the crevices of the rocks for
moss and lichens, he strewed them over the ground where the dog had
fallen, so as to obliterate the traces of blood. He was some time thus
occupied before he had performed the operation to his satisfaction; and
then he once more crossed the chasm, with as much unconcern as if he had
been passing along an ordinary road. I proposed letting go the rope to
prevent our pursuers following.

"That is not necessary," said Don Jose. "It would cause trouble to our
friends, and I doubt whether our enemies will venture to cross. At all
events, the so doing would betray the route we have taken, and they may
find the means of crossing some leagues further down the stream."

We accordingly proceeded as before. We now came to a track, which, had
I been alone, I could not have followed, as it was generally, to my
eyes, altogether undistinguishable; yet Don Jose and Isoro traced it
without difficulty. It now led us along the edge of a precipice, where,
it seemed to me, so narrow was the space between the cliff on one side
and the fearful gulf on the other, that we could not possibly get by.
Our leader, however, went on without hesitation. At length he appeared
to reflect that my nerves might not be as firm as his.

"Here, Harry," he said, "take hold of the centre of my staff; Isoro will
hold the other end, and you may pass without risk."

I did as he directed, keeping my eyes away from the gulf as much as
possible. Now and then the path became somewhat wider; then again it
narrowed, affording just space to support our feet. I leaned against
the cliff, unwilling to throw more weight than I could possibly help on
the staff. I breathed more freely when we were once more ascending the
mountain-side. We were making our way round a rugged point of rock, and
Don Jose's head had just risen above it, when he called to us to stop.

"I see some people coming this way," he observed. "They may be friends,
but they may be foes. Harry, I am sorry to have exposed you to this
danger; for it is me they seek, not you. However, they have not seen
us, and we have yet time to conceal ourselves. Fortunately I know of a
place near here where we shall be able to do so; and unless yonder band
have these savage blood-hounds with them, we may yet escape capture."

Saying this, he began rapidly to ascend the mountain-side among the wild
and rugged rocks with which it was covered. After climbing up for some
distance