reins, while we were
unstrapping our spurs, our steeds galloped off and prevented us from
putting our laudable intentions into execution. It was well that we did
not do as we proposed, we agreed, because should our steeds return, the
gauchos would know that we had intentionally made our escape, whereas
now they might suppose we had tumbled off, and broken our necks, or, at
all events, have been unable to remount.

"`In either case the fellows will probably come to look for us,'
observed Desmond, `for they will not like to lose their spurs, on which
they set high value.'

"`Well then, we will fasten them and our whips on this branch, which
will show them the honesty of our intentions, if they come to look for
us,' I said; `we shall have, at all events, several hours' start, as
they cannot get through the copse on horseback better than we can.'

"We did as I proposed, and then plunging into the copse tried to make
our way through it. We tore our clothes and nearly scratched our eyes
out, however, but still we made way, our chief fear being that we might
fall in with a jaguar; but as we had heard that they are cowardly
beasts, and will not attack two people together, we were not much
troubled on the subject. Before it grew quite dark, therefore, we cut
two sticks to defend ourselves, and two long wands, such as the gauchos
use for catching birds; the thick sticks helped us also to make our way
through the bushes.

"The stars soon came out brightly, and enabled us to keep a tolerably
direct course towards the east, still we could not help wishing to get
out of the wood as soon as possible. I had heard about jaguars tracking
people; the unpleasant thought came across me, that one might at any
moment pounce down upon us. I did not tell Desmond, not wishing to make
him as uncomfortable as myself on the subject. I was afraid, had we
shouted, which would have been the best means of keeping these creatures
off, that we might be heard by the gauchos or any other enemies who
might pursue us, and as that was the greatest risk of the two, I thought
it would be wiser to make our way in silence. At last we again got into
open ground, and fancied that we were going to make good progress, when
suddenly we ran against an object which made us start back, with several
severe pricks in our legs and hands; had we not had our sticks before us
we should have been regularly impaled. On examination we found that
they were those prick