the leader of them had met with such signal success at the
outset-having shot two, and mortally wounded a third. In this
critical state of affairs, the remaining banditti concluded that
discretion was the better part of valor, and made the best of their
time and remaining strength to beat a hasty retreat, leaving the old
gentleman and his companion with their three deliverers, quite safe
in the middle of the road.

"By our lady, sir, 'twas a gallant act. There were ten of those
rascals, and but three of you," said the old gentleman, stepping out
of the volante and arranging his ruffled dress.

"Ten, senor? a soldier would make nothing of a score of such
scapegraces as those," replied the officer (for such it was now
apparent he was), as he wiped the gore from his reeking blade with a
broad, green leaf from the roadside, and placed it in the scabbard.

One of the soldiers who had accompanied the officer had now cut the
thongs that bound the surviving outrider, who was one of the family
attaches of the old gentleman, and who now busied himself about the
vehicle, at one moment attending to the lady's wants, and now to
harnessing the horse once more.

Removing his cap, and wiping the reeking perspiration from his brow,
the young officer now approached the volante and said to the lady:

"I trust, madame, that you have received no further injury by this
unfortunate encounter than must needs occur to you from fright."

As he spoke thus, the lady turned quickly from looking towards the