uture. Is it an electric chain
connecting what is, with what is to be? Or is it the second-sight of
instinct? Certainly there are times when something within whispers a
warning--as, in the physical world, God's wild creatures are warned from
without of the earthquake and the storm. How often do we experience the
realisation of portentous dreams? Why should not the waking soul have
also its moments of clairvoyance?

As I lay stretched upon my leathern _catre_, I gave way to such
reflections. I soon succeeded in reasoning myself into a full belief in
foreknowledge; and my apprehensions were proportionately strengthened.
But I had conceived a design; and the prospect of putting it in
execution somewhat relieved me from the heaviness I had hitherto felt.

My new project was to take a score of my best men, to ride back the road
we had come, place the party in ambush near the hacienda, while I alone
should enter the house, and further urge the counsels I had committed to
writing. If I should find that these had been already followed, so much
the better--I should be assured, and return content; but I felt almost
certain that Don Ramon had rejected them. At all events, I was
determined to know the truth--determined, moreover, to gratify my
longing for one more interview with my beloved.

I had warned the men and fixed the hour--as soon it was dark enough to
conceal our departure from the camp.

I had two reasons for not starting earlier--first, because I did not
wish this _private scouting_ to be known at head-quarters. It is true,
that in such matters we rangers had the advantage of regular troops.
Though belonging to the division, our duty was usually detached from it,
and we were rarely "missed" when absent. There was thus a sort of
pleasant independence in my command, which I for one fully appreciated.
For all that, I did not desire the whole world to know of an expedition
like the one projected.

My second motive for going in the night was simple prudence. I dared
not take the whole of my command along with me without permission from
head-quarters. The absence of the corps without leave would certainly
be noticed--even were it but for a few hours--and with the smaller party
I intended to take, caution would be requisite. Should we move along
the road before it was deserted, some swift messenger might carry the
tidings _en avant_, and get us into trouble.

I designed to start at the earliest hour of darkn