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Updated: May 3, 2025
I rode close to him, and turning round to Mr Laffan, I said aloud, "I wish he would address us as Englishmen, which he might easily do without causing suspicion; we could then learn all we want to know, and form a plan for helping him." Directly I had said this, Uncle Richard shouted out, "I am sure those are Englishmen!
They gave us some of the cakes to stay our appetites, just hot from the "girdle," and most delicious they were. Having taken a turn round the fields, where the labourers were assembling to commence work, we returned to an early breakfast. As Mr Laffan had seen but little of the country, Uncle Richard proposed that we should visit some interesting places in the neighbourhood.
I was thankful when I got back to the courtyard, where I found Paul Lobo standing by his mule. Both he and Mr Laffan, and Lion too, were very glad to get some of the provisions I had brought. "And now, Paul," I said, "what information have you to give me?" "Berry sorry to say, not good.
In a short time Manoel said that he observed the marks of footsteps ahead. "They are those of a sillero carrying some person. We shall soon overtake them." Manoel, in his eagerness, soon distanced the other peon and Mr Laffan, whose anxiety made him stop to ascertain whether our attendants were coming.
"The inmates must have got away before the enemy arrived," I exclaimed. "I truly hope so," answered Mr Laffan, but he did not look very confident. "If they escaped, they would take the road to the mountains," I suggested. "Let us ride on in that direction; we may possibly meet with some one who has seen them.
On reaching the level ground, we galloped forward as hard as our horses could go, led by Uncle Richard. Our worthy tutor kept by the side of Hugh, about whom he seemed to have no little anxiety; but my young brother sat his horse as well as any of us, and assured Mr Laffan that he need not be troubled about him.
After we had proceeded some distance, we began to hope that I had been mistaken in what I had heard the captain say to the sergeant, and that we should escape any risk of being captured and prevented from continuing our journey. Still Mr Laffan continued anxious on the subject. We had been travelling for some time, and I was beginning to feel more tired than I had hitherto done.
I asked Mr Laffan to tell me what the landlord had said, and in reply begged to assure him that I would not on any account put his estimable family to so much inconvenience; that we would, therefore, sling our hammocks at the further end of the hall. He was not long in placing a very fairly concocted olla-podrida before us.
Without inquiring whether we would have them, she immediately ordered the usual refreshments, wine, cake, and fruit, with some cups of coffee, to be placed on the table; to which, after our ride, we did ample justice. Mr Laffan complimented Dona Maria on the fruits produced on the estate.
"No use groaning over what cannot be helped," observed the captain. "You take the saddle, and put it before you; I'll carry the bridle; and I must try to get another horse as soon as possible." The delay was serious, but it could not be helped; so we moved along, Mr Laffan trudging by my side. I asked him to get up, but he positively refused to do so.
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