"Never heard of her," observed Mr Laffan with imperturbable coolness.
"How did it happen?"
"Suddenly, as the guards who had her and others in charge were emerging
from a defile, they were set upon by a small party of horsemen who had
remained concealed behind the rocks, and had allowed the larger force to
pass. Most of the escort were cut down, for their bodies were found
strewed on the ground; and the prisoners, including Dona Dolores, were
carried off. Though hotly pursued by the cavalry, who, on hearing the
shots, had returned, the rascals made good their escape."
I was delighted to hear this, and I had no doubt but that Juan by some
means or other had heard of the capture of Dona Dolores, and had formed
a plan for her rescue. I hoped also that her father had escaped with
her, as he probably would be in her company. It relieved my mind of a
great difficulty; for although I had resolved to attempt her liberation,
I could devise no plan for its accomplishment. I advised Mr Laffan to
ask no further questions, lest the officer might suspect that he had
some object in view.
We slung up our hammocks as usual in the common room, and the dominie
and I did our best to sleep soundly, knowing that Lion would awake us if
necessary.
The captain had stowed himself away on a pile of straw and cloaks in the
corner, and just before I closed my eyes I heard him snoring loudly. A
small oil lamp on the table shed an uncertain light through the room, so
that objects could be only dimly distinguished. Our valises, I should
have said, had been left on the ground a short distance from the heads
of our hammocks.
How long I had been asleep I do not know, but I was awakened by a low
growl from Lion. He did not spring forward, however. Looking up, I
thought I distinguished a figure stealing along the wall. Lion still
growled. The person, if there was one, remained in dark shadow, or else
had passed through some opening, which I did not remember to have
observed. I lay awake for some moments watching, but could see no one.
I tried to make out whether the Spanish captain was still asleep on his
bed, but, at the distance I was from the corner, I could not be certain.
He was not, at all events, snoring, though he might be there.
Supposing that I must have been mistaken, I once more fell asleep.
Strange to say, the same circumstances again occurred; but this time,
forgetting at the moment that it was supposed I could not speak Spanish,
and suddenly aroused from slumber, I shouted out, "Who goes there? Take
care, whoever you are, else I'll send a bullet through your head."
There was no answer. Lion gave a suppressed bark, in addition to a
growl, and moved forward to where the valises lay, where he couched down
with his fore paws stretched out, and his head resting on them, watching
our property. From this I was convinced that some one had attempted to
steal them, or, at all events, to obtain some of their contents; for we
had carelessly left them both partly open. I was, however, now very
sure that Lion would take care not to allow any one to touch them
without giving us abundant warning.
This time I remained awake for some minutes, and clearly distinguished a
person creeping round to the captain's bed, on which he threw himself.
It must have been the captain himself. Possibly his object was to
obtain some money, which, supposing me to be a rich Englishman, he had
concluded he should find; or he may have wished to get hold of our
letters to ascertain who we were. He had, during the evening,
frequently cast suspicious glances at my tutor and me, as if he were not
quite certain that the account we gave of ourselves was the true one.
Overcome by sleep, my eyes once more closed; but I dreamed that I saw
the captain reading our letters at the table, and making notes of their
contents; and that then Lion jumped up and seized him by the throat.
The dominie and I sprang to his rescue, but could not find the letters.
I thought that he addressed us both by name, however, and appeared to
know all about our affairs.
The captain got up at daybreak, and awoke us by shouting for his
breakfast. During the meal, which he hurried over, he asked Mr Laffan
a number of questions; then suddenly turning to me he said--
"How is it that you, who have been some months in the country, cannot
speak Spanish?"