caused the owners of the hut to quit it,
and when he saw them out of danger he took his carabine and began
firing upon the soldiers, who on their side returned the attack on
the hut. When it was riddled with balls, and the bandit had ceased
to defend himself, a soldier approached the hut and set fire to it,
so great was the fear they entertained of then finding him alive.

These nocturnal interviews having led me to mention Tapuzi, I cannot
refrain from dedicating a few lines to this remarkable retreat,
where men, when proscribed by the law, live together in a sort of
accord and union of a most extraordinary kind.

Tapuzi, [18] which in the Tagal language, signifies "end of the world,"
is a little village, situate in the interior of the mountains, nearly
twenty-five leagues from Jala-Jala. It was formed there by bandits
and men who had escaped from the galleys, who live in liberty, govern
themselves, and are altogether, on account of the inaccessible position
which they occupy, safe from any pursuit which could be ordered against
them by the Spanish government. I had often heard this singular village
mentioned, but I had never met anyone who had visited it, or could give
me any positive details relative to it. One day, therefore, I resolved
to go thither myself. I stated my intention to my lieutenant, who said:

"Master, I shall find there, no doubt, some of my old comrades,
and then we shall have nothing to fear."

Three of us set out together, under the pretext of quite a different
journey. For two days we walked in the midst of mountains, by paths
almost impracticable. The third day we reached a torrent, the bed of
which was blocked up by enormous stones. This ravine was the only road
by which we could get to Tapuzi; it was the natural and impregnable
rampart which defended the village against the attack of the Spanish
troops. My lieutenant had just told me:

"Look, master, above your head. None but the inhabitants of Tapuzi
know the paths which lead to the top of the mountains. All along the
length of the ravine they have placed enormous stones, that they have
only to push to throw them down upon those who should come to attack
them; a whole army could not penetrate among them, if they wished to
give any opposition."

I clearly saw that we were not in a very agreeable position, and
against which, if the Tapuzians should consider us as enemies, we could
oppose no defence. But we were involved in it, and there w