For a few days after this Maud was unusually quiet and subdued, but her natural spirits speedily recovered themselves, and she was soon as lively and gay as ever. About a fortnight after the departure of Mr. Cooper, an event took place which for a while threatened to upset all the plans which they had formed for the future. One or other of the girls were in the habit of frequently going over to stay for a day or two with Mrs. Mercer. One evening Hubert rode over with Ethel, and Mrs. Mercer persuaded the latter to stay for the night; Hubert declining to do so, as he had arranged with Charley to go over early to Canterbury to assist at the branding of the cattle at that station. 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 towards 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 towards 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 Indios! 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.'