"Yes," I said, as I laid down the glass, "that is undoubtedly your house, Don Esteban; I distinctly remember Dona Inez pointing it out to me while we were out for a walk about a week ago." At this moment Dona Inez, fully attired, emerged from her room, and there was instantly a cordial interchange of salutations between her and our visitors. Then she turned to me and asked: "What was that I heard you say just now, Don Ricardo? Surely not that Montpelier is in flames?" "I deeply regret to say that you heard aright, Senora. Look yonder; you may see the blaze for yourself. And the blacks are dancing round it like so many demons," I answered. Dona Inez clasped her hands together and wrung them in distress. "Oh, Don Esteban--Dona Christina--I am so sorry for you all," she exclaimed. "It is horrible; and they will be here next. What do you intend to do, Luis? Must we really run away and leave this beautiful place to be destroyed and ourselves ruined? Is there nothing that can be done to save it?" "I will not go so far as to say that," answered Don Luis; "on the contrary, I am strongly indisposed to abandon it without a struggle. What say you, Don Ricardo?" turning to me. "You are a fighting man; do you think this house is capable of being defended successfully against an armed but undisciplined rabble of some three hundred blacks?" "That depends entirely upon how strong a garrison you can muster, my dear friend," answered I. "So far as the house itself is concerned I believe that, given, say, a couple of hours for preparation, it might be put into a very excellent state of defence; but that would be no good at all unless you could raise a garrison of, let us say, thirty fighting men, and at least as many non-combatants to act as loaders, ambulance party, and so on." "Thirty fighters, and thirty non-combatants," returned Don Luis. "Surely that might be managed. Why, my `boys' number more than three hundred, nine-tenths of whom were born and bred upon the estate. A few of them might possibly desert--perhaps twenty-five per cent of them, to put the figure at its very highest; but I feel certain that the bulk of them would stand by me through thick and thin; they have everything to lose and nothing to gain by going over to the outlaws. Oh yes, I am convinced that there should be no difficulty in the matter of raising a sufficient number of fighters." "So far, then, so good," said I. "The next question is that of weapons--firearms especially. I am afraid, my dear Don Luis, you will scarcely be able to raise thirty guns, with adequate ammunition for the same." "Ah, true," answered Don Luis, "I had not thought of that. Still--now, let me think a moment--" "I may as well tell you here," cut in Don Esteban, "that although we could not see our way to defend Montpelier successfully, my sons and I have each brought our guns with us, and they of course will be available, should you decide to make a stand and defend the house."