Come on at once," and seizing her mule by the bridle I led it along the road that ran through the town towards the _hacienda_ on the height above.
Ten minutes later we were riding in the great courtyard.

The place seemed strangely lifeless and silent; indeed, the plaintive mewing of a cat was the only sound to be heard.

Presently, however, a dog appeared out of an open doorway.

It was a large animal of the mastiff breed, such as might have been expected to bark and become aggressive to strangers.
But this it did not do; indeed, it ran forward and greeted us affectionately.

We dismounted and knocked at the double door, but no one answered.