In the morning they had taken their coffee, and were preparing for a start, when, just as they were mounting their horses, one of the men drew their attention to a man running at full speed toward the house from the direction of Mr. Mercer's. "What can be the matter?" Charley said. "What a strange thing that a messenger should come over on foot instead of on horseback!" "Let's ride and meet him, Charley," Hubert said; and putting spurs to their horses, they galloped toward the approaching figure. As they came close to him he stumbled and fell, and lay upon the ground, exhausted and unable to rise. The boys sprang from their horses with a feeling of vague uneasiness and alarm. "What is the matter?" they asked. The peon was too exhausted to reply for a moment or two; then he gasped out, "Los Indies! the Indians!" The boys gave a simultaneous cry of dread. "What has happened? Tell us quick, man; are they attacking the estancia?" The man shook his head. "Estancia burnt. All killed but me," he said. The news was too sudden and terrible for the boys to speak. They stood white and motionless with horror. "All killed! Oh, Ethel, Ethel!" Charley groaned. Hubert burst into tears. "What will mamma do?" "Come, Hubert," Charley said, dashing away the tears from his eyes, "do not let us waste a moment. All hope may not be over. The Indians seldom kill women, but carry them away, and she may be alive yet. If she is, we will rescue her, if we go right across America. Come, man, jump up behind me on my horse." The peon obeyed the order, and in five minutes they reached the gate. Here they dismounted. "Let us walk up to the house, Hubert, so as not to excite suspicion. We must call papa out and tell him first, so that he may break it to mamma. If she learn it suddenly, it may kill her." Mr. Hardy had just taken his coffee, and was standing at the door, looking with a pleased eye upon the signs of comfort and prosperity around him. There was no need, therefore, for them to approach nearer. As Mr. Hardy looked round upon hearing the gate shut, Charley beckoned to him to come down to them. For a moment he seemed puzzled, and looked round to see if the signal was directed to himself. Seeing that no one else was near him, he again looked at the boys, and Charley earnestly repeated the gesture. Mr. Hardy, feeling that something strange was happening, ran down the steps and hurried toward them. By the time he reached them, he had no need to ask questions. Hubert was leaning upon the gate, crying as if his heart would break; Charley stood with his hand on his lips, as if to check the sobs from breaking out, while the tears streamed down his cheeks. "Ethel?" Mr. Hardy asked. Charley nodded, and then said, with a great effort, "The Indians have burned the estancia; one of the men has escaped and brought the news. We know nothing more. Perhaps she is carried off, not killed."