ass, and
entered into the land of dreams--perhaps dreaming of his wife; and how
upon his bed of moss he was enjoying the good fortune of escaping from
her ill temper. Before falling asleep he had promised himself to awake
at an early hour, and after rousing his companion to abuse him for his
cowardice.

Unfortunately for Suarez, he reckoned without his host, when supposing
he could awake himself; and both he and his partner slept, until long
after the other eight had reassembled at the rendezvous, and commenced
deliberating upon a more earnest prosecution of the search.

The moon had already gone down, and the day was beginning to dawn. The
grey light falling upon the group of insurgent horsemen--dressed in
their half-military, half-peasant costumes, soiled and tattered by long
campaigning--presented a tableau of the most picturesque character.

Around the glade, their horses, tied to the trees, were endeavouring to
satisfy their hunger by gnawing at the leaves and twigs. Even this
miserable pasture was scarce attainable, on account of the bitts which
the animals still had in their mouths, and which were heard constantly
clanking between their teeth. The eight insurgents had seated
themselves in the centre of the glade; and with their carbines resting
across their knees, and their daggers sticking in their boot tops, were
listening to the discourse of Pepe Lobos.

"Suarez and Pacheco will never return," continued Pepe, in answer to the
conjectures of his comrades. "It is as good as certain that this
Colonel of Beelzebub has settled the affair with both--just as he did
with poor Panchito Jolas; and since we have searched all night without
finding any trace--"

"We explored our route with the greatest care!" interrupted one of the
beaters who had exhibited the greatest dread of encountering the
Colonel.

"We have done the same," added Pepe Lobos. "Ask my partner there.
Although his trace has escaped our observation, it is evident the
Royalist is somewhere in this wood--else what has become of Suarez and
Pacheco? Yes, he is in it yet, be assured; and my advice is that we go
back to the place where he left the main road, and follow the track of
his horse from there. That will be the more likely plan to bring us to
the place where he is at this minute."

The other seven gave in their consent to this plan, and it was resolved
that it should be carried into execution.

"As for the reward of five hundred dolla