her mule.

Leading the animals, we hurried along the bank of the river, hoping to
reach some sheltering rock which would afford protection to the helpless
ones under our care. Happily, before long we found what we were in
search of.

As soon as I had seen my family in safety, I sprang out again and
hurried back towards the spot we had left, eager to watch what was going
forward, and to take a part in the strife if I had the opportunity. As
I reached it, I saw that the front rank of the Spanish infantry had got
to within two or three hundred yards of the bank; while the Republican
cavalry came thundering down the hill, their leader, on a powerful
charger, considerably in advance. As he came nearer I recognised my
proposed chief, General Bermudez. He was making directly for the
bridge, lance in hand, and couched, as if he were already within reach
of the foe.

Onward he dashed--the bridge was nearly won. The commander of the
infantry saw that the advantage he had hoped to gain was on the point of
being lost, and waving his sword, sprang forward in front of his men.
But the brave Bermudez was not to be disappointed. Without pulling
rein, he galloped his horse on to the fragile bridge,--which bent
beneath the weight of the steed and its rider, and every instant I
expected to see it give way. Soon he reached the shore on which I
stood, and urged his horse up the steep bank; and one by one the
llaneros came rattling after him, and formed rapidly by his side.
Already a score had crossed before the infantry had got within
musket-shot of them, and the Spaniards saw that the advantage they had
hoped to gain was almost lost; still, by a well-directed discharge they
might annihilate the small band opposed to them. As they got within
range of the horsemen, therefore, they opened fire along their whole
line; the shot came whistling through the air like a hail-shower, and
two of the llaneros fell from their horses, dead.

Seized by an impulse I could not withstand, I caught one of the animals,
and, dashing forward to where the dead man's lance lay on the ground, I
seized it and galloped up to the side of the general. As I did so, he
gave me a glance of recognition; and at the same moment the order to
charge burst in a loud ringing voice from his lips. Couching my lance,
I gave my steed the rein, and our small but compact body advanced like
an avalanche against the foe. In vain those who had fired attempted to
reload; t