the officers should
hear me; "the brute will kill me else."

But Jose was not, as I supposed, at hand. I felt the dog moving his
jaws higher up my leg, as if he evidently was about to pull me to the
ground, while the pain he inflicted almost paralysed me. I certainly
was no coward, but I shrieked in my agony. In another moment he would
have mastered me, when, by the faint light which came through the door
of the room above, I saw a dark figure spring down the steps. The dog
let go his hold of me to fly at the new-comer but was met by the point
of a sharp dagger, which pierced his breast, and uttering a low yell of
pain and rage, the brute fell dead at my feet. The Indian--for my
preserver was the fugitive--without speaking, assisted me in dragging
the dog out of sight under the steps, and then whispering, "Say not a
word about the dog, he will not be discovered," again sprung up the
steps.

I followed him, fearing that the men in the room above would discover
him. I caught sight of him as he ascended to the roof of the alcove, by
means of a single rope which hung to the ground. In the roof was a
trap-door, through which he disappeared, and closed it silently after
him, having first drawn up the rope. Again going below, I met Jose, and
told him that the dog was dead, charging him to ask no questions, and to
say nothing about it.

I was much afraid lest the men should discover the dog; for the fact of
his remaining near the stairs might make them suspect that the Indian
was concealed near at hand. My trousers were fortunately only a little
torn, though, as the brute's teeth had met in the calf of my leg, I felt
a considerable amount of pain; but I did my best to conceal it, lest the
men should accuse me of killing the dog. I might with truth have
replied that I had not killed him, but they would then have asked who
did, to which question I could not have replied. As the life of a
fellow-being was at stake, I felt the importance of being very
circumspect in everything I did.

When we returned to the room, the two men who had been left there
inquired what had become of their comrades.

"Hunting rats or spirits, for they will find nothing else down there I
am sure," answered Jose, unconcernedly. "They will be back soon, I
warrant, after their fool's chase, begging your pardon, Senores."

His words were verified more speedily than he expected, for at that
moment cries and shouts were heard, and the officer