There was no further attack, although they could hear the sound of voices in the patio below.
After a long period of quiet Mr. Black ventured the assertion that they were waiting for daylight, and his surmise proved correct.
No attempt was made to force an entrance until the first faint light of day began to appear. Then there was renewed activity below and a few minutes later the sound of a single shot.
"I wonder what that was," exclaimed Billie.
No one could answer, but had Billie been where he could see, he would have known that it was Donald who fired.
As the light came, Donald, peering through a crack in the stable, had seen a man climbing up the side of the house toward the roof. Without a moment's hesitation he fired and the man dropped, shot through the right hand.
But the shot was Donald's undoing. The flash of his gun was detected and half a dozen men rushed his hiding place and took him prisoner.
He was at once taken before the captain of the band and questioned as to the number of defenders and as to the whereabouts of Gen. Blanco.
To all the questions Donald gave an evasive answer.
"If you will tell me where Gen. Blanco is," said the captain, "I will give you your freedom."