ally strewed with
the dead.

My father proposed to return home, but Don Cassiodoro insisted that he
should remain.

"You will be safe here," he said; "for no one will suspect me of being
capable of harbouring disaffected persons; and I owe you a debt of
gratitude, which I can only partially repay by concealing you from your
enemies."

"But I am a non-combatant, and it is my duty to attend to the wounded,"
said my father.

"Can you say as much for your son?" remarked Don Cassiodoro. "Besides,
you would have no opportunity of attending to your duties, as you would
be immediately seized and sent to prison. General Calzada has been
directed by Murillo to capture all suspected persons, and to forward
them to Bogota for trial--and I may say, for execution. Be advised by
me--remain in safety here. When you are not found at your house, it
will be supposed that you have fled from the city, and the search after
you will be relaxed."

My father at length consented to follow the advice of Don Cassiodoro,
who promised to keep him informed of all that was taking place. There
was, however, a risk that the Spanish colonel, whose wound he had
dressed, would inform against him. The only hope was, that the colonel,
who was a stranger, did not know who he was, as he spoke Spanish like a
native, and Don Cassiodoro had introduced him as his family physician,
without mentioning his name.

I had, by my father's directions, resumed my civilian dress, as had also
Mr Laffan, who was, I should have said, at this time safe in our house.
There was, however, much probability that the Spanish soldiers, on
entering to plunder the house, might wantonly kill him, and burn it
down.

That night, it may be supposed, was one of intense anxiety. We could
gain no tidings of any of our friends, for had we gone out the danger
would have been great, as the Spanish soldiers were ranging through the
town, constantly firing at the windows of houses supposed to be
inhabited by Patriots, and killing all the persons they met with in the
streets. We were especially anxious about our uncle, Dr Cazalla, and
also about Senor Monteverde and Dona Dolores. They had all been in the
city on the previous day, and, we feared, could not have been warned of
the entry of the Spaniards in sufficient time to make their escape.

All night long the sounds of shots were heard in different parts of the
town, and fearful shrieks and cries arose as some of the unfortunat