r six Carlists had followed so
closely upon this, that all had become confused together.

While Ashby had been asking these few questions, Dolores remained looking
at him with that same mournful inquiry. Ashby noticed it, for he looked at
her several times, though each time he looked away elsewhere. He was
turning over all this in his mind.

At length he looked at her once more, and took her hands in his.

"Dolores," said be, "I have made up my mind."

"What?" said she, in a faint voice, looking up at him in awful suspense.

"I will not give you up! That's decided. You must dismiss the idea from
your mind."

In an instant the shadow of anxiety fled from the face of Dolores,
followed by a flash of joy like a sunbeam. She said not a word, but Ashby
saw that rush of happiness, and all his own nature responded.

"You must come with me," said he. "That fellow may look out for himself."

"But--but--" said Dolores. She paused.

"What?"

"We--we--are--engaged."

"Pooh!" said Ashby. "That's an old story."

"But--but--"

"Well?" said Ashby, impatiently, as she paused.

"He--he--saved my life once."

"He be hanged!" said Ashby. "I'll save your life fifty times. You mustn't
think of that man again. Do you hear, Dolores?"

"Yes," said Dolores, meekly; "but I only want to satisfy my conscience,
and find out my duty."

"Conscience? Duty? Ah!" repeated Ashby. "Well, then, I'll tell you what to
think of--think of me! Here was I, engaged to that English maiden. You
have won my love. You have made me indifferent to her. You have made my
love grow stronger and stronger every moment, until now I'm ready to give
up everything for you. Your duty, therefore, is to be true to me, as I
will be true to you."

Dolores looked up again with her face in a rapture of gladness, and Ashby
pressed her hands more closely in his. Then they walked away to inspect
the fortifications.

CHAPTER LVI.

IN WHICH THERE IS A TERRIBLE CALAMITY.

Russell's advent among the embarrassed lovers can easily be explained.
Seated at the gate in the uniform of a general, with gorgeous array of
blue and gold, with a sword in his manly hand, and armed warriors around
him, his martial soul had gradually lost its terrors, and his mind was at
leisure to think of other things.

First among these other things was that precious package which he had
concealed. Now was the time for him to look them up and regain possession.
None but friends were