"So long as it was an affair of shooting," said Don Felipe, "our men stood well enough, but when they came at us with the bayonet----Do you know, it is an imposing thing, that charge with the bayonet. Those English with their smooth faces look like boys, but when they came at us in a long line close together we felt that they were men. If we had waited for them the half of our men would have stopped there for ever." "Have many stopped there?" said Doña Dalmacia. "I have heard heavier firing at a review." "Of ours we have lost very few," replied Don Isidro. "The corps on the left, where Liniers was, were all in disorder, and I don't think they lost many. But I fear me much, Dalma, we have lost a friend." "Say!" said Doña Dalmacia, nervously closing one hand upon his shoulder. "'Los Morenos de Ponce,' are almost annihilated." "Marcelino sacrificed himself and his men to save the others," said Felipe Navarro. "It is what one might foretell of him," said Doña Dalmacia, bursting into tears. "Do not weep, my soul," said Don Isidro. "As yet we know nothing positive. Felipe and I met some of the negroes after nightfall, and went back with them to the quinta from which they were driven. There were many dead lying about, and we carried off a great many wounded; every house about there is a hospital. We searched where they said he had fallen--we found the bodies of three negroes, but of him we could find nothing." "Always we will hope," said the brave lady, rising and wiping away her tears. "To-morrow will be another day." Just then there came a knock at the outer door, and a loud voice shouted: "Order from the Señores of the Cabildo. That three lights be placed in every window and a lamp hung in every doorway." Again the knock was repeated. "It shall be done," said Don Isidro, running out himself in answer to the summons. * * * * * At the Quinta de Ponce the whole household was astir before sunrise on the morning of the 2nd July, roused from sleep by the cries of the female servants and slaves, who had seen Evaristo saddle his pony and gallop off towards town at dawn. Don Roderigo paced anxiously to and fro in the sala, his wife covered with a loose wrapper and with dishevelled hair vainly trying to soothe him. "Where can that foolish boy have gone to?" said he. "Did he speak to no one before he went?" "I can tell you, papa," said Dolores, who came in at that moment, "he has gone to join Marcelino; he said he would be with him when the fighting began, and Evaristo always does what he says he will." "What can he do? a mere boy like him?" said Doña Constancia, clasping her hands and looking tearfully at her husband. "Do not cry, Mamita," said Dolores, half crying herself, "God will protect him as he will Marcelino." "Who has made you so wise about what God will do?" said Don Roderigo sharply. "No duty calls him away from us." As they spoke a mulatta girl came running into the room.