"Yes. With Carabaño gone I thought I might venture back to my own, and two friends accompanied me to see fair play." He introduced the strangers. "But why are you going to the General's house?"
"To release a couple of friends of mine. Didn't your Indian tell you what happened to us?"
"They told me a great deal that I didn't believe. What's the truth of the matter?"
"It's a long story, and if you don't mind I'll keep it till I get back. Colonel Blanco is waiting in the wood yonder, and we want to get to Las Piedras before night."
"Colonel Blanco! The revolution is broken, then?"
"Smashed."
"That's good news. I hope they haven't damaged my stables."
"No, your stables are all right," said Will with a laugh, wondering at his friend's strange lack of patriotism. "No Englishman," he thought, "would think first of his stables." Was he right?
Having been introduced to Colonel Blanco, De Mello rode on with his friends towards his hacienda. The others resumed their journey in the opposite direction.
It was getting dark when they reached General Carabaño's estate. The house was lit up. Passing the window of the dining-room, and looking in, they saw the Chief and O'Connor seated at table with half-a-dozen Venezuelans. They were talking cheerfully, and seemed to be in the best of spirits. Hearing the jingle of bridles, the whole party started up and came to the window. The Venezuelans looked alarmed.