g to desert my companions, I was convinced that the
destruction of the whole of us was intended, and that I should fall a
victim with the rest. With one bound I leapt from the window, and
called to Antonio, who was on the point of galloping off. He
immediately pulled up, and rode towards me. A shower of bullets, fired
from the house, came rattling around; but in another instant I was on
horseback, and, with my faithful servant, galloping for my life.

CHAPTER SIX.

WE PASS THROUGH THE LINES--BULLETS WHISTLE PAST OUR EARS--DANGERS ON
EVERY SIDE--WE APPROACH A PASTUCIAN OUTPOST, AND TURN TO THE RIGHT TO
AVOID IT--ROUGH GROUND--A RIVER TO CROSS--PURSUED BY THE PASTUCIANS--A
TEARFUL PASSAGE--FIRED AT, AND WOUNDED--WE GET OUT OF RANGE--ANTONIO
BINDS UP MY WOUND--REACH THE CAMP--MEET MR. LAFFAN--MAKE MY REPORT--
CARRIED TO CAPTAIN BROWN'S TENT--AN ATTACK EXPECTED--I CRAWL TO A HEIGHT
AND WITNESS THE FIGHT--THE PASTUCIANS, LED BY THE BISHOP, FIGHT BRAVELY,
BUT ARE DRIVEN BACK--OUR ARMY PURSUES--THE WOUNDED BROUGHT IN--CAPTAIN
LAFFAN AMONG THEM--WE ARE SENT BACK IN LITTERS TO POPAYAN--
UNSATISFACTORY INTELLIGENCE FROM THE ARMY, WHICH MARCHES SOUTHWARD--THE
CITY THREATENED BY THE SPANIARDS FROM THE NORTH--WE AGAIN PREPARE FOR
THE DEFENCE OF THE CITY--THE DOMINIE SEIZED WITH FEVER--MY FATHER AND I
ARE VISITING AT DON CASSIODORO'S WHEN THE SPANIARDS ENTER THE TOWN--
ANTONIO ESCAPES WITH THE HORSE OF A SPANISH COLONEL.

Antonio and I had escaped the volleys fired at us, but we had yet to
pass through another shower of bullets. The house at which I had dined
was not far from the lines, and the troops stationed there would
endeavour to stop us. The gate, however, was open, to allow the passage
of some mules bringing in provisions. The shots fired at us had scared
the guards, who could not make out what was happening; but before they
had time to close the entrance, we had dashed through. In little more
than a minute the whistling of bullets passing our ears told us that the
sentries had discovered their mistake in allowing us to pass. The rim
of my hat was shot away, and two of the leaden messengers passed through
my servant's jacket; but as neither ourselves nor our steeds were hit,
we were soon beyond range of the Pastucian lines. We had, however, two
leagues to ride before we could reach the Patriot encampment.

The horrible treachery of the Pastucian officers showed that, even
though I had come under a flag of truc