OUR GUIDE COMPLAINS OF OUR RAPID PACE--HE LEAVES US--WE MEET CAPTAIN
LOPEZ--OUR DOUBTS AS TO HIS OBJECT--IN A DESERTED HUT--WE MEET UNCLE
RICHARD AND A BODY OF INFANTRY--WE TURN BACK WITH HIM--A RAPID STREAM--
FINDING A BRIDGE--THE SPANIARDS ADVANCING--A RUSH TO GAIN THE BRIDGE--WE
REACH IT FIRST--A FIGHT--THE SPANIARDS DEFEATED--NO PRISONERS TAKEN--WE
APPROACH THE FORT--CAPTAIN LAFFAN AND I RIDE ON TO RECONNOITRE--SIGNS OF
DISASTER--OUR MEN FIRE--A FLOCK OF GALENACHAS RISES FROM THE FORT, WHICH
APPEARS IN RUINS--DEAD BODIES SCATTERED ABOUT--DISCOVERY OF THAT OF
JUAN--WE RAISE A TOMB OVER HIS GRAVE--THE ARMY OF BOLIVAR--DESCRIPTION
OF THE GENERAL--TREACHERY OF COLONEL LOPEZ--ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE
BOLIVAR--NUMEROUS ENGAGEMENTS--PRAISE FROM THE GENERAL--MY RETURN HOME--
AN INTERVIEW WITH DONA DOLORES--SHE JOINS THE ARMY--WAR THE GREATEST
CURSE THAT CAN AFFLICT A COUNTRY--CONCLUSION.
We endeavoured to make up for lost time by galloping as fast as our
horses would go, whenever the ground would admit of our doing so. Every
moment might be of consequence. Should the Spaniards again attack the
fort, we knew too well that our friends would have a hard matter to hold
it. Our guide frequently exclaimed that we should knock up our steeds,
or bring them to the ground.
"Never fear, my friend," said Mr Laffan; "if we do, we must pick
ourselves up again."
"But your bones, senors, your bones; you will break them or your necks,"
murmured our guide.
"Never mind--we must do the best we can; you don't know what we
Englishmen are made of," said Mr Laffan.
"But I may break my neck, and then what will become of my poor
Margarida?" cried our guide.
"We will do our best to console her, and find her another husband. On,
on!" cried Mr Laffan.
In vain were all the expostulations of our guide. The dominie lashed
his little steed, and up hill and down dale we kept on. Probably Tomaso
would have left us to pursue our course alone and find our own way, had
not my friend wisely kept back a portion of the price of the horse, lest
such a trick might be played us. At last Tomaso pointed out what he
called the highroad, and assured us that by keeping straight on we
should in time reach the Patriot camp. How far off it was, however, he
did not say. He now begged hard for the sum we owed him.
"Here it is, my friend; you have well earned it, I own," said Mr
Laffan, handing him the amount.
He was profuse in his expressions of gratitude. "A fortunate journey to
you, caballeros; and may the Patriot cause prove triumphant," he added,
as, making a low bow, he turned his horse's head and rode back the way
we had come.
We had not got far when we saw a horseman galloping in hot haste towards
us; by his dress and accoutrements we knew him to be an officer. As he
got nearer I recognised him to be Captain Lopez. He pulled up, and
began to address us before he recognised either of us.
"Can you tell me, caballeros, if a division of the Spanish forces is
stationed anywhere in the neighbourhood? I am told that such is the
case."
"And what object, Captain Lopez, have you for wishing to know where to
find the Spanish forces?" asked Captain Laffan, looking sternly at him.
"Surely you are not going to desert to them!"
Captain Lopez now recognised us, and looked very much confused. He
answered--
"No; desert to them, no! I am not a deserter, but I wish to ascertain
their whereabouts, that the Patriots, who are advancing in this
direction, may be prepared to encounter them."