemy really have been approaching, they
would very probably attack us before daylight.

Morning, however, came, and no sign of the foe being in sight. Though
we had a flag with us, and a flagstaff stood in the fort, Juan would not
have it hoisted; while the men were directed to keep as much under cover
as possible, so that the Spaniards might not discover we had possession
of the fort.

All the work outside had been finished, but we continued strengthening
it, and making such, improvements as were necessary in the inside.

It was about noon when one of the sentries gave notice that he saw some
people on the opposite side of the river. We watched them. Evidently
they were Spanish officers reconnoitring the fort, and from their
movements they seemed to doubt whether it was already occupied. At
last, apparently satisfied that they were in time to take possession,
two of them began to ford the stream. Before they had got half-way
over, however, several of our men, without orders, fired, and