xiously waiting his return.

"I am afraid he has been seized by the Spaniards, or compelled to
conduct one of their parties over the mountains," I observed.

"He'll not come back, depend on that," remarked Antonio. "He has
fulfilled his engagement, and will not trouble himself further about
us."

"I will trust the man; and if he can, he will return," said Uncle
Richard. "Here he comes, too!"

Presently Padillo was seen hurrying towards us. "The Godos have
possession of all the towns and villages in this neighbourhood," he
said. "If you wish to avoid them, you must keep further down the valley
before you cross the Cauca, and then continue up the other side. I wish
that I could remain with you, but I know nothing of those western
mountains, and should be of no use as a guide."

He now finally took his leave, promising not to forget us.

Following his advice, we commenced our journey through the forest,--
often having to cut our way with our swords, and sometimes to wade
across rapid streams which threatened to carry us off our legs. We ran
a risk, too, of being bitten by serpents; several of those we observed
being of large size, and others of an especially venomous character.
Tribes of monkeys were seen on either side of us, leaping from bough to
bough, and swinging on the sipos--sometimes running forward jabbering
and grinning, as if excited with anger at our daring to invade their
domains. As our food had run short, we were compelled to shoot a couple
of the rogues for supper.

Night approaching, we made preparations for camping. We had to guard
not only against human enemies, but against jaguars, pumas, prowling
bears, and snakes. But having cleared a space of sufficient size, we
ran some sticks into the ground, which were interwoven with smaller
branches, so close together that no jaguar could thrust in its paw, or a
bear its snout, nor could any but the smallest snake crawl in. We then
thatched it over with large leaves of sufficient thickness to keep out
the heaviest rain. As close to the entrance as we dared we piled up
sticks, that we might keep a fire blazing all night. There was
certainly some little risk in having a fire, as it might attract the
attention of any Spaniards in the neighbourhood; but we believed that we
were so far off a highroad that no enemies were likely to discover us.

Uncle Richard and I discussed our plans for the future, leaving Antonio
to go to sleep, that he might b