Before they reached the bottom, Ridge's wounded and terrified horse burst from cover directly among the ambushed troops in the ravine, by whom it was quickly killed.

Then came the pursuers.
"Where is he?
What have you done with him ?" demanded Lieutenant Navarro, excitedly.
"Who, senor ?" "The spy! The Americano!" "We have seen no one, only this brute of a horse." "But he was mounted on it.

I saw him and fired.

He fled in this direction, and we pursued him." "He must have been hit and fallen from the saddle." "Then he is still close at hand," panted Major Alvarez, who had just reached the scene, "and alive or dead we must find him.

Scatter, men, and search!" he added, fiercely, turning to the baffled soldiers of his command, who were crowding confusedly behind him.
This command was never obeyed; for at that moment, with a shriek and a roar, a shell from one of the American war-ships dropped into the ravine, and burst among the startled Spaniards.