ather.
Though not a vain man, the incident pleased him, because it showed that
the people for whom he had suffered so much were grateful for his
efforts to do them good.

As the journey had made me rather excited, I took no part in the
rejoicings which were kept up through the night; but after breakfast
the Indians took their departure, and the noise of their cheering might
have been heard at the other end of the town.

"It's rather rough on you, Jack," laughed my father, coming into my
room; "but now you will have a chance of a little quiet."

"I am not sure of that," observed my mother, who was looking from a
window: "here are two cavaliers crossing the park. By the way they
ride, I should say they are Englishmen."

"Is one a big, handsome man?" I asked.

"Well, yes, he is certainly big!"

"That is O'Brien, then; and the other most probably is the colonel."

I was not mistaken. In a short time Colonel Miller and his friend were
in the room, and each in turn shook me heartily by the hand.

"We hardly expected to see you again so soon," said the colonel,
laughing. "We thought Canterac had taken a fancy to your company. I
hope there is no permanent injury to the foot?"

"Oh no, colonel; only I shan't be able to do any more mountain climbing
yet awhile."

"There's none to do," broke in O'Brien; "we've taken to dancing
instead."

"I shall not be able even to join in that for some time."

"No? What a pity! We are enjoying ourselves immensely, though it
seems rather an odd way of carrying on a war."

"The general perhaps considers that his troops require rest," suggested
my mother.

"Even so, staying here is a great mistake," said the colonel. "We are
giving the Royalists time to recover their strength, and we shall
suffer for it later on. Unfortunately the general appears to think
that Lima is Peru."

"Not the general only," remarked my father; "many of his officers would
be sorry to exchange Lima for the mountains."

"That is so," admitted O'Brien frankly. "The truth of the matter is,
the citizens have treated us too well. They have made us so
comfortable that we wish to stay here as long as possible."

"In that case," said my mother, smiling, "we must steel our hearts
against you."

"And drive us into the wilderness again!" laughed O'Brien gaily.
"Senora, you will not be so cruel?"

"I will not begin to-day," she replied merrily, "because I hope you
will stay and dine with us. To-morro