h
seemed to be descending the hill.

So close beneath the house were Zeneta's men now, that those on the
terrace could hear his voice.

"The bridge," said Sarrion, under his breath. "Look at the bridge!"

It was half hidden in the smoke that still hovered in the air, but
something was taking place there. Men were running hither and thither.
The sunlight glittered on uniform and bayonet.

"Guns!" said Sarrion curtly, and as he spoke the whole valley shook
beneath their feet. A roar seemed to arise from the river and spread all
up the hills, and simultaneously a cloak of white smoke was laid over the
green slopes.

Juanita saw Zeneta stand for a moment, with sword upheld, while his men
gathered round him. Then with a wild shout of exultation he led them down
the hill again. Before he had run ten paces he fell--his feet seemed to
slip from under him, and he lay at full length for a moment--then he was
up again and at the head of his men.

A bullet came singing up over the low brushwood and a distant tinkle of
falling glass told that it had found its billet in a window. The bushes
in the garden seemed suddenly alive with rustling life and Sarrion
dragged Juanita back from the balustrade.

"No--no!" she said angrily.

"Yes--I promised Marcos," answered Sarrion with his arm round her waist.

In a moment they were in the library where they found Cousin Peligros in
an easy chair with folded hands and the face of a very early Christian
martyr.

"I have never been treated like this before," she said severely.

Sarrion stood at the window, keeping Juanita in.

"It will be all over in a few minutes," he said. "Holy Virgin! What a
lesson for them."

The din was terrible. The lady of delicate hearing placed her hands over
her ears not forgetting to curl her little finger in the manner deemed
irresistible by her generation. Quite suddenly the firing ceased as if by
the turning of a tap.

"There," said Sarrion, "it is over. Marcos said they were to be taught a
lesson. They have learnt it."

He quitted the room taking his hat which he had thrown aside.

Juanita went to the terrace. She could see nothing. The whole valley was
hidden in smoke which rolled upward in yellow clouds. The air choked her.
She came back to the library, coughing, and went towards the door.

"Juanita," said Cousin Peligros, "I forbid you to leave the room. I
absolutely refuse to be left alone."

"Then call your maid," said Juanita, patiently