u, Senor Barry," he said--"for I know you, though
you may not recollect me. I bring you a written message; here it is;"
and he put a paper into my hand.

Kneeling down, I read it eagerly by the light of the fire. It was
written hurriedly, in pencil, and signed "Norah."

"I have been captured by Aqualonga's band, and he himself is with them;
I have twice seen him, though he has not visited me. I am treated with
respect, but compelled to travel wherever they go. Their object is, I
believe, to obtain a ransom. I asked them to send to my father; they
replied that Senor Desmond was ruined, and could not pay the sum they
require. I suspect, therefore, that they intend to deliver me up to the
Spaniards. They will hold me as a hostage for you and Carlos, whom they
know to be serving with the patriots. You will, I am sure, try and
arrange some plan to rescue me. The bearer, who is attached to his
chief, will inform him how I am situated; and he also will endeavour, I
think, to help me. Aqualonga is marching to join the Spaniards; and,
from the intelligence I can gain, I believe that we are not far off from
where you are. Whatever plan you propose should be carried out
speedily. Consult Carlos."

I instantly called my cousin aside and read the contents to him. On
hearing the message, he was even more agitated and anxious than I had
been. We then called up the Indian and questioned him. He had found
his chief, he said, and faithfully delivered the message entrusted to
him. Kanimapo had, he added, bidden him hasten on to me, saying that he
himself would risk everything to rescue my sister.

"This will make me doubly anxious to defeat the Spaniards," observed Don
Carlos, after he had somewhat recovered from the agitation into which
this intelligence had thrown him.

We both promised the Indian a reward for his faithfulness in delivering
the message.

"I require none," he answered; "my desire is to obey the wishes of my
chief."

He then inquired whether we expected soon to be engaged with the enemy,
of whose position he was well aware.

"Why do you wish to know?" I asked.

"Because I am acquainted with a defile through these hills, of which,
perhaps, your leaders are ignorant," he replied. "It is thickly
overgrown with brushwood and trees, so as to be completely concealed
from view; but if these impediments were cleared away, you might descend
suddenly on the enemy and take them by surprise. It was here