wholly upon the other over the fearful abyss.

The recklessness of the action caused a renewed surprise to the
spectator standing below, amounting almost to a feeling of awe. Before
he had time to reflect upon it, a human voice reached his ears, rising
high above the roaring of the torrent. It was the voice of the Indian,
who, with outstretched arm, was chaunting a solemn invocation to the
spirit of the waters. The words could not be distinguished, but Don
Rafael saw, by the muscular play of the man's lips, that he was singing
with all the strength of his lungs.

Curiosity might have prompted the dragoon captain to watch these strange
proceedings to the end, but the desire of learning something about his
route influenced him to act otherwise. He fancied that by waiting
longer the opportunity might be lost. The two persons might disappear
in a manner as mysterious as was their behaviour.

To attract their attention, therefore, he shouted, and at the top of his
voice; but to no purpose. The deafening roar of the cataract hindered
him from being heard; and partly, perhaps, the engrossing occupation in
which the two men were engaged.

Failing to attract their notice, he resolved upon ascending the side of
the ravine, and going round to the place where they were. For that
purpose he retraced his steps through the thicket; and after a difficult
climb he reached the top of the cliff, at the point where the
_ahuehuetes_ formed the arcade over the water. The two personages had
disappeared!

Curious as to the object of their ludicrous proceedings, the dragoon
climbed up one of the trees, and from a commanding point carefully
scrutinised the water underneath. He there perceived nothing more than
he had seen already--nothing to justify the strange conduct he had
witnessed.

While in the tree, he looked down into the ravine below; first upon the
frothing river, and then over the tops of the bushes that grew upon its
bank. In an instant he perceived that some of these were in motion, as
if some one was making way through the thicket which he had himself
traversed.

Presently two men emerged from the cover, and stepped out upon the open
bank, at the spot where but the moment before Don Rafael had stood. A
glance satisfied him that they were the same he had seen upon the
_ahuehuetes_--the negro and Indian.

The sun had already set, but there was still light enough, even in the
bottom of the ravine, for Don Rafael t