to visit them
during the first hour.

"Keep a sharp lookout," said the captain, "and go round regularly.
They are likely to fall asleep if you don't,"--which I did not think at
all surprising. However, I had a good drink of water, and dipped my
head in the stream, which freshened me somewhat. Then I began what
has, perhaps, been the very longest hour in my life. Fortunately I had
to walk, and I tried hard to keep my eyes open all the time. As to the
captain's "sharp look-out," I concluded he must have been joking.

The hour came to an end at last, and I was free to sleep. I just lay
down on the ground, drew my poncho over me, and was sound asleep. I
would not have undertaken another hour's duty just then for all the
gold ever mined.

The capture of the small Spanish detachment was a benefit to us in one
way: it prevented Plaza from moving so early, and gave us all an extra
hour's sleep. However, as soon as day broke, he told off half a dozen
men to guard the prisoners until the colonel's arrival, and ordered the
rest to be ready for starting in ten minutes.

"It's nothing to do with me," remarked Castro, as he and I rode out at
the head of the men; "but the captain's overdoing it. He's taking the
heart out of his fellows, and just at the last pinch they'll fall to
pieces. There's nothing left in them for a dash at the end."

"We shouldn't shine in a cavalry charge," I admitted, laughing and
looking at my horse, "unless, indeed, it were under Don Quixote's
banner!"

"Well, Crawford," cried the captain, riding up, "something ought to
happen soon now. It's a pity we wasted that last hour this morning,
though. We must make up for it during the day. One of the prisoners
informed me that Santalla cannot be far ahead. I have a good mind to
push on with the men on the strongest horses, leaving you to follow.
What do you think?"

"I think that you are going fast enough, captain. Both men and horses
are fagged now, and it's useless to catch up with Santalla just as we
are all dead beat."

"But if we don't go ahead we shan't catch him at all. The colonel did
not send us on in front to sit down by the wayside."

"No, captain; but that's just what we shall be doing soon, whether we
want to or not. Most of the horses are nearly done for now."

"Then we'll get fresh ones," cried he (which, by the way, there was no
possible means of doing), "or continue the pursuit on foot. Do you
think if the colonel wer