their
hands," he observed; "and I am afraid that you would suffer also were I
to be found in your company. However, we may easily escape in the
forest should any search be made for us, and therefore let us lose no
time in seeking its shelter."

While he was speaking, I caught sight of some figures high up the
mountain, at a point round which the path wound its way. I pointed them
out to Domingos.

"They are the soldiers," he exclaimed; "I see the glitter of their arms!
We have no time to lose. Move on, my friends, move on! If we were
overtaken it would fare hard with us."

Don Jose, who had also been looking towards the point, made us a sign to
follow, and rapidly led the way down the side of the mountain, our
native muleteers being evidently as anxious to avoid the soldiers as we
were. The Indians had, it appeared, taken an active part in the
insurrection which had just broken out, and our guides knew, therefore,
that, should they be caught, the party in power would very likely wreak
their vengeance on their heads.

We descended for a considerable distance along the path by which we had
come. Occasionally looking back, I caught sight of the troops as they
wound their way in a thin column down the mountain. We, however,
appeared to be keeping well ahead of them; and I hoped that our small
party might have escaped observation. At length Don Jose stopped, and
getting off his mule, surveyed the side of the hill which sloped away
below us. Coming back, he took the bridle of his mule, and made it leap
off the path on one side on to what appeared a mere ledge of rock.
"Come on," he shouted; "I will show you the way; but you must all
dismount and follow the mules on foot." We accordingly got off our
animals, which were made to leap down to the ledge below us, and
willingly followed the first mule, which Don Jose was leading. John and
I took charge of Ellen, while Domingos helped Maria along. The path was
very narrow and steep, but where the mules had gone we had little doubt
that we could follow. In a short time we found ourselves descending by
a zig-zag path among trees which grew out of the side of the mountain,
here and there huge blocks of rock projecting among them. Thus we went
on for a considerable distance. Once when we stopped I looked upwards,
and caught sight of the head of the column of troops just as they were
reaching the very place we had left. At length we reached the bottom of
the valley,