Turning at the sound, Viviana beheld her favourite courser on the summit of a high rock.

The soldier to whom Zayda was intrusted had speedily, as the pursuivant foresaw, distanced his companions, and chose this elevated position to take sure aim at Guy Fawkes, against whom he was now levelling a caliver.

The next moment a bullet struck against his brigandine, but without doing him any injury.

The soldier, however, did not escape so lightly.

Startled by the discharge, the fiery barb leaped from the precipice into the river, and throwing her rider, who was borne off by the rapid stream, swam towards the opposite bank, which she reached just as the others were landing.