slight on our host and
hostess."

"Very well, if you put it that way, I'll join you in the messroom
shortly," said I indifferently.

"That's right. Slip your things on sharp; the animals will get
restive."

Alzura was in high spirits. He loved fun of all kinds, and this ball
was just to his taste. Plaza and Cordova shared our carriage, and both
of them rallied me on my glum looks.

"Crawford's a bloodthirsty fellow," cried Alzura banteringly--"never
happy unless he's fighting!"

"That's a libel!" said I warmly; "I'm sick of the whole thing. When
this war's over, I hope never to hear a shot fired again."

"Be easy," laughed Cordova; "you'll be an old man by then, and too deaf
to hear even the report of a pistol."

"There may be more truth in that than you think," I observed, bitterly.

"Never mind, my boy," said Plaza; "you won't hear any shots fired
to-night. There's no great harm in enjoying ourselves for an hour or
two. Here we are! What a crowd outside!--Put on your mask, Alzura;
the people will like the fun."

There was a roar of laughter from the spectators as Alzura, appeared,
and we went into the hall amidst a round of cheering. Most of the
guests wore some fanciful costume, but several officers, Miller and
O'Brien among them, were in uniform.

The magnificent _salons_ were illuminated by thousands of lights; the
guests were numerous, and represented most of the beauty and wealth of
Lima. My father and mother had not come, neither did I see Montilla.
Rosa, of course, would have scorned to attend a ball given to the
Patriots.

Despite the lights and the music and the striking gaiety of the scene,
I could not banish my feeling of dread. I felt, as people say, that
"something was going to happen," and moved listlessly among the
brilliant assembly, wondering what it would be.

"You look bored, Crawford," remarked O'Brien, coming across to me. "Is
anything the matter?"

"No, thanks; I'm a bit off colour--that's all."

"Would you rather be in the mountains?" asked Colonel Miller, who had
joined us.

"It depends on circumstances, colonel," I replied, trying to smile.

When they had left me, I fell back on my occupation of gazing
indifferently at the brilliant scene. I could take no interest in it,
nor in the chaff and nonsense of my friends, who tried hard to make me
more like myself. It seemed that in some mysterious way I was waiting
for something, though what I could not imagine.