As they came close to him he stumbled and fell, and lay upon the
ground, exhausted and unable to rise.
The boys sprang from their horses with a feeling of vague
uneasiness and alarm.
"What is the matter?" they asked.
The peon was too exhausted to reply for a moment or two; then he
gasped out, "Los Indies! the Indians!"
The boys gave a simultaneous cry of dread.
"What has happened? Tell us quick, man; are they attacking the
estancia?" The man shook his head.
"Estancia burnt. All killed but me," he said.
The news was too sudden and terrible for the boys to speak. They
stood white and motionless with horror. "All killed! Oh, Ethel,
Ethel!" Charley groaned.
Hubert burst into tears. "What will mamma do?"
"Come, Hubert," Charley said, dashing away the tears from his eyes,
"do not let us waste a moment. All hope may not be over. The
Indians seldom kill women, but carry them away, and she may be
alive yet. If she is, we will rescue her, if we go right across
America. Come, man, jump up behind me on my horse."
The peon obeyed the order, and in five minutes they reached the
gate. Here they dismounted.
"Let us walk up to the house, Hubert, so as not to excite
suspicion. We must call papa out and tell him first, so that he may
break it to mamma.
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