"Only in dreams, sir," I replied. "We've been catching up a little of our lost sleep. We did not know how soon we might be on the march again." "So you made the most of your opportunity? Well, I don't blame you; but it is possible we shall make a long halt here." "Possible," remarked Jose to me afterwards, "but not probable;" and events proved that, as far as we were concerned, he was right. That evening the colonel invited us to dinner; but we had scarcely sat down when he was called away to speak to a messenger who had brought important news. He returned looking rather thoughtful, and, catching sight of Jose, exclaimed,-- "Craig, you are pretty well acquainted with the Indian dialects, I believe?" "Yes, sir," answered Jose readily; "I can manage to talk with most of the natives." "Then you are the very man I want. I'll tell you all about it after dinner. Mustn't send you off without satisfying the inner man, eh?" Jose glanced at me with a smile, as much as to say, "I wasn't very far out this morning;" while I was all curiosity as to what the business might be. As soon as we had finished, the colonel and Jose had a very earnest and confidential talk, after which my companion rejoined me, and together we left the room. "What is it?" I asked anxiously; "anything of importance?" "Rather, unless the Indian has made a mistake. La Hera is hiding with a few wounded men in the mountains, not a dozen miles away." This was the Spanish leader whom we had defeated at Mirabe. He was a bold, dashing soldier, and a firm Loyalist, whose capture would deal the enemy a heavy blow. "Get the horses ready," said Jose, "while I pick out a few men. We mustn't make a mess of this affair, or the colonel won't trust us again. And don't mention where we are going, up at the house. I daresay the folks are all right, but what they don't know they can't tell." "Where shall I meet you?" "Outside the colonel's quarters. Now, off with you, we've no time to waste." The horses had benefited by their unusually long rest, and having saddled them with the help of one of our host's servants, I led them into the street. Jose soon appeared with a dozen mounted men, wild, fierce-looking fellows, and all natives. Presently the guide came out, and directly afterwards the colonel, who spoke a few words, telling us that we were bound on an important errand, which he trusted we should accomplish successfully. Then the guide placed himself, on foot, beside Jose's horse, and we moved off. He led us at first, purposely, in a wrong direction, in case of prying eyes, turning back at the end of a mile or so, and then steering across a wild and lonely desert track. Having covered nearly a dozen miles, we came to a tiny hamlet at the foot of the mountains. Halting here, we left our horses in charge of two men and pressed forward on foot.