ward event; while Don
Cornelio stayed beside the haciendado and his party.

As yet uncertain how to act, Don Mariano thought it better to remain
where he was, and await the result of an action which he could not
regard otherwise than with anxiety. It is needless to say that the
occupant of the _litera_ listened with still more vivid emotion, mingled
with deep apprehension, to the sounds that rung back along the shores of
the lake.

The chase was soon too distant to be witnessed by the eye, but upon the
still night air could be heard confused cries of terror and vengeance--
which indicated to all that the pursuers were closing rapidly upon the
pursued.

CHAPTER SEVENTY EIGHT.

VENGEANCE FORBORNE.

By a lucky accident Don Rafael, after leaving the hacienda of San
Carlos, had ascertained that the bandit chieftains were no longer within
its walls. He had also learnt the object that had carried them out--the
same which was influencing himself, only from a far different motive. A
renegade guerillero had made known to him the intentions of Arroyo in
regard to Dona Marianita; and it is needless to say that the noble
spirit of Don Rafael was, on hearing this report, only the more
stimulated to overtake and destroy the bandit chieftain.

Guided by numerous signs--which the bandits, unsuspicious of being
pursued, had left along their track--Don Rafael and his party found no
difficulty in following them, almost at full speed. In less than an
hour after leaving the hacienda, they had arrived within sight of Arroyo
and his followers--still continuing the search for Dona Marianita, along
the borders of the lake. The impetuosity of Don Rafael's vengeance had
hindered him from using caution in his approach--else he might at once
have come hand to hand with the detested enemy. As it was, he had
advanced towards them into the open ground; and going at full gallop,
under the clear moonlight, his party had been discovered by the bandits
long before they could get within shot range. Arroyo, from whose
thoughts the terrible Colonel was never for a moment absent, at once
recognised him at the head of the approaching troop, and, giving the
alarm to Bocardo--who equally dreaded an encounter with Don Rafael--the
two brigands put spurs to their horses and rode off in dastardly flight.
Of course they were followed by their four comrades, who, recalling the
fate of Panchita Jolas, had no desire to risk the reception of a similar
t