Domingo having now reappeared, and announced that the horses were ready,
we descended to the courtyard. "It will be safer for me to slip out
first," I observed.

To this Mr Laffan agreed.

"You had better take Lion with you," I said; and I ordered my faithful
dog to remain with Mr Laffan. But on this occasion the usually
obedient animal was disobedient. When I had made my way out of the yard
I found him following me, and I had not the heart to send him back.

I resolved at all risks to join Uncle Richard, should he be able to make
his way out of prison; so towards that gloomy building I at once
directed my steps. As the town was in total darkness, there being no
lamps in the streets, I ran little chance of being detected, while Lion
could not be seen a few paces off. In a short time I reached the spot
where I had had the conversation with Antonio; and there, crouching
down, I awaited the hour he had named. There was but one clock in the
city which struck the hours. The time appeared to go very slowly by.
Perfect silence reigned through the streets. Neither Royalist nor
Republican were at that time inclined to move about in the dark, as
assassins too frequently plied their deadly trade, and several persons
of both parties had been murdered.

At last ten o'clock struck. I sat with my hand on Lion's head,
listening attentively. The prison door opened; the sentinel challenged,
"Quien vive?" and the countersign was returned. Then the door closed,
and I heard the sound of footsteps approaching, but they did not seem
those of persons attempting flight. My hopes sank. After all, some
officer might have visited the prison, and was now leaving it with a
guard. I was afraid, consequently, to move; but in another instant Lion
rose to his feet, and, though he uttered no sound, bounded forward
towards one of the persons approaching.

"That must be Uncle Richard," I thought. "The dog knows him."

I was not mistaken; and I was quickly by his side, when I found that he
had on the cap and cloak of an officer. The other person who followed
close behind him was, I guessed from his uniform, which I could but
indistinctly see, Antonio.

Uncle Richard divined who I was, and he put out his hand and grasped
mine. I returned the pressure; but we did not venture to speak.

Antonio led the way to the western side of the city. "We must make for
the mountains immediately; there will be less risk of the Godos looking
for us