Part 39 (2/2)

'Well, I feel like an idler You, General Moncrieff, have not appointedto do so,' he said, 'and it is probably the most important position and trust on the _estancia_'

They walked up as far as the great canal while they conversed

Arrived there, Moncrieff pointed to what looked like a bundle of brushwood

'You see those branches?'

'Yes'

'And you see that wooden lock or huge doorway?'

'I do'

'Well, my friend, the brushwood conceals a sentry-box It overlooks the whole _estancia_ It conceals sounpowder, which you are to hang to the hook yonder on the wooden lock, and explode the nal will be?'

'A huge rocket sent up from either my _estancia_ house or Coila Villa

There may be several, but you h to the boh to burst the lock and flood the whole ditch system in and around the _estancia_ You are to run as soon as you fire Further on you will find another brushwood place of concealer a hair of your head! Now you know your station!'

'I do,' said Townley, 'and thankful I aency'

Before dark all the most valuable portion of our stock was safely corraled, and silence, broken only by the occasional lowing of the cattle or the usual night sounds of farned around and over the _estancia_

Later on Townley stole quietly out, and betook himself to his station

Still later on Ya-room The horse he bestrode was drenched in sweat He had seen Indians in force; they were even now advancing He had ridden for his life

The order 'Every ht which was to be so terrible and so un It was very still, and at present very dark But by and by the moon would rise

'A rocket, sir!' we heard Archie shout from his post as sentinel; 'a rocket fro, starting alth in the distance we could plainly hear the sound of horses' hoofs on the road, and before ate and was admitted The men fro safe inside, the gates were fastened and fortified by triple bars of wood

All along the ditches, and out for many yards, was spread such a thorny spikework of pointed wood as to defy the approach of the cleverest Indian for hours at least

While aited I found tin of fear on any face there, with the exception perhaps of that of poor Irish Aileen And I could well believe her when she told me it was not for herself she cared, but for her 'winso to them as cheerfully as I could, when I heard the sound of a rifle, and, waving theood-bye, I rushed off to my station

Slowly the moon rose, and before ht And hoe thanked Heaven for that light only those who have been situated as ere now can fully understand

Up it sailed between the dark whispering poplars Never had these trees see up into the starry sky, they seeuard and defend us, while their taper fingers, piercing heavenwards, carried our thoughts to One who never deserts those who call on Hiher and higher, and its light--for it was a full ot still more silvery as it n that a foe as rele was abroad on the plains

A huge fire had been erected behind the mansion, and about ten o'clock the fee bowls of stea _mate_