This was the first intimation of the tidings that had arrived, and a perfect chorus of lamentation arose from the women, and of execrations of rage from the men. Just at this moment Terence came running down from the house. "Is it true, Mister Charles? Sarah says that the mistress and Miss Maud are gone quite out of their minds, and that Miss Ethel has been killed by the Indians!" "Killed or carried away, Terence; we do not know where to yet." Terence was a warm-hearted fellow, and he set up a yell of lamentation which drowned the sobs and curses of the natives. "Hush, Terence," Charley said. "We shall have time to cry for her afterward; we must be doing now." "I will, Mister Charles; but you will let me go with you to search for her. Won't you, now, Mister Charles?" "Yes, Terence; I will take you with us, and leave Lopez in charge. Send him here." Lopez was close. He, too, was really affected at the loss of his young mistress; for Ethel, by her unvarying sweetness of temper, was a favorite with every one. "Lopez, you will remain here in charge. We may be away two days--we may be away twenty. I know I can trust you to look after the place just as if we were here." The _capitaz_ bowed with his hand on his heart. Even the peasants of South America preserve the grand manner and graceful carriage of their Spanish ancestors. "And now, Lopez, do you know of any of the Gauchos in this part of the country who have ever lived with the Indians, and know their country at all?" "Martinez, one of the shepherds at Canterbury, Signor Charles, was with them for seven months; and Perez, one of Signor Jamieson's men, was longer still." Charles at once wrote notes asking that Perez and Martinez might accompany the expedition, and dispatched them by mounted peons. "And now, Lopez, what amount of _charqui_ have we in store?" "A good stock, signor; enough for fifty men for a fortnight." Charqui is meat dried in the sun. In hot climates meat cannot be kept for many hours in its natural state. When a bullock is killed, therefore, all the meat which is not required for immediate use is cut up into thin strips, and hung up in the sun to dry. After this process it is hard and strong, and by no means palatable; but it will keep for many months, and is the general food of the people. In large establishments it is usual to kill several animals at once, so as to lay in sufficient store of charqui to last for some time. "Terence, go up to the house and see what biscuit there is. Lopez, get our horses saddled, and one for Terence--a good one--and give them a feed of maize. Now, Hubert, let us go up to the house, and get our carbines and pistols." Mr. Hardy came out to meet them as they approached. "How are mamma and Maud, papa?"