Twice he discharged his pistols with
fatal effect, and now he was fighting sword and sword with a stout,
burly Montaro, who was approaching that side of the volante where
the lady sat, still half concealed by the ample folds of her rebosa,
though the approach of assistance had led her to venture so far as
to partially uncover her face, and to observe the scene about her.
The headlong attack, so opportunely made by the fresh horsemen, was
too much for treble their number to withstand, more especially as
the leader of them had met with such signal success at the
outset-having shot two, and mortally wounded a third. In this
critical state of affairs, the remaining banditti concluded that
discretion was the better part of valor, and made the best of their
time and remaining strength to beat a hasty retreat, leaving the old
gentleman and his companion with their three deliverers, quite safe
in the middle of the road.
"By our lady, sir, 'twas a gallant act. There were ten of those
rascals, and but three of you," said the old gentleman, stepping out
of the volante and arranging his ruffled dress.
"Ten, senor? a soldier would make nothing of a score of such
scapegraces as those," replied the officer (for such it was now
apparent he was), as he wiped the gore from his reeking blade with a
broad, green leaf from the roadside, and placed it in the scabbard.
Pages:
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61