came in view through the openings
between the trees. Here he again halted, and after a moment's
reflection, dismounted.

Although the change of locality might make it more difficult for the
brigands of Arroyo to discover his retreat, he was still not so certain
of being free from danger. To render his situation more secure, he
determined upon climbing into a tree, and concealing himself among the
branches.

He had another motive for freeing himself. At a short distance from the
spot he saw the horses of Costal and Clara, standing tied to some
bushes; and he knew that their owners could not be far off. No doubt it
was there they intended to go through their absurd rites; and all at
once Don Cornelio had become inspired with a curiosity to witness them.
His Christian conscience slightly reproached him, for thus assisting, as
it were, at a pagan ceremony; but he ended by persuading himself that
there would be something meritorious in his being a witness to the
confusion of the infidel.

A tree near at hand offered him a favourable point of observation. From
its higher branches he could command a full view of the lake and its
shores to a considerable distance on each side of him, and also the
sacred mountain in its midst.

Securing his horse below, he ascended the tree, and seated himself among
its topmost branches. He had taken the precaution to carry up his
carbine along with him, which was hanging from his shoulders upon its
sling.

He had just fixed himself commodiously upon his perch, when the full
moon appeared, at once lighting up the waters of the lake with her most
brilliant beams.

He looked to discover the whereabouts of Costal and the negro; but for
some time he could see nothing of either. The enchanted hill,
glistening with a vitreous translucence under the white moonbeams,
presented a wild, weird aspect; and, from time to time, strange
unearthly sounds appeared to proceed from it, as also from the woods
around.

The nerves of the ex-student were at no time of the strongest; and he
had not long occupied his elevated post before he began to rue his
rashness, in having trusted himself alone in a place which seemed to be
the abode of the supernatural.

All at once a sound reached him, proceeding from the margin of the lake;
and, turning his eyes in that direction, he beheld the figure of a naked
man moving among the reeds. It was the same apparition that had caused
such alarm among the domest