no doubt, if the man were as bad as he considered
himself to be. But I did not believe he was; for though his voice
seemed feeble enough when he began to speak it distinctly gained in
strength as he went on, and I very speedily came to the conclusion that
his weakness was more than half imaginary; also I was not very greatly
disposed to be tender-hearted over the sufferings of such fiends as
these negro outlaws had proved themselves to be; instead, therefore, of
responding to his appeal I asked him curtly:

"Which way have your companions gone?"

"Straight up toward the mountains," he answered, pointing upward along
the path in which I was standing.

"Very well," I said. "It is necessary that I should verify your
statement; I am, therefore, going on a little farther. But I shall soon
be back; and I will then help you to the house and have your wound
attended to, although that will avail you little, for I warn you that
you and the rest of the wounded will be handed over to the authorities
forthwith. And that means for you, death upon the gallows."

The fellow grunted. "Even that will be less disagreeable than being
devoured alive by the ants," he answered.

Without bandying further words with him I continued my way up the path,
which took a rather sharp turn a few yards farther on. As I rounded the
bend I was somewhat surprised to see two more men lying in the road: one
of whom seemed to be either dead or in a swoon, while the other appeared
to be almost in a state of collapse.

"The inhuman villains," I thought, "to abandon their wounded in this
heartless fashion! Surely they might have somehow made shift to carry
off their injured comrades with them, for they must be fully aware that
if the unfortunate wretches fall into the hands of the authorities they
will meet with short shrift. Well, we seem to have punished them rather
more severely than I had thought; I should not be very greatly surprised
if I find a few more poor beggars in the same plight before I have
finished my walk."

With these thoughts uppermost in my mind I approached the prostrate
figures, one of whom was moaning most piteously, while the other lay
still, with half-closed eyes staring upward at the sky.

"Well, _picaro_," I said to the man who was moaning, "what is the matter
with you?"

"Oh, Senor," he gasped, "for the love of God help me to get into the
shadow of yonder bush. I am perishing of thirst, and this scorching sun
is a