e was help at hand. We were
dragged out, and by the time I had recovered myself sufficiently to
wring the water from my eyes, and, with my temples throbbing, to gaze
about, there was Garcia pinned to the ground by Tom, whose foot was upon
the villain's throat, and his gun-barrel pointed at his head.

"Now, then, Mas'r Harry," said Tom, "we've got the right one this time
anyhow. Here, come and stick your torch in here, Mas'r Landell, and
we'll soon make it right."

My uncle did as he was requested; and then, once more, Garcia made a
savage fight for his liberty.

But it was in vain; and while I helped to hold him down Tom tightly
bound his legs, my uncle performing the same operation with the
prisoner's hands.

"That ain't no good, Mas'r Landell," said Tom. "He'll wriggle them
loose in no time. Look here, I'll show you. Turn him over."

There was no heed paid to the savage glare nor the muttered Spanish
oaths of our prisoner, as he was forced over on his face, when,
producing some string, Tom placed Garcia's hands back to back, and then
tightly tied his thumbs and his little fingers together with the stout
twine. A handkerchief was next bound round the wrists, and Tom rose.

"He won't get over that, Mas'r Landell. He'll lie there as long as we
like--only, if he don't hold his tongue, we'll stick something in his
mouth; and he may thank his stars that he has got off so well. And now,
Mas'r Harry, I proposes that we all go back and see what the Indians are
doing; and if they are not gone, why, we'll all fire our guns off one
after the other, as'll kick up such a hooroar as'll scare 'em into
fits."

Tom's advice found favour; but it was not until I had thoroughly
satisfied myself of the security of my enemy's bonds that I had the
heart to leave.

Then, and then only, we crept cautiously back, till, after a long and
painful walk, we perceived the faint glow from the burning torches in
the vault of the entrance to the bird-chamber, and on making our way
once more, as near as we dared go, we could see that the Indians were
clustered together, and anxiously watching the passage.

Stepping back, then, thirty or forty paces, we fired off six barrels in
quick succession, with an effect that startled even ourselves, and, had
the thundering roar been followed by the falling in of block after block
of stone, I, for one, should not have been surprised. It seemed as
though the noise would never cease; but when, with