a cathedral was booming out the hour of midnight,
and its sonorous strokes came floating slowly and subdued by distance to
the camp of the English adventurers as the sturdy band, having partaken
of a hearty supper, formed up into marching order prior to leaving their
place of concealment. A strong scouting party of Cimarrones had been
thrown forward in advance to guard against surprise, and as George
completed his inspection of weapons and equipment the cry of a nightjar
coming from the extreme distance and repeated ever nearer by the line of
scouts told that the way was clear and that the column might begin its
advance.

There is no need to describe, step by step, the sinuous passage through
the long grass of that band of intrepid adventurers toward the clump of
bamboos which was to be their rallying point; they knew that danger
encompassed them on every hand, and that the most trivial accident might
result in their premature discovery and, possibly the ruin of all their
plans, yet they pressed forward steadily and unflinchingly, trusting
implicitly in the wisdom of their leaders and the sagacity of their
black allies, and in about three-quarters of an hour arrived safely at
the point for which they were aiming, without the occurrence of the
slightest disconcerting incident of any description.

Here, completely screened from observation by the sheltering clump of
bamboos, the blacks at once proceeded to unload the pack mules and stack
their loads in close proximity to the river bank. And while this was
being done, George, Dyer, and twelve of the most reliable of the
Englishmen calmly laid aside their weapons, armour, and all clothing,
and at a signal from their captain, crept crouchingly round the shoulder
of the bamboo clump to the river margin where, after heads had been
counted to see that none was missing, the whole party noiselessly
entered the water, waded out to mid stream, and then, following their
leader, proceeded to swim silently and with deliberation toward the
city. There was a moon, in her first quarter, shining brightly almost
directly overhead, which afforded ample light for the party to see where
they were going, while a soft mist hung over the river and the low
ground about the city, which to a certain extent concealed their
movements.

George was careful not to hurry himself or his followers, for, in the
first place, they were a full quarter of an hour earlier than they
expected, and he did not