The former tribe,
Lopez affirmed--and the natives of the country agreed with
him--would not of themselves have been likely to attempt a fresh
attack upon antagonists who had proved themselves so formidable,
but the latter would be almost certain to make some desperate
attempt to wipe off the disgrace of their defeat. Under these
circumstances, although perfectly confident of their power to beat
off any attack, it was resolved that every precaution should be
taken when the time approached.
Late one afternoon, however, Mr. Fitzgerald had gone out for a ride
with Mr. Hardy. Charley had gone down to the dam with his gun on
his shoulder, and Hubert had ridden to a pool in the river at some
distance off, where he had the day before observed a wild duck,
which he believed to be a new sort. The cattle and flocks had just
been driven in by Lopez and two mounted peons at an earlier hour
than usual, as Mr. Hardy had that morning given orders that the
animals were all to be in their enclosures before dusk. The
laborers in the fields below were still at work plowing. Ethel was
in the sitting-room working with Mrs. Hardy, while Maud was in the
garden picking some fruit for tea.
Presently the occupants of the parlor were startled by a sharp cry
from Maud, and in another instant she flew into the room, rushed at
a bound to the fireplace, snatched down her light rifle from its
hooks over the mantel, and crying, "Quick, Ethel, your rifle!" was
gone again in an instant.
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