we had no doubt, but I was hopeful that they might
not at first find the bodies of their companions; and if they did not, I
knew that all endeavours to trace us by the mule-trail until the morning
would be futile.

Now the way was of pitchy blackness, then an opening would give us a
glimpse of the stars. The track was found and pursued for a long
distance, and then my uncle called a halt, and we listened for some
minutes for tokens of pursuit, but all was now still save the nocturnal
cries of the inhabitants of the wilderness through which we were
passing.

Tom standing now close up, my uncle asked me if I thought I could
recognise where we were.

I could not; but Tom made a sort of circle, examining some of the great
tree-trunks around.

"It's all right, Mas'r Harry," he said; "we're on the right track for
Goldenland. That's it, straight away there to the left."

"But are you sure, Tom?" I said. "Recollect how important it is that
we should be right."

"Well, so I do," said Tom gruffly. "But there, if you won't believe one
donkey, you perhaps will another. Now, look ye here, Mas'r Harry, this
here left-hand mule of mine is one of them as we took with us to the
cave, and we'll have his opinion. If he goes off to the right, I'm
wrong; but if he remembers the way and goes off to the left, why, it's
being a witness in my favour. Now, then, moke, cock them old long ears
of yours and go ahead."

As he spoke Tom led one of his mules to the front, gave it a clap on the
back, and it trotted forward and went off down the dark track Tom had
declared for.

"Now, who's right, Mas'r Harry?" said Tom triumphantly, as he halted at
the opening into the ravine, just as, far above us, we could see, pale,
cold, and stately, mountain peak after mountain peak, whose icy slopes
were just growing visible, lit by the faint streak in the east which
told of the coming day.

Tom led on again, and by degrees the familiar sides of the ravine became
more and more steep and craggy, the way grew narrower, the music of the
little rill was audible; and at last, just as the sun was rising, we
reached the rocky barrier of the great cave, and prepared to halt.

But there was no occasion. Tom's left-hand mule slowly began to climb
the rocks, the second mule followed, as did those ridden by my aunt and
Lilla, without word or urging, and we were just congratulating ourselves
upon our escape, when Tom, who had crept close to me as I turne