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Updated: May 3, 2025
We managed to rest with tolerable comfort on heaps of Indian corn leaves, and slept securely, without the fear of being attacked by jaguars, bears, or other wild beasts, or being bitten by serpents. Faithful to his promise, our host appeared the next morning with the horse for Mr Laffan, while he brought a smaller animal for himself.
Mr Laffan, I found, had two brace of pistols in his holsters, and a sword, which he kept concealed under his cloak. I, of course, carried one in my character of a young gentleman of fortune, and I also had a brace of pistols; so that we were tolerably well-armed.
"We will go together; and I am pretty strongly of opinion that we shall bring Don Juan word that the enemy are not far off." "But shall we go by night or day?" I asked. "At night we should have the advantage of being able to get up to the enemy without being seen," said Mr Laffan; "but we should be quite as likely to find ourselves in their midst before we had discovered where they were.
I intend to bear the whole expense of the corps myself, and am anxious to get some smart young officers. I wish that you would join us, Duncan. You would soon learn your duties; they come almost by instinct to some people." "If I can get my father's leave, depend upon it I will," I answered; "and as Mr Laffan has seen some service, I have no doubt that he will assist you.
Having seen his former patron placed in the grave, Mr Laffan took up his abode in our house, and well and faithfully fulfilled the duties he had undertaken although, it must be confessed, in a somewhat curious fashion and we soon became as much attached to him, I believe, as he was to us.
As we did so, we saw before us a considerable body of men both on foot and horseback; and on inquiring of some peons who were coming in our direction, they told us that they were soldiers escorting a number of Republican prisoners to Bogota. Could any of our friends be among them? Mr Laffan and I determined to ride up and ascertain; and by assuming a bold front, we hoped to escape detection.
This would not be so difficult a task to us as it had proved to the Spaniards, as Captain Laffan and I knew every point about it, and every spot from whence it was assailable. The first thing to be done, however, was to make a reconnaissance; and Captain Laffan and I rode on for this purpose.
Juan and I were walking together, Mr Laffan bringing up the rear, when suddenly the former stopped and grasped my arm. "I see some one on the balcony," he whispered. "It must be she how fortunate! She would consider it rude to go away when once we begin; let us lose no time." We cautiously approached. "Suppose it is only her old duenna, Senora Ortes!" "Nonsense!" answered Juan.
"Indeed, sir, you may," he replied; "while I have an arm to strike a blow, I will fight for the ladies." "I hope that while they are in my house they will run no risk, removed as it is from the city," said Uncle Richard; "and if you will entrust them to my keeping, I will take care of them, along with my wife and daughter. Duncan and Mr Laffan may be of use here."
Some of the guests, however, were not likely to make their appearance, and for the best of reasons Mr Laffan and Dan Hogan could not be present, as it was well-known that no lawyer nor exciseman had ever ventured to set foot in the district in which Ballyswiggan Castle was situated. Most of the guests went on horseback, as the approach was scarcely suited to wheeled carriages.
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