Part 38 (1/2)

It was on theof the fourth day that one of the Gauchos reported an immense cloud of dust far away eastwards on the Mendoza road

'They ht be Indians,' he added

'Perhaps,' said Moncrieff, 'but ill risk it'

So ca the vanguard, Moncrieff and Archie bringing up the rear How my heart beat with e party becah the cloud of dust, and I saw they were soldiers!

On we rode now at the gallop

Yes,ined than described

Both mother and Flora were established at the _estancia_, and so days and weeks flew by, and I was pleased to see theh mother looked sad, so sad, yet so beautiful, just as she had ever looked toto a chastened happiness He had his darling sister with hi her all the outs-and-ins and workings of our new hoht, however, to see her in the gondola

I re:

'Dear Flora! What a time it seeh all these long years I have worked for you and thought about you, and strange, I have always pictured you just as you are now, sitting under the gondola awnings, looking piquant and pretty, and on just such a lovely evening as this But I didn't think you would be so big, Flora'

'Dear stupid Dugald!' replied Flora, blushi+ng slightly because Archie's eyes were bent on her in admiration, respectful but unconcealable 'Did you think I would always remain a child?'

'You'll always be a child to one?

Had our bold troops beaten the over the _estancia_, and floating only to burst?

CHAPTER XXIV

THE ATTACK ON THE ESTANCIA

Shortly after we had all settled down at the _estancia_, and things began to resume their wonted appearance, albeit we lived in a state of constant preparation to repel attack, an interview took place one day in Moncrieff's drawing-rooh I was not present, I no all that happened

To one remark of Townley's my mother replied as follows:

'No, Mr Townley, I think with you I feel even more firmly, I believe, than you do on the subject, for you speak with, pardon me, some little doubt or hesitancy Our boy's conscience must not be tah I love Coila, from which villainy may have banished us, let it remain for ever in the possession of the M'Rae sooner than even hint to Murdoch that an oath, however i'

'Yes,' said Townley, 'you are right, Mrs M'Crier Le Roi, or M'Rae, as he was called before his father's death, has what he is pleased to call broader views on the subject than we have'

'Mr Townley, the M'Rae is welcome to retain his broad views, and ill stick to the simple faith of our forefathers The M'Rae is of French education'

'Yes, and at our entleentleet that the M'Raes are distant relatives of the M'Crientleman'