"Deil may care, sir! the king has mair bonnets than this ane; and there’s plenty ostrich feathers whar thae cam frae," replied he, hoisting it again through the vines; but the Spaniards did not waste their ammunition upon it a second time. The bivouac of their comrades, which they watched with untiring eyes, and other distant objects, faded gradually from their view as the increasing darkness of night deepened around them. The sky grew black, as masses of dense and heavy clouds drifted slowly across it; and the cold Spanish dews began to descend noiselessly (yet heavy and wetting as a shower of rain) on the grass and leaves, which, as the wind died away, hung motionless and still; and, save the muttering voices of the outlaws, not a sound broke the stillness of the lonely place but the hoarse brawl of the mountain-torrent as it rushed over its stony bed, from which the white foam glimmered through the darkness. Now and then, afar off, a red streak shot through the parted clouds, or a broad lurid flash of sheet-lightning lit the edge of the horizon, showing distinctly the curved outline of the distant hills and the tall black trunks of the neighbouring trees: but no sound of thunder followed these appearances. "Senor," whispered Pedro, "the night is perfectly dark,—just such as one would wish for on such an occasion." "Then now is our time to sally," was Ronald’s reply, as he grasped his musquet, and slung his claymore on the brass hook of his shoulder-belt that it might not impede him. "Now or never: follow me!" He pushed softly aside the foliage, and issued from the cavern. They were enabled to see objects with greater distinctness, owing to the pitchy darkness they had endured in their retreat, where it was so dense, that one could not discern the face of the other. Enabled thus to see his way with greater accuracy, Ronald descended the bank of the river in the direction of the stone cross. The others followed with hasty and stealthy footsteps, and in a few minutes they gained the rude column which marked the ford. "We are safe, senor caballero!" exclaimed Pedro, when they stood on the opposite side. "Our Lady of Majorga shall get the three days’ pay, a hat of the best Zafra felt, and a pound of wax candles to boot." "You are liberal to her ladyship. When are your presents to be given?" "The first time I pass her shrine," laughed the other, "which may not be during the term of my natural life." "Yonder is the bivouac," said Ronald, as they scrambled hurriedly up the embankment; "they have lit a fire. How very close upon us it appears." "The plain is so level, that distance deceives; but they are fully a quarter of a mile from us yet." "Hurrah!" cried Evan, overjoyed to find himself safe. "Tak’ that, ye ill-faured loons!" firing his musquet in the direction of their foes. "Fool!" exclaimed Ronald angrily; "how have you dared to fire without my desiring you?"