laid hold of it as soon as they were safe through the _garita_, and
was now rasping away with might and main; the other keeping the chain in
place.

It was not a task to be accomplished without time. The links were thick
as a man's finger, and would need no end of filing before they could be
parted. Still, there was little likelihood of their being interrupted
until it could be done. There was nobody on the road, and only here and
there some labourers at work in the adjoining fields, too busy to take
note of them, or what they were at. The sight of a passing carriage
would be nothing strange, and the horses going at a gallop would but
lead to the supposition of its being a party of "jovenes dorados"
driving out into the country, who had taken too much wine before
starting.

But, even though these poor proletarians knew all, there was nothing to
be apprehended for any action on their part. Conspiracies and
_pronunciamentos_ were not in their line; and the storm of revolution
might burst over their heads without their caring what way it went, or
even inquiring who was its promoter. So the escaping prisoners took
little pains to conceal what they were at. Speed was now more to their
purpose than strategy, and they were making their best of it, both to
get on along the road, and have their legs free for future action.

"We might have passed safely through that gate," said the Mexican, who
still continued to do the talking, "even had they known who we were."

"Indeed! how?"

"You saw that sergeant who saluted us?"

"Of course I did, and the grand salute he gave! He couldn't have made
it more impressive had it been the Commander-in-Chief of your army, or
the Dictator himself who was passing."

"And I fancy it was just something of the kind that moved him.
Doubtless, the livery of the coachman, which he would know to be that of
Don Ignacio Valverde."

"You think he got us through?"

"Yes. But it wouldn't have done so if he'd known what was up. Though
something else might--that is, his knowing _me_."

"Oh! he knows you?"

"He does; though I'm not sure he recognised me in passing, as I did him.
Odd enough, his being there just then. He was corporal in a company I
once commanded, and I believe liked me as his captain. He's an old
schemer, though; has turned his coat times beyond counting; and just as
well there's been no call for trusting him. He'll catch it for letting
us slip past without challenge; a