ee anything clearly at a distance greater than half a mile; but
presently it thickened still more, and Jack recognised that the
thickening was produced by a great cloud of dun-coloured dust, out of
the midst of which there presently cantered into view a number of
Spanish cavalry scouts, a dozen of whom, upon reaching the main road,
wheeled to their right and dashed along it toward the point of its
junction with the private road leading to Don Hermoso's estate.

Jack considered that the moment had now arrived for him to quit his post
of observation, and he accordingly slid down the rail of the bridge
until he reached the ground, where he was almost immediately joined by
the contingent of labourers which was to operate under him, as before,
for the defence of the estate at that point. The wood away to the left,
and the bamboo coppice, afforded perfect cover and shelter for the whole
of his party; and since each man now knew to an inch where he was
required to post himself, everybody was in position and entirely hidden
from sight a full minute before the leading couple of the cavalry came
into view round the bend of the road leading to the ruined bridge. But
no sooner did that leading couple appear than two whiplike rifle reports
snapped out from somewhere in front of them, and while one rider dropped
forward and collapsed on his horse's neck, the other flung up his arms,
tossed away the carbine which he was carrying in his right hand, and
reeled out of the saddle to the ground with a crash, while his horse,
tossing up his head, wheeled sharply round and dashed off to the rear,
dragging his dead rider by the left stirrup. The next instant another
pair of scouts swung into view, when again out snapped that ominous,
double, whiplike crack. This time one of the two riders, dropping his
carbine to the ground, clapped his right hand convulsively to his breast
as he swiftly wheeled his horse and galloped off; while the horse of his
companion, rearing upright and pawing the air furiously for a moment
with his fore hoofs, fell backward with a crash and lay dead, pinning
his helpless rider beneath him: whereupon the remainder of the party
wheeled their horses, and, dashing in their spurs, took to precipitate
flight.

Shortly afterwards, doubtless in consequence of the report of those men,
another reconnoitring party, consisting of half a dozen brilliantly-
garbed officers, approached, evidently with the idea of inspecting the